HUNTER-CATS killing wildlife- Is there any law?

spaa · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 11:56 AM

My garden feel lifeless now. Do you know any law in the UK to keep HUNTER-CATS within their owner's property?
Two cats, who reign over the neighbourhood, keep all animals at bay. They all used to come: squies, woodpeckers, magpies, blue and great tits, robins...and even with their babies during spring...they were my pets. The gardens are large between the two lanes of houses, but animals have gradually disappeared due to the presence of 2 cats who are unleashed throughout the whole day... and their owner seems to enjoy it, because there is a chair to help the cat jump into the tree, the hunting is a spectacle for all to see...and to hear!ah! Is it not commonsense that owners are allowed to do in their houses what they want AS LONG AS they, or their pets, DO NOT take away others' rights to enjoy wild life? I love cats and know other neighbours who keep theirs indoors. What if I brought a dog, or a fox and they ended up killing the 2cats? Are we being left to the law of the jungle? Sorry but I feel so upset by the whole situation...I even used to welcome the cat in my garden, while now I rush to scare them and keep them at bay not to witness the horrendous killing. But it seems I am the only one protesting by doing it. I understand they eat rats and mice but why their owners do not allow them out during the night?
Hope any of you have the answer, otherwise I will have to stop leaving food for the birds because now I end up feeling at the centre of the ambush

Stinky Bob · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Unfortunately you have no rights at all when it comes to cats unless you can prove that they are causing damage to people or property. If there are a large number of cats belonging to a residence then you may be able to apply to have the number reduced by forcing the rersidence to apply for a change of use etc. With just two cats however you haven't got a chance. Frustrating I know, my neighbour has 5 cats

volence · #3 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 01:31 PM

a good idea is to keep a high powered water pistol handy or the garden hose, it will soon keep them away. Or maybe even garden sprinklers. Do you have a wall or high fence around your garden?

sidewalkdoctor · #4 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 04:33 PM

No, there is no law applicable to this.

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What if I brought a dog, or a fox and they ended up killing the 2cats?

You could leave yourself liable to prosecution, e.g. not having your dog under control etc. I don't think you _can_ buy foxes, you can't even hunt them......

Edit: some Tiger or Lion pooh (from a friendly zoo) spread around the garden perimeter is the best bet.

Ben

Fritillary · #5 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 04:59 PM

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animals have gradually disappeared due to the presence of 2 cats who are unleashed throughout the whole day...

I understand your frustration but cats are not dogs they cannot be restrained (oops sorry for my avatar).
Owners cannot do a lot about what the cats do outside. There is a hope: After some years cats get older and wont chase anymore.

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What if I brought a dog, or a fox and they ended up killing the 2cats?

If you bring a dog, it should be because you would like to have the company of the animal not as deterrent of another one. Having a dog could be a good idea if you love it. If you bring the dog to kill the cats, you will have much more problems than the absence of fauna in your garden today.

However, remember that they also chasse and you could find your dog killing frogs, hedgehogs or other small mammals or bringing them to your home too.
I have friends that have a dog and their neighbours 2 cats. The cats never cross to my friends' back garden because of the dog, but there are not birds either and at night my friends must be watching the dog to avoid her to kill the frogs :-(.

I suggest water guns too or maybe a bettter idea, if you ask to a friend to lent his/her small dog (spaniel, terrier size) that could go to your back garden and ran after the cats from time to time, maybe this could make the cats to avoid visiting your garden.

JB9302 · #6 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Just 10mins ago my next door neighbour came to our door in distress , a cat has attacked a woodpidgeon leaving it in a poor state .
Went round and there is blood/feathers over her patio and window , dispatched the pidgeon as her husband could not do it .
The cat is a visitor to the surrounding gardens and specialises in woodpidgeons as they are easy to catch .
They have a dog but its kept in the house , so thats not much of a deterrent .

Julian

Tursiops2 · #7 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 05:56 PM

Cat deterrence has been dealt with exhaustively here: How to...Keep Cats out of the Garden

Jason Green · #8 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 06:23 PM

..and here: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...deterrent.html

Welcome to WAB, Spaa

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Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Cat deterrence has been dealt with exhaustively here: How to...Keep Cats out of the Garden

Indeed!

Beekeeper · #9 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 06:24 PM

Perhaps you should mention the abundance of cats to the local Chinese takeaway owners, they may solve the problem for you.

Sometime ago in my area, cats started going missing and the general opinion was that they ended up in takeaway meals, but it was never prooved, oddly enough, after the local law started asking questions, no more cats vanished.

BK