Here’s Yet Another Reason To Hate Cats

Did you hear the story about the house cat that shot it’s owner? Read the article here. Seems some guy in Michigan kept a loaded handgun in his house and the cat somehow knocked it off the counter causing it to discharge. Miraculously the gun discharged and wounded the gun owner, who also happens to be the cat owner.

It’s no secret I am not particularly fond of cats. Indoors cats cause my body to become highly reactive to the allergins these cats create. Thank God for the drug Claratin!!

But it is the outdoor cats that cause me the most concern as a sportsman. These little critters can be some of the most destructive predators found in our outdoors. Studies have shown that ordinary house cats can put a definite dent into our upland bird populations, such as pheasants, grouse and ordinary song birds. That innocent-looking cat is nothing but a killing machine once it leaves confines of the yard where it belongs.

I know several sportsmen who make it a practice to plink at any cat that is roaming in the wild. Truth is, a cat that is not staying home is on the prowl and likely up to no good. Have I shot at and killed stray cats? You bet! Would I have any qualms about shooting at a neighbor’s cat that is 1/2 mile or so from where it belongs…no way!

I do not view ordinary house cats–whether they have become bona fide stray or not–as part of the normal ecosystem, yet they make a big impact on the species that I enjoy to view and hunt.

I guess one of the big reasons I am not a fan of cats is because they are nothing but a nuisance, whether indoors and especially outdoors. Responsible pet ownership dictates that pets we keep should not be responsible for killing our native fauna. Pets should be trained to eat the food the owners provide, and not have some uncontrollable urge to kill.

Look at it this way…a pheasant hunter who accidentally shoots a hen when they are not allowed as part of the bag limit is scoffed at by his peers and belittled by such poor sportsmanship behavior. Not to mention that it likely is an actionable offense violating the state game laws. But if that same hunter allows his cat to roam and kill a whole brood of baby pheasants it is currently not looked at in the same light. If such laws exist to forbid such activity it is rarely if ever prosecuted.

Sportsmen, cat owners and nature lovers alike need to understand that cats can be very dangerous in many ways. And yes, some poor kitty in Michigan is now responsible for attempted homicide on its owner. I guess a bit of misfortune was necessary for this poor cat owner to learn the hard way not to turn his back on an unpredictable cat.