comanche 2,948 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 (edited) Silly point, that cat looks too fat to be a feral one, I know nothing about feral cats at all - is that a feral cat or someone's pet? It doesn't matter if the cat's feral of not. It's classed the same as a feral, as soon as it leaves the owners property, or so I've been led to believe. Cats are unique in that they remain their owner's property unless deliberatly abandoned (illegal)or given up as lost but are legally regarded as uncontrolable by nature. Therefore an owner is not responsible for its actions. To kill one that is known to be or likely to be a wandering pet is illegal. It is someones property.Shooting a child's pet is likely to set them onto the road to being an anti . A defence might be that the cat was activly involved in killing or damaging livestock or other property and that you acted reasonably by killing the cat as a last resort and that the damage it was doing warrented such drastic action. To wound a cat in an attempt to warn it off ,perhaps by using an air gun ,would lead to a charge of cruelty. Livestock does not include wild-life or Game . It might be argued reasonably that Game birds in pens were livestock before the release stage. A responsible sportsman will obviously try to be on good terms with local people and learn to recognise their pets.Likewise responsible pet owners should be aware of the consequences to wildlife caused by their pets. A few words with a responsible cat owner will do far more for the public image of shooting than a bullet. Feral cats can be legally shot or cage-trapped but like any quarry deserve a degree of respect. Edited April 5, 2008 by comanche Link to post
Lewdan 17 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 A keeper mate of mine phoned me to say that he was having big problems with the pheasant catchers and i expected him to say it was a fox but no ,it was a cat that has taken to somehow up ending the catchers and killing a bird ,letting the rest go .His catchers are the wire, with the door on the bottem ,funnel type and the door is tied shut .We think this cat has been scaring the birds into turning the catcher over ,which they could easily by all climbing the wire on one side .When the catcher is on its side ,the cat has scratched the baler twine until it breaks ,presumably .Four catchers in three evenings done the same .The keeper even saw the moggie on top a catcher but no gun or dog and the bugger got away .No shot guns as he wants to keep this wood quiet for the pheasants,so opted for the .22The keeper was to stand at the end of the wood while i pushed it through quietly.Didnt get far when i saw a big black and white cat stalking along a dry ditch .I had the face mask on and full realtree so felt confident of calling it .A low pitched squeal saw the cat belting towards me .Isnt it just the best feeling when a plan comes together .Had to cough to make it stop at about 20 yds and a low velocity put paid to that moggies tricks .Nice one FD. I would have liked to get a pic of the damage the cat did to a catcher but the keeper here is very meticulous in his clearing up any casualties ,always has been .His boss is very hard on him . Anyway ,he was over the moon that i had him and took me for a pint .Cant say fairer than that Well done! one less bird killer Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 Just to clear something up for the doubters -This wood is in the middle of an estate that consists of a dairy farm and one other cottage that the keeper lives in .The cats are a legacy from a previous tenant but arnt encouraged around the buildings at all as the present tenent keeps valuable ornamental fowl ,freerange in a field .Its not the first that has been shot by myself or the keeper and wont be the last .Anybody with feral cats on their ground will know that they can be ghost like and litters are never found .In my experience ,ferals are no different in body weight to any other cat and the overall health is generally better in muscle tone .Just my experience .They had a cage trapping exercise 2 years ago but only managed a 3/4 grown kitten ?. Link to post
arcpest 6 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 (edited) Found this on a previous post suitable calibre for cat control The law is quiet catergoric cats are not domestic animals they are classed as WILD, under the road traffic act, you have to report accidents with domestic animals, cats are not on the list! Therefore it is academic if it has just been let out, if it has a collar on or even if it is brushing itself against your legs and purring. Its WILD and belongs to no one, until its dead then it belongs to who ever owns the land it is laid dead on!! there is a part of the theft act which states that you can reduce a wild animal into possesion by trapping it, so a cat in a kitchen could belong to the person who trapped it in thehouse, however that person releases all ownership if they discard the animal or release it (let it out!) the exact example in the law book i have just read, refers to a snared rabbit! Cats have no close season, and the feral or not argument is academic, they are wild and if you have permission and want to shoot one, go on no one can stop you! However shooting cats will piss people off and set a bad example, but legally......................you are acting within the law! Edited April 5, 2008 by arcpest Link to post
comanche 2,948 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 Maybe one of the RSPCA monitors can put us straight on this ? Link to post
Squirrel_Basher 17,100 Posted April 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 .......................Or maybe they can either way Link to post
fishfish 17 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 theres 2 laid on the back of my sofa ,dont wanna do them do e? lol Link to post
comanche 2,948 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 Found this on a previous post suitable calibre for cat control The law is quiet catergoric cats are not domestic animals they are classed as WILD, under the road traffic act, you have to report accidents with domestic animals, cats are not on the list! Therefore it is academic if it has just been let out, if it has a collar on or even if it is brushing itself against your legs and purring. Its WILD and belongs to no one, until its dead then it belongs to who ever owns the land it is laid dead on!! there is a part of the theft act which states that you can reduce a wild animal into possesion by trapping it, so a cat in a kitchen could belong to the person who trapped it in thehouse, however that person releases all ownership if they discard the animal or release it (let it out!) the exact example in the law book i have just read, refers to a snared rabbit! Cats have no close season, and the feral or not argument is academic, they are wild and if you have permission and want to shoot one, go on no one can stop you! However shooting cats will piss people off and set a bad example, but legally......................you are acting within the law! Really sorry to disagree but my living depends on a working legal knowledge. Had hoped someone else would have come foreward before some numpty shoots a pet cat and tries to quote the "Road traffic act " in court.Believe me the Prosecution will be quoting the Theft Act ,The Property Act,Criminal Damage etc .I dislike feral and straying pet cats as much as anyone involved in conservation and Keepering but please believe me. Cats of the pet and show variety are Property and as such protected. Link to post
comanche 2,948 Posted April 5, 2008 Report Share Posted April 5, 2008 Found this on a previous post suitable calibre for cat control The law is quiet catergoric cats are not domestic animals they are classed as WILD, under the road traffic act, you have to report accidents with domestic animals, cats are not on the list! Therefore it is academic if it has just been let out, if it has a collar on or even if it is brushing itself against your legs and purring. Its WILD and belongs to no one, until its dead then it belongs to who ever owns the land it is laid dead on!! there is a part of the theft act which states that you can reduce a wild animal into possesion by trapping it, so a cat in a kitchen could belong to the person who trapped it in thehouse, however that person releases all ownership if they discard the animal or release it (let it out!) the exact example in the law book i have just read, refers to a snared rabbit! Cats have no close season, and the feral or not argument is academic, they are wild and if you have permission and want to shoot one, go on no one can stop you! However shooting cats will piss people off and set a bad example, but legally......................you are acting within the law! Really sorry to disagree but my living depends on a working legal knowledge. Had hoped someone else would have come foreward before some numpty shoots a pet cat and tries to quote the "Road traffic act " in court.Believe me the Prosecution will be quoting the Theft Act ,The Property Act,Criminal Damage etc .I dislike feral and straying pet cats as much as anyone involved in conservation and Keepering but please believe me. Cats of the pet and show variety are Property and as such protected. Link to post
cbw 4 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 (edited) Had my cat shot and injured, the wife and daughter were totally devastated, cost me a fortune in vets bills.(I was devastated) Fancy taking an arse shot, I wont when I find out who did it! It has a bright red collar with fluro center, no mistaking it as a childs pet!!!! The police took an interest and investigated breifly however when another 2 children had their cats also shot and injured they investigated further. (including looking at my rifles!!) I dont think cats should be shot if there is the remotest possibility of them being a pet. What part of your firearms certificate has the part that allows the shooting of cats? My ground vermin does not include cats. CBW Edited August 7, 2008 by cbw Link to post
stringer 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Regardless of the legalities and my personal opinion surrounding this, I don't beleive that the posting of photographs like this will win any support, for our cause, from the public at large. Probably quite the opposite in fact. I think the majorty of the public are willing to accept the fact that wild animals and game, are shot, but will be appalled by photographs showing "domestic animals" that have suffered a similar fate, irrespecive of the crime the have been accused. Stringer Link to post
meinnotts 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 Regardless of the legalities and my personal opinion surrounding this, I don't beleive that the posting of photographs like this will win any support, for our cause, from the public at large. Probably quite the opposite in fact. I think the majorty of the public are willing to accept the fact that wild animals and game, are shot, but will be appalled by photographs showing "domestic animals" that have suffered a similar fate, irrespecive of the crime the have been accused. Stringer couldn't agree more Link to post
Guest JohnGalway Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I don't agree, I would not have a problem shooting a cat that was doing damage in an area it should not be in. As long as it did not have a collar on, if it did I'd cage trap the sod and send him to the local authorities. Bloody cats do some amount of damage. My sister has two, actually make that four, she's a cat magnet. There are regularly dead song birds around the place. (Most) people won't let their dogs roam free, cats shouldn't be any different. Link to post
dwighet 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I don't agree, I would not have a problem shooting a cat that was doing damage in an area it should not be in. As long as it did not have a collar on, if it did I'd cage trap the sod and send him to the local authorities. Bloody cats do some amount of damage. My sister has two, actually make that four, she's a cat magnet. There are regularly dead song birds around the place. (Most) people won't let their dogs roam free, cats shouldn't be any different. Your bang on there John.. Link to post
Toma413 1 Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I don't agree, I would not have a problem shooting a cat that was doing damage in an area it should not be in. As long as it did not have a collar on, if it did I'd cage trap the sod and send him to the local authorities. Bloody cats do some amount of damage. My sister has two, actually make that four, she's a cat magnet. There are regularly dead song birds around the place. (Most) people won't let their dogs roam free, cats shouldn't be any different. I can see where your coming from by shooting the cat as our shoot has regular problems with cats but i can also see where other people are comming from by saying that putting pictures up was a silly thing to do.Our sport is being constantly opposed and pictures like this do not help at all.but thats just my opinion Link to post
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