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#41
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Phil P wrote in k.net
on 02 Feb 2004: This information is courtesy of Alley Cat Allies (ACA). Many thanks to them! So much good info in this article but regretably, I had to snip all but a little I wanted to comment on. Thanks for taking the time to post this. Many zoologists have observed that feral cats are mostly scavengers, hanging out next to dumpsters to wait for a hand out. Peter Neville, a pet behaviorist and author of many books on cats, worked in England for two decades with feral colonies. Neville states, "a deliberate strategy of scavenging has enabled many feral cats almost to give up hunting altogether. They may learn instead to lie around waste bins of hotels for fresh supplies or to cadge from well-meaning human providers in urban areas." With just a small number of feral cats to observe here, I've noticed that the behavior of scavenging and/or waiting for handouts is mainly the way they find food. Only one here I'd noticed hunted, and he only hunted baby squirrels and mice/voles. My own feral Bonnie doesn't seem to know how to hunt and is learning to simulate it through play. She won't eat meat, won't eat any wet food at all and only eats dry cat food since that was what I left out last winter when she was a small kitten before I trapped her. One thing I've noticed with the stalking action is that once they set their sites on their "prey" (toy in this case) they are relentless at trying to capture it. The "game" can only end once it has been caught or else I end up with panting, overtired kitties. Sometimes it takes a while for the first pounce, but once it begins, they will do backflips trying to get the toy. Fascinating to watch and observe. Double Standards At this time in history when the human population causes so much destruction to the earth, we need to remind ourselves of our species' responsibility and consider our 'double standards'. We often excuse or ignore the devastation done to the environment by humans and the results of this destruction on our wildlife So true. This statement, and the one that follows: The main problem is mankind, not cats. -- Cheryl Trapped like rats. In a chia-pet. MIB II |
#42
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"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message ashington.edu... Thanks for the response, Alison. I will be watching for your study; keep us posted! Pity we can't communicate from my Campus Cats address, but I can't reach you directly and my psycho spam cop won't let you into Campus Cats. Sharon Talbert We need a go-between. BG Alison |
#43
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"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message ashington.edu... Thanks for the response, Alison. I will be watching for your study; keep us posted! Pity we can't communicate from my Campus Cats address, but I can't reach you directly and my psycho spam cop won't let you into Campus Cats. Sharon Talbert We need a go-between. BG Alison |
#44
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"Phil P" wrote in message k.net... " By the time the truth finally gets out--- its too late. That's depressing - Here're a couple more from my files - I don't have the urls so I posted the entire articles because I think they're good -- Not many orgs in my book have more credibility than Alley Cat Allies'. It seems to be "he who shouts the loudest gets heard " and there seem to be powerful organisations in the US who are anti-cat and who are shouting the loudest. I wonder how much co-ordination there is between the pro -cat groups? I have to review any data on cat predation on one species in an essay of 1500 max words so it will be limited .I'll be doing sparrows and the C&L, Mammal rSociety Report so this info and everyones opinions will be a great help . Alison |
#45
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"Phil P" wrote in message k.net... " By the time the truth finally gets out--- its too late. That's depressing - Here're a couple more from my files - I don't have the urls so I posted the entire articles because I think they're good -- Not many orgs in my book have more credibility than Alley Cat Allies'. It seems to be "he who shouts the loudest gets heard " and there seem to be powerful organisations in the US who are anti-cat and who are shouting the loudest. I wonder how much co-ordination there is between the pro -cat groups? I have to review any data on cat predation on one species in an essay of 1500 max words so it will be limited .I'll be doing sparrows and the C&L, Mammal rSociety Report so this info and everyones opinions will be a great help . Alison |
#46
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"Cheryl" wrote in message ... With just a small number of feral cats to observe here, I've noticed that the behavior of scavenging and/or waiting for handouts is mainly the way they find food. Only one here I'd noticed hunted, and he only hunted baby squirrels and mice/voles. My own feral Bonnie doesn't seem to know how to hunt and is learning to simulate it through play. She won't eat meat, won't eat any wet food at all and only eats dry cat food since that was what I left out last winter when she was a small kitten before I trapped her. One thing I've noticed with the stalking action is that once they set their sites on their "prey" (toy in this case) they are relentless at trying to capture it. The "game" can only end once it has been caught or else I end up with panting, overtired kitties. Sometimes it takes a while for the first pounce, but once it begins, they will do backflips trying to get the toy. Fascinating to watch and observe. Hi Cheryl, Bonnie sounds a handful! Kim is more staid, though she does like to play chase with the dog They're so graceful and agile cats. It still surprises me what they can do . It takes a cat about 10 to 15 attempts to make one successful catch . If it misses first time , it loses the prey and moves on to another place, so to catch one just victim takes a fair amount of time and effort. It takes a lot of practise and skill to hunt , catch and actually kill , some cats rarely or can't complete the sequence . The more successful a cat is at hunting, the more he feels rewarded and encouraged to carry on thus becoming more adept and so on. Perhaps this is why some pet cats seem to be "killers" more than others. The main problem is mankind, not cats. Absolutely ! Alison |
#47
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"Cheryl" wrote in message ... With just a small number of feral cats to observe here, I've noticed that the behavior of scavenging and/or waiting for handouts is mainly the way they find food. Only one here I'd noticed hunted, and he only hunted baby squirrels and mice/voles. My own feral Bonnie doesn't seem to know how to hunt and is learning to simulate it through play. She won't eat meat, won't eat any wet food at all and only eats dry cat food since that was what I left out last winter when she was a small kitten before I trapped her. One thing I've noticed with the stalking action is that once they set their sites on their "prey" (toy in this case) they are relentless at trying to capture it. The "game" can only end once it has been caught or else I end up with panting, overtired kitties. Sometimes it takes a while for the first pounce, but once it begins, they will do backflips trying to get the toy. Fascinating to watch and observe. Hi Cheryl, Bonnie sounds a handful! Kim is more staid, though she does like to play chase with the dog They're so graceful and agile cats. It still surprises me what they can do . It takes a cat about 10 to 15 attempts to make one successful catch . If it misses first time , it loses the prey and moves on to another place, so to catch one just victim takes a fair amount of time and effort. It takes a lot of practise and skill to hunt , catch and actually kill , some cats rarely or can't complete the sequence . The more successful a cat is at hunting, the more he feels rewarded and encouraged to carry on thus becoming more adept and so on. Perhaps this is why some pet cats seem to be "killers" more than others. The main problem is mankind, not cats. Absolutely ! Alison |
#48
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Alison wrote in on 04 Feb 2004:
Hi Cheryl, Bonnie sounds a handful! Kim is more staid, though she does like to play chase with the dog They're so graceful and agile cats. It still surprises me what they can do . She sure is! I've been trying pick her up lately, but she's so wiggly and wiley it makes it hard to get my hands around her. But when successful, she just crouches and stiffens up like she thinks I'm going to eat her. lol It sure is taking a while with this one. Other than picking her up, she's mostly ok and acts like a normal house cat. But she still has a very feral side. It takes a cat about 10 to 15 attempts to make one successful catch . If it misses first time , it loses the prey and moves on to another place, so to catch one just victim takes a fair amount of time and effort. It takes a lot of practise and skill to hunt , catch and actually kill , some cats rarely or can't complete the sequence . The more successful a cat is at hunting, the more he feels rewarded and encouraged to carry on thus becoming more adept and so on. Perhaps this is why some pet cats seem to be "killers" more than others. Interesting. I've heard some or one of the strays catching rodents at night (mice or voles) and judging by the screams of the rodent, it seems like the hunt for a single one goes on for a while. I guess it is better not to actually see the hunt? While I feel bad for the prey, I'm more in awe of the hunter. I may be a minority about this but I know there are hunters and hunted. It is nature. While I won't step in and stop it, I try not to encourage it. When strays are hanging out a lot like now, I don't fill the bird feeder. If prey is captured and it isn't because of my making it easier because I create a feeding station for birds while I know there is a danger, I can't do anything about that. I'm still in awe of the hunter. The thing that bugs me is that I can't stop birds from eating the cat food I leave out, and during the winter I won't stop feeding everyone. -- Cheryl Trapped like rats. In a chia-pet. MIB II |
#49
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Alison wrote in on 04 Feb 2004:
Hi Cheryl, Bonnie sounds a handful! Kim is more staid, though she does like to play chase with the dog They're so graceful and agile cats. It still surprises me what they can do . She sure is! I've been trying pick her up lately, but she's so wiggly and wiley it makes it hard to get my hands around her. But when successful, she just crouches and stiffens up like she thinks I'm going to eat her. lol It sure is taking a while with this one. Other than picking her up, she's mostly ok and acts like a normal house cat. But she still has a very feral side. It takes a cat about 10 to 15 attempts to make one successful catch . If it misses first time , it loses the prey and moves on to another place, so to catch one just victim takes a fair amount of time and effort. It takes a lot of practise and skill to hunt , catch and actually kill , some cats rarely or can't complete the sequence . The more successful a cat is at hunting, the more he feels rewarded and encouraged to carry on thus becoming more adept and so on. Perhaps this is why some pet cats seem to be "killers" more than others. Interesting. I've heard some or one of the strays catching rodents at night (mice or voles) and judging by the screams of the rodent, it seems like the hunt for a single one goes on for a while. I guess it is better not to actually see the hunt? While I feel bad for the prey, I'm more in awe of the hunter. I may be a minority about this but I know there are hunters and hunted. It is nature. While I won't step in and stop it, I try not to encourage it. When strays are hanging out a lot like now, I don't fill the bird feeder. If prey is captured and it isn't because of my making it easier because I create a feeding station for birds while I know there is a danger, I can't do anything about that. I'm still in awe of the hunter. The thing that bugs me is that I can't stop birds from eating the cat food I leave out, and during the winter I won't stop feeding everyone. -- Cheryl Trapped like rats. In a chia-pet. MIB II |
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