Post by bluemoon on Sept 10, 2013 12:39:36 GMT
I thought this was a really good article, it really addressed some of the issues facing cats for the future. Like many cat owners, I can see there are several potential problems going to affect cats in the future - however the main concern of mine was not really covered by this article: CARS!!!!!! Cars are the leading cause of death for outdoor cats, and they have to be the biggest danger facing cats today 
With the current 'kitten crisis' which has been going on for the past few years, since the recession, there will be alot MORE cats wandering around over the next few years - and alot more of them are likely to wander into the dangerous territory of the road. This may indeed be partly due to disputes over territory with other cats in an area which has a high population of cats. The cats will end up having nowhere else to go except into the more public areas of front gardens, driveways, pavements - and then roads
My first 3 cats spent a perfectly happy life in our 100ft back garden, day and night, and all lived into their teens. But they were born in the late 1980s. Now, I have 3 young cats who have to face restrictions. We have the same big garden but ALOT more dangers!! Last summer, I found my beautiful, huge 1-year-old tabby cat Treacle lying lifeless in the middle of our road one morning in a pool of blood
We could not believe he had been killed on such a quiet, residential street. I had never ever seen a cat killed before on our road and could not imagine it would happen. That's why we (stupidly) let him out overnight. Ever since that night, our other boy cat has been called in before dusk every evening, even though he often whines to go back out in the summer, and our 2 females are only allowed out on a lead and harness!! They do have a cat-enclosure on the patio which they also enjoy, but I wish they could have more freedom in the garden (they don't seem to mind too much though). But we have been unable to relax ever since we lost Treacle, as any cat owner can imagine. Add to that the fact that we seem to have next-door neighbours who really dislike cats We didn't know this, as the previous couple who lived there were cat lovers and had 2 of their own. But I know they have scared Jumpy by shouting at him in their garden. So my essential addition to the article 'The Future For Cats' is THIS: EVERY CAT SHOULD HAVE its own enclosed garden, using angled brackets and netting on top of 6-ft fence panels to secure their own private space (or a large cat enclosure). Unfortunately our garden is very overgrown so we can only partly apply this to our fences, but if I move house the first thing I will do is secure my back garden!!! That will solve a LOT of problems facing cats in the future - nasty neighbours included!! 
With the current 'kitten crisis' which has been going on for the past few years, since the recession, there will be alot MORE cats wandering around over the next few years - and alot more of them are likely to wander into the dangerous territory of the road. This may indeed be partly due to disputes over territory with other cats in an area which has a high population of cats. The cats will end up having nowhere else to go except into the more public areas of front gardens, driveways, pavements - and then roads
My first 3 cats spent a perfectly happy life in our 100ft back garden, day and night, and all lived into their teens. But they were born in the late 1980s. Now, I have 3 young cats who have to face restrictions. We have the same big garden but ALOT more dangers!! Last summer, I found my beautiful, huge 1-year-old tabby cat Treacle lying lifeless in the middle of our road one morning in a pool of blood
We could not believe he had been killed on such a quiet, residential street. I had never ever seen a cat killed before on our road and could not imagine it would happen. That's why we (stupidly) let him out overnight. Ever since that night, our other boy cat has been called in before dusk every evening, even though he often whines to go back out in the summer, and our 2 females are only allowed out on a lead and harness!! They do have a cat-enclosure on the patio which they also enjoy, but I wish they could have more freedom in the garden (they don't seem to mind too much though). But we have been unable to relax ever since we lost Treacle, as any cat owner can imagine. Add to that the fact that we seem to have next-door neighbours who really dislike cats
We didn't know this, as the previous couple who lived there were cat lovers and had 2 of their own. But I know they have scared Jumpy by shouting at him in their garden. So my essential addition to the article 'The Future For Cats' is THIS: EVERY CAT SHOULD HAVE its own enclosed garden, using angled brackets and netting on top of 6-ft fence panels to secure their own private space (or a large cat enclosure). Unfortunately our garden is very overgrown so we can only partly apply this to our fences, but if I move house the first thing I will do is secure my back garden!!! That will solve a LOT of problems facing cats in the future - nasty neighbours included!! 
