I find the succesrate on cats higher, with shots just behind the frontleg. Rather than headshots. But the downside by that shot, is that they always run a bit. With headshots you risk some really ugly wounding shots at the jaw.
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Feral cat vs wildlife vs my family
- Thread starter AirNica
- Start date
We used to have a fairly high population in my area, but then the coyotes moved in. I haven't seen a cat in the woods for a year or so. Traded one pest for another I guess
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You know I have never seen a wild feral cat attack a human. Most of the time they run like hell to get away. I have trapped a family of feral cats and took them in , got thier tubes tied and de-nutted , gave them their shots then turned them loose in a barn where they we're born. My wife and myself solved the population explosion problem by being responsible and stopping the cycle. You know I haven't seen one gopher in over a year now. My neighbors are happy also as no more rodents.
If for some reason a feral cat walks up and attacks you, then you better get your rabies shots going. In this case fine shoot the bloodie thing .
*MOD EDIT: Removed comments of killing the neighbors dog vs cattle.*
If for some reason a feral cat walks up and attacks you, then you better get your rabies shots going. In this case fine shoot the bloodie thing .
*MOD EDIT: Removed comments of killing the neighbors dog vs cattle.*
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MEC17670 : i could not agree with you more.
have on numerous insidents had one of my cats hurt , injured or killed by nuttcases that dont "like" cats .. (always had my cats sterelized tattoed in ear and chipped with elctronical chip.)
to you guys that do shoot cats ,,,, for you and your families sake , i hope to all that is holy that you never shoot a owned cat and the owner spots you doing so , because if the owner is anything like me ....
the problem with feral wild cats is the PEOPLE that gets them and dont have them sterelized or nutered and just leave them ... the cats behave how they are programmed by nature ! do that make you want to shoot the people to ?
have on numerous insidents had one of my cats hurt , injured or killed by nuttcases that dont "like" cats .. (always had my cats sterelized tattoed in ear and chipped with elctronical chip.)
to you guys that do shoot cats ,,,, for you and your families sake , i hope to all that is holy that you never shoot a owned cat and the owner spots you doing so , because if the owner is anything like me ....
the problem with feral wild cats is the PEOPLE that gets them and dont have them sterelized or nutered and just leave them ... the cats behave how they are programmed by nature ! do that make you want to shoot the people to ?
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Out of curiosity. Do you let your cats roam freely collar-less like one might find a feral cat?
That, I believe, is at the root of the issue. Cat owners in my region have never been held accountable for their pets as dog owners have been required to be. That does not excuse 'nuts' , but there needs to be accountability. A lot of cat owners would not claim every stray if laws were in affect as they are for dog owners. Cat ownership would require responsibility.
MEC17670- " I have never seen a feral cat attack a human"
I have personally seen a feral Tom kill a domestic cat. It was brutal as nature usually is.
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I like how this topic has generated so many replies it was a fun read. I never gave it any thought, I'm a dog guy and always lived in a place where any problem like this was quickly sorted out by the coyotes.
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Yuppers nature is brutal at times. As you know in nature either you're looking for food or you are food.
I do agree that if there is a population of feral anything, dogs, cats, monkeys that is creating a hazard to the human population than culling may be in order.
What I don't like seeing is the wholesale hysteria of none discriminate targeting of any species just because they are there and can be used as a target of opportunity.
IMO
Mike
I do agree that if there is a population of feral anything, dogs, cats, monkeys that is creating a hazard to the human population than culling may be in order.
What I don't like seeing is the wholesale hysteria of none discriminate targeting of any species just because they are there and can be used as a target of opportunity.
IMO
Mike
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In Australia feral cats cause untold damage to the wildlife and with a feral cat, it's a shoot on sight policy. 30fpe in .22 is plenty for a cat, just put the pellet between the eyes or just behind the eye, towards the ear, if shooting from the side...and yes if idiots would stop feeding them, then they would stop coming round. I worked at a mine where the cleaners used to feed the ferals...we'd walk out at the end of the day and there are the cleaners, cats all round them..."Don't feed the cats" I'd say..."We don't" they'd lie....eventually the mine manager had them poisoned....dead and dying cats all round the cleaners who were balling their eyes out that afternoon... I didnt have the heart to say, told you not to feed the cats.,.... Shooting would have been far kinder...eventually the cleaners moved on and no more cats....I told the manager he needn't have poisoned the 15 cats, poisoning the 3 cleaners would have been more humane.
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AirNica, as others say 30 fpe is heaps for any cat. Predator Polymags are my pellet of choice within 30 yards.
However, if you lace a bowl of milk with aspirin the cats will drink it and quietly expire nearby.
As TopendGeo, says above, we in OZ have a huge feral cat problem. One scientist I know, who is in charge of research in the artesian basin, about a third the size of the USA, has three big chest freezers full of cats at any one time waiting for autopsy. Their toll on native species is enormous. ... regards, Harry.
However, if you lace a bowl of milk with aspirin the cats will drink it and quietly expire nearby.
As TopendGeo, says above, we in OZ have a huge feral cat problem. One scientist I know, who is in charge of research in the artesian basin, about a third the size of the USA, has three big chest freezers full of cats at any one time waiting for autopsy. Their toll on native species is enormous. ... regards, Harry.
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For those who don't agree with or are appalled with people killing feral cats. Here is a prayer request sent out by my church that I got today. I have removed the names but everything else is cut and paste as I received it.
Please be in prayer for_____. ______was bitten in the palm of his hand while trying to free a feral cat from a fence in their yard on Sunday evening. Apparently the only thing dirtier than a feral cat's mouth is a cesspool...and subsequently, he got an infection from the bite. It rapidly spread further into his hand and also a joint. To remove the infection and clean the bite area required surgery [that was performed on Wednesday]. While not life-threatening at all, it is definitely painful and an inconvenience. This type of injury requires him to remain in the hospital in isolation until the Dr's identify the bacteria that he has been infected with and get it treated.
Please be in prayer for_____. ______was bitten in the palm of his hand while trying to free a feral cat from a fence in their yard on Sunday evening. Apparently the only thing dirtier than a feral cat's mouth is a cesspool...and subsequently, he got an infection from the bite. It rapidly spread further into his hand and also a joint. To remove the infection and clean the bite area required surgery [that was performed on Wednesday]. While not life-threatening at all, it is definitely painful and an inconvenience. This type of injury requires him to remain in the hospital in isolation until the Dr's identify the bacteria that he has been infected with and get it treated.
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A good friend of mine was fortunate enough to be able to retire at a fairly young age. He already owned 100 acres and now had the time to work on it. He set aside 50 to develop habitat for deer, rabbit, and quail. He planted fruit trees, various food plots, berry plants, etc. When his plantings started to mature there was abundant rabbit, quail, and even some grouse. However, everything soon vanished except for the occasional bedding deer. He took up predator hunting and shot countless coyotes and numerous fox. Still no small game.
He then set up several game cameras and noticed constant cat activity. He shot the ones he saw and bought a Jack Russel that an Amish guy had trained to take care of the rest. That dog will, without hesitation, kill any cat that it sees.
It has been about five years since and he now enjoys exceptional small game hunting with his grand kids. I shared this story to illustrate the destruction that cats can cause.
He then set up several game cameras and noticed constant cat activity. He shot the ones he saw and bought a Jack Russel that an Amish guy had trained to take care of the rest. That dog will, without hesitation, kill any cat that it sees.
It has been about five years since and he now enjoys exceptional small game hunting with his grand kids. I shared this story to illustrate the destruction that cats can cause.
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Wow! It's been a couple of weeks since I checked this thread and look what happened.... Love all the replies for and those seemingly slightly against. All good education for a born again airgunner
By the way, Scotty, I am located in South West Nicaragua and I know exactly what you mean with your Suegra! The locals here rarely spay their dogs and cats because of the cost but now there are free spay and neuter programs every now and then. Still lots of dogs and cats "knocked up" all the time... What part of CR do you visit? Come on down next time you're in the 'hood! Dove/Pigeon hunting is very good in parts of this country and the farmers are happy about having their numbers reduced. I will have to remember my mother's pigeon pot pie recipe.... Oh too true, nothing like sipping 18 year Flor de Cana
The cats around the resort though are mostly feral but I am going to have to reach out to the cat owners here before culling the wider area as the last thing I want to do is blast someone's pet kittie. However the body language and demeanour of these ferals is so different to domestic. The ferals are super skittish about being approached especially at night with a flashlight even at distance like a fox or similar wild predator. So I think I will be able to tell the difference most of the time too but I will be super cautious. I should have my new FX in two weeks now. Can't wait to try it out on the range and get used to it!
I wonder if videos and pictures will be allowed?
Dan25 - thanks for the hunting tips! Yikes, did the tom's spraying cause that damage?! Crazy.
Dave - I think you make some great points. Especially the last. Why should cats just roam free while dogs have to be on a leash? A fenced in back yard should be plenty of fun and exercise for a cat no?
By the way, Scotty, I am located in South West Nicaragua and I know exactly what you mean with your Suegra! The locals here rarely spay their dogs and cats because of the cost but now there are free spay and neuter programs every now and then. Still lots of dogs and cats "knocked up" all the time... What part of CR do you visit? Come on down next time you're in the 'hood! Dove/Pigeon hunting is very good in parts of this country and the farmers are happy about having their numbers reduced. I will have to remember my mother's pigeon pot pie recipe.... Oh too true, nothing like sipping 18 year Flor de Cana
The cats around the resort though are mostly feral but I am going to have to reach out to the cat owners here before culling the wider area as the last thing I want to do is blast someone's pet kittie. However the body language and demeanour of these ferals is so different to domestic. The ferals are super skittish about being approached especially at night with a flashlight even at distance like a fox or similar wild predator. So I think I will be able to tell the difference most of the time too but I will be super cautious. I should have my new FX in two weeks now. Can't wait to try it out on the range and get used to it!
I wonder if videos and pictures will be allowed?
Dan25 - thanks for the hunting tips! Yikes, did the tom's spraying cause that damage?! Crazy.
Dave - I think you make some great points. Especially the last. Why should cats just roam free while dogs have to be on a leash? A fenced in back yard should be plenty of fun and exercise for a cat no?
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MEC17670 - I like you're approach and I think I will adopt a hybrid version of that - culling then spay neutering the few left. There are so many here that the constant fighting and mating racket got old long ago. I read a neutered feral will keep other colonies/cats at bay and a few can be domesticated with time. At least if they are fed regularly then the local wildlife will bounce back - I hope. We have 2 cats of our own, both adopted at kittens, One a feral and one a stray so I am very sympathetic to cats. Ironically the feral male that sired our kittie is public enemy no. 1 with us! Thanks for being the voice of reason though.
Yrrah - cheers for the tips. Two tins of Polymags on order Always sad to hear of any invasive species causing havoc....... There are native cat species here so I would think the wildlife to be more resilient but the situation here in the resort is so out of hand I have to do something. On a side note, Lizards and iguanas are rare and there's a lot less of certain types of bird than elsewhere I have lived. Still I haven't seen a single rat or mouse which is a plus....
Thanks for all the other comments. Good stuff. Maybe I should organize a Nica feral cat hunt with Scoty and the rest of you! I haven't seen anyone else into airguns in these parts.
Yrrah - cheers for the tips. Two tins of Polymags on order
Always sad to hear of any invasive species causing havoc....... There are native cat species here so I would think the wildlife to be more resilient but the situation here in the resort is so out of hand I have to do something. On a side note, Lizards and iguanas are rare and there's a lot less of certain types of bird than elsewhere I have lived. Still I haven't seen a single rat or mouse which is a plus.... Thanks for all the other comments. Good stuff. Maybe I should organize a Nica feral cat hunt with Scoty and the rest of you! I haven't seen anyone else into airguns in these parts.
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Felis Catus listed at no.38 of the 100 world's worst invasive alien species :
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=24&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN
Nuff said.
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=24&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN
Nuff said.
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I have news for the author, 5 kg is a kitten compared to some here in OZ. My brother weighed one he shot years ago at 27 lb/ 12+kg. Another shot in the same forest was larger. I was told by a Parks and Wildlife rep years ago that the largest he knew of went 34 lb say 15-1/2 kg.
"B. The role of cats
These ferals are all muscle and bone, adapted /evolved over at least 200 years, some think they originated from boats touching our northern shores as far back as 17th century. .... KR, Harry.
"B. The role of cats
- Feral cats kill an estimated 75 million native animals every day across Australia.
- Feral cats are widely acknowledged as the greatest threat to threatened mammals, along with foxes. "
These ferals are all muscle and bone, adapted /evolved over at least 200 years, some think they originated from boats touching our northern shores as far back as 17th century. .... KR, Harry.
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Here's an example. Note it has not been held forward to the camera and with distorted perspective as many pics are to exaggerate size.
..."Graeme says the feral cats in these images probably weighed around 12-15kg."
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2013/06/huge-feral-cats-wreaking-havoc-in-arnhem-land
Regards,Harry.
..."Graeme says the feral cats in these images probably weighed around 12-15kg."
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2013/06/huge-feral-cats-wreaking-havoc-in-arnhem-land
Regards,Harry.
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Yrahh, that is insane! Very easy to see how a handful of those ferals can eliminate a lot of needed/wanted species of animals! That is definitely no house cat! Good riddance I say. I for one hate cats and everything about them.
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Spot on Nomadic Pirate. .22 would work just fine. .25 would be even better IMO. Get your rig dialed in 100% and become deadly accurate at your bait spot range. Sit back and eliminate the problems.
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In oz we shoot on site... collar or not, if you let the domestic cat in the scrub it will breed and the descendants will grow into monster ferals... If you want to have a cat in my area YOU are responsible for making sure it can't enter an area were it can be a target... In other words lock it inside at night or its gone!
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