"Cat Crazed", a documentary on CBC tonight

[sugarcatmom]

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2011/catcrazed/

Talks about cat overpopulation, feral cats, and some of the groups/people involved with helping them (Calgary's Bill Bruce is interviewed, along with the MEOW Foundation and Fix Nation).

[quincymycat]

The phrase "most popular and most disposable" just cranks me up. How true and how horrible.

[chico2]

Thank's for reminding us SCM,I will watch it tonight

I just wish some of the people who have dumped their kitties would watch it,but it will be mostly cat-lovers watching.

[rainbow]

Thanks for the reminder SCM

This is so true ....

"It’s become clear that we don’t have a cat problem, we have a human problem."

[14+kitties]

Not to wreck it for the folks on the west coast - great show! For the most part. Hopefully people who are not necessarily "cat people" will have watched it and learned a few things. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I love Bill Bruce!!!

[chico2]

Yes,what a great man
I object somewhat to blaming song-birds demise mostly on cats,although in the clip they did catch cats getting baby-birds.

Every spring at my house,my bird-houses are being raided by Blue-Jays,Raccoons,mind you,they are"only"Sparrow babies..

I thought the show was great,although I did not agree with everything that was being said,especially the lady who said cats belong outside
Spay/Neuter is the only solution,as we all know,more s/n clinics are needed.

Someone who gets a cute little kitten for $5 or free,only to let him go when he grows up,is not going to spend $$$$ on s/n,the cat will be dumped.

[14+kitties]

Originally Posted by chico2

Yes,what a great man
I object somewhat to blaming song-birds demise mostly on cats,although in the clip they did catch cats getting baby-birds.

Every spring at my house,my bird-houses are being raided by Blue-Jays,Raccoons,mind you,they are"only"Sparrow babies..

I thought the show was great,although I did not agree with everything that was being said,especially the lady who said cats belong outside
Spay/Neuter is the only solution,as we all know,more s/n clinics are needed.

Someone who gets a cute little kitten for $5 or free,only to let him go when he grows up,is not going to spend $$$$ on s/n,the cat will be dumped.

It is nature for cats to go after birds. Just as birds go after bugs and earthworms. Now don't say it's hardly the same thing. Who's to say in another few years we won't have an earthworm shortage because the birds, and other natural predators, are eating so many.

It would be such a simple thing to keep the cats out of those areas where they seem to be a problem. All of the bird lovers can get together and pitch in for fencing. The top designed to keep cats in an enclosed area could be switched to the outside to keep the cats out of that area. Why can't someone there think of that?

The woman who made the comment about being called a "bird lady" and would rather that than being called a "cat lady" -

I don't agree with the cats belonging outside either. Especially when/if they don't have a warm shelter to go to in cold weather. One person made the exact same comment I have made many times. People would never ever think of putting their dog out at 11pm for the night and expect them to be there in the morning. But it happens with cats all the time.

As for people not spending the money to get cats fixed - I hear that all the time. I'll spend the money to feed more and more and more every year because they continue to reproduce but I won't spend $50 to get them fixed one at a time. Disgusting IMO.

[chico2]

Someone also said,a well fed cat will not hunt,but that too is wrong,my cats certainly hunt,but since we are with them outside we don't let them catch birds.
Ferals,we all know,do so because they want to survive,our cats do it for the thrill of the hunt.

There was a lady on the show that reminded me of you 14+,even the way she looked.

[rainbow]

Originally Posted by chico2

Someone also said,a well fed cat will not hunt,but that too is wrong,my cats certainly hunt,but since we are with them outside we don't let them catch birds.
Ferals,we all know,do so because they want to survive,our cats do it for the thrill of the hunt.

That's the same as our cats ....it's just "instinct" and they will do it for the thrill and are quite put out when mommy stops them.

I watched some of the show but kept nodding off so missed quite a bit.

[mhikl]

Did anyone see the CBC Documentary on Feral Cats?

I watched a documentary on the CBC last night (maybe on NewsWorld) but I was being distracted (my Sadie has badly hurt her leg slipping on the ice) and didn’t get all the facts. The documentary seemed to leave the important facts to the end which I missed due to parental responsibilities.

Would someone who was able to view the whole documentary be willing to summarize the points on what the “Canadian Solution” that was, mentioned in the documentary?

It just makes sense that where there is a way and a will, solutions are found.

Sure would appreciate it.

Namaste,
mhikl

[TeriM]

I thought this was a wonderful show .

[luckypenny]

It can be viewed online here: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/1221.../ID=1724295516

I didn't get a chance to watch it last night (although dh did ). I'll try to find some time tomorrow.

[MIA]

Thanks for posting it, I missed it too.

[Sylvie]

I thought it was a great show. Every city should try to be like Calgary.

[luckypenny]

I watched it today. The "conservative estimate" is 50 million stray cats in North America. My jaw dropped. I know the issue is beyond bad, it was just shocking hearing an actual amount.

[SodaCats]

I caught the last 20 minutes of it, was a very interesting show.