As someone who currently lives with 11 cats and 4 tortoises, I know a thing or two about the husbandry of each species. I make it my business to be sure to understand their needs and ideal environment – this includes such things as food, shelter, warmth, sleep cycles and stimulation. All pretty straightforward stuff, really. And, frankly, it’s all the easier to find out with the advent of the Internet. As far as animal protection goes, we have the Protection of Animals Act 1911 as amended most recently in 2000. This act makes it an offence to wilfully injure or neglect domestic animals. Now, there might be a case for updating this act – I would certainly support more vigorous penalties for cruelty cases. But, and words fail me (or perhaps not), the government is again engaging in its nanny knows best mentality with its latest pronouncement:
“CATS, dogs and other family pets are to have five statutory “freedoms” enshrined in law — and owners who flout the regulations could face jail or a fine of up to £5,000 after a visit from the “pet police”.”
It gets better:
“Every domesticated animal will have a code of conduct tailored to their species, each of which is expected to run into dozens of pages. This will form part of the Animal Welfare Bill, expected to clear Parliament in the next few months.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will inform the owners of Britain’s ten million cats, eight million dogs and one million rabbits of their new obligations in a series of pamphlets distributed to vets, pet shops, kennels and over the internet.
The first code of conduct, produced for cat owners, has been obtained by The Times. The 18-page A4 document, drafted for MPs scrutinising the Bill, warns cat owners of the dangers of dogs. It reads: “Dogs should be introduced to cats very carefully. The dog should be on a lead at first so that it cannot chase the cat.” “
Really. Is that so? I would never have figured that one out by myself. Some of the “advice” though, is downright bad:
“Neuter cats at four months old. Females can produce up to 18 kittens a year, the code says, and “motherhood takes a lot out of a cat”. Cats advertise their availability by screeching, fighting and wandering off, it adds”
A kitten is not fully developed at four months. Indeed, neutering at six months is still young. We neuter at nine months to minimise the likelihood of complications. It is possible, but generally unlikely that the kitten will have come on heat by that time – certainly none of ours has. You can generally get away with castrating a tom at six months, but, again, to be absolutely sure, I prefer waiting until about nine months. I would never recommend neutering as young as four months.
“Keep cats indoors at night to protect them and the local wildlife “
While I accept that the issue of wildlife is contentious; this displays remarkable ignorance. Cats are crepuscular animals – going out at night is in their blood; an inalienable right, I would have said…
So having read the article, I ask myself; have I stepped into a parallel universe where absolutely nothing makes sense anymore or is the world really becoming more stupid as each day passes? Perhaps I should ask our cats to form a committee with a spokescat to inform Mrs Longrider and I of any concerns they may have – a food allowance increase, perhaps? Maybe the tortoises would like to hold a meeting to discuss the size of their outside enclosure (after all, they do keep trying to get out of it). If they nominate a spokescheloni, I’ll consider discussing their collective grievances.
No, it isn’t me, it can’t be. The world really is going mad.
“The Bill increases the time in which a prosecutor can bring a case from six months to three years. Pet shops may bring in a register of animals sold, with customers signing to signify they are above the age of 16 and have been given care advice.
The Bill applies to all vertebrates, but a code of conduct for invertebrates, such as lobsters, may follow.”
Bugger – did I treat those stick insects I had as a kid properly? And what about the toads that visit the pond during the spring and summer? Have I granted sufficient rights to their tadpoles? And, did you notice the little clause slipped in there like a stiletto between the ribs? The bit about a register? Ah, yes, here we go again. Find a “problem” and then fix it with mass surveillance.
Leopards really do not change their spots.
Of course, the leopard liberation front sub-committee for the rights to climb trees might be having a get together to discuss their collective “right” to change their spots if they want to…
Keeping cats from eating the local wildlife? Are we talking about geese here, or rats and mice? Don’t other wild species kill each other off? Why pick on housecats?
Keeping cats in at night is a lovely concept, obviously thought up by someone who has never owned one and experienced carpet being torn up and window blinds being bent out of shape by a cat that DEMANDS to go out, RIGHT NOW! ;^)