this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
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ESH. Kid shouldn't have done it, but also the lady shouldn't let the cat outside
I just assumed she might be British due to spelling/tone. Cats have been around here for about 1,600 years and it's considered fairly normal to let them out.
I don't get why Americans hate animals. You do realise earth isn't owned by humans?
I love my animals enough that I would rather they live a long and healthy life. My cats are indoors only for that same reason.
Any extra "enjoyment" in their life from being outside is dwarfed by the diseases, parasites, and very likely possibility they die in a terrible way. (Hit by a car, tortured/poisoned/shot by some evil human, torn up by predators like dogs/wolves/coyotes).
Mate, cats are not a native species. They hunt for sport and wind up absolutely destroying the local ecosystem. Outdoor cats should be killed onsight like literally any other invasive species.
"These are non-native predators that, even using conservative estimates, kill 1.3–4 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals each year in the U.S. alone (Loss et al. 2013, Nature Communications)"
I personally care more about my local ecosystem than some cat that someone is too lazy to play with and keep entertained.
While I agree with your main point (which to me sounds like "don't let your cats outside as they're an invasive species and will do serious damage to the local ecosystem"), suggesting to kill them on sight is a bit harsh and won't make you many allies.
We have much more humane options to capture, return, and if needed rehouse cats. Remember that these objectively invasive animals are also people's companions, and that some folks simply don't know better than the old belief that "cats should roam".
If my cat escapes one day and you shoot it, we have problems :)
Other than that bit of insanity, I think I fully agree with you.
If your cat isn't tagged so it can be returned to you, and you fined. And they have no way of knowing who that animal belongs to, if it carries any disease, how many animals it has killed, has it littered any bastards. Then yes, it should be put down.
The only problem there will be, would be you would be down one cat, sad for a while and likely get a new one.
Be a good owner, don't let the cat escape, and there won't be any 'problems'
:)