Who are these people who are so violently opposed to the proposed “cat bylaw”? Anyone who scoffs at the idea that roaming cats are a nuisance has obviously never tried to grow a garden in the city. Granted, it’s not a life altering issue like the war in Afghanistan or Global Warming. But it’s not the job of City Council to deal with those big problems. City Council’s job is to deal with the little day to day issues of the citizenry of HRM. And roaming cats are one of those little day to day issues. Your leg’s not going to rot off because your toenails are too long, but does that stop you from cutting your goddam toenails? NO. Little problems need attention too.
Look, it’s a stupid idea to require registration for cats. That’s nothing but a tax grab. But no other domestic animal is permitted to roam at large. Dogs, snakes, cows, goats, ferrets, all have to be confined to the owner’s property, or animal control will come and round them up. Why the hell should cats be exempt?
Keep your goddam cats in the house, or expect them to end up as Unlucky Fried Kitten.
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
Colonel, I can understand your frustration in the manner of roaming cats. I myself was victim to a cat destroying my garbage bag and spreading garbage across my lawn but before you go and make such harsh remarks “…expect them to end up as Unlucky Fried Kitten.” please visit this website and reconsider your statement.http://www.petitiononline.com/Winn07/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/Winn07/petition.html
The police won’t enforce it, they’ve said as much. Go buy some “Cat Be Gone” or some such cat repellent. And try decaf. They’re only cats, fur chissakes!
Hey, Michael. I understand how that last comment could be easily misinterpreted. But I didn’t mean to imply that I would take matters into my own hands. What I think should happen is that cats running at large should be rounded up by animal contol, and if the owners don’t come looking for them within a reasonable length of time, the cats be euthanized. I know some people will consider that harsh, but as Carolyne points out, “they’re only cats, fur chrissakes.”Oh, and I think owners should have to pay a fee to collect their beloved felines, to offset the cost of rounding them up in the first place.Oh, and also, according to everyone else in that community, that particular dog was a chronic nuisance, routinely running at large and harassing livestock.
There are so many ways to keep cats out of your gardens. Moth balls placed around the perimeter every foot or so will deter cats and some wild animals too. Try an inexpensive electrical wire fence (line) hookup – cheap and effective. I agree that the feral cats should be rounded up and neutered, but the moment you start talking about killing cats I’m off your team. Racoons, rats, skunks, and various other critters can cause as much (if not more) damage than any cat can and the cats serve a valuable purpose in this PORT village – the keep the rat population under control. You can also place a couple of moth balls on the top of your garbage bins and the cats won’t come near it. They also serve to cut down on flies which reduces maggots. I have an indoor, spaded and declawed cat who is 10 yrs. old. I refuse to buy a license for her. It’s just another one of halifax’s gouge the public schemes.
I’m with BJ in calling bullshit on the licensing of cats. But I’m with the OP in that no other domestic animal is permitted to run at large. Why should cats be the exception? Thanks for the mothball suggestion, BJ. I will definitely try that next spring.
And try putting your garbage in a bin. Just don’t join the drones here in HRM who want to control and license and “signage” every goddamned thing with a Thou Shalt Not” instead of HRM paying attention to the important things. What an arch-conservative town! And i come from Truro!!