Grow Your Own Magazine

And where do you draw the line?

No where in this thread has anyone addressed any of the issues I have raised by offering an acceptable solution that works, works well and doesn't cost money. It wasn't me advocating the use of carpet gripper, by the way, and if you had bothered to read the whole thread you would see that my previous comments have some support from respected members of this site.

I guess you think people should just shut up and put up as far as cats are concerned, and use threats of the RSPCA to try and shut people up.

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Veni, Vidi, Velcro.
I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Sorry to use selective quotes but ........

Hey - close the thread

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Nell

It was no threat. This thread has been reported. I draw the line of barbaric suggestions of carpet gripper being made. At no point have I stated that people should just shut up and put up. But people should use their brains before making these types of unlawful suggestions.

I have read a number of humane solutions that have been offered. However, every pest solution has some cost. No solution is completely free.

I appreciate that you did not make this suggestion and apologise to you. I had clicked on q reply instead post reply.

I asked for this thread to be deleted many posts ago..

In saying that..

I think you are a Slug Soomai for reporting fellow members..

See that cat,thats you



Geo..

Just putting this one in so that those who may not have read the whole thread know that I am not a cat hater at all. I am an owner and lover of cats having had them as pets all my life and would be happy to invite any RSPCA inspector into my home to check on them, my dogs and my fences.

And now to this. It was an ill advised comment and I apologise to any of you it offended but in my eyes this thread has just turned plain nasty. I would never aim to hurt my cats or one belonging to somebody else and am incredibly upset that more than a few of you feel that I would. It was meant only as a response to a post wondering if there is a way of finding cheaper solution to the fence toppers sold by some companies. Again I apologise for it, however, anybody offended could have PM'd me and I would have removed the post and posted an apology without the abuse.
I don't plan on returning to this thread, so don't feel you need to respond.

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I'd rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

http://hollandsroadparadise.blogspot.com
updated 14 May 2008

my post started off the discussion about carpet grippers and I feel bad because I intended the suggestion in my post to be a safe for the cat deterrent. Other posters said these panels work so carpet grippers don't even need to be mentioned or used for cruelty

This was always going to be a heated debate wasn't it?!

I think the security or 'anti-bird' strips are a good idea, but I would suggest it is the responsibility of the cat owner to stop the cat getting out of their garden, rather than that of everyone else in the local neighbourhood to stop the cat getting in.

I doubt carpet grippers would 'shred' a cat's paws. I've stepped on one in bare feet before, and it was uncomfortable but not harmful. I doubt they would even work as a deterrent - the spikes probably aren't close enough together, or big enough to stop a cat scrambling over. Either way, if a cat's owner bears the cost and effort of securing their own garden, they can easily create a safe environment for their pet.

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Resistance is fertile

No need to delete this thread. There are many valid and valuable comments regarding acceptable means of cat control. I think all that is required is moderation of some sentences and posts by some cat lovers and haters alike.

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http://plot62.blogspot.com/

Hi Paul

... For 'Heated' read 'Snoozeworthy' debate. I think this is going round in circles. Simple stuff... bad cat/owners..OWNERS of course.

Just because feline fanciers think the limit of their responsibility is a can of whiskers every day or three the rest of us must put up with their pets. I don't think I should like to hurt even a cruel animal like a cat but, as I and many others have said many posts ago... 'Introduce licensing, get collars with bells and tags, get them spayed, provide clean litter and keep them on your property.' The proceeds should fund a round up of feral cats. If you can't afford it/look after it don't keep a pet

Just had that big tabby sniffing round my chickens again. Oh, but then that's OK for the folk in our street(we think we know where it lives now) to go out to work all day and let their animal out to worry MY guinea pigs and chickens on MY PROPERTY. So it follows that I don't have to stop my chooks scratching up their garden then?..."Oh sorry they must have escaped -can't blame them it's in their nature"

I remember one innovative chap I saw on telly once was so fed up he went to the trouble and expense of installing a movement censored sprinkler system! I suppose that might traumatize poor 'Tiddles'

Finally I seem to remember from when I took in a stray (or rather it adopted me) in London that the she was found by our neighbours giving birth in a ditch and then very quickly had more kittens (that I had to home) before I payed for it to be snipped and generally innoculated,wormed, deflead -It was well fed had a litter try and a lot more friendly after that...a pleasure to know and no more mouse problems.

As distasteful as this French chopping their heads off thing sounds to me I don't suppose it is any worse than the traditional British method of a weighted sack in the canal. The trouble is that breeding cats don't make good pets that stay at home..they are a liability and the feral cat population MUST be contained..Surely even cat owners must see that having fighting cats on the block is a danger to their pets(and liable to result in vet bills)

What is this link to the telegraph I can't seem to remove in the trackback section- are we to be censored now? is big brother watching? Are people obliged to follow the more outrageous advice on this site? can we not do what we wish on our own gardens(within the law)....Can we now not discuss what we wish? And streuth ...I just HATE tell-tales.

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

The link to the trackback section must be my fault, I apologise. I was just trying to provide link on one of my posts and have evidently inserted it elsewhere by accident. I know about as much about trackbacks as I do about slug control!

I thought it just provided a link for anyone clicking on my old message to read the story, perhaps trying to provide a calming influence. Missed the point there again!

Anyway, if it was my fault will one of you computer whizz kids tell me how to delete it and I will do so if I am the only one who can do so. No big brother meant, no censorship implied, no criticism meant, no opnion, no nothing (turns into little white dog from car advert, shivering and mumbling -I would provide a link but anything could happen)

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Nell

In the long distant past (around1100ish) a king who was a cat lover gave them the freedom to roam wherever and whenever they wished. There are now plants called cat scarer which are supposed to deter them and lion poo really does work. We none of use like cat dirt but they are truely beautiful creatures and I still miss mine every day. He was nearly 30 when he went and even the dogs missed him.

With respect I don't think that there were so many cats around in the year 1100.

I have arrived home this evening ironically enough to listen in graphic details to my wife explaining how she tried in vain to stop a local cat dismembering a blackbird chick this afternoon

My lottie nieghbours' dog is the spit of that dog in character too.

Happy I shan't be in print then...not that !'m even interesting enough to get in GYO!!

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

Paulottie - you hit the nail on the head that I have been trying to get across to people - within the law.

Lets all turn a blind eye and let everyone do what they want, how they want. That would be an interesting and dangerous world.

Unfortunately in todays world I see the art of common sense disappearing rapidly. Therefore strongly believe that before giving advice just double check it is legal.

I'm all for tale telling if it saves a life, stops a thief, helps someone find out who vandalised their property.... I could go on with many more examples. Can you honestly answer that you have never told on someone for the greater good.

I'm not sure anything illegal has been suggested here(distasteful yes).
Turning a blind eye ...The French have a great expression "mele toi de tes onions" (tend to your own onions)

I don't see any life threatening situations, or anybody being robbed or criminal damage for that matter( but telling the owner is not the same as the authorities) This is just a discussion which hopefully will infact STOP people doing anything cruel to an animal. I think you will find the Grapes here have abundant common sense (thank you) and we are a pretty self regulating bunch...Very few debates or posts get so personal to require deletion or even comment by the Moderators

I went to boarding school aged seven and even spent a spell in gaol many moons ago. You don't thrive long in life if you tell teacher rather than fight your own battles...And whilst I am opinionated, sometimes wrong and a devil's advocate: I am not so conceited as to believe myself the judge of the 'greater good.' nor wish others injudicial comments to be censored. Anyway I certainly wouldn't consider your moggy the greater good.

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

"Very few debates or posts get so personal to require deletion or even comment by the Moderators"

"Anyway I certainly wouldn't consider your moggy the greater good." A less personal comment would have been "Anyway I certainly wouldn't consider any moggy the greater good"

"I think you are a Slug Soomai for reporting fellow members.." A less personal would have been " I don't think you followed the right course of action by reporting fellow members"

Are the above two sentences not personal to me then.

To all that have made the assumption that I have come on to this thread from the point of view of a cat lover the believes cat should roam. How wrong you all are. Please point out the comment that I have made to suggest this. I decided to get involved as I was concerned about the unlawful method that was being suggested. Anything that is put up that would hurt an animal that is not legally classed as a pest is an offence.

I now understand and have taken advice from the threads that have not been helpful that there was a better course of action for me to take. I am always willing to learn by mistakes and state I was wrong when challenged in a mature and non-personal manor.

Maybe that's the problem in this world today, lack of morals and knowing the difference from good and bad and standing up for what you believe in. We all judge, none of us can see we do not. However, so many of us do not stand up so many of us turn a blind eye.

I guess now you are all going to judge me and post more personal comments about me, rather than about the topic in hand. After all I'm just a name on a forum, not a person in front of you.

Soomai- when this thread dies down I expect people will just get back to the world of gardening.
Nothing wrong with a heated debate- in fact it's been interesting for those of us just following it.
I really had no idea people hated cats so much!

i used to have a cat and an unusal soul she was, she liked baths!!! and would jump in before or while you got in if you where not careful. she hated going outside if i put her out the door would beg to come in would only go in the litter tray and was scared of plants (loved my curtains though) she was a lazy persian and only friendly to certain people. When i had to move back to my parents my mum was attacked by a cat as a child and now very phobic i gave her to some friends who really wanted a cat. She was like a sterotyped teenager with step parents trashed their garden when they sent her out ripped the £3000 sofa decimated the four poster bed and attacked his beloved birds in the avery and wild ones in the garden while settling in, and as they love her to bits have not deterred her and let her get away with it, although he got rid of his avery. shes very happy maybe my only grass garden at the time was too boring for her and the flower tubs scared her, or maybe she knew if she trashed the furniture my hubby would not have let her get away with it. miss her but shes the only cat for streets and my friends spoil her rotten.
As for dealing with neighbours cats cat poo, find out which house each cat lives in and when it toilets in your garden bag it up put a note with it saying you caught the cat in action your garden is not a toilet so you have returned their cats property. They may think twice about keeping a cat or getting another especially if other houses on the street do this as well as you.!!!!!!! goodluck

Landmines work

This is the stuff I was thinking about - I've found it for less than £2 pe