How much is a cat's life worth?

Monique Y. Mudama wrote:


I'm sorry, but the entire time I read your post, I could think nothing
but:

Yes, hundreds of thousands of animals die this way every year, and is
exactly why I don't understand why people don't neuter their pets.
There are too many unwanted cat pregnancies to justify breeding them.

If this beautiful boy were neutered, if those queens had been spayed,
would he have been spraying?

Probably! (Cat's - even female cats - spray for a variety
of reasons, it's not a purely sexual thing.)

I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most
people who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the
litters are already "spoken for" before they are born.
You're not really suggesting that "thoroughbred" cats with
their distinctive characteristics should be eliminated as
breeds, are you?

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

Flippy wrote:

What on earth is on people's mind when they move and don't take their pets
with them? It's not like the animal is an appliance. I don't think I'll ever
understand some people.

Well, that's how I got my latest addition! Much as I
deplore her owner just moving out and leaving her behind (in
the empty apartment) I would probably never have gotten a
new companion for Melisande, if left to my own choice. (And
Cendrillon is such a dear lttle thing, now she's getting
used to a new person and a feline companion.)

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

On 2006-04-04, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) penned:

I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most people
who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the litters are
already "spoken for" before they are born. You're not really
suggesting that "thoroughbred" cats with their distinctive
characteristics should be eliminated as breeds, are you?

I don't think most purebreds are bred responsibly, but even if they
are, sure. If there were no breeders, I bet a lot of people who own
purebreds would "stoop" to getting a cat or kitten from the shelter
instead. Bingo, far fewer animals killed.

I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for
cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and
herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly,
the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it.
I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all
these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me.

--
monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Monique Y. Mudama wrote:

I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for
cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and
herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly,
the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it.
I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all
these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me.

Someone on this newsgroup once wrote, "I've never been into purebred
cats. Frankly, I think Mother Nature's breeding program is much superior..."
I saved that in my quote file, so I'm quoting it verbatim. I'll bet that
Takayuki can tell us who posted it.

I admit to being fond of certain breeds - Maine Coons, Abyssinians (sp?),
apple-headed Siamese. But I don't much care for the look of certain other
breeds, and I think some are even cruel - eg, the poor modern Persians
with all their sinus problems.

I'm with you - why not go to the shelter and save a moggie from being
euthanized? I guess some breeds are a status symbol. The same goes for
dogs. When I walk around in a wealthy part of town, *everyone* who's
walking a dog is walking a purebred. What, are they too good to have a
mutt? I have to wonder whether they adopted their animal because they
wanted a companion to love, or because they wanted the proper accessory
for their beautiful home?

Alright, that's a broad generalization. I'm sure many wealthy people
adore their Afghan hounds and Himalayan cats. But how come you never see
a mutt or moggie with those people??

Joyce

Monique Y. Mudama wrote:

I don't think most purebreds are bred responsibly, but even if they
are, sure. If there were no breeders, I bet a lot of people who own
purebreds would "stoop" to getting a cat or kitten from the shelter
instead. Bingo, far fewer animals killed.

I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for
cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and
herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly,
the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it.
I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all
these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me.

I agree with all you said. I know I have purebred cat, but I don't have
her because she's a purebred, I have her because she needed a home.
OTOH, it would seem that the stray and feral cat problem is a thousand
times worse in the US than it is in Scandinavia. I don't know why that's
so. We certainly have our fair share of irresponsible owners who don't
speuter their cats and let them run free. Maybe it's just that the
climate is too cold for them to survive very long in the wild. As
I've mentioned before, I've never seen a feral cat here in all my life.
I've read several articles on the local shelter claiming that they can
usually return strays (escapees) to their original home, and they ones
they can't are rehomed. Somehow, the system seems to work here. I don't
know exactly how it is in Norway (where Hans and Bom bom are), but I'm
assuming ther situation is similar. So though I don't support breeding,
ummm... what am I trying to say here? Maybe that breeding purebreds
isn't such a big crime if there aren't a lot of homeless cats to begin with.

--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.
marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi
Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/
Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/
and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

On 2006-04-04, Marina penned:
assuming ther situation is similar. So though I don't support
breeding, ummm... what am I trying to say here? Maybe that breeding
purebreds isn't such a big crime if there aren't a lot of homeless
cats to begin with.

Yeah, maybe ...

The way I see it, though, there are still lots of homeless cats. They
just happen to be in another country. But I guess it's a little much
to imagine that people would mail order their cats from the US.

I should apologize to Hans. I was not really trying to attack him,
honestly. It's just hard for me to read about intact animals being
bred when there are so many animals dying for want of a home.

--
monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

"Flippy" wrote in message
...
What on earth is on people's mind when they move and don't take their pets
with them? It's not like the animal is an appliance. I don't think I'll
ever
understand some people.

I'm glad that Bom Bom has found a new home. Please keep us updated.

--
Flippy in Melbourne, Australia.
Catpage: http://www.flippyscatpage.com


I don't get it either. If we can take our cat from Thailand to Australia,
which is costing us around $5000 when you include everything associated with
it and with us being able to do it, and is delaying our arrival in Australia
by 6 months, then anyone who would abandon their cats because of a lesser
move is just making sorry excuses!
--
Britta

on Monday 03 April 2006 09:19 pm, Monique Y. Mudama blabbed incessantly
producing the following:

On 2006-04-04, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) penned:

I agree that "pet quality" cats should be neutered, but most people
who breed purebreds do not do it irresponsibly - the litters are
already "spoken for" before they are born. You're not really
suggesting that "thoroughbred" cats with their distinctive
characteristics should be eliminated as breeds, are you?

I don't think most purebreds are bred responsibly, but even if they
are, sure. If there were no breeders, I bet a lot of people who own
purebreds would "stoop" to getting a cat or kitten from the shelter
instead. Bingo, far fewer animals killed.

I can see some argument for dog breeds, but I just can't see it for
cats. We don't have guard cats, retriever cats, pointing cats and
herding cats. Cats are cats. They might look different, but honestly,
the variation isn't all that huge. I'm sorry, but that's how I see it.
I can't justify the amount of senseless cat deaths by pointing to all
these great breeds of cat. It just doesn't work for me.

Different breeds of cats have different traits though. I wouldn't mind
having a ragdoll that plays fetch, but I really want a Bengal. I already
have five cats (two of which are getting "altered" as I speak). I love my
"alley" cats, but I want a Bengal too!
--
The Raven

Dogs have owners, Cats have staff.

"The Raven" wrote in message


Different breeds of cats have different traits though. I wouldn't mind
having a ragdoll that plays fetch, but I really want a Bengal.///

I have an alley cat moggie kitten who plays fetch... and swims in the
sink....and helps herself to my food, and exhibits all the traits of a
bengal, a turkish van, a main coon (without the hair) and has the voice
of a siamese when she's yelling... )

I tell everyone who asks what breed she is, that she's a Thai Water
retrieving cat. ;o)

Helen M


--
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

badwilson wrote:

I don't get it either. If we can take our cat from Thailand to Australia,
which is costing us around $5000 when you include everything associated with
it and with us being able to do it, and is delaying our arrival in Australia
by 6 months, then anyone who would abandon their cats because of a lesser
move is just making sorry excuses!

Now that is the best point I've heard yet on this issue!!

Joyce