Farms do NOT need more cats...

jodi · #1 (**permalink**) 05-18-2006, 07:59 PM

Just a rant...have to get this off my chest. I have been genuinely surprised at how many people honestly have this misconception and are surprised when I go off about it.
We live on a farm. We have barn cats. Too many already. We do not need more cats. We do not welcome litters dropped off in the night. We do not have a mice problem that requires us to seek out kittens brought into the world by owner's unwillingness to get their pets fixed. There. I said it.
This is the third time THIS YEAR that animals have shown up mysteriously at our farm. An adult cat was dropped off - we found it a home. Two puppies showed up - we found them home. Now four housecats showed up. They stayed near the barn for a few days, then found the house and have not left our front door for four days. We are trying to find them homes. And yet when I tell this story, people look at me and say "But don't you want cats to keep the mice population down?" - and are genuinely surprised that I am upset at these animals being dumped on us!
Please, everyone, if you cannot handle the offspring, get your pets fixed! I hope we all are responsible pet owners, but if anyone has this misconception, please know that I have not met a single farmer that needs more animals to take care of! And if they did, they know where to get them!
Sorry if this is not the place for this post, but I thought it would be a good way to reach a lot of people. And it is vaguely money related, since I am now paying to feed four kittens...

frugalfarmwife · #2 (**permalink**) 05-18-2006, 11:27 PM

Been there, done that, could write books on the animals that have shown up around our farm over the years! So I'll echo your words

WE FARMERS DO NOT NEED YOUR UNWANTED ANIMALS, YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM!!!!

I've taken quite a few animals to the humane society over the years, if you don't want them thats where YOU should take them.

The saddest one was a friend that thought she was doing another friend a favor, they dumped an 18 year old house cat on my farm! I didn't find it until it was dead, she thought this was kinder than having it put down, sigh.

I have my own "supply" of barn cats and yes, house pets when dumped do find their way to the house and try anything and everything to get inside, poor things.

kj

sweeps · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 04:02 AM

Wow, I had no idea this was a problem...

Fern · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 07:54 AM

The fact that people don't give you the cats in person tells you they realize it's not a nice thing to do....so they do it at night or whenever no one can see.

Around here, we have a local animal activist who spends considerable time doing trapping and releasing. They catch the cats in have a heart traps, have them spayed/neutered by volunteer vet or at low cost with donations, then release them back to where they were found (this is the part i disagree with) becus there's too many cats to find homes for and the shelters are full.

Life outside is very very dangerous for cats and other dogs. Speeding cars driven by distracted people using cell phones, coyotes and oher suburban predators, starvation etc.

boefixepa · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 08:17 AM

I agree!!! I don't have a farm, but am very much on the side of responsible pet ownership. I can't stand the way so many people treat their animals. They are expensive and if you can't afford them don't get them. I really feel that the way people treat animals when no one else is around is a true reflection of their inner character. If they would 'dump' an animal at a farm...what are they really saying about themselves?

Ima saver · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 08:23 AM

I agree, boe. The way the locals treat animals around here is a crime. I use to have to take our garbage to the dumpster in town every day. I always took dog and cat food with me. So often puppies and kittens were dumped off there and were starving. The locals would throw them in the dumpster and leave them. My dogs are just like my children, except much nicer to me.

PRICEPLUS · #7 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 10:24 AM

Spay and neuter your pets. It is cruel and mean spirited to just dump your pet. I don't know what goes through people's minds!

shengmei · #8 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 10:45 AM

I do not understand why people complain about the price of spaying their animals. It costs $40 to spay a cat but animal shelters often hand out $20 cat spay vouchers, which makes the cost of spaying only $20.

A cat can easily eat up the extra $20 during pregnancy and nursing. I can not believe how people can justify animal suffering to save a couple bucks they are actually not saving at all.