News about Britain
June 2003 Each month, the background to a story about Britain.
This topic is now closed, but you can still read the story, then read
the comments we received about cats all over the world.
Story summary
Britain's gardeners have revealed one of their greatest pet hates
- other people's cats. Okay, they're sadistic murderers - but
is it fair that cats have been rated as being as detestable
as rats in a poll of British gardeners?
A
new survey in the UK indicates that cats come second only to rats
as the least favourite mammal to visit our gardens. The UK's 10
million cats have had it rough of late, drawing harsh criticism
because of their bloodlust and habit of viewing the nation's
gardens as their own personal toilets.
Though the animals are the UK's favourite pets, British gardeners
have struck back by crowning the cat as one of the most unwelcome
visitors to their plots - voting them only slightly more popular
than rats in the new poll.
The Mammal Society - which conducted the survey - says cats cut
a swathe through the nation's wildlife, killing around 300 million
animals every year.
Predatory
instincts
"Cats
are solitary predatory hunters. People ask why they kill
when they are clearly well-fed - but a cat's motivation to hunt
is quite separate from its desire to satisfy hunger." Even
with a full stomach, a cat cannot resist the stimuli of prey
passing nearby, says Ms Heath, author of Why Does My Cat? "It
doesn't make sense for a cat to wait until it's hungry to catch
food - there may be none around then. Better to hunt when there's
the opportunity and hide the food away."
'Sick of cats'
A BBC television series has raised the question of whether cats
should be kept indoors at night. Wildlife experts say keeping cats
locked up from dusk to dawn will prevent much of the carnage
they create, and will also mean they are less likely to be run over.
Mammal expert Professor Steve Harris, from Bristol University, said:
"The message is clear, most people are heartily sick
of having their neighbours' cats in their garden".
Saved
by the bell?
Owners who have resorted to collar bells to warn prey may have underestimated
feline guile. "Some cats have learned to hold their heads
to minimise noise coming from the bells around their necks. Perhaps
we need to admire this skill, rather than get paranoid about it."
Even
today, some view the black cat as an omen of misfortune. Even the
English language is stacked against the moggy. Spiteful people
are dubbed as being "catty". A raucous cry is a "caterwaul".
At work, a greedy, lazy boss is a "fat cat".
But, to be fair, the British can't hate cats that much. A recent
report found that the generosity of the British towards the cat
has caused one in four of the creatures to become clinically
obese.
According to the four above questions, I would have some
idea about these problems. 1-I´ve been living in a house with
garden behind, where my two neighbours have cats. They disturb us
too much, especially when it rains or it falls snow... 2-No, especially
in Asia, where peasants or people living in the countryside reserve
corn, maize, beans and nuts at home. If cats should be kept in at
night time, mice would run out to destroy products! But in the city
or in apartments cats should be kept indoors at night time. 3-Yes,
if we live in tne city with a litle garden behind, or some plce we
can go around... 4-Yes because they use the gardens as their own personal
toilets.
Nazariy kolomiets in Russia writes:
I think that people in russia love cats and respect them,
but I actually don't like them!i think they should not be alloud to
walk alone at night time. i think that if people like cats they wont
be horible to cats, this is my opinion.
Guillermo Leguey in Spain writes:
I have two cats and I like them. They aren't a problem. They kill
some animals for food, and that I don't like very much, but they are
very good with the people. The cats must be in home at night, because
if they are in a road a car can run over them, or can be a distraction
for the driver. The cats must be in home at night.
Iris Ntotsika in Greece writes:
Cats are nocturnal hunters. We can't deprive them of their nature
just to protect our gardens. The British are an animal-loving nation
and I am sure they will respect the needs of cats.
xy Min in UK writes:
Cats and dogs left sh*t in my garden. sick of that.
