Hypothetical Cat Question…

If a man spent a lot of time, effort and money turning his garden into the ideal habitat to encourage rare songbirds – birds that are protected by law – what is the legal position regarding cats that are allowed to roam free by their irresponsible owners, which then prey on those rare, protected birds, in that man’s garden?

Is he allowed to resolve the issue? With a rifle for example?

No, but I wouldn’t grass you up :O)

First, take your Sudocrem….

No

Only if owners of these cats are then allowed to turn said rifle on yourself…….

get a Supersoaker.

What offense would that hypothetical man be committing if he shot a cat on his own land to prevent it killing rare and protected birds?

Are cats protected by law?

“Hypothetical Cat” sounds like some sort of nerdy superhero character.

peterfile – Member

“Hypothetical Cat” sounds like some sort of nerdy superhero character.

Haha, he could potentially dress like a 1950s jazz funk gangster… In theory! And carry an air rifle 🙂

get a dog.

It’s not the cat’s fault it’s been let outside and someone has set up a bird buffet in their garden.

Don’t do hypothetical.
What’s the real situation?
Why punish a cat for doing what comes naturally?

I think it would be Criminal Damage, same as if a farmer shoots a dog without reason.

Get some of those ultrasound cat/dog scarers?

Cats are classed legally as free spirits , hence the owners cannot be pursued if they cause a road traffic accident where as dog owners can , thus by this reasoning their owners are not irresponsible.

Where as if the hypothetical person in question were to use a rifle against a cat he would legally be classed as a Bellend

I think that about covers the legal side of things 😉

You could always try pressing charges against the cat. Oh, wait…

Pet cats are not part of natural ecosystems.

Only if owners of these cats are then allowed to turn said rifle on yourself…….

Butt first, rammed right up there, grit in the vaseline.

Shibboleth – Member

What offense would that hypothetical man be committing if he shot a cat on his own land to prevent it killing rare and protected birds?

Are cats protected by law?

Tell you what, try ring up up the RSPCA and asking them the same question, remember to record and post the reply here 😉

Don’t do hypothetical.
What’s the real situation?

Just use your imagination… Maybe start by removing the word “hypothetical”… 😉

Why punish a cat for doing what comes naturally?

If the cat was doing what came naturally, it would be chasing mice in North Africa, not killing goldcrests in my wood!

You are luring protected birds into what is effectively a “kill zone” where you know there are likely to be lots of predators (cats)

I’m going to report you to the RSPB

[/devilsadvocate]

So, you like rare birds and need a place to store your bear trap collection also, eh?

It’s your garden, do what you want….. 😉

DrP

Just use your imagination… Maybe start by removing the word “hypothetical”…

OK.

Where as if the hypothetical person in question were to use a rifle against a cat he would legally be classed as a Bellend

I think I’m getting this now. 😉

If the cat was doing what came naturally, it would be chasing mice in North Africa, not killing goldcrests in my wood!

and where would the birds be if you hadn’t enticed them in?

I’m not enticing them, I’m simply replacing an environment that has been systematically stripped from the country by past generations…

Why shouldn’t somebody provide food and habitat for rare native birds?

and where would the birds be if you hadn’t enticed them in?

I’ve got visions of the OP stood round other bits of countryside offering free millet to thrushes. “Go on, give it a go you know you want to, no charge for the first bit.”

And then when he has them hooked he forces them to live in his wood and be at the mercy of the local cats.

Cats are okay. 1 per town I reckon. The rest should be culled.

I’m not enticing them, I’m simply enticing them into my preprepared killing field by replacing an environment that has been systematically stripped from the country by past generations…

So any local news of cats being shot in longridge, and we tell plod to begin enquiries with local graphic designers and point them to this thread, hypothetically of course

Domestic cats are protected by law, but how would you distinguish between a domestic cat and a wild one?

The native British wildcat has been extinct for over 150 years… Even I’d struggle to make that argument stick with the local magistrate!

The cat’s just helping you keep a healthy stock of birds.
The weak frail and old ones don’t go to some retirement home for elderly and infirm Goldcrests. The cat’s just helping them on a journey.

Supersoaker with chilli oil/water in it. Cats like to lick themselves and have good memories by all accounts. All good till you get a cat that likes a night on the tiles followed by a curry.
Humane solution IMHO.

Lion dung.

a man spent a lot of time, effort and money turning his garden into the ideal habitat to encourage rare songbirds

I’m not enticing them,

ummmmm

Shibboleth in action: http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/9917562.Owners_horror_after_pregnant_cat_shot_twice_with_air_rifle/

Anyone with information should call Merton police on contact police on 101 or Merton CID on 020 8649 3118

I guess that would be illegal then.

Supersoaker for christs sake you nutter

Probably fair to say, not Shibboleth in action #disclaimer

Things you can legally do:

Ultrasonic Cat Repellent.
Squirt of water.
Better fences.

This is also worth a read:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/cats/birddeclines.aspx

RSPB says that there is no evidence that cats are responsible for bird decline, since it is generally populations that don’t come into contact with cats that are in decline, whereas regular garden bird species are actually increasing.

Therefore if you are really interested in conservation, as opposed to just having a preference for one fluffy animal over another, its probably worth not turning off all the local cat owners by abusing their moggies, as they’re very unlikely to be supportive once you’ve done that.

Wee all over your garden. As you have a wood, you may need to ask for assistance, why not arrange a Pee Party with your friends. You supply copious amounts of beer, they supply the pee.

If you want to get angry about bird declines then look at what we humans have done to the natural habitat of the UK. Your support is great but shooting an animal is not and illegal. You’d think if anyone would be anti-cat it would the RSPB but they aren’t:

Despite the large numbers of birds killed, there is no scientific evidence that predation by cats in gardens is having any impact on bird populations UK-wide. This may be surprising, but many millions of birds die naturally every year, mainly through starvation, disease, or other forms of predation. There is evidence that cats tend to take weak or sickly birds.

It is likely that most of the birds killed by cats would have died anyway from other causes before the next breeding season

We also know that of the millions of baby birds hatched each year, most will die before they reach breeding age. This is also quite natural, and each pair needs only to rear two young that survive to breeding age to replace themselves and maintain the population.

It is likely that most of the birds killed by cats would have died anyway from other causes before the next breeding season, so cats are unlikely to have a major impact on populations.