Re: Should we ban cat ownership.
I dont hate cats.. I hate irresponsible owners with a passion.
Cats are animals and left to roam they will do whats in their nature.
If we as humans insist on bringing these animals into this world (by breeding ) and into our lives then we must assume responsibilty.
This means the same as having children or any other pet. It is up to us to ensure that their basic needs are met ie, food and water, a dry place to sleep and access to medical care when needed.
Sadly many cat owners seem to think that these rules do not apply to them. I see cats outside in all weather, if I left my dog in the garden in minus 10 or in snow or rain or really hot weather I would be prosecuted and rightly so, yet cats are left outside because there is still this idea that its what they want. If that is so why are they huddled on warm car bonnents, squashed into any draft free crevice they can find and generally seeking shelter?
Why are cats dying from drinking antifreeze run off if they are so street wise?
If dogs were left to run free the way cats do there would be trouble and the dogs would be taken away and the owners taken to court, but cats?
In fact in my view many owners break the welfare law 2006 which states that cats should have..
a suitable environment – place to live
for a suitable diet
to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
to be housed with, or apart from, other animals
to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Owners who allow cats to roam are breaking this part of the law daily. Yet nothing is done.
I dont think cats should be banned but I think the laws regarding ownership and care need to be tightened. More de-sexing, tighter controls on breeding and the right to roam as well as the amount of cats any one person can own would be a start.
Only when owner take their responsibilties seriously will there be any improvement to cat lives and the problems they cause but sadly the problem with many cat owners is that they are lazy and a cat that can be chucked out the door to walk itself is the easy option.