The Issue of Keeping a Cat
According to the Mammal Society, there are some 8 million domestic cats in
Britain alone. Although our environment did at one time support a good number
of wild cats, these 8 million are neither native creatures nor a naturally
evolved and balanced part of our landscape.
Certainly, a few ratters are useful in some parts of our countryside and
in cities, but it is not the highly adaptable and extremely tough rat that
most domestic cats catch on a night out hunting. The majority would have no
hope. Nor are most interested in eating what they catch, having been fed on
cans of easy food by their doting owners.
Albeit keen to ensure that we are living in harmony with our environment
in any way that we can, there are still a great many Pagans and Druids who
keep a cat or two, and let it out to hunt their environment without thinking
of the consequences. According to research from the Mammal Society, around
275 million birds, voles, mice, shrews, frogs and other reptiles are killed
every year by cats.
According toMichael Woods, chair of the Mammal Society, "the presence
of cats, which are our most numerous terrestrial predators, does have a marked
effect simply in terms of numbers of small creatures that they kill."
For advice, you might like to look at http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/advice/cats
Feeding Cats
The fact that cats are carnivorous means that it is hard to feed a cat on
a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, some clear advice can be found at
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/animals/care/cats/
Two companies offer advice and products.
In the US : http://www.vegancats.com/
In Britain :http://www.veggiepets.com/
Although some say that it is perfectly possible for some cats to thrive
on special vegan cat diets, the necessary amino acids created synthetically,
the issue is a complicated one.
We as human beings have instincts to fight and hunt, but most of these are
thankfully redirected into games in our peaceful lands. Can we redirect the
hunting instinct in our cats, and do we have the right to do so? Equally,
is it right to give a cat a vegan diet, even if we can't stomach the meat
industry, which in itself is generally far more cruel to animals than the
wild hunting of a natural predator.
Perhaps we need to think again about the ethics of keeping a cat at all.
Stop Your Cat From Being A Wildlife Saboteur
Some Top Tips
By H Teague (Star)
1. When to let your cat out
Generally the best time to let your cat out is in the afternoon.
There is less risk to birds at this time, though different parts of the country
may vary. Alot of birds, especially during winter feed early morning to get
their energy, so keep your cat indoors around dawn, during the morning and
from the first signs of dusk.
2. The well fed cat
Make sure your cat is well fed before letting it out, and therefore
won' t be so hungry for birds and other small creatures you are wanting to
protect.
3. Collar and bell
Get your cat fitted with a collar and bell, this gives the birds
some warning.
4. Night time
Keep your cat indoors overnight. The instinct to hunt is strongest at night
and keeping the cat inside will prevent it from its unnecessary predation.
It is also at night that most cats are victim to traffic accidents, so your
cat will be safer if you keep it in at night.
5. Indoor cats
Consider keeping your cat as an indoor cat. Yes, that means your cat never
goes out. Cats can be perfectly happy indoors as long as they are fed and
loved.
6. Exercising your cat indoors
Your indoor cat can get exercise in so many ways. Furry cat toys are great
for it to play with, and there are many choices of cat toys (wind up mice,
etc) available from pet shops. Or, run up and down stairs with a piece if
string a few times a week - your cat will chase it like mad, and be more likely
to snooze than chase birds and voles.
7. Indoor cat loo
Cats tend not to excrete in their own territory, so it will probably be your
neighbours that are sick of your cat's faeces all over their garden. A litter
tray allows you to be responsible for your pet. If you don't like the idea
of a litter tray, indoor cats can use a cat loo. You can get a cat loo that
has a roof and cat door, so that all your cats loo habits are kept out of
sight. Cat loos with roofs can be bought at most pet shops. Argos sell one
for around £9.99 (though prices can vary).
8. Unwanted smells
There should no worries about unwanted smells with keeping your cat indoors.
As long as your cat is healthy and you change the cat litter every day, everything
stays hygienic and smelling fresh.
9. Ethical cat litter
It is fairly easy to get biodegradable cat litter from most supermarkets.
10. Cat harness
Another safe way to protect birds from your cat is to train your cat to wear
a cat harness. This way you can take your cat out on a lead into your garden,
or perhaps if you have a reasonably quiet park or in the countryside. Cats
can be trained to wear a harness, but usually the training does need to start
when they are kittens. Get your cat used to walking with the harness in your
house first.
