Why not work out a compromise with her neighbors i.e. Monday, Wednesday, Friday Jasper gets to go out. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, the other cats go out. Sunday, they all get to go out together.
13
Loose cats are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, yet birds are believed to be only 20 percent of the wildlife stray cats kill. I adore cats, I have 8 myself - but they are killing machines, and allowing them to decimate the wildlife population is irresponsible, and, I would say, unethical. And, if you really care about Jasper, on average, cats who are allowed to roam outdoors often don't live to see age five. Cats who are always kept safely confined can live to be 18 to 20 years old.
31
"Evidently a source of pleasure for many creatures" - Are you kidding?! It's a cat and all cats should remain indoors unless leashed or under voice/sight control just like dogs have to.
33
Regarding Jasper the cat ... if I were his human, I'd be sad to hear that he is terrorizing other cats. In my neighborhood, there was a dominant cat and the other cats learned to give him wide berth. Jasper's basically acting like a cat--in my opinion, it's up to the neighbors to decide whether to continue to subject their cats to Wild Kingdom.
Regarding the slacker co-worker ... The letter writer will experience this phenomenon through the writer's worklife. The only way to survive is to pay attention to your OWN job and behavior. Do your job with integrity. If the slacker is leaving his time sheet lying around you can feel free to comment on his vivid imagination.
9
Love it that this column has invited so many comments about domestic cats that have NOTHING to do with ethics. Nothing.
Prof. Appiah..."The Felinist". His reply STARTS with concerns about the right of neighborhood cats to live a good life "to which they are entitled". Paragraphs later, he gets around to the rights of human neighbors.
How about saving some trees and just stating "do unto others..."?
Another Sunday pondering the great moral questions of our time.
6
So you figure questions about the care and treatment of animals don't have anything to do with ethics?
10
You should let your cat out, where he might have a good chance to feed the local coyote population.
15
I don't understand the criticism on letter writer #2. He or she is doing the work of two people, but getting paid the same. The co-worker is the one slacking off and should be reported. It would also benefit the research center to know that they are getting a slacker employee. So why not report it? The co-worker is lying and cheating the employer but according to the ethicist's answer, the honest employee's "motivation" is suspect. Huh? Since when does someone need the right "sentiment" when it comes time to report the cheater? Both the employee and co-worker are being cheated and undoubtedly the cheater will go on to cheat in other ways with other employers.
What if the co-worker was caught stealing money? Would the ethicist and most commenter's answers be "shut up and MYOB?" This should be no different. The dishonest employee is stealing wages--and money by extension-- by not working his prescribed hours AND lying about it.
32
Can't cats all just get along? No, particularly not males. But humans can let their cats out a little, so that the edge is off, but not so much that they oppress other cats excessively. Just like with people, everybody can get part of what they want and learn to live without the rest. At least that's how people used to be. It's depressing to see scolding, all-or-nothing answers here instead.
It's a shame that the Ethicist didn't just finally advocate a reasonable compromise instead of leaving off with inconclusive philosophical pondering. Ethics without a recommendation is what exactly?
14
Why not put a collar with a bell on him? The other cats would hear him coming and hide or move out of his way. This would have the additional benefit of saving songbirds.
41
If this were a dog running free, the pet controls would be called. Why do cat owners think it ok to let their cats run free, kill birds and anything else they can catch?
40
We humans take it upon ourselves to create/breed animal companions but are less willing to accept our responsibility for their safety and health, or the damage these roaming pets do to other beings. These are created hyrids, not wild animals.
Most cities do not allow dogs, ferrets, rabbits, chickens, pet snakes or lizards to roam a neighborhood freely, yet to restrict a pet cat by having indoor only cats or building an outdoor Catio is considered by some cat owners cruel and unnatural. A domestic cat, as are all domesticated hybrid pets, are unnatural.
The happiness of a pet, their health, life and sometimes their eventual death is our responsibility. Throwing up ones hands and proclaiming “that is just what cats do”is denying the reality that your cat is your responsibility as a domestic pet bred for your pleasure.
Though the discussion has made a simple problem insolvable, there are good solutions. The Portland Audubon Society and the Feral Cat coalition work together to improve the lives of cats and to protect birds from the devestating predation by roaming cats.
It is called the Catio.
The Tour De Catio is a big event here rivaling the Chicken Coop Tour.
Owners build outdoor enclosed structures filled with outdoor enrichment for cats and easily accessed through cat doors so cats can come and go.
Yes, it is limiting the area a domestic cat can roam. But a cat can live a happy, enriched and healthy long life as your companion.
19
When your cat terrorizes other cats it actually effects their mental health.
15
Jasper is a cat doing what cats do. He is not a human (lucky Jasper!). Humans should not assess him because they have literally no clue about these wonderful felines who are self sufficient, with far more savvy than any human. Leave him alone to address his own affairs as the cat he is, not as your uneducated brain says he is or should be.
I have a 6 year old male cat that I literally rescued from my former vet's office because he had been captured from is feral colony supposedly accidentally. I kept him indoors thru the winter -which he hated -until spring.... when he had enough of the indoor domestic life so foreign to his feline nature.
He hid for the whole day but came back late that night with a mouse as a gift, letting me know that he knew that my quarters were his new abode.
He loves climbing trees and racing thither and yon. He is affectionate an sociable-but on his feline terms, not our human ones. He is no more bully than I am, but will give any aggressor food for thought. Its called self defence!
Magique sends a high-five to Jasper in solidarity.
8
I would suggest that Undergrad focuses on doing a great job and hoping for references and perhaps a chance to get another such job next term. But maybe that won't happen. Whatever. It is time to learn that the workplace is very unfair. Always has been. Always will be. And nitpicking others will not improve your life or your work place.
8
re cat: allow the cat out during specific hours so that neighbors can choose to allow their cats out during Jasper's inside hours. Even cats should not be allowed to bully.
16
This seems both sensible and workable. I am surprised that the idea did not occur to the Ethicist. Thank you for suggesting it.
9
Worse yet, cat poo is lethal to some dogs, mine included included. Took me several expensive vet visits and watching to figure this out. My neighbor’s cat deposits her gifts here, in the backyard, sideyard, near the front steps. To my dog those gifts are like candy and then, one gulp. she's near death, no kidding,
I now keep a reserve of doggie flagyl, and must muzzle my dog every single time she’s outside, in our own fenced backyard, even on walks with us.
Luckily, pooch is a retired greyhound, had been muzzled, so cooperates, but still. My neighbor can’t bear to look when my friendly muzzled doggie is outside yet her cat has rights, too.
4
Cats always establish neighborhood territories that may or may not correspond to human property boundaries. The turf lines are constantly tested and reinforced. Much of this consists of just yowling and posturing -- if that's all that's going on, I think the cats have to work it out amongst themselves. My male cat and a cat who lives across the street both cross over to test the boundaries once in a while -- there's some yelling and the invader retreats , no harm done. It's a different story if Jasper's PHYSICALLY attacking other cats in their own yards. Abcessed wounds are dangerous and can run up big vet bills. If that's the case, you have to keep Jasper in, at least for some (announced) days of the week., as others here have suggested.
13
When you adopt a cat question one is if you will be letting it outside, if you answer yes, a responsible shelter will not let you adopt. Seriously. It’s means a shorter life, more disease, run over by cars, etc. etc. etc. Adopt 2 cats, neuter and spay, they will enjoy each other’s company - fight a little, which is fine - and enjoy you too. But it’s cruel to let them roam free, as counter-intuitive as that may seem.
21
Yes. As another poster wrote below, they may love the outdoors, but the outdoors doesn't love them back. I think that is a helpful way of thinking about it.
11
I put a harness on both my cats when they were just kittens. They are tied outside on a leash long enough to explore the whole backyard without bothering anyone else, and I know they are safe.
8
The response to the undergrad research assistant was misguided. The reason for doing the work of learning and research is to be competent in your chosen field.
We have more than enough bad policy in this administration than any nation should be expected to bear. The right thing for the right reason is to appreciate your opportunities and learn the lesson. That serves the public and the profession.
Tell the other student you won't cover for him. Then don't.
18
Scrolled through many, many cat responses and none about the fraudulent undergrad . . . .
Not correct to say this person's blowing off work and lying about it isn't affecting his colleague: presumably, there is work sufficient for two, but only one is doing it. If all or most of it is getting done, then it is because the one who shows up is picking up the slack for his/her colleague but not getting credit for it. If the work is not getting done, then likely the supervisors will--based on the time records showing them both present--look at both undergrads and perhaps think they both are not getting the job done, when the performance failure is probably mostly (or totally) attributable to the person who says he's there working when he is not.
In either case, collecting pay for days you say you are working when you are not is fraudulent, and also theft of wages. I am an HR director, and I can tell you with certainty I would want to know this. As difficult as it might be to have the conversation, I'd say tell your boss. Who would object to this as spiteful? You are there working and holding up your end of the deal and the other person is not. If he grows angry at you for outing his fraudulent activities, do you really care? Is his approval of you so important that you're willing to lie for him and do the work that he agreed to do but is not doing?
17
Keep Jasper indoors. Cats do not "need" to go outside. If you can screen in a porch or patio, or make a screened enclosure on part of your yard, do that. But a roaming cat is likely to be killed by a dog or raccoon or coyote, depending where you live, or be hit by a car, bitten by a feral that has FIV, or caught and tortured or killed and mutilated my some deranged person who will probably never be caught. (This really happened to several "outside" cats in my neighborhood in Houston, their bodies posed on people's lawns. The criminal was never found.) I kept my cats indoors or in my screened patio in Houston. My cats now go out only because my yard had an 8 foot wall around it, and they are now too old to jump. Seven years ago, I had to take them out in harness leads, because they would jump the wall after birds. There are poisonous snakes outside my wall. But they are also content to spend the day in the screened patio. There are calming agents you can use if Jasper acts like a lunatic indoors. He will get over it.
17
Purchase or build a ratio for Jasper or leash-train him. How would you feel if one day Jasper went out but never returned?
12
"Catio," rather than "ratio," if anyone's wondering. They're an inspired solution.
4
An aggressive cat in our neighborhood was trapped and transported to a new home. You may find your cat missing one day. You are being selfish and unneighborly as your cat is annoying the neighborhood. Keep it inside or lose him.
29
She was in no way being aggressive. She was suggesting a good way to save Jasper.
8
Unfortunately, that's what cats do. They need the outdoors and they are extremely curious and territorial.
Since Jasper is an indoors/outdoors cat, it will be a torture for him (and for you) to not be allowed outside anymore.
One of our cats was indoors/outdoors. At some point, we would see him only a couple times a week. Then, we found out that a neighbor had been keeping him in her house for 9 years (and that's why we didn't get to see him often) as if he was hers. After that, and considering his age and health issues, we decided to keep him exclusively indoors. It's been two years now. The first year was nothing short of hell. We have come a long way now, even though we can't keep a door open for more than 5 seconds. But I would not recommend this to anyone, unless it is an extreme situation - like someone else stealing your cat, for example.
All of our other cats are indoors. I feel for them because they need to let all that energy out somehow, and going outside helps a lot. However, for us, the cons weighed more than the pros.
Maybe you could reduce the time Jasper spends outside? Or maybe build him a "catio" or a screened in porch?
There are also products that would help reduce aggressive behavior - e.g. Jackson Galaxy's products seem to work for many cats. Feromones may also help. Do an online research and/or talk to a vet to see what are the options.
I hope it all works well for everyone involved!
8
Not all cats need or want to prowl outdoors. Ours happily stays inside, despite being invited to explore the fenced-in backyard.
6
It's interesting that we apply the term "bully" to a an animal that is simply "territorial." In nature, an animal that clearly claimed, maintained and controlled his/her territory controls the resources within, and protects those by keeping other's out. In nature, the animal with the largest and most secure territory is the most successful. Cat's aren't "bullies," but they do run into trouble when their boundaries and behaviors run into those of humans and "their" animals. As always, it's the humans who complicate matters, not the animals.
14
Absolutely the best answer! My cat Boots would sweetly mew to invite cats into our front yard and when they approached the steps he’d zoom after them and chase them to our property line. No screaming or fighting, just an amusing sense of “here are the boundaries here!” Our house was actually HIS and, of course, so was the yard! Boots was a sweet, quiet boy who lived for 19 years. With no screaming!
3
A bully by any other name......
2
My steps, my front yard and my home belong to MY cats. When the bully cat comes along and beats up my cats and forces his way through the screen to get to them, he is a bully. He does not get my home as part of his territory, sorry cat psychologist.
4
Cats belong indoors.
"Outdoor cats" spread disease among cats and humans - even causing miscarriage. They damage plantings. They are at risk from coyotes, traffic, and other cats. To protect your cat, yourself, and your neighbors, keep the cat indoors.
16
If a cat just hates being inside, please invest in a 6’ fence with a coyote roller at the top.
5
Jasper needs a outdoor cat enclosure, specialised (and nearly invisible) fencing either attached to an existing fence or installed as part of a new fence. If fencing in all or part of your garden isn't practical, a cat run or a "catio" will let him enjoy the outdoors without bothering the neighbourhood cats.
My cat was a "wanderer", and still reminds me that I should be opening the gate for her, but she's been confined for half-a-decade to the benefit of her health (she no longer gets six dinners a day) and my peace of mind.
12
Your comment about six dinner reminded me of on of my favorite children's books-Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore. If your cat was really eating six dinners you might be able to relate.
Put a collar with a bell on your cat. Other cats will start to associate the sound with Jasper and stay away to avoid bullying.
19
I have never known a belled cat that retained the bell. They are really clever that way.
1
I am more concerned about the song birds in the area than I am about the other cats in the neighborhood. I side with the commenters who think all domestic cats should be kept indoors.
28
To the undergrad researcher: nothing wrong with the fact that you are upset about the situation. You didn't do anything wrong and you should not be judged for feeling the way you do. You see a person doing something wrong, something that is affecting you directly and you don't like it. I wouldn't like it either.
Can't understand why some people think that's selfish but unfortunately, some do. If his behavior didn't affect you in any way, maybe it would be better to let it go, mostly considering this is a temporary assignment. But if your work is increasing because he is not doing his part and if you have to lie or cover for him, then you need to let someone know.
18
Agreed. The undergrad should do her own work, keep her head down, and eventually her colleague will hang himself with his own rope. Then she will experience all the schadenfreude in the world.
Is anyone looking at this from the employer's perspective? Temporary or not, I wouldn't like to have either a frankly dishonest employee who lies about his days and hours at work OR one that knows about it but is too unassertive to report the behavior.
4
Obviously people who are saying - "it's easy! just keep your cat inside" have never had cats who have established as in-door/out-door cats. That study was published in 2012, what do you want us to do with all the cats that had been going out before that? Out of the 4 I currently have, only 1 would be fine with being kept in all the time. .... Do you know how annoying a cat can be?
I would say put a bell on Jasper, as long as you aren't in a largely wooded area where his collar could get caught on something, or at least make it a break-away collar.
8
No matter how "annoying" your cat is, he or she is your responsibility. Indoor cats need attention, and an effort to make their environment interesting and stimulating for them. They don't usually require as much effort as a dog, but they're not just pillows that eat, either.
5
I am a cat lover having had two indoor cats (both shelter kitties, both declawed before I met them) in Chicago. While I appreciate the desire to let cats run free and enjoy the outdoors, I note that the writer has no concern whatsoever for the well-being of birds in her area. He/she has angst about her cat frightening ("bullying") other cats and upsetting cat owners. Yet, domestic cats roaming free actually do great harm to the local bird population. The owner's concern is, IMO, sadly misguided. In confronting other cats, the animal is simply being his cat-self; other cats understand that - it's their society, so to speak. It is also their nature to stalk and kill prey, which is what those owners so blithely allow.
19
The cat owner needs to be careful. A "mean" cat in our neighborhood was shot with a .22 after it tangled with another cat down the road. Case was never solved, but I don't think the police put much effort into any investigation.
24
The neighbor down the alley trapped many cats before the neighborhood caught on and took them 20 miles away to the forest preserve, a recipe for death. His wife said they were eating fish in their pond. No, lady, that was the raccoons! The animal welfare and the police became involved so that evil person got a trapping license because cats are considered wild animals in Illinois. Funny how people can have a beautiful house and perfect garden and have such evil intent.
5
The cat is establishing his territory, as his instincts tell him to do. The other cats will learn to stay out of his way. But you could keep him in one or two days a week.
7
Another consideration is Jasper's safety. A neighbor might shoot him to end the annoyance. I've got neighbors that would!
14
cats are arrogant,incorrigible little creeps, to
whom I am DEADLY ALLERGIC.
keep them in your house and don't invite me,
FOREVER.
9
Maybe cats are allergic to you.
22
Susan, maybe you are seriously uninformed and lack empathy. To quote Wikipedia, the font of all knowledge: "Those with severe, life-threatening cat allergies face tremendous challenges due to lack of public awareness about anaphylactic cat allergies, and do not enjoy the same conscientiousness from the public as those with a food allergy might, due to widespread knowledge of allergies to allergens such as nuts or dairy."
2
Cats are always drawn to people who don't like them. Haven't you noticed that? I think they're attracted to the aloofness.
1
Jasper will likely die young from being hit by a car or killed in retaliation for beating up someone else’s pet. That’s hardly fair to the cat. I’d either keep him outdoors or let him go out under supervision. You can rig up a screened porch for him.
Aside from that, cats establish territory and their dominance over other cats by doing what Jasper is doing. Jasper is the dominant cat in the neighborhood and the other cats are below him in the hierarchy. The noise is probably a lot worse than the damage. Unless he draws blood or you see missing fur, it’s nothing to worry about.
15
You’re right! However, clue the neighbors—because they don’t all get it!
2
Keep Jasper INSIDE. his quality of life has nothing to do with being allowed to roam and everything to do with his health. stop anthropomorphizing him ("he stares wistfully out the window" during the winter), and start loving him. he will meet a dog, a car, a human, a wild animal who finds him encroaching on their rights and he will die, probably horribly. I am a feline behaviorist and I can tell you exactly who loves cats like Jasper: no one. and by letting him roam, you are not loving him, you are ensuring that he will make enemies. keep him INSIDE.
42
Nowadays, it is unethical to have an outdoor cat. The letter writer and The Ethicist should know better. The non-profit, American Humane, says cats should not be let outdoors without supervision. The NYT had an opinion piece entitled "The Evil Of An Outdoor Cat". Cats hunt too many small animals and birds to such a degree that they ruin the environment and even cause species extinctions. Even cats that are fed at home will hunt just for sport. Also, it is clear that Jasper is a nuisance to other cats and the letter writer is favoring letting his cat invade other homeowners' territory to terrorize the neighbors' cats.
46
"Even cats that are fed at home will hunt just for sport."
Cats hunt based on their instinctual prey drive. It's not "sport". Cats have a strong prey drive because they're one of the few species that is considered to be an obligate carnivore -- they have to eat meat or starve.
We do animals a disservice when we anthropomorphize their behaviors; their actions seem similar to ours but exist for entirely different reasons.
5
How would you feel if it were your cat being intimidated by another's cat?
That's what I thought. Take him out on a leash or don't take him out at all.
20
I have to say that I'm pretty outraged that any domestic cat goes outdoors. Cats, all cats by nature are predators. And, their predatory nature kills 2.4 billion birds a year on this continent. So, what you are doing is allowing your animal to murder innocent creatures which belong out of doors as in song birds and other creatures which are beneficial to the environment and the ecology. So, what you are doing is pretty selfish. I'm not moved that going outside makes your animal happy. Because your animal's happiness is at the expense of the lives and well being of other creatures that really do belong outside, as in that's their home. Let that marinate around in your mind for a while. And, maybe a better solution for Jasper is for you to build some kind of outdoor jungle inside the home. And leave the creatures which belong outside undisturbed by your cat and by your neighbors' cats as well.
28
"...their predatory nature kills 2.4 billion birds a year on this continent."
I strongly disagree with the common assumption that cats are responsible for the majority of songbird deaths. A large percentage of bird mortality is due to land developers ripping out trees needed for nesting and shelter. Far too many bird species die when swamps are filled and lakes drained or restructured for human pleasure, thereby removing the birds' primary source of food and water.
Human interference and greed kill far more birds than domestic and feral cats.
3
and what about all the birds that 'murder' innocent defenseless worms and bugs, the birds that exist at the expense of innocent moths, butterflies and ladybugs, not to mention the predatory owls that scoop up chipmunks, the hawks that descend on field mice and squirrels? Birds (reptiles) by their nature are predators as well.
4
Louis,
My question is this.....Where do we draw the line? Yes, outdoor cats disturb the natural ecosystem. You're writing from Santa Monica? The development of your entire city disturbed the natural ecosystem. The construction of the high-speed internet infrastructure that you're using to post this very comment disturbed the natural ecosystem. All of this was done for your happiness at the expense of the lives and well being of other creatures that really do belong outside.
12
You missed an important question: why are the meeker cats allowed outside unattended? Jasper seems like the kind of cat that's fine outside. He both makes friends and takes care of himself. I never let my cats outside because I didn't trust them to take of themselves and I would have worried the whole time.
14
Jasper can't take care of himself when he encounters traffic. Even the largest animal (I'll grant an exception to adult elephants) is helpless against a car traveling at speed.
Additionally, every neighborhood has a few sick humans who enjoy torturing and killing small animals like Jasper. Some people may even believe they're 'defending' their own cats or wild birds by putting out poison to control feline bullies.
Cats need to be kept indoors and only experience the outdoors on a leash or in a safely screened catio.
3
What a great answer!
1
cats should NEVER go outside. They are utter destroyers of the natural world: birds, their eggs, other small creatures. Have you not seen the scientific studies of the effects of cats on their territories? The bring disease back inside. PLEASE do not let your cats out.
18
How do your friends and family members feel when your beloved jasper brings home (or leaves outside the door) the birds that he kills.
That would make me very, very sad.
11
How hard can this be? Keep Jasper inside a couple of days a week. Tell the neighbors their cats can frolic in safety. SHARE. Oh, and put a bell on him to warn the birds he's coming. Might help with the terrified cats as well.
14
Complaining to your boss over a colleague arriving 10 minutes late is simply pathetic and reflects badly not only on the person but, given their apparent job priorities, on their qualities as an employee.
"Results" should count for something in an office job involving administrative and research based tasks. Perhaps more than sitting at your desk showing off how hard working you are? The nature of the work may affect this, but in general, if someone who takes long coffee breaks produces better work related "results", they'll be valued over the admin bureaucrat who thinks they're impressing people by sitting in the office all day showing off how hard working they are.
p.s. unless there is a real incident, let the cat roam; it's normal for them to fuss over territory with other cats
He said it's NOT something little like 10 minutes. The partner said he was there for two whole days that he wasn't...
17
As to the cat.....paragraphs of ethics discussion? Really? It is quite simple. As a dog owner for 50+ years, here is the answer. The cat stays in. I had a dog that was very troublesome. All my other dogs have been just fine- off leash-no problems. The dog that hassles, stays on the leash. The same applies to the cat. Leash him. Or keep him inside. That is the ethics of pet ownership! Not complicated, at all. BTW I had a dog that mumbled to himself when others passed, but nothing else. He was fine to allow off leash and free to run. But your cat is inflicting a rain of terror on other cats and owners. Not an ethical problem at all..
10
Leaving dogs unleashed is even more irresponsible than leaving a cat outside.
5
And what about the birds?
http://www.audubon.org/news/cats-pose-even-bigger-threat-birds-previousl...
11
Your cat is terrorizing other cats. You wouldn't be so blithe if a neighbor regularly taunted you and threatened you with a knife or gun. That's the human version of what your cat is doing. It is your responsibility to ensure that your cat does not infringe on the well being of others. If you take your cat out, supervise him and keep him in your own yard. I can't believe you even had to ask! And what a mumbo-jumbo philosophical answer. Sometimes it just comes down to empathy and self-responsibility.
13
Kwame Anthony Appiah, please keep writing for the Times. Your columns are wise, funny, unique and splendidly sassy. Also, it's comforting to have advice from someone so committed to ethical and kind behavior. In short, you rock!
2
Letting cats roam outdoors is dangerous for the cats and for the wildlife in the neighborhood. Furthermore, it is illegal in many locations, with good reason. Also, it is incredibly inconsiderate to neighbors to allow your animal free reign over their property. If you must let your cat have outdoor time, get an enclosure for your yard.
18
The idea that a cat is not a moral agent because "he has no idea that what he's doing is bad" is a flawed assumption.
A cat--based on my experience observing many domesticated species of animals' selfishness, pettiness, nastiness and other behaviors that are not just anthropomorphized--may have as much--or as little--"idea that what he's doing is bad" as some elementary-age human bullies.
We don't excuse a young playground bully who may not be socialized to have internalized that social and behavioral--moral--norm ... but we do teach him or her how to behave properly, including apply proper incentives.
If it were possible to attend to, monitor the bully cat in a consistent and prolonged manner, and apply some corrective incentives in its instances of bullying, it could well be that one could succeed in reforming it, just as one might a child.
But if you only come upon it when it has already terrorized another cat, it has probably already derived enough "perverse" reinforcement for its aggression in the form of establishing dominance that one would be unlikely to curb it.
1
Keep your cat inside. Outdoor cats live shorter lives and as others note, kill birds. Other people's outdoor cats coming into my yard and hanging around the windows have caused big problems with my indoor cats. I find non-violent ways to run them off and make my property unattractive when possible. People need to stop thinking that roaming cats are any more OK than roaming dogs. They're not. Stop allowing your pets to disturb the neighborhood.
14
Kindly keep your cat indoors . . . the birds will thank you. To my way of thinking, if dogs are not allowed to run loose, neither should cats.
11
If you know your cat is a menace, either find some way to confine him to his yard or keep him inside altogether. The day is coming when he will injure one of his neighbors (accidentally or otherwise), so be prepared for vet bills and other costs. It seems clear they’ll know who did it. Also, there may be local legal ramifications — nuisance animal laws, for example — that could also get costly.
We wouldn’t put up with this behavior if it were coming from a dog running loose. A cat shouldn’t be any different. You own him, not the other way around. Be responsible and considerate here. At the VERY least, make sure he is microchipped and current on his shots.
10
Let your cat out only three days a week, or four. That will create some “safe time” for the other cats in the neighborhood.
3
The cat can still cause considerable damage to other cats and also birds while out "only" three or four days a week. That's like saying "I'm only going to bully someone three out of the seven days of the week and I deserve a gold medal for that." Do you honestly think the other cats (and wildlife) are going to be happy with "only" three days of harassment? And will the cats know to avoid the bully on Sunday or Monday?
2
Cat shouldn't go out because it will kill wildlife. End of story. Build a catio. That will keep Jasper safe, other cats safe, and wildlife safe.
If your toddler wanted to run around without supervision, would you allow it? Of course not. So why would you allow your pet run around without supervision? Equally irresponsible.
10
As aliens to our outdoor world, cats are so destructive that humans need to keep them indoors permanently. Of course cats get bored indoors---the mistake people make when they adopt cats is that cats are "fine" being left alone all day in a house or apartment. They are NOT fine! They need amusement just as a dog does, so if you get a cat, you have the ethical responsibility to keep it physically & mentally stimulated INDOORS. Also, if the letter writer had a kid who was terrorizing the neighborhood kids, would the ethicist be so blithe in his response?
16
Cats should not be let outside due to the fact that they kill birds. However, if keeping him indoors is not going to happen, suggest to your neighbors that they spray Jasper with their garden hoses. Cats hate getting wet. After a few experiences of getting watered, he will be less likely to intrude on the other cats watery home territories.
8
As a former Ethics Professor (Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT) my suggestion is to cut Jasper's outside days (or evenings) in half. Basically let him out 3 or 4 days a week. Letting the other cats in the neighborhood have at least 3 days without torment from Jasper. Yes, Jasper won't like it. Tough. If you can't stand Jasper's cries of indignation, get ear plugs. Life is not easy, I agree. You are kind but the other cats deserve some kindness too. Good Luck my friend.
8
I can't believe people would even suggest such an irresponsible "solution." The cat's still going to cause havoc 3-4 days a week. Would you tell a kid who bullies others "just do it 3-4 times a week and give the other days a rest?" And it's okay for the other cats to experience terror the remainder of the time? And this is an "ethical" solution?
3
Boris the Brute moved into our neighborhood in Austin. He got his though--Wily Coyote!
6
Just tell your neighbors that Jasper will be out between, say, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. a day.
2
And remember to give Jasper a watch.
7
Tell Bully Cat Dad that cats in the wild kill a lot of birds
The solution is to put the cat on a tether.
Or don't let the cat outside to kill birds.
This is an irresponsible pet owner.
8
LW#1 - The sad truth is someone will poison or otherwise kill Jasper. Keep him inside if you value his life.
LW#2 - If it doesn't affect your paycheck, say nothing. You don't know what type of arrangement your coworker has with the boss or a higher-up. Speaking up may not work out well for you. MYOB.
4
My cat goes out in the second floor hallway of my apt. building. He is known to my neighbors as the "hallway inspector." He spends about two minutes checking things out, comes back into my apartment and meows his approval. What a life!
8
Not very nice to the undergraduate who came to you for help, with a morale busting coworker.
15
You have a duty to your employer to tell them that their time is being stolen. You have a duty to protect yourself and not tell your coworker what they are doing. You have a duty to yourself to protect your reputation, and not make it look like you got much done between the two of you. So, tittlt tattle. The idea that one does not tittle tattle is a false morality created by bullies to stop their victims getting help.
Lock up your cat. Duh.
7
"The whole street knows my cat". I bet they do. Cleaning up its urine, spray, feces, and being wakened by cats screaming. Cat owners like this are the bane of a neighborhood. And I'm sure if my dog were doing the same they'd yell like crazy.
13
In the cat situation, why not simply make an arrangement with the neighbors who say their cats are suffering from Jasper's expeditions. Morning could be Jasper's time outdoors; afternoons equate to Jasper being indoors. That way all cats have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors free of Jasper's harassment, if their owners so choose.
3
Cats are native to northern Africa, where they are a natural part of the ecosystem. In North America they are invasive super predators that are responsible for the near extinction of many bird species, and in Australia, they have actually wiped out several species of small mammals. I understand that people love their cats; certainly, love can transcend the boundaries of species. However, anyone who allows a cat to roam outdoors is the moral equivalent of a gardener who cultivates kudzu.
21
I had a neighbor 5 houses away whose cat routinely came into our yard to beat up our cat. All of our cat's injuries were in his abdomen and flanks. The vet who stitched him up (numerous times..hundreds of dollars) said they were clearly defensive wounds - our cat was fleeing the attacker because there were never any wounds on his head, face or chest. I contacted a DVM/PhD in animal behavior at the veterinary hospital at a nearby university. He said cats are territorial - they don't like other cats coming into their yards - but a cat that deliberately prowls to other yards to attack other cats is not protecting his turf, he's vicious. I appealed to our neighbors to set up an every other day schedule. Both our cats liked being outdoors so I figured the fairest solution would be for each to alternate outdoor and indoors days. The neighbors had no interest in meeting half-way Their view: all cats are feral and that's the way the animal kingdom is wired. The problem did not resolve until they moved.
7
You are very patient. I couldn't tolerate seeing my cat suffer from repeated attacks by another animal. Wouldn't your local animal control help you? Where I live, owners of "attack pets" are given a warning after the first attack, and any subsequent attacks result in fines and removal of the pet (to the shelter) for evaluation and rehoming if possible.
5
Here's an idea for the person with the domineering cat. Teach him to walk on a leash or go outside with him, like you would a dog. He may too old to accept a leash, though.
My cat, now 10 years old, was taught as a baby to walk on a leash and learn "commands", and he enjoys it when we walk in the front yard or in the nearby neighborhood. (we do avoid dogs that appear aggressive.) In the completely fenced backyard, I stay outdoors with him, until he is or I am ready to return indoors.
It protects everybody...he's less likely to hunt the birds and butterflies that live in or regularly visit the garden, and the hawks and owls are less likely to hunt him.
Upsides - we have more time to play together and bond, and we avoid his suffering from possible injury and the accompanying costly vet bills.
9
The male pet cats of my childhood were bullies and fighters - my mother insisted on letting them outside every day. They lived on average 5 or 6 years, with scars and tattered ears.
The male cats I've had as an adult have all been neutered and live a comfy indoor life where they have pet toys, climbing towers and humans who socialize with and play with them. They're happy as clams. And have lived to age 19, 18, 19 and the current one on display is 14 and thriving. I live in a relatively quiet suburb but am bewildered by my neighbor who lets her cats play outside every day despite the fact that 2 beautiful kittens so far have been flattened in the road.
Be a good cat owner and give your cats a long, protected, comfy life. Neuter them and the desire to be outdoors will diminish. Play with them and give them toys and they'll be happy enough. Eventually if they live long enough they'll sleep all the time. Good times!
15
I have very little experience with cats (and this suggestion may show it), but why not put Jasper on a long leash that lets him roam your property, but no further. Not ideal, but he gets to be outside and his cat victims can learn to stay away.
1
Don’t understand why Heather feels letting her cat outside will improve his life when indoor cats live longer healthier lives. And don’t get me started on how much safer the birds will be. And I have a cat.
11
Were either of the questions answered? Interesting commentary but I didn't see any answers. For the cat dilemma -- talk to your neighbors and apologize for Jasper's behavior. Maybe you & the neighbors can agree on timelines &/or locations, e.g., Jasper goes into only your backyard or if you see neighbors cat outside, bring Jasper in. For the office worker -- in order to approach a supervisor, you need a better reason for your concerns. Can't be about you. In your approach, don't give names. Just mention that the system is being taken advantage of. If your co-worker suspects you told on him, so what. You are concerned about costs and work not getting done.
7
We cat-fenced our back yard to confine our cats to our property without having to lock them in the house. Others use cat runs instead of fences.
3
Cats... whatever.
LW2: I wish the E had avoided judging the writer's very human and freely admitted psychological responses to the fellow worker who is stealing from their employer.
Dear E, are you writing this as a voluntary contribution to the Times? I mean, are your motives not less than pure if you accept remuneration for your efforts?
If someone acts ethically, does that act become unethical if your discover that some - or all of their - motivations - feelings - were of a selfish nature? If that is the case, then given that everything done by humans is always tarnished by self interest, no matter how hidden or minimal ( unless this is a Christ figure), therefore no acts are ethical.
What the writer's dilemma points out also - as a practical matter -- blatant lack of ethics by one person in a work group can spread like a virus. First tolerated, or ignored, it becomes standard operating procedure.
24
Thank you!!
3
Letting cats outdoors is a good way to get cats killed by traffic and to have birds killed by cats. We live far outside any semblance of a city, even this is too traffic-y for our cats.
38
All cats slaughter birds for sport. All cats. That's reason enough to keep them inside. To argue otherwise is to rationalize an evil practice.
57
not true at all. I have a 14 year old cat who goes out from April - November, and he has never been able to catch a bird. Never. He mostly sleeps on our deck. Perhaps if a bird flew into his lap.......
3
Not all cats kill birds. They all like to stalk and sometimes intimidate, but not all kill.
My Maine Coon did sometimes, but my Bengal does not. In fact he moves out of the way when the family of quail head his direction. They chirp at him when they see him, and when they don't, he doesn't pounce when they get close. He just stands up and walks toward them slowly as if to say, "Hey, pay attention, I'm a cat". Am much more concerned by big hawks and coyote's. Those are predators that can hurt him.
ps And our big Bengal Louie brought home a baby bunny he found; alive and unharmed who scurried away when released at my feet.
2
No, all cats do not slaughter birds and mice. You are completely incorrect about this.
3
It is better to be a hammer than a nail. Jasper is a hammer.
10
So if LW2 had couched his/ her complaint in terms of moral outrage that her colleague was ripping off their boss, your answer would have been different? Consider it done. Now how would you have suggested the charges be brought? An anonymous letter, appointment behind closed doors, a casual comment during a performance review? Just wondering if the way the complaint is leveled would also be measured by your ethical lens.
24
Make a deal with your neighbors. Jasper will be allowed outside on specified days of the week and not others. They can decide if their cats go outside on those days, but they'll also have safe days for their cats.
My dogs and my neighbor's dogs used to fence fight. We both put in backyard lights and lit them when out dogs were out. If a light was lit, the other person just waited. Worked well.
33
What an elegant and excellent solution! How come we all didn't think of this?
2
No, Dr. Appiah, animals do not have rights. However, people do. They have, for example a right to property (e.g., pets) and a right to protect that property from harm, most especially while that pet is on land the pet-owner owns.
If a neighbor's animal were threatening my pet, I'd have lots of options: 1) ask my neighbor to address its behavior or keep it off my land; if that request was refused, 2) see what resources are available from other neighbors (e.g., a joint request) or from an animal control officer; or 3) consider fencing to keep out the animal (if feasible); or 4) address the animal directly when it strays onto my land: various repellants up to (very effective) pepper spray are available. Implied in the above is that the owner can best protect his "bullied" pet by keeping it on his own land; my ability to control the environment beyond my boundaries is quite limited, and should be.
The owner of the pest-animal can either assent to the request (that neighborliness is the realm of etiquette, not ethics)...or deal with the consequences if one day her animal is impounded, or pepper-sprayed...
Or simply vanishes without trace. Things happen.
13
Wow. Not only do you present your point of view as an absolute truth ("animals do not have rights"), but you suggest harming one if it doesn't meet your standards of behavior. What a swell attitude.
7
Re: "you suggest harming one..." Not at all. I'm a sweetheart. However, I do live in reality; I therefore know that unsupervised animals can get themselves into trouble, and that humans, even should they by chance have an opportunity to intercede, are less inclined to aid pests and menaces. So, some problem animals end up solving themselves.
Re: "Not only do you present your point of view..." Not my point of view; rather, reality. Under our current understanding of enforceable, legal rights in the US, animals do not have rights. (I also mentioned etiquette, even though reality dictates that any requirements imposed by etiquette or politeness are not binding on animals. Nor, as you demonstrate, on some humans.)
Your reality apparently differs. Well, that's fine by me. Enjoy.
6
Co-'worker' Coming in late and signing for the correct time may be permitted on the premise of making up the time later in the day, or even the week. In some companies they sign in even when on salary, because there is a need to know who is in the building.
Missing whole days and signing for them is called theft of time. That's sleazy and also illegal. It might be useful to talk to the co-worker, but I'd surely have a chat with your IT department because they know if someone hasn't used the computer for two days, or if they have signed in and worked from home. If the project is unsuccessful due to this person's lack of participation, it may affect your future employment, references, etc. The director will surely want to know about the lack of notification, and nobody likes having a trust betrayed. Do not cover for that person by saying he must have just stepped away from his desk. If you haven't seen him today, it's fair to say so, and then politely take a message for him.
37
Cats age. With age, they weaken. This includes the bullying Jasper.
One of our house-cats, who had lived to psychologically torment the other two, gradually lost her position as Top Cat.
One day we found a bite on her tail. A few weeks later, a little slash on her haunch appeared. Then a small wound on her back. As she slowed down, the others were making their marks closer to her neck.
Lo, how the mighty had fallen! We wound up restricting her to the "ell" of our house to protect her from retaliation by her former terrified subjects. She had human company, but no fellow felines to bully, until her peaceful death a year or two later.
11
The thing with cats is, once you let them out, you can't protect them - not from other cats, and not from anything else. This is equally true of Jasper and of the neighbor cats (whose owners have also made the decision to let their cats out). All we can do as owners is try to balance risk and benefit. I live in an area with coyotes, so my cats never go out at night (no matter how happy that might make them). They are allowed out during the day (which they enjoy), and they and the other cats around are constantly working out who is allowed what territory - that's a cat thing, and would probably happen even if Jasper weren't in the mix. If he were running up people's vet bills, that would be one thing, but it doesn't sound like he does. Perhaps the other cat owners need to do their own risk-benefit assessment, remembering that 'outside' has other risks than Jasper, along with delights that make make him worth the occasional hassle.
18
So you worry about wildlife killing your cat, but you don't worry about your cat killing wildlife?
4
I'm a little surprised the perspective most obvious to me wasn't even mentioned: The Golden Rule, a/k/a "Walk a mile in their shoes."
What if it were Heather's cat who was being victimized, screaming almost every night from being terrorized by a neighbor's cat, causing Heather to sit bolt upright in bed or rush to the window or door, and inspect her cat for wounds every time she returns?
Further, what if the response from the owner of that bully tom was what Heather is saying, essentially, "But the freedom to torture your cat gives my cat such joy, which itself gives me joy; besides, who can blame him; and look how cute he is in these framed photos."
I've often heard it said that cats who approach and nuzzle us are as likely to be establishing territoriality as "being friendly," which adds insult to the injury to their own cats who watch from afar or smell the other cat on their owners when they come in and get the message—which, in turn, could render those cats "less friendly" as they refrain from such behavior, perhaps in an attempt to defer to the "alpha cat."
Or do cats not have that level of psychological and emotional response—in which case maybe the real problem is what a "what concerns you and terrorizes your cat gives pleasure to me and mine" attitude will have on her neighborhood's quality of life and their relationship?
What do all "who love him" think about his being a bully—or is his record amongst other cats kept from his admirers?
17
About the cat: cats are territorial, some more than others. Jasper sounds like a dominant cat who has decided that the entire neighborhood is his territory, and he's trying to let the other cats know that. As other posters have pointed out, one solution that's good for both your cat and the birds is to make Jasper a full-time indoor cat.
If that's not a palatable solution, then I suggest keeping Jasper inside a bit longer in the spring so that the other cats establish their territories first. If you wait to let Jasper out until after the neighborhood cats have marked their territory, he may be a little less confident muscling in on them. Also, if possible, when you do let Jasper start going out again, try to limit how far he can go. Perhaps you could confine him to a screen room for a week or two so that he can smell the other cats in the neighborhood and get used to their presence, before he begins his regular rounds.
27
I can't imagine having so much spare time, I can agonize over my cat being a "bully".
29
That's not fair.
1
Good fences make good neighbors when it comes to cats. Even if your cat isn't a moral agent, you are.
24
There's a cat that roams my neighborhood that can hop right up and over a fence; I have no reason to think it is abnormally abled.
9
Consider a trump fence, although I like the enclosure idea or a walk on a harness as others have mentioned.
7
I don't mind when the neighborhood bully cat hangs around my front yard, intimidating my cats.
I do mind when he beats them up.
I do mind when he breaks through the screen window to get to them.
I WILL kick him away from them and I WILL throw things at him til he goes away in these instances, as that improves the quality of MY cats' lives.
Does that answer your question?
14
Get a Super Soaker water gun. Aim it at the Bully. Watch Bully run.
7
A spray bottle filled with water, squirted on the aggressive cat is generally a successful deterrent.
3
A water pistol usually solves these problems.
6
I don't know that the second letter writer's motivations are all that relevant. As the Ethicist says, there is such a thing as altruistic punishment, and if we are discussing a punishment that collectively benefits society, then what difference does it make that the punisher's motivations are personal, as the benefit or consequence to society remains the same? To compare personal motivation to societal/collective outcomes is apples and oranges, unless, of course, the personal motivation is directly correlated to the degree of benefit or consequence - meaning, it influences how well or poorly society benefits. In short, it's a bit of rude dig at the letter writer for daring to be angry that they're doing more work for the same amount of money.
In addition, when it comes to amounts of work put in, society benefits greatly when folks like the coworker are rooted out. I'm sure research money is scarce, and not wanted to be wasted; some students were surely passed over for this position that would have benefited greatly personally AND their work would have benefited many others; future students will be he,d to a higher standard and their educations will be better, etc.
As for the cat . . . Keep him inside. They kill tons of birds, and yours is torturing the neighbors on top of it. Build a crazy cat city with dozens of those climbing trees in your basement.
64
If the researcher (intern) is concerned about retribution, simply write a letter to the supervisor mentioning what has been noticed but don't sign it. Basically the other researcher/intern is getting away with unprofessional behavior. This is the time for him to learn about his poor actions.
6
You should keep your cat indoors or in a limited area/penned in because cats left outside kill birds and other wildlife.
91
Exactly, GC. How many hundreds of birds are killed each year by the cats roaming and hunting in this neighborhood?
16
And outdoor cats get killed as well, by cars.
5
Oh for heaven's sake, wildlife kills other wildlife.
2
To Ms. Steeves: since your cat has a problem with sharing his territory, you should let him out every other day to give the other cats a chance to share his territory. Inform your neighbors and, hopefully, everyone will go along.
19
So, the neighborhood songbirds are fair game every other day, then? How about rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, etc? Ridiculous. KEEP YOUR AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL IN YOUR HOUSE AT ALL TIMES.
4
I agree with SUNDEVILDPEG--I can't believe all these responses which say "only" let the bully cat out a few times a week. Are you kidding? He's still going to cause destruction and mayhem to wildlife and pets during the days he's running amok outside. Where do people get all these idiotic "rationalizations?" Keep the cat indoors where he belongs, 24/7.
3
1) What about the BIRDS? They have a right to life, and we humans have a right to enjoy them. Read about how many birds are killed by cats allowed to roam free, when they should be kept in the house. Selfish to let YOUR cat intimidate OTHER cats. Get a clue.
2) Never be a tattletale. Put in your time and stop worrying about others.
52
Could Jaspr the cat have a schedule of the days and times that he would be outside so that neighbors would know when it is safe to let their cats out?
9
We have the "cat yard" of the street- hedges, plenty of trees, a huge white oak and squirrels and birds galore. Our male kitty tolerates all the other six or seven cats who live near, but our little girl cat, from the humane society, screams bloody murder when she even sees another cat across the street. You'd think she was being put through a meat grinder. And she enjoys it. They're noisy, active, and social. So long as no one's going to the vet, let them holler and scratch.
9
So, killing songbirds and squirrels for sport is OK for you? That's what cats do, you know. Glad you aren't my neighbor. I'd have animal control over there in a heartbeat.
4
The Ethicist consistently provides clear answers to the most complex questions involving human interaction. Why not to this situation involving a feline bully?
Jasper terrorizes the neighborhood. Jasper must be stopped. If Heather doesn't restrain her cat, who could blame the neighbors from neutralizing the situation?
26
Huh, what? Now I'll have to meow twice before she lets me out. And just when I had her so nicely trained. Oh well. Yawn.
6
Cars. Dogs other than the nice ones on your street. Strange humans, not all of whom are kind. Wild animals. Feral cats who have not been vaccinated against rabies, and who may carry FIV or other illnesses. Fleas and ticks.
In sum: World: big, hard; Cat: Small, soft. Keep Jasper indoors. His friends can visit him. He will adjust. His quality of life will not suffer, and you will not have to face the day when you open the door and call, and wait ... and wait ... or someone leaves what's left of him on your doorstep with a note.
I believe strongly in animal rights, but a domesticated animal has the right to be cared for. As Antoine de St Exupery said, when you tame something, you are responsible for it forever after; and though we often fall short in that responsibility, we domesticated the cat.
Query why the Ethicist just assumes Jasper is neutered or the questioner 'would have mentioned it'. I assumed the opposite. Many humans, especially males (though this questioner is a woman), overidentify with their male companion animals and wince at the thought of neutering them. But sex for cats is, uh, different. It's not as if they do dinner and a movie, then smoke some catnip afterward and ask if it was good for you, too. For female cats, it's actually painful.
61
"Many humans, especially males..."
Data, please. Otherwise, perhaps you should keep your ridiculous sexist biases to yourself.
1
Why have you experienced sex as a female cat?
2
no where did she say Jasper bites. He just torments, and cats do that to each other. Some day a bully will come along and out Jasper Jasper. Till then, if it is a safe environment, and it sounds like it is, let Jasper enjoy his freedom. Remember he is more prone to bumper disease that will finish him off fast, but he sounds pretty car savvy.
6
To the undergraduate researcher:
Don't be a tattletale. You're not in grade school anymore. Go directly to your coworker and talk to him first and try to resolve the situation.
6
Have you ever had to deal with a co-worker after you've had the talk and it hasn't worked?
Just go to the supervisor and suggest they keep tabs on hours for a few weeks. Done.
9
I think this analysis is too highly academic and too dismissive of understandable personal pique. To watch someone getting away with behavior which directly or indirectly disadvantages you and to want to do something about that is a natural reaction, which I think most people would have. Everything else said in this piece reflects, as I said, academic overthink.
31
In re Jasper--why not have him assessed by an animal behaviorist to see if the behavior can be modified? Just because its an instinct doesn't mean that the cat can't change. And don't forget--the letter is written from the POV of the owner, who is clearly minimalizing the negative impact her cat has.
Get Jasper help before one of her "loving" neighbors decides to call Animal Control and report a "vicious" cat. This is just another responsibility--you have to feed the cat, dispose of its waste safely, make sure it has shots and is spayed--and if you chose to let the cat go outside--train it.
10
Unless the cat owner has the resources to consult with world class scientific expertise, the issue becomes more of a neighborly etiquette question than an ethical matter.
9
I'm surprised that the response to the first letter didn't address the environmental concerns of letting cats (an invasive species in North America) out to hunt birds, amphibians, and other native species. The concern goes further than the pleasure of the cats or the rights of their owners, and includes environmental stewardship.
Even if Jasper wasn't a bully, whether or not to allow a cat out to "play" is an ethical question in its own right.
71
The Cat Conundrum: If you are a cat owner, and have cats living within your house, do not let them outside. If you leash/harness them and take them out into your yard, fine. Otherwise, NO. The wild birds need all the help they can get, not more predators. Seriously.
72
A suggestion for Ms. Steeves, Jasper's owner. Have the claws on Jasper's front paws removed. It will make it difficult for Jasper to intimidate or attack other cats if his primary weapons have been taken away.
I would advise "Name Withheld" to report his suspicions about his co-workers honesty and have his boss monitor the situation. I've been in a similar situation where a co-worker lied about the hours he was billing to our client on a contracting engagement. The co-worker was admonished by our management and told to report his work hours correctly; he was eventually fired when he continued to bill our client for more hours than he actually worked.
6
Never remove an outdoor cat's claws. First, it is painful. Second, it is cruel. An outdoor cat without claws is defenseless; it cannot climb trees to escape dogs or fight back. Third, it disrupts a cat's natural clawing behavior. It is not just a matter of removing nails; it is an amputation. The AVMA does not recommend the procedure unless the cat is a destructive scratcher and attempts to modify the behavior have been unsuccessful.
25
What??? I was going to stay out of another "indoor vs outdoor cat" brouhaha, let alone a "declawing" controversy, but PLEASE do not declaw an outdoor cat. Never mind all the controversy about whether declawing is ever okay or not - it is ABSOLUTELY never okay for an outdoor cat.
22
Please do not declaw Jasper or any other cat!! It's akin to chopping off your fingers at the topmost knuckle in order to control nail growth. Declawed cats often start biting, because they no longer have their primary defense mechanism, and some have issues with litter boxes, as the litter can hurt their now sensitive feet. Additionally cats walk on their toes - the very toes you cut off by declawing, so it can change their gait and balance, leading to joint problems. Finally, no declawed cat should ever be let outdoors. It's much too dangerous for them!! (In an ideal world, no cats would live outdoors, except in catios, due to numerous reasons already enumerated, but which include the significantly shortened average lifespan of the outdoor cat, and the toll on native birds and wildlife.)
21
The undergrad researcher can teach by example. Keeping his or her motivation strong, and being vocal and transparent about how difficult that can be, in the presence of the other undergrad, would benefit both people.
4
Think about it this way. Cats have manners; they don't have ethics or morals. From a cat's point of view, the polite thing to do is defer to a top cat like Jasper. The hissing and screeching is just how this deference is shown. Remember, cats love drama.
In this case, the local cat society is functioning according to cat manners. And no one is getting hurt. In this case, human intervention might raise ethical issues, particularly since Jasper has the neighborhood socialized to dote on him.
9
"In this case, the local cat society is functioning according to cat manners. And no one is getting hurt. "
We don't have any idea if this is the case. This cat is a mortal threat to any creature smaller than he is. Cat owners who let their marauding animals out to roam are universally myopic on this point, in my experience. They kill for sport, not for food.
5
LW1 has another option besides 1. letting her cat roam free and 2. keeping her cat indoors. Option 3 is building an outdoor enclosed (re: caged) play area. This will allow Jasper his outdoor time without allowing him to bully other cats or stalk/hunt birds in the area. And the toll that outdoor cats can take on the local bird population can far outweigh what cats can do to one another.
54
Heather, the cat owner, should be told that the average life span for a cat that is allowed outside is 7 years. Cats allowed outside can be killed by cars and bigger predators. The average life span of an "in door" cat is double that.
30
And for feral cats in urban areas, about 18 months on average. As much as they love the great outdoors, the great outdoors doesn't love them back.
14
Take your cat out on a harness. It is more time intensive for you, but safer for your cat and all the neighborhood cats.
13
Why not just simply let Jasper out between set hours? Now, it may be difficult to get him to come in after his time outside so perhaps you choose E.g. the three (or whatever) hours before dusk, assuming he wants to come in at night. This seems only to apply in the summer months anyways, as he doesn't seem to be fond of Maine winters. Then just tell your neighbors; I think they will find this is a good compromise. Their cats could go out during the day and then come back to the safety of their houses. They will learn pretty quickly if Jasper comes out at regular time (based on daylight). Cats are pretty smart.
In regards to the student, he is breaking an honor code, and pretty egregiously at that. Maybe just tell him straight to his face that you don't appreciate him skipping out for days and pretending he is working, but in a calm way. If he doesn't shape up, I would simply tell the professor that you noticed the behavior but wanted to give person x the benefit of the doubt so spoke to him but he didn't change his behavior so now you are simply informing the prof on the facts. Keep emotions out of it (don't complain it makes you not unmotivated and he gets equal credit, etc. as it makes you sound like a whiner). But honor codes are there for a reason.
13
1) No. See multiple reasons why above.
2) No. Not his job to monitor others. MYOB.
Wrt Jasper, the feline bully - how about speaking to the cat-owning neighbors and keeping Jasper indoors on some days when other cats are out and letting him out on other days while keeping the rest of the cats in? Work out a schedule with the neighbors. Everyone gets what they want some of the time.
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Cats who are allowed outside have an average lifespan of seven years, as opposed to 15 years for an indoor-only cat. Domesticated cats also kill *billions*of birds per year in the US alone. The former is owner choice, clearly. But since this is a column about ethics, cats' playtime vs the death of birds is often an area of concern.
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Billions? Let's say that 10% of people have an outside cat (25% of homes? seems very high) - that would be 30 million cats. That works out to 30, 60, 90 birds per year per cat - seems a bit high. Predators often prey on the old, weak, and/or sick individuals within their prey's population; many of these supposed billions of birds might be (or should be) on their way out anyway.
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Need a cite, Dave? Here you go:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/cats-kill-more-one-billion-birds-eac...
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I'm embarrassed to say that at one time I kept not one but two outdoor cats to keep the mice down in the barn. I would say that 90 birds per year per cat is a low estimate. My cats would bring me six or seven mice a day and then top that off with a bird or two. Per day! Of course this was a mild climate where mice and birds were available all year. I love cats but they are an invasive species that have figured out how to make us love them. BTW, both cats lived into double digit years before meeting untimely ends. I say the cat stays indoors!
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To the undergrad researcher - if it is just 10 mins here and there, I wouldn't worry about it. But missing hours and days are a concern. You should first speak to your co-worker about his hours. By not doing his share of the work, he is making you do more. Does he realize that? Does he care? Does he think that is right, when he will get 50% of the total stipend in the end? If there is a chance that the quality of the final product will suffer because your co-worker is not putting in his fair share of work, that IS a matter to be brought to the attention of the boss, whether he thinks you are spiteful or not.
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Of course, let your cat out. Yes, they will fight for dominance. The other cats will avoid him or fight. That is the world of cats.
Your neighbors? They will have to cope. I have no sympathy at all.
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I have the right to peaceable enjoyment of my property. If Jasper shows up and is being a menace, of course animal control will impound him should I call in a complaint. Jasper's mom? She will have to cope. I have no sympathy at all.
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