Comments on: One of those http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/31/one-of-those/ Investor, Writer, Traveller and other stuff Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:53:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Clifford http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/31/one-of-those/comment-page-1/#comment-1607 Clifford Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:40:19 +0000 http://www.chezcliff.com/?p=976#comment-1607 @Paty: Contrary to what others might say, the murder of a cat is not on my list of priorities. I just want to make sure Mr Nichols is really a cat and not a twilight zone ventriloquist dummy. @Paty: Contrary to what others might say, the murder of a cat is not on my list of priorities.

I just want to make sure Mr Nichols is really a cat and not a twilight zone ventriloquist dummy.

]]> By: Paty http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/31/one-of-those/comment-page-1/#comment-1606 Paty Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:34:29 +0000 http://www.chezcliff.com/?p=976#comment-1606 Clifford vs. Mr. Nichols... such a respectable name for a cat! Are you being serious? About capturing Mr. Nichols? I thought you were joking! LOL! Clifford vs. Mr. Nichols… such a respectable name for a cat! Are you being serious? About capturing Mr. Nichols? I thought you were joking! LOL!

]]> By: Another Investor http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/31/one-of-those/comment-page-1/#comment-1605 Another Investor Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:28:19 +0000 http://www.chezcliff.com/?p=976#comment-1605 If you catch your neighbor's cat, what will you do with him? Legally, your only option is to take him to your jurisdiction's animal shelter. Any other disposition of the cat is against the law in California. If you take the cat to the shelter, the owner has several days to discover this and retrieve him at some cost to the owner. If not retrieved timely, the cat will likely be euthanized. If the owner does retrieve him, you will not have solved the problem and you will have an enemy in your neighborhood. Believe me, the owner has a good chance of finding out you are the culprit, no matter what they tell you at the shelter. If the cat is euthanized, you will have a very angry neighbor who will tell all the other neighbors what a cruel, heartless jerk you are. There could be retaliation as well. Having done mitigation work in cooperation with Animal Control in a couple of jurisdictions, my advice is to work with the owner to see if you can solve the problem cooperatively. Often it is enough to educate the owner about the fate likely to befall an outdoor cat to get the owner to keep the cat indoors. Disease, dogs, cars, and cat haters all contribute to a very short average lifespan for outdoor cats. If education fails, you have two reasonable choices. You can take steps to make your property less attractive to the neighborhood cats, or you can tell the owner you intend to trap and take the cat to the shelter because of the damage the cat is causing. Make sure the owner understands what you intend to do before you trap. Tread lightly here or you may find yourself with much more serious problems than a little cat poop. If you catch your neighbor’s cat, what will you do with him? Legally, your only option is to take him to your jurisdiction’s animal shelter. Any other disposition of the cat is against the law in California.

If you take the cat to the shelter, the owner has several days to discover this and retrieve him at some cost to the owner. If not retrieved timely, the cat will likely be euthanized.

If the owner does retrieve him, you will not have solved the problem and you will have an enemy in your neighborhood. Believe me, the owner has a good chance of finding out you are the culprit, no matter what they tell you at the shelter. If the cat is euthanized, you will have a very angry neighbor who will tell all the other neighbors what a cruel, heartless jerk you are. There could be retaliation as well.

Having done mitigation work in cooperation with Animal Control in a couple of jurisdictions, my advice is to work with the owner to see if you can solve the problem cooperatively. Often it is enough to educate the owner about the fate likely to befall an outdoor cat to get the owner to keep the cat indoors. Disease, dogs, cars, and cat haters all contribute to a very short average lifespan for outdoor cats.

If education fails, you have two reasonable choices. You can take steps to make your property less attractive to the neighborhood cats, or you can tell the owner you intend to trap and take the cat to the shelter because of the damage the cat is causing. Make sure the owner understands what you intend to do before you trap.

Tread lightly here or you may find yourself with much more serious problems than a little cat poop.

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