No leash for felines: Michigan laws unequal for cats, dogs
Josh Guerrlich, 9, leans on his mom Robin as dad John, all of Ann Arbor, pets a black and white tuxedo kitten during the 6th annual Kitty Palooza at the Humane Society of Huron Valley in 2010.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com file photo
Unlike dogs, cats don’t have to be vaccinated against rabies, licensed or restrained in Michigan - leaving counties and cities on their own to decide how cats and their owners should be treated under the law.
“Humans let cats come and go; we don’t do that so much with our dogs,” said Linda Reider, director of statewide initiatives for the Michigan Humane Society. “Our culture is different with cats than with dogs.”
Dogs have to adhere to tighter restrictions because of the Michigan Dog Law of 1919. Originally, the law’s intention was to reduce the risk of a dog biting a human and transmitting rabies, or from roaming and damaging livestock.
“There was a problem more with loose dogs biting people and they wanted to make sure people were safe from a terrible disease,” Reider said.
Dog licensing was developed as a way to track rabies vaccinations in dogs, which is required by state law. Washtenaw County officials have reported compliance with dog licensing is about 11 percent.
Reider said cat licensing is difficult to enforce in municipalities that have passed such ordinances, as many cats wander from house to house and multiple people feed them, Reider said.
“Many cat owners don’t want to license their cats - they don’t see the purpose of it,” Reider said. “At the Michigan Humane Society, our stance on owned cats is that the safest place for owned cats is to be is in the home or under direct supervision.”
Ordinances that prohibit pet cats from roaming at large are typically complaint-inspired and complaint-enforced, Reider said.
In Washtenaw County, several cities have taken their own steps to implement some restrictions on the pet cat population.
Ann Arbor’s ordinance pertaining to cats require the animals to be vaccinated against rabies. Ypsilanti has a similar ordinance, in that dogs and cats must have rabies vaccines if they are in public places.
The two cities are the only municipalities in the county to require pet owners to vaccinate their cats against rabies.
In Michigan, there are more stray cats than there are dogs, Reider said.
There is less of a dog rabies problem now than there was in 1919, Reider said. Bats are the most predominant carrier of rabies in Michigan.
Cats typically come into contact with a bat more often than dogs do, leaving a population of vulnerable animals that may not be vaccinated against rabies because it’s not mandatory, Reider said.
“It’s been estimated that there are as many free roaming cats as there are owned pet cats,” Reider said.
However, neither of Ann Arbor nor Ypsilanti have ordinances that would make cats running at large illegal - whether they’re pet cats or cats without owners.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley recommends to its adopting owners that they keep their cats indoors - but should an owner want an outside cat, HSHV advises fitting the cat with a breakaway collar with an identification tag and a microchip.
“There’s a mentality that cat’s aren’t happy unless they’re outside and I don’t think that’s true,” said Deb Kern, marketing director for HSHV.
Kern said the Ann Arbor area community needs to have a conversation about the need to identify pet cats so they’re not observed as strays.
In Saline, Manchester and Milan, each of those cities has ordinances that make it illegal for a cat to run at large off an owner’s premises and not within reasonable control.
Other Michigan cities have taken a stricter approach. In Battle Creek, all dogs and cats must be licensed and any animal - whether licensed or unlicensed - must be on a leash a maximum of eight feet long if traveling beyond the owner’s property.
Frankenmuth also has a strict cat ordinance. Cats must be licensed as well. Should a cat roam at large, the owner would be charged a $25 fine for the first offense, $50 for a second offense and $250 for each offense after that.
The number of pets Frankenmuth residents are allowed to have is limited to two dogs and two cats under the city’s ordinance.
Kern said licensing cats would help shelters tremendously.
“Cats are more free-roaming and people might wait a while for the cat to circle back,” Kern said.
Under state law, if a cat does not have any identification and is put in to the care of an animal shelter, the shelter can post the cat for adoption after three days. Many more pet owners visit animal shelters to search for their lost dogs than their lost cats, Kern said.
HSHV attempted to pursue cat licensing during a series of discussions they had with Washtenaw County officials in 2012 regarding animal control service levels, but there was no traction to pursue such an ordinance, said Tanya Hilgendorf, president and CEO of HSHV.
Licenses could help track vaccines and could help match lost cats back to their owners quicker - thereby reducing shelter costs, Hilgendorf said. Licenses would also generate revenue from fees that could be used to fund animal control services.
Outside of Michigan, some states that have attempted a proactive approach to implement laws concerning identification, vaccination and licensing of cats:
- California’s include possession requirements for non-domestic cats, as well as vaccination and impound procedures for domestic cats. Legislative policy standards are also written for feral cats.
- Maine’s include rabies vaccination requirements, stray cat procedures and animal trespass statues that exclude cats from its purview.
- Rhode Island may have the most strict cat law of them all: Its laws create a “Cat Identification Program” and require cats to display some kind of identification - including a tag or tattoo - to reduce the feral/stray cat problem. Cats without identification are impounded for less time.
- Virginia: A county, city or town can prohibit a person from owning a cat unless it is licensed.
- Wisconsin: A county board of commissioners in a county with more than 500,000 people can enact a cat-licensing ordinance.
Though the measure was defeated, a law introduced in Wisconsin in 2005 that would have allowed hunters to shoot any cat found roaming free that did not have a collar or other signs of domestic ownership.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
jns131
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
Dogs may be leashed to keep them from getting into trouble. But a loose cat causes more birds to die and certain populations to almost become extinct due to a negligent owner who lets their cat run free during the day. Sorry but cats do need leashes and need to be contained. Don't believe me about the bird population? Ask any ornithologist. i am a dog person and really hate cats who just come up to you and want attention. Please keep your cat leashed.
laura1234
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 7:04 p.m.
We live in a neighborhood with a friendly outdoor cat. My toddler son and I have enjoyed watching him walk in our backyard, and it's been a good opportunity to talk about not running up and petting/grabbing animals we don't know. The cat is also welcome to eat any rabbits that are destroying my garden. I would not feel the same about a wandering dog. While I'm generally more of a dog person than a cat person, I want the dog's owner around to control it. A cat with a nasty personality is likely to run away, whereas a dog is more likely to be aggressive.
Cendra Lynn
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 4 a.m.
I plan to live-trap cats that come into my yard to prey on birds and baby bunnies. People unwilling to keep their cats indoors had better put ID on them if they want their cats back.
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
Catching a skunk in a live trap is not an issue. Even if one moves the trap, the skunk wont spray unless provoked.
Top Cat
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 12:45 p.m.
I hope you catch a skunk!
Sue
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:55 a.m.
I've never heard of a cat attacking a child and mauling it to death, so I don't think they need to be restrained like dogs do. Obviously all pets should have rabies shots and cats should be neutered/spayed, especially if they go outdoors.
rsa221
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3 a.m.
A law mandating the spaying or neutering of owned cats should be discussed. There are way too many cats dumped at shelters and outside to become homeless; the homeless stray cats and their progeny contribute to the wandering cat problem mentioned here.
rsa221
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:15 a.m.
Also, while wandering owned cats should be fixed as well, I think it's best for the cat and one's neighbors to keep companion cats strictly indoors. Our cat seems to enjoy fresh air and so on via a screened window. I'd be happy to license her if a spay/neuter requirement is included. Then licensing fees should go toward subsidizing spay/neuter surgeries, preferably at the humane society or low-cost clinics.
Unknown
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:58 p.m.
It's ridiculous that cats are allowed to run wild and roam into other people's yards! This law needs to change now.
justcurious
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:45 p.m.
yawn.......
Machine
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:14 p.m.
If we want cats and dogs treated equally, the city better have as may cat parks as they do dog parks. After all, cats will need places where they can run off-leash occasionally too. Or maybe the current parks can serve double duty by being available to cats and dogs on alternating days.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:53 p.m.
I hope you are not suggesting we revisit the doctrine of Separate but Equal.
Machine
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:15 p.m.
Oops - *many. I wish we could edit typos.
David Frye
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:09 p.m.
I can guarantee that my blind, nearly toothless 15-year-old pug is less of a public menace than almost any cat out there, but he still complies with all the laws governing dogs. And he has never once killed a songbird just to watch it die.
NUXI
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:28 p.m.
I think the law should treat all animals equally, with some being more equal than others.
Gill
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:24 p.m.
Yes, keep your humans on leashes.
Jack Gladney
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 9:01 p.m.
Two legs good. Four legs bad.
Ric
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:31 p.m.
Well, as a paper boy in AA in the 50s I was never attacked by a cat. Dogs, yes!
A2JetSet
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
I have to leash, license and get rabies shots for my 5-lb Yorkie. He gets beat up daily by the 20-lb cat from next door that is allowed to roam and has never seen the inside of a veterinary office. Bullying shouldn't be allowed for ANYONE, man nor beast! Who's with me?!?
Themadcatter
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 6:57 p.m.
I have probably owned well over 50 cats in my life. All indoor/outdoor. Never had one die from a contagious disease - have had some die of cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, old age, etc. Nearly all were in their teens with they died. Never had my cats attack anyone, although I have had other cats attack me out of fear. When I was younger I taught my cats to walk on a leash. Some did quite well, but it's not for all cats. I have no problem with licensing cats - however I do have an issue with forcing a cat to wear a collar to wear a tag. I can tell you from my experience at cat ownership, not all cats like collars and they lose them. I tried those quick-release on 5 cats and within a matter of weeks they - and their ID tags - were lost forever. I also had a cat nearly choke to death - not because the collar got hung-up on something, rather because the cat kept scratching at it and the fibers kept getting pulled tighter and tighter until it was cutting into her neck. That was within two weeks of putting the collar on her. I gave up trying to keep collars on my cats - even though I'd like to. It gets expensive to constantly be replacing them. And - there is the possibility of their getting hanged. Dogs get hung too (my neighbor's dog, if fact, tried to jump over our adjoining fence and hung himself), but the potential for it to happen is greater for cats.
PKG
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 12:28 a.m.
One cat we had was perfectly happy being inside. Another wouldn't stand it for more than a couple of days without letting us know in no uncertain terms (incessant yowling and peeing in the wrong place). People can be in partnership with cat but they can't be "trained" like a dog.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
Can't come up with any meaningful legislation ideas. But there is no shortage of garbage legislation ideas like this...
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
I don't think cats need to be licensed, or dogs for that matter. All I'd like to see is ALL pet owners be responsible and considerate. A license isn't necessary to take an animal to the vet, or to keep it on your OWN property. If its on someone else's property, an animal is considered a stray.
Elijah Shalis
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
I tried walking my last cat on a leash and it did not work. It is like herding cats. Cats should be kept indoors all the time anyway for the fact that they live 5+ years longer.
tim
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 10:55 p.m.
Depends on where you live---If a cat gets run over by a car in town its death would probable be considers natural causes. Outdoor cats that live far from busy traffic far much better and will choose to be home bound when they --age just to get near the heater.
PKG
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 12:25 a.m.
I imagine our kids would also face less risk if we never let them out.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.
So you consider a cat that spends most of it's life indoors and only goes out for an hour or so a day an outdoor cat?
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:24 p.m.
A study done by UC Davs- indoor cats live 10-15 years on average, outdoor cats live 2-5 years on average. If your cats have lived longer, they're lucky, but you are irresponsible. Look it up, unless you are afraid I'm right.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
Have data to back that up? I tried keeping my cats inside for a couple years after moving and my big Tom cat got very fat and depressed. He's much healthier, mentally and physically being outside again. Even if just for an hour or so after dark.
alternativeview99
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
I believe very strongly in the laws requiring dogs to be licensed because it does indeed require that dog owners vaccinate their dogs against rabies. But, I feel that cats should be vaccinated as well. This seems like a simple thing to do and despite conflicting data from different sources on how effective it may be, it provides data about pet populations that allows a community to understand better the needs of owners and non-owners alike. Personally, I would like the licensing to be state-wide so I didn't have to worry about each Michigan county my pets might stay in for extended periods. As to leash laws for dogs and cats, I have to confess I am really unaware of any instant where a cat attacked a person and mauled them to death. (I could obviously be wrong.) And, while many dog owners take pride that their dog is totally under control "off leash", I don't like having to trust that when I am walking in a public area (like a sidewalk or road). The solution to me would be to create parks for "off leash" exercise that I could choose to avoid since I don't like to be around a dog off-leash unless it is one I know. Cats, on the other hand, seem to avoid people and so it doesn't bother me when they are off leash. However, I don't like my neighbor's dogs or cats coming into my yard to dig up my plants or relieve themselves or create havoc. With respect to a dog, I don't feel comfortable messing with it. With respect to a cat, I have no problem making noise and chasing it away. And, if I know the owner, I simply contact them and we talk about it. Bottom line, this is simply a matter of balancing the needs of some community members with the needs of others. It isn't a matter of what is right or wrong but a matter of how we can respect each other and our differences and live as part of a community.
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.
Good luck talking to a cat "owner" who lets their cats roam.... That is like the landlord who tries to collect rent from a crack addicted tenant. My experience has been that such roaming cat "owners" are with virtually no exception simply are not negotiable in accepting responsibility and manage their animals....
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
Cat poop is poison "Now a scientific review published in Trends in Parasitology explores how substantial a public health threat the parasite poses in the United States. Some cats carry a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Infected cats shed embryonic T. gondii, called oocysts, in their feces. These oocysts are easily transmitted to humans, and researchers have explored their possible link to various mental health problems, including schizophrenia. More recently, studies of school-age children show a correlation between testing positive for T. gondii and having difficulty in school. The parasites can cause more acute health problems in newborns and people with weak immune systems, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/07/05/199041322/harmful-parasites-in-cat-poop-are-widespread
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
My cats don't go into anyone's yard. I have a large woods and wetlands area behind my house and they head straight back there when they go out. As far as responsible cat owners like myself, the irresponsible ones outnumber the responsible ones 10/1. So, I do agree with you in large part. But even if everyone that owned a cat kept them inside, there is a feral population in just about every area that you fail to acknowledge with everyone of your posts. So, get used to the poop in your yard.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:32 p.m.
So this has what to do with cats roaming outside? If anything it presents a better argument to let cats poop out in nature. Can't be less risky of catching this disease than keeping a cat box inside the house
grye
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.
Incredible the amount of energy complaining or defending this ridiculous article. Who cares.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
Antone that lets their cat roam or anyone that has had a cat sray their front door, anyone that has grabbed a handful of cat crap while weeding THEIR garden. But certainly not an apt dweller that has no idea what it is like to have cats wondering their yard leaving calling cards!
tim
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
Walk a cat down the street? How about drag your cat down the street. I know people love their cats but I wouldn't get a cat if the cat couldn't be a cat---outside being cat-ish
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.
"Walk a cat down the street? How about drag your cat down the street." I'm in, where do I sign up?
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 9:05 p.m.
Tougher than any cat I've come across.
tim
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
tough guy ah.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
And I reserve the right to keep cats off my property.
Amy Biolchini
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
For the sake of full disclosure: I am a cat owner. My cat is an indoor cat, and I don't let him outside unless he's in a harness on a leash (which I'm sure he hates, but I don't trust him not to wander off). There's a certain degree of responsibility that I think we expect of pet owners, whether they're dogs, cats or other animals. Part of that responsibility includes making sure your pet is under your control and not being a nuisance or causing damage to other people's property -- whether it's a dog or a cat. Do we need laws to make that happen?
metrichead
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:17 a.m.
I had thought about getting a leash for my cat and walking around the neighborhood with him because after all, it was Ann Arbor and people wouldn't think of it as too weird. In the end, I couldn't get over how odd it would be to walk my cat, and made him stay in the apartment.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:47 a.m.
@Thaddeus; Sometimes those Canadians have some good ideas, eh?
Thaddeus
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
Amy - FYI (last I knew) in Montreal, Quebec while there are no laws requiring licensing or collaring of cats, it is also legal to kill uncollared cats. Cats being allowed to run are at least the problem there as they are in the Ann Arbor area.
Little Patience
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
Apparently so. But, I wonder if new laws would be enforced. Ypsi TWP certainly does not enforce the current dog licensing law, so I don't think they would enforce cat licensing either.
JB SHOOTER
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
Sorry, late correction to the article. The word Big was auto corrected out of the article. It should have read Big cats should be kept indoors or on leashes. Big cats are dangerous to people. Big Cats!
Kenneth Gallaher
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:44 p.m.
Never mind that cats on the loose are very destructive of birds - several a day - which they just kill not eat if they have a food bowl.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.
"Reider said. "At the Michigan Humane Society, our stance on owned cats is that the safest place for owned cats is to be is in the home or under direct supervision."" That's a highly subjective opinion. Yes, they are safer indoors. Happier, definitely not always. While cats are different than dogs, cat owners cannot be completely negligent or ignorant. We have four cats. One of our cats has been going outside ever since it was a kitten and it's now 10 years old. Our other three are a mother and two kittens (kittens are now 9 years old) that we rescued. We let 3 of the 4 out. One has no interest in going out. We usually let them out for an hour or so an evening. Two of them are usually back inside within 15 minutes. Our big 10 year old Tom cat will usually stay out for an hour or so. They are well trained to know that they are fed when they come home. If the time they are out goes over an hour, we call for them and they come home. "Licenses could help track vaccines and could help match lost cats back to their owners quicker - thereby reducing shelter costs," One time last November, the least outdoor seasoned of our cats went missing for nearly two weeks. I can tell you from a lot of research I did on lost cats during that time that cats can survive for a long time without food. Also, cats found by the humane society are usually not pets. Point being, if a cat doesn't want to be found it won't be unless it's in really poor health or is hungry enough to risk being seen. We put an alert out to the humane society and put up fliers. None of those efforts made a difference. We found our lost cat less then a block from our house (probably when it was hungry enough to venture out from hiding) and had to coax it with it's mother to get it back to us. It was skin and bones when we got him back, but he has learned his lesson and comes back within minutes of being out.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
That's a highly subjective opinion. Most opinions are!
Donald Martin
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
As a cat lover and owned by 2, I have to say cat owners should keep their cats indoors. Allowing cats to roam endangers them first and foremost. The inconveniences most of the comments around here are kvetching about are just that, and minor. The key issue is that cats should not be allowed to roam neighborhoods, that's irresponsible of the owners - just as irresponsible if they were allowing dogs to roam free. It's a shame so much vitriol is being aimed at kitties when it's the owners who aren't doing their part - cats are just being cats, just like dogs would just be dogs if left unattended.
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:38 a.m.
So true, Donald. It is unfortunate the amount ire and even violence/abuse that is directed towards cats who are doing their thing - being cats. But of course roaming cats' "owners" are too often not known and irrational to deal with if known. Therefore, too many people at the receiving end of the "owners" roaming cats are left to discourage or manage these cats for the "owners." And unlike the house fly that becomes more difficult to swat if a person goes to swat and misses the first try, roaming house cats continue to return regardless how many times one chases them away, turns the hose on them, sics the dogs on them, shoots at them, etc.... It all comes back to irresponsible cat owners who refuse to accept responsibility and keep their cats in their yards or inside.
Soft Paw
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.
Most cat problems (noise, fights, roaming) are the results of not spaying or neutering.
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 2:24 a.m.
Spayed/neutered/not pales in comparison to nearly all cat problems are the results of people who left their cats out to roam in the first place....
peacebwu
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
Leashes were invented to prevent dogs from running up and attacking little children (or big ones!). In my experience, I've never seen a cat go into attack mode upon seeing a human being. I believe our idea of equal and fair is getting just a wee bit out-of-hand :)
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
You ain't seen some of the cats I've seen!
Soft Paw
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
I would have no problem with cat licenses. leashing is a little tougher unless you start the cat out young but it can be done.
hail2thevict0r
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
Seriously, ANOTHER cat licensing article? CATS....seriously....CATS Next time you hear about someone being seriously injured or killed by a house cat in the news, let or me know. Or maybe the next time a house cat kills a farmer's sheep..... This is the dumbest argument. Talk about over regulation.
Steve Bean
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
Yes, you made the dumbest argument. The article covered a range of concerns that you ignored.
hail2thevict0r
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 1:07 a.m.
All things carry diseases....living, dead or even rusty nails. Campylobacter infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in humans and usually comes from cattle, pigs and birds. It's far more likely that he got it from bird poop than cat poop. Cat urin, and dog urine, can cause it but who knows what it really came from. Dying from a freak infection does not count as a cat almost killing you as there are many other factors outside of the cat.
thinker
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
My father-in-law almost died from a Campylobacter infection from his next-door neighbors cats which used his garden as a litter box. Cats carry diseases!
hail2thevict0r
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Oh, I get it. It is just stupid.
Bababooey
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:45 p.m.
....aaaaaand you still don't get it.
Dog Guy
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
I stopped gardening when my tilled plot became a fetid campylobacter culture. I blame local beaglers for not controlling this problem adequately.
WalkingJoe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
Gosh, this is just an article about the differences between laws regarding cats and dogs. In reading the comments and seeing the bias one way or another I guess I'm not surprised that we humans can't get along with each other.
amazonwarrior
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:41 p.m.
We have a cat and he is NEVER allowed outside, besides he doesn't want to go out. When a dog urinates on the grass it kills it. I have any number of large burned areas in my front lawn because of this, as well as severe damage to a dwarf Alberta spruce tree, which is next to my front porch, that is going to have to be replaced. Why do people think they HAVE to let out all 15 feet of the retractable leash, instead of teaching the dog to walk next to them? Plus, I have several people who are walking their dogs late at night, off leash, because in the morning I find giant poop piles in my BACK YARD. Thanks neighbors! NOT!
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 6:26 p.m.
I have had numerous cats crap on the porch and amongst plantings. Careful? Not from my experiences.... It is not that difficult to tell the difference.
amazonwarrior
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 4:02 a.m.
AMOC, I know the difference between dog poop, raccoons, etc. and it's definitely dog poop or else we have giant mutant raccoons.
AMOC
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:14 p.m.
Umm, Amazonwarrior, those giant poop piles you find in your backyard may be from raccoons or possums, rather than your neighbors' dogs. They certainly are not from feral cats, which tend to be very careful to bury / disguise their waste whenever there are predators or rival cats in the area.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
Youtube has a lot of great videos on how to trap a cat in a live trap.
Jack Gladney
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 6:25 p.m.
YouTube has numerous videos which are helpful. Two weeks into "Operation Get the Cat Poop Out of Jack's Yard" two unidentified felines have won all expenses paid unlimited stays at Uncle Denny's Dairy Farm and Cat Spa (mmm...fresh milk.)
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
I knew we had more common ground than it would appear! I am all in on this one. Been there done that!
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:44 p.m.
Live trap. I'm pickin' up what you are layin' down.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:09 p.m.
Cats spray *everywhere*. They spray on doors. They spray on cars. They climb on cars and spray the hoods of cars. Those sprays leave stains.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
Fixed cats do spray. Yours may not. Check your facts.
gofigure
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
So do drunks. Maybe we should license and lease them.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:36 p.m.
"Fixed" cats don't do that. Dogs, fixed or not pee everywhere.
justcary
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
Don't people actually READ these articles? The first knee-jerk commenters ignore the fact that licensing is put in place to solve problems, and groan about how dogs and cats are different so they should have different laws, or treated the same. That's not the issue! Cats create problems in cities that are different from dog problems, but they are largely unaddressed by lawmakers. The same licensing program for dogs could be used for tracking cat disease or vaccination; the chip implants could be required so strays can be identified. There is a bacterium identified with neuropsychological problems in developing fetuses (from a Radio Lab program) that has safe harbor in the feline GI tract. Exposure to cat feces may be a real hazard that is not controlled when cats have free roam in the city.
Dipstick
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis
leezee
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
My cats are strictly indoor cats. The only time they leave the house is in a carrier to go to the vet. I keep their vaccinations up-to-date. I do not have a license for them and don't plan on it. It may seem harsh that they never go outside, but they have plenty of windows and a daily dose of "The Chipmunk Show", "The Baby Bunny Show" and the "The Mourning Dove Family Show". I based my decision to keep them indoors on fox sightings in our neighborhood and the fact that we live in a condo and it's pretty much parking lot all around us. We have a friend who lives in a rural area with multiple cats that dwell outside and it seems every week they report another cat hit by a car. No thanks!
golfer
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:51 p.m.
yes yes and yes. i have a lady that lets her two cats run day and night. they do waste just like dogs. they go in my bushes and you can smell the waste. i have tried several time to get the city to say cats and dogs deposit waste like each other. they will not do it. how can you have a leash law for one not the other. if it is based on waste the dogs you pick up. cats leave it in your yard. grand kids play in yards. please please make it even.
Unknown
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:01 p.m.
I agree 100%
Kafkaland
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:50 p.m.
When was the last time that you heard about a domestic cat mauling or killing a child? Now, ever heard of a dog doing this? See, that's why we need to keep dogs under tighter control than cats.
Jeff Frank
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
Given that "logic" my 4 and 7 pound pups (full grown) are no more dangerous than the cats you reference, so they should be allowed to wander freely around the neighborhood, forgo rabies shots, etc. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs, all have been vaccinated against rabies. None of them go outside without being contained in some way. They all get outdoor time via our screened back porch and the dogs get some additional time out on leads. There's NO reason for responsible pet owners to let their pets roam freely.
SEC Fan
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
But I know of many cases where cat bite have sent people to the ER. In fact, the majority of cat bites send the victim to the ER.
golfer
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:55 p.m.
it is about health conditions.
Top Cat
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.
There has to be lots of rules for dogs because they are dumb. People don't make rules for us cats because we are too smart for them and they know we will ignore them anyway.
Thaddeus
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.
You argue that cats are smarter than people. If cats are smarter than dogs or people why is it that regardless how many times one chases off a roaming cat, turns the hose on them, yells at them, throw things at them, sic the dogs on them, or shoot at them they keep coming back for more....? I have never met a dog, a person or even a house fly THAT clueless....
oldgaffer
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:38 p.m.
How is it possible to write a story on a cat leash law and not comment on the most famous attempt to leash cats in American history? In 1949 the Illinois legislature passed such a law but Governor Adlai Stevenson vetoed it with a message regarded as a literary masterpiece. Here is the link: http://www.bartleby.com/73/163.html
a2citizen
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Maybe that's why he lost in the presidential elections to Eisenhower.
hjocque
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
I love cats. I have helped rescue and foster feral and abandoned cats. I love all our cats. However, cats are an invasive species. Like habitat fragmentation and other anthropogenic factors, they are a human related cause of destruction for wildlife. They are estimated to kill "a median of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals a year, most of them native mammals like shrews, chipmunks and voles rather than introduced pests like the Norway rat." These deaths are caused by both free roaming pet cats, and the large feral populations across the USA. Most of the kills are not "gifted" at the owner's doorstep, so few owners realize their cute kitty is injuring/killing then abandoning or eating many animals. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/science/that-cuddly-kitty-of-yours-is-a-killer.html?_r=0 http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n1/full/ncomms2380.html People need to stop projecting their anthropomorphic feelings on their pets. An indoor cats given enough stimulation should be just as happy as an outdoor cat. Outdoors cats kill wildlife, they poop in people's yards, they are susceptible to dangerous infections like heart worms, FIV, rabies and distemper, and they are killed by cars and predators. They even harass indoor cats! Outdoor cats often pick fights with our indoor cats through our windows. It caused so much stress for one of our cats that he began to spray in our house, causing us woe, losing us money and making our cat miserable. So if you're a cat lover, reconsider that you have your cat, or other cats', best interests in mind.
P. J. Murphy
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 8:13 a.m.
hjocque- You write. "People need to stop projecting their anthropomorphic feelings on their pets. An indoor cat given enough stimulation should be just as happy as an outdoor cat." Your first sentence is a reasonable proposition. However your second sentence utterly contradicts the first. How do you "know" how "happy" outdoor cats are? What's your metric? Have you ever actually tested this thesis on your own cats? Have you ever allowed them to roam your yard for a few hours? My experience and that of others suggests that once an indoor cat gets acclimated to outdoors, they will regularly pester their owner to be let out again. All the cat toys, or attentive owners in the world don't hold a candle to the mysteries, opportunities, and yes, even the dangers of the backyard. I'm not saying here indoor cats can't appear to be reasonably content, but if you leave the question up to the animal they will consistently chose to explore the world beyond the back door. As far as claims for body counts of birds, rodents, etc. racked up by cats. Well the studies all seem to be heavily reliant on projections based on relatively small samples. Often several smaller studies are lumped together to produce an potential range of final numbers. Comparative methodology in the studies is not addressed, despite the real possibility that bad data is skewing the numbers. It's a lousy way to do science, but it makes for good copy for the journalists. More important I've seen no data anywhere that demonstrates that a given population of birds is being stressed by cats. In fact, it seems more reasonable to propose that given that cat populations and human populations overlap, whatever predatory pressure cats exert on local wildlife is far outshadowed by the impact of humans on the local environment.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.
Some cat owners are apparently too LAZY to stimulate their cat. Better to dump it outside to poop in my garden, they do not cover it up, antagonize my dogs on MY property, spray on MY property, rip MY window screens, etc. if you're too LAZY to take CARE of any pet, cat or dog, don't get one.
Jeff Renner
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:26 p.m.
@hjocque - you beat me to posting this link. I was surprised that no one, including the reporter, had mentioned the house cat as a predator. @OutfieldDan - Hawks are native; cats are an introduced and invasive species when in the outside. Here is a link to an earlier NY Times article with a lower estimate of how many birds are killed annually by house cats - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/science/21birds.html. It concludes with. "Household cats were introduced in North America by European colonists; they are regarded as an invasive species and have few natural enemies to check their numbers. "They are like gypsy moths and kudzu — they cause major ecological disruption," Dr. Marra said."
OutfieldDan
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.
Hawks kill more small mammals than cats. They also are free roaming. Hawks also kill smaller birds. Maybe hawks kill bats too. I bet lots of hawks live in A2. There should be a law that a cat be registered and inoculated against rabies. However, putting a cat on a leash is like putting your wife or husband on a leash. Not appropriate at all.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
Allowing your property to end up in somebody elses yard is trespassing, whether it's a cat or a piece of paper in a plastic bag.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.
My dog likes to roam too. Is that OK?
AMOC
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
EyeHeart - It's fine with me as long as your dog weighs less than 15 lbs, avoids interacting with strange humans, covers its waste on its own, and does not make much noise. OTOH, if you do let such a dog roam in my neighborhood, chances are my cat will drive it out of his territory, just like he does when the neighbors Yorkie gets out.
amazonwarrior
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
No, because it's probably your dog that is pooping in my back yard.
OutfieldDan
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
No.
Gramma
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:29 p.m.
The attitudes toward domestic animals has changed significantly in the past 50 years. On farms, dogs and cats were working animals. Dogs helped round up the cows or sheep. Cats kept the rodent problem under control in the house and in the barn, chicken coops, etc. People didn't treat their dogs and cats like children, buying them clothes and grooming them. Dogs and cats ate table scraps and otherwise fended for themselves. People didn't get upset if a cat ate a bird or some such. That is the nature of cats and it helped to keep birds from eating the seeds planted in the garden. As a culture, we need to evaluate our relationships with animals b4 making more laws, many of which are hard or impossible to enforce.
sandy schopbach
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
Cats "scratch and run", they rarely bite. But seriously, there's a reason behind the expression "herding cats" and why it's impossible. Pet cats are generally smaller than pet dogs, so can do less serious damage - although a cat scratch can indeed be painful. There are no Doberman or pit bull sized cats, if you exclude the big cats (tigers, for instance), and obviously that's not the topic here. I brought a cat back with me from France, and the requirement was for it to have had a rabies shot within the previous month in order to enter the country... not that the customs guy wanted to see the papers when I did get here. All this to say that there is some rabies oversight for felines. Also many cats do not go outdoors. But I love cats and dogs both. I was raised with a hunting father who had beagles and graduated to cats when it seemed unfair to have a dog in a Paris apartment, as they're notoriously small (the apartments, not the dogs).
aamom
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
My FIL had to go to the ER after an allergic reaction to a cat scratch. Maybe it's not common, but I'm just pointing out they can do more damage than just being painful.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
Cats Spray and run!
justcurious
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:18 p.m.
Aren't there more important issues to agonize over? How about crime, aggressive driving, high taxes and huge dead oak limbs hanging over the roads ready to kill unsuspecting motorists?
justcurious
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:44 p.m.
Yes, jcj I have an organic garden (vegetables and flowers). Rabbit and cat poop help to fertilize the plants. We aren't dead yet! I would worry more about the chemicals my neighbor may be using. Compared to that kind of pollution, cats are a non problem.
Thaddeus
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
justcurious - There is a key reason why the "cat" issue is so contentious is that unlike "crime, aggressive driving, high taxes and huge dead oak limbs hanging over the roads ready to kill unsuspecting motorists" as you say. That is, a large portion of cat "owners" do not consider the problems caused by letting their cats run an issue. Problems for the environment, property values, public health, safety for other people's children and pets (let alone the cats on the run). And unfortunately, until these particular cat "owners" can see that it is a major problem all the way around and take responsibility for their animals and themselves (as conscientious cat owners do by not letting their cats run) this issue is not going to go away....
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
curious Spend any time in a flower bed?
Dipstick
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
This is not an OR argument but a AND argument. How about using the cat licence fee to reduce crime, taxes etc ?
Brad
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:10 p.m.
The laws are unequal? So what. So are the species. Obviously just trying to work this "manufactroversy" for page hits.
Greg
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
Last time I checked cats cover up their "business" and rarely byte anyone. Don't run up barking and growling and scare the heck out of people often in their own yard. Comparing the two is comparing apples to oranges. If you do not like having to leash your dog and pick up its results, do not get a dog. Stop blaming cats and cat owners for your decision.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:09 p.m.
My kid was bit by the neighbors cat. I have cat crap in my garden regularly, and they don't cover it up.BOTH dog and cat owners need to be responsible. I keep my dogs off the neighbors lawns, and I would expect the courtesy to be the same, but it's not with the neighbors cats. There's no excuse to be an irresponsible pet owner.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:24 p.m.
Cover up there business? Yea right! In the flower bed where I am trying to pull weeds! And fur balls puked up in my driveway. There have been many transplanted cats in my neighborhood over the years! Adios!
Dipstick
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
So would it be OK if take a big steamin' dump on you lawn as long a I "cover it up" ?
golfer
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
you cover up waste how about the urine in your bushes.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:33 p.m.
Greg, if Person A doesn't want Person B's cat in his yard. Whose responsibility is it to keep Person A's cat out of Person B's yard?
quetzalcoatl
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.
Whatever diseases and bad habits free-roaming cats bring home may present a problem for their owners and probably not for me. While they are out roaming around, meanwhile, they aren't in packs and they don't weigh 50 pounds or more. This is why there are no leash laws for cats, which are only marginally domesticated anyway.
Gramma
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:16 p.m.
Quetz, Hope that you don't run into a 50# cat.
thinker
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:53 p.m.
The article states that cats may be more vulnerable to the bite of a rabid bat because cats come in contact with the bats more due to lifestyle. What percent of cats indoor and outdoor are actually vaccinated against rabies in Ann Arbor, since licensure is not required?
Boo Radley
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 9:10 p.m.
Any veterinarian I have used has been pretty insistent about cats receiving the rabies vaccination. So it is likely that most cats who have ever taken a trip to a vet have gotten the vaccine.
Arboriginal
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.
PLease keep your cat indoors or in your yard. Don't worry about what other people are doing with their dog, hamster, dragon. Step up and be responsible, it's as simple as that.
Laurie Barrett
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:50 p.m.
Keep your cat on your own property.
Gill
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:13 p.m.
Git offa my lawn, you whippersnappers!
Arboriginal
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:59 p.m.
How about that gal of mine?
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
Dog owners who allow their dog leashes to extend onto private property are not much better. When a dog urinates on a shrub or flowers, it kills them. When dogs are allowed to defecate on someone's yard, they can no longer safely walk on their grass in bare feet. Their kids can no longer safely play there. It does not matter that you use a bag to "smear it up".
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.
Those are wild creatures, not pet owners choosing to use private property as a toilet.
5thWardVoter
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
So where do you think all the other critters - raccoons, opossums, squirrels, rabbits, cats, etc. - go? To the wildlife port-a-john?
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:02 p.m.
Though state law keeps dog owners on a relatively short leash, Not in my neighborhood! More and more owners are walking their dog off the leash.
Stan Hyne
Sun, Aug 4, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
I used to walk my dog off leash and never had a problem. She would also heel, sit, stop, or lay down at my command. When other people would come near my dog would look at me to see where she should go to sit. She never bit another dog, or person. She also was allowed in my unfenced yard and didn't leave. leashes shouldn't a substitute for teaching your dog manners.
Usual Suspect
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
If you're talking about Ann Arbor, I agree this is becoming a major problem. Especially places like school playgrounds and parks like Bird Hills.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:42 a.m.
Two facts from the article: there are more stray cats than there are dogs. Cats come into contact with bats MORE often than dogs do, leaving a population that is vulnerable. So those of you who leave your cats to roam as they please, perhaps you'll learn the hard way when the cat brings rabies to you, your kids, and your grand kids. That s, if your cat isn't killer or injured by another animal, or hit by a car, etc. be responsible. It's a pet cat, not a squirrel.if you don want a pet, don't get one. The humane society is overflowing with stray cats due to irresponsible owners.
Sue
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 3:50 a.m.
SEC fan, So you know "many people who have ended up in ER due to cat bites"? Seriously? That's really strange because I've NEVER heard of anyone going to ER for a cat bite! Do you also know many people who were abducted by aliens in flying saucers?
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
There are many owned cats at the humane society. They are surrendered by their owners who consider their animals disposable.You might drop by the humane society sometime so you can check your facts. Feral cats are not adoptable, they are returned to their colony. Where do you think stray cats come from? Do tey rain from the sky? They were owned once. Duh.
djacks24
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:53 p.m.
"The humane society is overflowing with stray cats due to irresponsible owners." Yes the humane society is overflowing with STRAY cats. Very few have ever had owners and are mostly feral. Even the humane society will tell you do they rarely ever recover lost cats.
SEC Fan
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
@Outfield. But I know many people who have ended up in an ER due to a cat bite. Cat bites are extremely infectious. Cat owners, however, tend to forget this little fact when letting their "pets" roam.
OutfieldDan
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
Funny, I never heard of a human getting rabies from a cat. I suppose it happens, but it must be very rare. IMHO, the author has an agenda against cats.
CLX
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1 p.m.
A bit dramatic. Rabies kills about 3 people PER YEAR in the U.S., and folks are not getting rabies from their cats (source: The Humane Society). The rabies vaccination is safe and effective for cats. There are all sorts of irresponsible pet owners - your argument only goes so far.
mgoscottie
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:51 a.m.
If your cat goes outdoors expect death and you are a terrible person!
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
I put the over/under for comments on this one at 178. Have your credit card ready and place your bet at 555-5555 . Operators are standing by to take your action.
Kyle Mattson
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
Wow Craig- That was a close line! Well done.
Boo Radley
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 9:01 p.m.
Craig ... I called that number and got a recording that it could not be completed, or had been disconnected. Have you paid the phone bill?
1bit
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 5:08 p.m.
Over.
RunsWithScissors
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
Who's voting this comment down??? I think it's funny and insightful. Annarbor.com loves to troll for comments and this is the perfect topic for doing so. Craig is merely pointing this out. I'm betting on 141 comments - lower than normal 'cuz it's a Monday and not everyone can take time away from work to read annarbor.com and post comments.
GoNavy
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.
Here we go again, the old Ann Arbor cats-vs-dogs argument where we all pretend that these are the same types of animals and should be treated as such regardless of the situation.
E Claire
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:20 p.m.
At least people don't treat their cats like children and feel the need to bring them everywhere. Not that I mind dogs being around, love them, but a cat is much less intrusive so I don't see the issue.
GoNavy
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.
@TryingToBeObjective - I don't have a front lawn (unless you consider city property to be a lawn), so if you want to release cats into the City of Ann Arbor, feel free. If I did have a front lawn, I'd say go ahead - so long as nobody asked any more questions as to what happened to said released wild animals.
jcj
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:05 p.m.
GoNavy "I tend to view wandering cats as free-willed wild animals, and treat them as such." I agree and that's why I treat them just like the wild racoons and skunks I come across. Free ride!
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:47 a.m.
If they are free willed wild animals, please let the humane society know. They can free up the space that is wasted on cats and use it for ogs and other non free willed animals. Perhaps they can release those cats on your front lawn?
GoNavy
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:32 a.m.
@Dipstick- I tend to view wandering cats as free-willed wild animals, and treat them as such.
Dipstick
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:20 a.m.
Yes it is, and until cat people realize that it is not ok to have your cat out wandering around other peoples properties it will continue to be.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:32 a.m.
We had a cat we rescued from freezing to death as a kitten. We found it in our garage in the coldest part of winter. There ere 3 kittens in a box with their mother frozen to death with them. One survived. It would set on the windowsill and watch the birds out the window. It was never outside until my daughter visited when the cat was about 4 or 5 years old and she took it outside and let it run. We didn't see it until the next day when we heard a terrible meowing at the door. It evidently didn't know how to do it's business outdoors because it flew down to the basement and jumped into the cat litter box . After that she wanted out all the time but didn't stay out over night.We lived in the country.
mady
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:46 p.m.
Oldtimer, good for you for rescuing the kitty!(how some people sleep at night i'll never know, but that's a whole 'nother story!!!) @Billy--I have a cat who's been an indoor cat since she was born. I don't claim to be an expert, but I've lived with and around cats most of my life and "Esther", according to my vet, is a happy well-adjusted pet who will probably live longer than a cat who goes outside, with all the risks that go with it(leadfoot drivers, unfriendly neighbors etc.)
talker
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
While it's great that you rescued the surviving kitten, I want to remind city people (as we are), don't take your unwanted animals to the garages, porches, whatever of people in the country. Your idea of giving country residents your unwanted animals isn't new and isn't a good idea. Spay or neuter any cats you have (and dogs, too). Letting a mother cat and her kittens freeze to death is inhumane. Someone with a cat that gives birth to unwanted kittens should take the box of kittens plus a generous donation to the Humane Society of Huron Valley, IMHO.
Billy
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 11:56 a.m.
That's because cats ARE happier roaming around outside...regardless of what some person who thinks themselves an expert says... What do you think a bird would prefer....being in a cage all day....or being free to roam the house/world? Cats may be safer indoors, but they're happier outside.
A2comments
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 10:26 a.m.
Should be the same laws as dogs.
Belisa
Wed, Jul 24, 2013 : 2:35 a.m.
I also believe a 5lb cat should be treated like a 5lb dog ... on a leash.
grye
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
Don't look outside at night. You might see a skunk, raccoon, possum, deer, or other wild animal doing their business in you yard. All of these animals are wards of the State but the State is not required to control them.
mlivesaline
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.
I'm surprised that all the negative responses on this post. I personnaly don't like other peoplese cats roaming about in my yard. Obviously they aren't the bite hazard that dogs are but it doesn't seem right to allow your cats to be outside on other peoples property.
Gramma
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
Maybe the laws should be equal for any animal kept as a pet: gerbils, hamsters, birds.
Rob
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:40 p.m.
And hamsters! And guinea pigs! And lizards! *ahem* That is to say... I disagree. Different animals are different and should be handled differently.
Basic Bob
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
i think 80 lb cats should be treated like 80 lb dogs.
John
Mon, Jul 22, 2013 : 12:15 p.m.
Because cats and dogs are the same thing?