Feral Cats

[Queequeg]

I remember my friend's Grandad shooting them in the 60s. They've been leading hard lives for a long time. And it seems just like Coyotes they don't seem to be too fazed by culling. Some studies show Coyotes even reproduce more prolifically the harder they're hunted. All that happens when I kill a cat is a new one moves in to the old territory. 

 

[Glenroiland]

Not much to add, to what’s already been said, but as a ranch owner, I’m trying to maintain wildlife habitat, ergo, I shoot them.

Don’t much enjoy it (they’re just out being cats, and somewhere there’s an irresponsible human who’s the real culprit).

Nonetheless, they don’t belong in the ecosystem, they predate native birds, squirrels, young rabbits etc. and at least in Texas, they are considered exotic/invasive and no game warden would tell you to let ferals walk.

Unless your Kirsten Lindsey the texas veterinarian who got her license suspended for shooting a cat.

 

[Glenroiland]

Around us we have many well intentioned people feeding the feral population thereby artificially increasing the population. They dont understand that they are contributing to the problem.

 

[Skillet]

I remember my friend's Grandad shooting them in the 60s. They've been leading hard lives for a long time. And it seems just like Coyotes they don't seem to be too fazed by culling. Some studies show Coyotes even reproduce more prolifically the harder they're hunted. All that happens when I kill a cat is a new one moves in to the old territory.

The same might be said about the Norway Rat, but few would suggest that killing them is pointless.

If a second feral shows, starch that one too and save twice as many songbirds.

 

[Queequeg]

It's a thankless job but you do what you gato do

 

[GiveEmLead]

There's a reason this thread is on its third page.

My main man Moonshine is a mauser. That's a Maltese/schnauzer mix, hence all terrier. He has an enemies list like Nixon. First among them is the squirrel, with cats being a close second. Anything he growls at is hence a cat or squirrel regardless of what it was born as. The dude on the skateboard? Yeah, talented cat. Must die.

In his honor, I aggressively chase cats out of the yard. One morning I find a kitten mewing up in a tree. I was about to give it lead poisoning when the wifer stopped me. Now I really hadn't given it any thought, but she made me think about it, and end of the day, I couldn't pull trigger on it. I think it's some wiring in the hooman brain. Don't shoot critters that you might cuddle with later. I get that, although if you see me cuddling a cat it's because I'm about to kill it and eat it. Yeah, it would take that.

I guess the takeaway is that we each have to decide for ourselves what the priority is. The great thing is that we each have that right. You need to decide what pests need culling or eliminating from your life and do so with righteous purpose. You know what's right and wrong for you. Just do it baby!

 

[JungleShooter]

So, what do those do that do the deed?



(1) Hit Zone: Where do you shoot a feral feline? — Head — or heart/lung?



(2) Power & Projectile:  What power-at-target have you found sufficient — with which caliber and pellet — with which of those two hit zones?



(3) Details of Death: Is it usually DRT — or prolonged death dance — or RADSE (run-and-die-somewhere-else)?



The environmentalists who are trying to save Australia's native bird and reptile species from extinction by feline predators usually use powder burners, so their mileage varies from airguns...

If I ever encountered this kind of feline problem, what recommendations are there for airgunners?

 

[survivor45]

As for shot placement. I happen to have the skull from a domestic cat. Looks like a side shot just above the ear canal. Or from behind right in the center back of the head. Now I have never dispatched a cat with an air rifle. But I certainly understand the need for population control of any pest. 

 

[Guest]

Dogs are property cats aren't. If they are being destructive you should be able to kill them but your local laws may protect them? Don't know?

Never heard of that one 

Any animal can be "property"

Sure, cattle are property. Fowl are property. So are pets with respect to the legal system. We also have a legal liability to protect our livestock (this includes pets) from abuse. We can not allow, for example, someone else's animal to kill our livestock and are fully justified in ending any animal encroaching upon our property and harming the animals in our charge.

But yes sometimes the terms are a bit tortured.

 

[mtnGhost]

Do you eat cats and dogs? These cats and dogs once belong to some owners..maybe they ran away. Or owner left them. I wouldnt shoot a pet that once belong to someone. Unless I'm freaking hungry for cat soup.

No, you are obviously not aware of the fact that pets that run away often produce offspring which go feral. Feral cats and dogs are a rabbies sink which returns the infection into the local animal population (skunks, racoons). This means they often need to be eliminated from the environment. There are any number of other reasons that "pets" which have gone feral need to be removed from the environment.

Well put