Are feral cats varmints?

K

Karl

New member
Feral cats wreak havoc with our native wildlife. I have always been of the belief that any cat far from any out building may be pushing life #9. I like all pets, but feel pets should be monitored at all times, those that aren't should be removed, as well as feral animals. I'm sure there are mixed feelings about clobbering poor tabby, but was wondering what other varmint hunters felt about this touchy subject.... I'm sure there are lots of stories here, but I want someone else to go first!
 
This has come up before, and for the most part, folks tend to agree with your view. If Tabby's on your lap, he's a pet. If he's a half mile from the house killing pheasant chicks, he's a predator.
 
As a multi-cat owner Karl, I would have to agree. I have cats and they seem to be by the house every time I look for them. Every cat I have had has been this way. So I'm assuming that by simply feeding a cat, it will stay close to home. Takes no effort to train them to stay. They just seem to do it.

If a cat is out in the middle of 1000 acre field, something is wrong. Some may disagree but I think it is a good idea to treat them like any other pest. They can have a negative effect on wildlife when left to their own means. If one of our cats were wandering off and causing trouble, I would expect someone to ace it. I wouldn't be mad. Not trying to sound cold, but cat's are a dime a dozen. LOL
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Dime a dozen? I didn't think they were selling for that much.
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We don't have a problem with feral cats in S.E. Arizona. Those cats that foolishly wander outside all seem to turn into furry scat real quick.

[This message has been edited by Mike McDonald (edited 02-14-2002).]
 
Feral cats are predators, and very efficient ones at that. They are fair game in my book, and should be eliminated at every opertunity.
 
It's pretty much a sport in its own right in some parts of the country. I can speak for parts of Nebraska. Cats are considered vermin along with any other egg eating, bird snatching pest. They can cause horrendous damage to game populations and have done just that where they've been introduced into the environment. Some south sea islands I understand have seen entire species become extinct solely by the introduction of cats.

Game species like pheasant, quail, grouse and duck have all been threatened by feral cats. I know of some communities that actually spend weekend evenings hunting the little boogers down. Fair game in my opinion. I'm not talking about taking my neighbors horny tabby out, just the scampering little pests of the wild.

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Bob
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Bob/SoCal

Are trying to say that us Nebraska boys are going to have to start sharing our wild cat hunting? I mean come on, isn't it enough that we give away most of our best hunting spots to out of staters, and now you want in on the only thing that is actually left for us to hunt.

Those cats are the only real sporting event we have left, I mean this is how we determing who has the best lip squeak.
 
I was haveing a conversation with one of the Fish and Game officers awhile back on this very topic. I asked him when it comes to cats,when do they stop being pets. And when do they become legal to shoot. His answer " as long as a cat is on domestic ground it is a pet. When it crosses the road to public land it then becomes a field lion and legal to shoot."So there ya have it Gents.
But I think id rather live trap them and use them for coyote bait.

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Mike Smith
LM NAHC
RMEF
Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you may be in Utah
 
My personal favorite was with a .50 caliber muzzleloader. I was really torn because it was the "witching" hour at dusk when the deer move most. And what saunters by but a big nasty looking black and white tab. Well hell, it could have been a grizzly, because when the smoke cleared there he lay with both shoulders taken out. I packed him up and took him to my buddy's house, who approached the truck fully expecting a fine eight point. But being a feline flogger himself, he was amazed and proud. I particularly prefer culling cats to native species, and especially with archery equipment. Truth be known, I have even selected some stands as more potential feline funnels! I wish I could wire a half a zebra to a acacia and wait for the leopard, but I can't so feral kittys fill the bill nicely.
P.S.: I think the .243 would do just fine...

[This message has been edited by Karl (edited 02-17-2002).]
 
Q:What is black, white, red, and flying a foot of the ground?

A: a rouge tabby that just found out what a nosler was.

P>S> Here in michigan we arent suppose to do the above.
Three S's rule applies well though.
 
I agree with all of you, but I have seen my cat a half mile from my house in the middle of a field. I wouldn't be happy if someone killed this cat b/c it is the only domestic cat that I have seen that deserves to be alive. It is also pretty easy to tell the ferals from the domestics cause they are really skittish, and ussualy take off when seen
 
You would be SKITTISH to if ya knew you deserved a 50 grain nosler, for all your marauding, and killin.

I watched a morris colored feral cat kill and NOT eat a whole nest of pheasant chicks while helping my old man clear a wind fallen tree in a fencerow as a kid. Since that day I will go out of my way to rid the country side of the flea bitten buggars. Not on my neighbors porch mind ya, but when they are where they shouldn't be watch out morris.
 
As a former Michigander myself (Roseville/Eastpointe area), I remember seeing feral cats up near Rose City while deer hunting. DNR says that you can't shoot 'em, so I didn't. However, there were times when, during informal target practice, a feral cat ran in front of me just as I squeezed off a round. Had the same problems with wild dogs. Must be something in the water that causes them to become reckless!
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Here in Oregon, I've discovered that the juice from a jar of Habanero peppers, when loaded into a Super Soaker, makes an excellent deterrent for cats that decide that the dirt in front of my apartment makes a convenient toilet.
 
My favorite call for cats is " here kitty kitty" and I have had them come in on the run. I am Also a trapper and I only trap a cat once. of all the cats I have taken care of only one has had a collar on it and it was dead in the trap out in the middle of a corn field 1/2 mile from the nearest building. (the collar is now in my gun case with my other trophys)
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I often have to get up early to go salmon fishing here in Michigan. It is simply amazing and appalling to see the number of glowing eyes along the side of the road that turn out to be kitties. I do believe they are a nocturnal plague that is highly underestimated! Unfortunately, it's the coons and the deer that can't quite figure out the automobiles. I wish our state's DNR would adopt a new policy regarding all feral pets....
 
ALL MICHIGANDERS

Shoot shovel shut up rules definately need changing.

Anyone with political tenaciousness please let me know how to get the ball rolling.

Till then accidents with the felines will still happen.

It is amazing what a 50 grain hollopoint can accomplish

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"When you get em in the sights drop the hammer"
 
Brennan,
I'm sure you feel that your kitty is above all of this, but if he is that far from home, he is probably hunting. In which case he should be either tied up or controlled another way, or shot.
All feral animals are not wild, family pets also pack together when left uncotrolled and will do as much or more damage to wildlife, etc. as wild dogs and cats will.
Sorry, but that is how I feel.

Les
 


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