Feral Cats

[Jax]

I’ve a problem with feral cats at one of my properties. They are without doubt feral and becoming a real nuisance to say the least.

Some of the cats have been previously trapped, neutered and released, but others inhabit neighbouring properties that then seem to breed, creating more of the bloomin things.

ive reached out to a reputable cat charity for help, but no response for quite some time after multiple emails.

what legal options are there for getting rid of feral cats?

thanks in advance

 

[Triggermortis]

I think feral cats are or were listed on the general License, however beware, whilst they may be legally controlled they may also be considered someone’s property and therefore could be the subject of a criminal damages claim should the owner be of a mind to take legal action against anyone who has decided to control their numbers.
I’m no legal expert so stand to be corrected.

 

[25 Sharps]

I think feral cats are or were listed on the general License, however beware, whilst they may be legally controlled they may also be considered someone’s property and therefore could be the subject of a criminal damages claim should the owner be of a mind to take legal action against anyone who has decided to control their numbers.
I’m no legal expert so stand to be corrected.

I wasn’t aware of a general licence for mammals, do you have a link please?

 

[baguio]

I’ve a problem with feral cats at one of my properties. They are without doubt feral and becoming a real nuisance to say the least.

Some of the cats have been previously trapped, neutered and released, but others inhabit neighbouring properties that then seem to breed, creating more of the bloomin things.

ive reached out to a reputable cat charity for help, but no response for quite some time after multiple emails.

what legal options are there for getting rid of feral cats?

thanks in advance

Feral kittens will not be anyone's property. Get rid of them quietly, double bagged in the bin and tell no one. Not because you're doing anything illegal but sometimes it's just better to keep your business to yourself because no one will be upset like that. Advertising it encourages trouble as we all know.
There is no general license for mammals but once owned they are considered property. However, if they have been missing a long time and gone wild they will not make good pets even if returned to their owners of years gone by.

 

[GnZ]

Quarry species and shooting seasons

Find out everything you need to know about what you can legally shoot and when.

basc.org.uk

Feral cats are included on the list. However I would be very quiet if I were to take on such a task. One whiff of it to the local population of leftys and your likely looking at some serious abuse from them.

 

[Dunwaters]

Buy your own live trap, use it and drop anything you catch off at the local pound.
Lethal controls are tempting but friggin fraught, don’t go there.
Let the bunny huggers sort it.

 

[baguio]

Buy your own live trap, use it and drop anything you catch off at the local pound.
Lethal controls are tempting but friggin fraught, don’t go there.
Let the bunny huggers sort it.

Lethal controls are not fraught at all. Silenced .22LRs and air rifles when in cage traps deal with thousands of feral cats in the UK every year. People just don't make a big thing about it amongst strangers!

 

[Dunwaters]

Lethal controls are not fraught at all. Silenced .22LRs and air rifles when in cage traps deal with thousands of feral cats in the UK every year. People just don't make a big thing about it amongst strangers!

I beg to differ, firstly if you go that way this thread will be closed down quite smartly. Wouldn’t be the first time And quite right too.
Secondly, like it or not cats are pets, and no one likes having their pet whacked, the potential fallout is just not worth it.
So trap it and hand it over, theres very few people going to pay the redemption fee more than twice.
Thirdly, if you are advocating going lethal stay defuc off a public site, pm them!

 

[Sjambok]

I beg to differ, firstly if you go that way this thread will be closed down quite smartly. Wouldn’t be the first time And quite right too.
Secondly, like it or not cats are pets, and no one likes having their pet whacked, the potential fallout is just not worth it.
So trap it and hand it over, theres very few people going to pay the redemption fee more than twice.
Thirdly, if you are advocating going lethal stay defuc off a public site, pm them!

Title of thread says Feral cats therefore they are not pets. Trap them, air rifle while in trap and dispose of body responsibly. No laws broken, no one upset. End of story.

 

[Bowland blades]

Feral cats are very easy to cage trap , if they haven't been trapped before and then translocation to the " countryside " like folks do with town foxes !
No way am I gonna shoot one ever GL or not
Used to work with a lass who spent her spare time cage trapping feral kittens and turning them into pets . A real cat lover she believed only calous idiots let them roam and destroy wildlife , **** in kids play areas or get killed and injured on the roads .
Any adults caught ( which I was told is rare ) where sterilised at her own cost and re released
Cats can range fair big distances so don't think because it's not near homes it hasn't got an owner
BTW I do not like cats myself but many folks don't like dogs

 

[baguio]

I beg to differ, firstly if you go that way this thread will be closed down quite smartly. Wouldn’t be the first time And quite right too.
Secondly, like it or not cats are pets, and no one likes having their pet whacked, the potential fallout is just not worth it.
So trap it and hand it over, theres very few people going to pay the redemption fee more than twice.
Thirdly, if you are advocating going lethal stay defuc off a public site, pm them!

These cats are NOT pets. Did you not read the title. Feral cats are not easy to handle at all. You need to smell the coffee. You make handing them over sound like handing over Tiddles which most definitely isn't the case. One scratch will very likely find you in A&E and make no mistake, they will go ballistic when you try to take them out of a trap!

 

[snake_2586]

In years gone by it was not uncommon around here to have a cat shoot when the numbers of farm cats got out of hand, but these days cage trapping would be my preferred control method, then if said cat has a collar the owner can be called and asked to come and collect there stray pet.
Catching a 'farm' cat can be an interesting experience, welding gauntlets are a must, and I'm sure they have more than 4 legs when caught, or at least more than 4 sets of claws.

 

[Triggermortis]

The real issue here is in over 50yrs I’ve never seen a cat with a label on it saying “feral” it is impossible to tell a feral from a much loved pet,once the deed is done there is no going back, to say you did not know it was someone’s pet Will not get you out of trouble, as I and others have said, legal or not the risk is not worth taking, why would you ?

 

[shakey jake]

thermal spotter, night vision scope, bury, burn or use a waste carrier. not a great job but needs must. disceetion is the key

 

[Pete1774]

I beg to differ, firstly if you go that way this thread will be closed down quite smartly. Wouldn’t be the first time And quite right too.
Secondly, like it or not cats are pets, and no one likes having their pet whacked, the potential fallout is just not worth it.
So trap it and hand it over, theres very few people going to pay the redemption fee more than twice.
Thirdly, if you are advocating going lethal stay defuc off a public site, pm them!

 

[Dunwaters]

Title of thread says Feral cats therefore they are not pets. Trap them, air rifle while in trap and dispose of body responsibly. No laws broken, no one upset. End of story.

Been there an done that and its not quite so simple, how do you know its feral and not a wee girlies pet out and about?
This isn’t the outback, you‘re living in a densely populated largely urban/suburban environment, choose your battleground wisely.

 

[baguio]

how do you know its feral and not a wee girlies pet out and about?

They are without doubt feral and becoming a real nuisance to say the least.

Because the same cats are clearly living at the OPs property permanently. The good thing about cats is they don't all look the same so are easily recognisable. The Op clearly isn't guessing and clearly isn't talking about a property in the middle of a housing estate.

 

[baguio]

If it's a pet it will be kept indoors once out its feral and fare game as far as I'm concerned.

Surely you don't actually believe this do you?

 

[shakey jake]

no body wants to kill or harm a loved pet, but shouldnt the onus be on the owner to keep it safe and marked, same as dogs near live stock

 

[25 Sharps]

I beg to differ, firstly if you go that way this thread will be closed down quite smartly. Wouldn’t be the first time And quite right too.
Secondly, like it or not cats are pets, and no one likes having their pet whacked, the potential fallout is just not worth it.
So trap it and hand it over, theres very few people going to pay the redemption fee more than twice.
Thirdly, if you are advocating going lethal stay defuc off a public site, pm them!

Not all cats are pets