How to stop cats killing?

Buddy wrote:
Hunting and killing is a cat's instinct. The only way you are going to
stop it is to keep your cats indoors. Putting a muzzle on it and
letting it outside is giving it a death sentence. How in the world
will it protect itself?

Please note that I have not muzzled my cats and am not intending to. I
have only mentioned muzzling to get some creative ideas rolling.

Saying that putting a muzzle on a cat IS "giving it a death sentence"
might be a bit strong, don't you think? After all, it depends on the
circumstances. It COULD be a death sentence in a CERTAIN circumstance
perhaps. On the other hand, other factors would need to be kept in
mind. Cats have claws and they certainly know how to use them when
confronted. They also have well developed legs and know to use them
when it is best to get to hell away from an enemy. Dogs are often
muzzled and, what is more, there are different kinds of muzzles. Some
muzzles allows creatures to open their mouths and pant . . . but not to
be able to bite.

On 27 Mar 2006 13:15:10 GMT, Brandy Alexandre
wrote:


Get used to the idea that they're cats and just like it's natural to
run free, it's natural for them to hunt and kill. It's what cats do.

Have to agree with you there Brandy - We may not like what they do,
but isn't that 'wildness' why we love them?


http://www.black-cat-gfx.co.uk/

"A cat is only technically an animal,
being divine" - Robert Lynd

On 27 Mar 2006 13:13:33 GMT, Brandy Alexandre
wrote:


What is it climbs a tree and gets the muzzle entangled in small
branches? It could wind up a hanging just like a non-breakaway collar.

With you totally there.

Also, the claws are for holding onto its prey/victim, The teeth are
what it it really using as a defense.

Hmmm...... Can't really see a dog being threatened by the size of a
cats fangs, but a cats strike with its claws is upto seven times
faster than a dogs jaws (Courtesy of Dr. Bruce Fogel). Most dogs like
their snouts unbloodied.




http://www.black-cat-gfx.co.uk/

"A cat is only technically an animal,
being divine" - Robert Lynd

Matthew wrote-

If I could figure out how to put a constant
flashing bulb on them like the planes
have and they would not be hurt by it. I
would do it in a heart beat.

There are mini circuits available to activate a flashing LED using a
button battery (you have probably seen them in the super market aisles
for advertising). They could be attached to a cat's collar and would
not add much weight.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

"Brandy Alexandre" wrote in message
What is it climbs a tree and gets the muzzle entangled in small
branches? It could wind up a hanging just like a non-breakaway collar.
Also, the claws are for holding onto its prey/victim, The teeth are
what it it really using as a defense.



IMO it wouldn't ever come to that- most animals will nearly tear their face
up trying to get a muzzle *off*. I am a very long time groomer and would
never ever advocate leaving a muzzle on any animal when it is not attended.
They can literally become frenzied and half the time get their front paws
tangled up in it as well.

*And* FWIW - all cat muzles I recall ever having seen cover the eyes as
well. Not much use at all beyond actual hands on procedures.


--
Toni
http://www.irish-wolfhounds.com

Mike Ii would just worry about possible heat causing a burn plus battery
life

"---MIKE---" wrote in message
...
Matthew wrote-

If I could figure out how to put a constant
flashing bulb on them like the planes
have and they would not be hurt by it. I
would do it in a heart beat.

There are mini circuits available to activate a flashing LED using a
button battery (you have probably seen them in the super market aisles
for advertising). They could be attached to a cat's collar and would
not add much weight.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

Brandy Alexandre wrote:
What is it climbs a tree and gets the muzzle entangled in small
branches? It could wind up a hanging just like a non-breakaway collar.
Also, the claws are for holding onto its prey/victim, The teeth are
what it it really using as a defense.

OK. Thanks for this. Well, every nine days my cats have all their
claws trimmed. This has been the case since they were kittens. Hence
when inside they play with other with complete abandon, wrestling and
"fighting", knowing they can never hurt each other. But the main point
is: they climb very few trees, and those they can climb must have
branches very close to the ground, and they don't get far up. If they
were to get hooked on a branch and they had muzzles on, I expect they'ld
get free of them as well as they get their collars free of them. As
for skirmishes with other animals, there have been one or two, but they
have never got to the teeth stage. There's usually just a lot of
growling and posturing, and then maybe, if things go too far, some
hissing followed by some claw-work!

Toni wrote:
I am a very long time groomer and would
never ever advocate leaving a muzzle on any animal when it is not attended.
They can literally become frenzied and half the time get their front paws
tangled up in it as well.
*And* FWIW - all cat muzles I recall ever having seen cover the eyes as
well. Not much use at all beyond actual hands on procedures.

One member here has sent me a private message directing me to a site
selling "cat muzzles" and, as you say, they don't allow sight, in fact
they almost completely surround the entire face, being the shape of a
cone, with a hole at the end to allow air in for breathing. Well,
clearly that's a cat-grooming muzzle . . . and there don't seem to be
any simple strap-like muzzles designed purely to stop the cat opening
its mouth fully. There could well be an opportunity here for the
entrepreneur. I see an eminent politician has called for all cats which
are allowed outside to be appropriately muzzled, because, he says, they
are severely detrimental to wildlife and the survival of vulnerable
species.

deci wrote:
Hmmm...... Can't really see a dog being threatened by the size of a
cats fangs, but a cats strike with its claws is upto seven times
faster than a dogs jaws (Courtesy of Dr. Bruce Fogel). Most dogs like
their snouts unbloodied.

Having been attacked when cat-sitting the very very bad-tempered cat of
a neighbour . . . I totally agree. I'm quick and pretty nimble but
every time that bad-tempered little b**** of a cat has decided to rebuke
my offer to stroke her or play with her she has flung out a paw and
ripped the finest line of blood through my chin or down my cheek. (I
reckon she's riddle with parasites, but her owners refuse to go near a
vet and pay out for a de-worming tablet!)

PawsForThought wrote:
OP, why not build an outdoor enclosure for the cats?

An enclosure. Hmmm. Well, it would have to be a mighty big one for my
two not to consider it a cage. At the moment they go out at 11.30am and
come back in for dinner at 4.30pm and then they happily stay inside
until 11.30 the next day. All through that time they are "caged", from
their point of view. The thrill of going out, for them, is clearly the
thrill of being truly free. I can see what you are getting at but I
would still prefer to let them roam naturally, satisfying their
inexhaustible curiosity etc., but if there were some device that would
stop them killing that would be great. I sincerely believe that there
is a way round this. Maybe it just hasn't been invented yet!