Feral and free roaming felines...

02 March 2002, 19:29

Matt in Virginia

Gentlemen,
After reading an article in F&S a year back about the amazing damage a feral or free roaming feline can do to the local wildlife I decided to thin out their population in my area. You would be absolutely amazed by the sheer number of feral cats that prowl your property in search of a meal or merely a kill. The last part of that statement bothers me most. A cat that is fed will kill for sport, practice, etc.. your guess is as good as mine. I know only from observing their behavior. They've been death on the local Bob White population, however, I've been death on them;-). I'll take quail and rabbits to feral cats anyday... Also draws in fox which can make for interesting diversion.

At any rate give a serious look at hav-a-hart traps if you have a feral/free roaming cat problem. They can either be sent to Animal Control or dealt with in other more immediate, and I would say humane methods, should you be willing to do the task at hand.

Best, Matt.

02 March 2002, 20:37

Buster

If you use a live trap, don't count on the Animal Control Officer to deliver the animal to the pound. I was trapping cats that were causing havok in my wife's flower beds, only to have them return and be caught a second time after the officer had supposedly delivered them. Turns out, they would drive around the corner and turn em loose. I called and complained but it fell on deaf ears.

I now deal with them on my own! Seems to me the .17HMR is custom made for such matters.

I know a lot of people don't like the idea of culling what they consider "pets". I have no problem with RESPONSIBLE people owning cats, it's when they're abandoned and left to overpopulate the countryside that they become a problem in my book. If I have to pay to license my dog, keep it on a leash, and keep it's shot's up to date, why doesn't a cat owner have to do the same?

03 March 2002, 09:18

<Bruce Gordon>

After you catch the cat in the live trap, just put a big plastic leaf bag around the entire trap with the cat still in it, then with the car in the garage and the garage door shut to keep nosy neighbors at bay, start the car for a few seconds and hold the neck of the trash bag over the exhaust until it is nice and ballooned. Tie it good with a piece of good tape and go watch a bit of TV.
Later just open the trap door, dump the dead cat directly into the plastic bag, close it up and put it in the trash dumpster with the rest of the garbage.
Repeat until the trap no longer receives visitors.
Every year or two you will have to do a week or two of this in order to practice a bit of animal control.
Much better than shooting them with a BB gun like I did way back when I was a 10 year old.

02 March 2002, 23:31

<gone hunting>

I LOVE CATS
they make good gravey and go well with rice also good off the grill

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Death Before Dishonor

03 March 2002, 04:46

Matt in Virginia

Gone Hunting,
I have your name on the Win Stainless Classic Long floor plate. Should'nt be over a couple of months before it goes to the smith.

Regards, Matt.

[This message has been edited by Matt in Virginia (edited 03-28-2002).]

03 March 2002, 06:12

beemanbeme

the way to dispose of any unwanted varmint caught in a hava heart: put a light excuding cover over the trap. (this will keep a pole kitty from spraying, actually, if the trap it small enough that the skunk can't raise its tail, it won't spray) Take it to the creek and submerge until the bubbles stop coming up. Dispose using the plastic bag posted above.

03 March 2002, 13:56

<X-Ring>

Well it is said God makes no mistakes. So I thought long and hard for a reason to create cats. I have come to the conclussion that God made cats to test power steering

03 March 2002, 15:50

Magnum Mike

The only sorry part of this whole thing is, if you get caught, you WILL be in BIG trouble!

I had one in the scope last fall and could not tell if it had a collar or not. I have yet to dispatch one that was wearing a collar. Those ones get sent home via a really large boot.

mike

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NRA Life Member

United States of America, Love it or LEAVE IT!

03 March 2002, 17:55

<Mouskie>

The maddening thing about cats where I live (8 miles outside town) is that they are smarter than coyotes. When I open any door in the house, tho I can't hear the slightest noise-- the cats pick up on it and scatter --on a dead run into the woods. I've lost count of the times I've had to unlock and unload...

But guess what? Where I'm sitting now, in the basement family room, my computer pushed up against a floor-to-ceiling window -- that's where the real torment begins.

It might be daytime -- it might be night -- but as I sit here (de)composing, I see a movement and there is a cat -- with its paws up on the windowsill-- staring at me not more than 3 feet away. To my right, five feet away, is my gun cabinet.

I must confess there is a certain temptation to keep my .22 mag auto pistol loaded and on the computer table, and to hell with the window glass.

Maybe the best solution is to set a leg trap just under the windowsill. Course, with my luck, I'd be the one to step in it.

Smarty cat!

04 March 2002, 03:19

<rifleman>

LOL - I can't believe someone hasn't jumped on you guys and called you heartless so and sos.

That almost always happens when this topic comes up! My family has 2 cats, 2 dogs, and they are always under control. In fact the cats NEVER leave the house. I like cats, but not out in the wild. As stated, I wholeheartedly agree cat owners should be required to keep them under control just like dogs are supposed to be.

Dave

[This message has been edited by rifleman (edited 03-03-2002).]

04 March 2002, 09:04

Sheister

Heck, I just stopped calling them cats. Anytime something furry comes into my yard or my hunting area that is smaller than a dog and not licensed, I just call it a target. My wife doesn't see much humor in this but my yard is much nicer lately.
Just wish I could get that damned little yappy dog next door to venture into my back yard some time.- Sheister

04 March 2002, 11:02

Longbob

"Well it is said God makes no mistakes. So I thought long and hard for a reason to create cats. I have come to the conclussion that God made cats to test power steering"

Scooter,

That was dang funny!

05 March 2002, 12:11

beemanbeme

I have no problem with cats or dogs in their place. And their place isn't running loose in the woods. Feral or tame I treat them kinda the same.
When I was trapping coyotes in Tennessee and Oklahoma, it would amaze you how far from home I caught some dogs. With collars. Not hunting dogs, but various kinds of poochie dogs. There is an awful lot of damage blamed on coyotes that is really folk's free running dogs.

05 March 2002, 13:41

<Red Green>

[ 08-13-2002, 02:27: Message edited by: Red Green ]

05 March 2002, 14:45

DannoBoone

Once upon a time, many, many moons ago in a
far and distant land I had a mutt hunting
dog that just loved to kill anything I "sicked" him onto -- what a spectacle it was
to watch him grab a cat in the middle of the
back; three or four shakes and they were
history. He didn't do it to the regular
farm cats, just the "strays".

Since the invention of CCI's "Stinger", I
have to rely on something not nearly as
spectacular, but just as deadly, and even
quicker.

05 March 2002, 16:24

<Maj Dad>

Back in Looziana, some years back, I honed my bullet placement skills with a Marlin Mod 80 (pre-war bolt action, 22 or 24" bbl), standard velocity shorts, under the house, shooting across the driveway under my reality-impaired Grandma's house. She put cat food out on the back porch twice a day - they emptied it, she filled it. The whole neighborhood smelled like cat pee, and no one could sleep for the screeching and fighting and mating. My father finally offered me a bounty of 1$ for each carcass - rescinded it a couple of days and 30 something cats later. There are still claw marks on the driveway where a couple of them dug in after taking one amidships. Almost as much fun as shooting rats in the feedbarn with ratshot... Us kids had our big game hunts, too ;-)

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Illegitimi non carborundum...

06 March 2002, 14:10

<gone hunting>

think about it for a min. i just saved a spotted owl or a tree lizzard or maybe even a whale. how many more reasons could a guy need other than maybe coyote bait. or crow bait. gosh i feel better

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Death Before Dishonor

07 March 2002, 07:50

<bstogsdill>

My 2 cent editorial:

As much as I dislike stray cats, I would not torture one by drowning or Carbon monoxide suffocation (slow death and they will kick and squal).A 22 Long rifle through the chest cavity will end it quickly with minimal effort.

When a hunter enjoys causing pain and suffering to a dumb animal- sounds kind of warped .. I couldnt take pride in causing anything to suffer, except people who harm others, say terrorists and murderers, etc and make them suffer as a penalty to the crime, sorry I digress.

Dont take your anger out on the cats- it's the irresponsible and lazy owners who wont neuter them or control them that is to blame.

Have the heart and guts to shoot them with a bow or gun, or axe their head off or something that will solve the problem without causing it to suffer.

I supppose if you live where you can not shoot guns maybe the exhaust method is the only practical means.

I must confess, I admire cats and their ability to hunt. If they were the same size as my dog, he would be in trouble!

I have been out hunting the dogs that killed my livestock and observed neighbors 2 cats and they always sneak in closer than any dog could with me. I let these particular cats go cause they chase mice out of my barn and they dont mess with my livestock.

Dogs running loose and packing and killing livestock my problem. I will get them sooner or later. I am so pissed at them, I would probably torture them if I had the chance.. I retract my prior statement. Do whatever you need to take care of your property cause no one else will, and its nobody elses business.

Good topic!

08 March 2002, 16:51

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by bstogsdill:
My 2 cent editorial:
I would not torture one by drowning or Carbon monoxide suffocation (slow death and they will kick and squal

They will never know what hit them with CO. CO is odorless and tasteless. After the O2 level in the "bag" drops below about 16% they are unconscious. BTW, that should only take about 15 seconds, if that.

mike

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NRA Life Member

United States of America, Love it or LEAVE IT!

09 March 2002, 03:11

<Bruce Gordon>

What MSSMAGNUM said!
The cats do the squalling when they initialy get caught in the trap, that is how I usually tell if one has been caught. When you put the plastic bag over the outside of the trap, they quiet right down. Presumably because it gets nice and dark. That is normally the last noise I hear out of them. When I take a look inside to verify that the cat is actually dead, they are normally curled up in a corner looking peacefully asleep.
In my mind, it is the most humane method of putting an animal asleep except for taking it to the vet and letting them charge you.

09 March 2002, 13:47

<hillclimber>

We feed birds here and there's nothing more maddening than watching cats in the spring rob bird nests of their newborn. That's what motivated me to take a shot at them now and then. They also play havoc with quail, doves, etc. On the other hand they kill rats in the barn but I can take care of them with rat poison. Remember, cats kill for fun even when they're not hungary.

10 March 2002, 10:22

<Dan in Wa>

Have shot many cats....a .22 to the rib cage will drop them. Not so mister. Cats are tougher than bull elk IMHO. Head and spine shots are required for one shot stops. Maybe this should go on the African Hunting Post. 38gr. hollow points for this bwana.

10 March 2002, 18:09

ScottB

quote:
Originally posted by Longbob:
"Well it is said God makes no mistakes. So I thought long and hard for a reason to create cats. I have come to the conclussion that God made cats to test power steering"
Scooter,
That was dang funny!

I think this is what is known as "witnessing"

11 March 2002, 06:25

<CatShooter>

Ah... a thread that warms my heart

I live in a suburban town of 60,000, and some years back, we had one of "those" ladies move in... you know the ones... about 400 pounds, had a mustach, some personal hygene problems, no friends, and 20 cats...

Within 2 years, the neighborhod was flooded in feral cats. We got no help from the animal officer, who told us to catch them ourselves, and when we did, he said we had to hire a private (town approved!!) contractor to dispose of them (@ $187.50 each)... that worked out to about $15 to $20,000 for those folks in a 5 block square area

My neighbors (who had noted the long black cases I took to the car), asked me to intervien. We struck a deal, that they had to dispose of the corpses. I took to a .177 high powered air gun, and within about 10 months, there were no feral cats anymore, and the fat lady keeps what's left under her control.

But, we no longer have any songbirds in the area

CatShooter

12 March 2002, 07:57

<bstogsdill>

quote:
Originally posted by mssmagnum:
They will never know what hit them with CO. CO is odorless and tasteless. After the O2 level in the "bag" drops below about 16% they are unconscious. BTW, that should only take about 15 seconds, if that.
mikemssmagnum;
I beg to differ pardner, no exhaust from an internal combustion engine is oderless or tasteless. Maybe pure CO is, but other by-products are obviously present.
Or, maybe I am just a big "wussy" cause I certainly can not inhale exhaust fumes without choking and caughing. I cant work on the car without opening the garage door while it runs. I literally choke on those fumes.
My Grandpappy smoked one out using a bag and auto exhaust and if I recollect correctly, his experience was that he observed the cat had a loud fit while being poisoned and it was a concern that neighbors would hear it.
Oh Yeah: I am proud to say Pappy's 80 plus years of experience probably put him at the world record for cat kills.
I still believe a shot to the chest cavity or a 22 stinger to the base of the skull is fastest and most effective, when you can do it that way. My experience is based upon only 18-20 cats. Maybe modern exhaust is not so bad as old car exhaust?
I bet anyone who would gas a cat would shoot a toad out of a popgun- that's it! You cat- gassers started as toad-shooters! I can see it all starting with pulling wings off of flies! You must stop before it is too late.
We better get self help thread going- The first step is to admit you have a problem. I will email the moderator to start a new forum...
Thanks for my additonal 2cents commentary.
Have a cat free day.
Brad

12 March 2002, 16:27

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Gordon:
What MSSMAGNUM said!
The cats do the squalling when they initialy get caught in the trap, that is how I usually tell if one has been caught. When you put the plastic bag over the outside of the trap, they quiet right down. Presumably because it gets nice and dark. That is normally the last noise I hear out of them. When I take a look inside to verify that the cat is actually dead, they are normally curled up in a corner looking peacefully asleep.
In my mind, it is the most humane method of putting an animal asleep except for taking it to the vet and letting them charge you.

CO IS what the vet or animal control uses for dispatching these unwanted pests...

mike

12 March 2002, 16:39

Magnum Mike

quote:
Originally posted by bstogsdill:
I beg to differ pardner, no exhaust from an internal combustion engine is oderless or tasteless. Maybe pure CO is, but other by-products are obviously present.

Yes, that would be pure CO. CO actually displaces the oxygen in your brain which renders you (or the damn cat) unconscious. Then, of course, the lack of O2 causes brain death.

mike

13 March 2002, 09:57

Montana

I don't know about a .22 to the chest but I personally use a 7mmSTW or my .280Rem and it certainly stops them in their tracks, also is easier for the local scavengers to digest now that it is in smaller pieces. Shot one, one day eating out of my self feeder for my dogs he had his head in it and I walked right up to within about 20 ft. boy does double aught buck make a mess, cut down on my feed bill. And yes I used to have rabbits aroung my place till the built about 50 houses down the road everybody that moved in must have had at least 3 and I mean had. And yes I do enjoy it and not ashamed to admit it. A cat is one useless animal, take that back I believe I am a better shot these days.

Wayne

14 March 2002, 14:04

<ronnie062>

i live in the country and there are a lot of feral cats,people just dump them out,
house cats can make it just fine in the wild they will eat just about anything,and raise young with no problem.
i kill every one i get the crosshairs on,there as bad as the yotes here,
makes for some good off season shooting,and saves thewildlife population to.
take care and be well.(ronnie)

14 March 2002, 17:15

<JHook>

I whack all cats in the hunting field, unless I personaly know them as my farmers mouser. And then he better be around the barn.

I dont care if the cat is wearing a "BayWatch" collar, and the reward is a titty rub from all the lifeguard girls.

Well, maybe for that I'd give the cat a pass. But for any other one the cat is history. Shotguns are most effecient , but a 22-250 really makes them "blow'd up good".

26 March 2002, 09:40

<dave3220>

Any place around here that had grouse now has cats.

You can watch selfish idiots dumping unwanted cats and dogs in the rural areas any time of the year.
("Go and be free, boy!" or "Find a good home with the nice farmer.")

The Hava-Hart sounds like a good "remote" solution with the advantage of selectivity, if you want it. Otherwise, a Connibear 110 is really good.

If you feel bad about doing in the excess cats and dogs, just find out the facts about what they do to your local wildlife.
I'de sure rather have grouse and quail and songbirds around than cats squalling under my window.
Just keep in mind that you could face a heavy fine and maybe jail time for your stewardship.

Dave .32-20

26 March 2002, 14:13

Matt in Virginia

Gentlemen,
It would appear that feral and free roaming felines are a larger problem than I had originally presumed. We are fortunate, however, that we have what appears to be an adequate regimen of feral management.

Best, Matt.

[This message has been edited by Matt in Virginia (edited 03-28-2002).]

26 March 2002, 16:37

fla3006

22 cal. CB Longs in the ear canal have been known to work in urban environments where noise, discretion, etc. are issues. Shot placement is, of course, paramount in this situation. As they say in the West: "Shoot, shovel, shut-up."

27 March 2002, 09:16

<.>

quote:
Originally posted by Buster:
If you use a live trap, don't count on the Animal Control Officer to deliver the animal to the pound. I was trapping cats that were causing havok in my wife's flower beds, only to have them return and be caught a second time after the officer had supposedly delivered them. Turns out, they would drive around the corner and turn em loose. I called and complained but it fell on deaf ears.
I now deal with them on my own! Seems to me the .17HMR is custom made for such matters.
I know a lot of people don't like the idea of culling what they consider "pets". I have no problem with RESPONSIBLE people owning cats, it's when they're abandoned and left to overpopulate the countryside that they become a problem in my book. If I have to pay to license my dog, keep it on a leash, and keep it's shot's up to date, why doesn't a cat owner have to do the same?

The LEGAL reason is because cats are able to survive on their own. Dogs cannot do this. That why the license on a dog -- besides the typically larger size and neighborhood impact of dogs.

Most states have laws regarding shooting or otherwise harassing people's pets -- Cats are considered "pets" or "domestic animals" even if they're homeless. You could find yourself in deep legal complication by "managing" them in your neighborhood.

We have a cat in our neighborhood who just all of a sudden showed up on the back porch. Stayed there for a few days. Is seen around the neighborhood. Turns out the neighbors went on a three day week-end excursion and left the cat outdoors with access to their garage. The cat prefered to be around people and so took up a post on the porch next to the glass patio door where he was able to see inside the house.

You can rail all you like about "stray" or "feral" cats. Yes, there are cats out there without homes, but they're not "stray" or "feral" . . . They're ABANDON.

Humane Society, Animal Control will pick up a cat and release it a short distance away in hopes that it will return to its home after being "captured" and "transported." Often the annoyance of being put in a cage and moved around in a truck with other animals is a sufficiently negative experience to send the cat back to its home.

So here's my position on your "thinning out" the population of local cats. I tend to shoot people who abuse animals. Your behavior is barbaric, probably illegal, and pig headed. I'm serious. I'll shoot you. That's my position. (And the law will back me up on it.)

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

[This message has been edited by Genghis (edited 03-26-2002).]

27 March 2002, 02:24

<333-OKH>

Genghis; I just ran a search of your posts and a random sample doesn't show any obvious antisocial tendencies, so how do you account for death threats over the shooting of feral, stray, abandoned cats? If you are serious please get professional help from a mental health provider before you do something truely stupid and lethal. Is killing people how you usually handle disagreements? I hate to say this but this post sure sounds PETA like to me.

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If Elmer didn't say it, it probably ain't true.

27 March 2002, 03:50

<gone hunting>

Genghis
pardon my language - your a fucking nut and dangerous!!
you can not use deadly force to protect a cat or any pet only to protect HUMAN LIFE and then only when a reasonable retreat to safety is not available
even threating to shoot or kill a human will get you locked up
posting such stupidity on an open forum will get you locked up
i'm with 333-OKH you need help! please get it!

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Death Before Dishonor

27 March 2002, 06:10

Matt in Virginia

And they say the day of Insane Asylums is past. What a shame. I think I know somebody who needs an all expenses paid trip to one of the better fruitcake farms.

Regards, Matt.

27 March 2002, 06:20

<.>

"Jeez, ya know, officer, he was out there shooting cats, and when I asked him to stop he pointed his gun at me . . . "

People who take delight in shooting domestic pets, who post about the best way to "gas a cat" are SICK, anti-social, sadistic, pathological, stupid, red-neck Cretins.

They think shooting cats is somehow "sport" or "public service." Well . . . I feel the same way about these sick jerks. Let's thin out the shallow end of the gene pool.

Don't not talk to ME about "getting help." Because the help I'll get is people who share my sentiments and are armed too.

"Death threats" my ass . . . If you feel threatened, maybe you need to think about your behavior. Sounds to me like your evil kharma working itself out.

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.223 Ackley Improved Wildcat Forum:
http://www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=223ackleyimproved

[This message has been edited by Genghis (edited 03-26-2002).]

27 March 2002, 06:58

Sheister

Sounds like another PETA characterization that equates shooting feral cats with running around your neighborhood shooting every cat that happens to be outside. If you have seen the damage feral cats can do, you wouldn't be so quick to judge, but if you are the PETA nutcase you appear to be, you are probably speaking from the "Idiots Book of Animal Defense" and never get out into the woods to see what you are talking about.
Wake up, idiot, most FERAL cats do much more damage than any group of hunters, disease, or predators would hope to do- and they don't kill to eat most of the time.
Besides genius, I just happen to live around the Portland, Oregon area. If I see some nutcase threatening me with a gun because I may have shot a feral cat, you and your idiot friends better be faster and more accurate with a gun than I am because I WILL defend myself and I carry LOTS of ammo.
Anyone notified the authorities yet?- Sheister