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#1
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Outdoor cat poisoning - report back
OK, as promised, I quizzed the vet, who was most helpful. His response:
Antifreeze poisoning simply isn't an issue in New Zealand. He has never seen a case. That's never. However, it is an issue in the UK, where he has also practised, and where it is the leading cause of cat poisoning. It makes sense that this is probably a climate issue - the UK is colder, people are more likely to have antifreeze around and use it. The leading cause of cat poisoning in New Zealand is paracetamol, given by ignorant owners. He has referred me to the Vet Poisoning Information Service, a British organisation, for more info, which I shall look up when I have more time. But he also said poisoning is not the issue with cats that it is for dogs simply because cats don't eat everything they encounter, and that if I check out the VPIS, I will see that cat poisoning hardly rates. Rat poison is also not an issue in New Zealand. There are two aspects to this. 1. Cats won't eat rat poisons. 2. The older rat poisons started having a secondary effect only at the level of about 5 rats - ie, cats would have to eat 5 rats in a row before they started getting any ill effects, and those effects would not be fatal at that level of consumption. Some of the newer poisons being developed do have secondary effects at lower levels, but New Zealand regulations keep those poisons out of the country. He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times. |
#2
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"Ashley" wrote in message
... OK, as promised, I quizzed the vet, who was most helpful. His response: Antifreeze poisoning simply isn't an issue in New Zealand. He has never seen a case. That's never. However, it is an issue in the UK, where he has also practised, and where it is the leading cause of cat poisoning. It makes sense that this is probably a climate issue - the UK is colder, people are more likely to have antifreeze around and use it. The leading cause of cat poisoning in New Zealand is paracetamol, given by ignorant owners. He has referred me to the Vet Poisoning Information Service, a British organisation, for more info, which I shall look up when I have more time. But he also said poisoning is not the issue with cats that it is for dogs simply because cats don't eat everything they encounter, and that if I check out the VPIS, I will see that cat poisoning hardly rates. Rat poison is also not an issue in New Zealand. There are two aspects to this. 1. Cats won't eat rat poisons. 2. The older rat poisons started having a secondary effect only at the level of about 5 rats - ie, cats would have to eat 5 rats in a row before they started getting any ill effects, and those effects would not be fatal at that level of consumption. Some of the newer poisons being developed do have secondary effects at lower levels, but New Zealand regulations keep those poisons out of the country. He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times. ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this issue has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of you go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls and chains off first!). Hugs, CatNipped |
#3
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"CatNipped" wrote in message ... ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this issue has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of you go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls and chains off first!). So you're another one who really likes putting distorted words in people's mouths, huh? Lord, this newsgroup is full of them. |
#4
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"Ashley" wrote in message
... "CatNipped" wrote in message ... ROTFLMAOWTIME!! OK folks, hang it up, the ultimate argument on this issue has been made. Ashley's vet said cats should go outside, so now all of you go open your doors and let your cats outside (be sure to take the balls and chains off first!). So you're another one who really likes putting distorted words in people's mouths, huh? Lord, this newsgroup is full of them. I see you snipped out the section of your post I was responding to. Here I'll add it back so you can read it again (not that I think that will help!)... Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times. " Care to interpret that differently than the way it did??? Hugs, CatNipped |
#5
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"CatNipped" wrote in message ... Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times. " Care to interpret that differently than the way it did??? He's not impressed. That doesn't mean he's telling you what to do - which appears to be a concept a few posters here have difficulty with. He would do it differently, that doesn't mean you have to. If you're genuinely interested in reading a dispassionate debate of the pros and cons of both indoors and outdoors, you might try reading this, which I found while searching for the VPIS (which it appears you can't get the data from unless you're a vet): http://www.fabcats.org/inorout.html |
#6
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"Ashley" wrote in message
news "CatNipped" wrote in message ... Ashley wrote..."He also commented that he was not impressed with the American method of managing risks, ie keeping all cats indoors at all times. " Care to interpret that differently than the way it did??? He's not impressed. That doesn't mean he's telling you what to do - which appears to be a concept a few posters here have difficulty with. He would do it differently, that doesn't mean you have to. If you're genuinely interested in reading a dispassionate debate of the pros and cons of both indoors and outdoors, you might try reading this, which I found while searching for the VPIS (which it appears you can't get the data from unless you're a vet): http://www.fabcats.org/inorout.html Ashley, I don't need to read anything on this subject. Unlike some I have two assets which tell me what to do about my cats regarding keeping them in or letting them out, they're called common sense and observational skills. You can do what you like, obviously, but don't try to convince anyone with either of those assets that letting cats outside is a good idea. Anthropomorphize as much as you like about how cats, like humans, "need to be free to roam". Cats are *NOT* human, can be perfectly happy inside 24/7 and certainly can *only* be safe from outside dangers if they *are* kept inside 24/7. Come back here, like *SO* many others have who let their cats roam outside, and post to the group about how upset you are that you've found your "beloved" kitty lying on the side of the road dead with his intestines hanging out! We'll all cry with you until you get another cat to weep over. I'm sure as your cat lays dying he'll be thinking how "lucky" he is that you're so concerned about his freedom. Hugs, CatNipped |
#7
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Here, counter these facts:
Indoor cats... have a life span of 12 - 20 years are not exposed to disease will not get abscesses from fighting neighborhood strays will not be threatened by dogs or wildlife will not suffer injury or amputation from leghold traps will not suffer from frost bite will not be hit by cars will not get lost will never go hungry cannot be abused by strangers are safe from chemicals and fertilizers cannot be stolen are happy living indoors Outdoor cats... have a life span of only 1 - 5 years will be exposed to leukemia, kitty AIDS, parasites, etc. will fight - causing expensive vet bills are maimed or killed by dogs and predators can get caught in leghold traps do suffer from frost bite are hit by cars and injured or killed do stray from home and get lost can die from starvation are abused by strangers are exposed to toxic lawn antifreeze are stolen breed, if not neutered or spayed, and add to pet overpopulation Disagree? Which of those things above are wrong? OK, I already know, where you live you have none of those dangers right? I think Mary has the right of it - fingers in your ears chanting lalalalalalalalala! Hugs, CatNipped |
#8
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"CatNipped" wrote in message ... Ashley, I don't need to read anything on this subject. Unlike some I have two assets which tell me what to do about my cats regarding keeping them in or letting them out, they're called common sense and observational skills. You still don't get it, do you? I am not in the United States. My cats do not face the dangers cats in the United States face. The world outside your borders is different. I have no objection to you managing your cats and keeping them safe in the way that you think is best for your environment. I can understand that in some of the environments described, it would be best to keep cats inside. What I *do* object to is people who, based on their experiences of their environments, then extrapolate to the fanatical, immovable belief that all cats in all environments should be kept indoors. That is plain ignorance. What I also object to is the unwillinginess to even consider that the world is not all as you see it from your window. |
#9
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"CatNipped" wrote in message ... Here, counter these facts: Indoor cats... have a life span of 12 - 20 years As do outdoor cared-for pets in safe environments are not exposed to disease but are exposed to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity, not to mention anxiety disorders will not get abscesses from fighting neighborhood strays yup, agree will not be threatened by dogs or wildlife yup agree will not suffer injury or amputation from leghold traps yup agree, but then neither will urban cats in New Zealand. will not suffer from frost bite yup agree will not be hit by cars yup agree will not get lost unless they accidentally get out - then it's more likely will never go hungry if they have an owner who ensures that cannot be abused by strangers it is less likely, but there is no guarantee that people inside the home will not abuse them are safe from chemicals and fertilizers you don't keep disinfectant and deterents in your house? cannot be stolen it is less likely, but not impossible are happy living indoors some are, some aren't They're also more likely to find themselves on mood-altering drugs and have their claws lopped off. Outdoor cats... have a life span of only 1 - 5 years Nope. Compare like with like - pets with pets. No ferals. And even then, unless you can produce worldwide figures, your figures relate only to the States. If that is their lifespan, how come my two are both 10, and the vet who saw one of them a couple of weeks ago spoke of him having "at least another 6-10 years"? How come I was having a conversation yesterday with a colleague about her 18yo cat? You've been brainwashed. will be exposed to leukemia, kitty AIDS, parasites, etc. yup. Parsites are easily treatable, most other diseases can be vaccinated against. will fight - causing expensive vet bills Antibiotics ain't expensive are maimed or killed by dogs and predators can get caught in leghold traps depends on where you are. I know of one cat that has been killed or maimed by a dog. And that was before laws changed to make it illegal to let dogs roam. Any roaming dog now runs a very high risk of spending the rest of its life at the pound. We don't have leghold traps in the suburbs, only in the wilderness areas where, whether anyone likes it or not, cats *will* be killed for the sake of the environment anyway. do suffer from frost bite not here they don't. And not anywhere where they've got free access to a cat door. Or a warm barn. are hit by cars and injured or killed yup. A risk that can be minimised by choosing your house carefully, neutering your pets and keeping them indoors at night. do stray from home and get lost see above can die from starvation if they're ferals, yup. If they're pets, no. are abused by strangers very occasionally are exposed to toxic lawn antifreeze not here, they're not are stolen very rarely - more of a risk with expensive pedigrees than with moggies breed, if not neutered or spayed, and add to pet overpopulation but as pets *are* neutered and spayed, this isn't part of the issue, is it? That's actually a straw man Disagree? Which of those things above are wrong? OK, I already know, where you live you have none of those dangers right? I think Mary has the right of it - fingers in your ears chanting lalalalalalalalala! I appear to be the one with my eye open, here. |
#10
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"Ashley" wrote in message
... They're also more likely to find themselves on mood-altering drugs and have their claws lopped off. OK, now we've come full circle - you've just confirmed yourself a troll. Have you *read* any of my other posts in this group?? Hugs, CatNipped |
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