Just yesterday I found 4 separate spray marks from a cat on my Mazda Miata Convertibles bra. Along with those spray marks, there were obvious claw marks going down the back window of my 1200.00 soft top.  At what point are we allowed to stand up for our rights?  At what point is enough, enough by your standards?  While I agree with your earlier statement that there are other things that need addressing, I must say that birds are wild and do little damage.  Dogs can be easily controlled and there are no dogs in my neighborhood that run free.  Its cats that are an issue here, and cats, in most Springfield neighborhoods are a problem. Would you let your neighbors child come over and damage your property?  Would you allow them to deficate in your flower beds and yards and would you allow them to take a claw tool and mark up every doorway you have outside?  Would you let them do damage to your auto's?  Would you allow them to urinate on your things?  I don't think you would allow that to happen and I think you would try to do something about it! 

I think its grossly ignorant of you to call us "un-educated" and call our concerns "stupid" just because they don't match your own.  If you are controlling your pets, then you shouldn't even be in this thread.  By your own admission, you state that your cats stay indoors and your dogs roam only on your property.  Well, yay for you, but there are thousands of other people who aren't as thoughtful.  So keep your nasty comments to yourself and mind your own. 

The damage these cats are doing is extremely expensive to repair!  Why should we pay, especially in the current economy, for someone else's pets damage? 

Again, while I agree with some of your words from your earlier post, don't ever call me un-educated or say that my issue's are stupid until you've walked a day in my shoe's.

Thank you.

You know, I think the point that some of the other posters are trying to make is that if this the biggest thing you have to be concerned about your life must be pretty ideal.

I own an indoor cat and agree that people should monitor their pets. I've had roaming cats mark my front door and harass my cat through the window.

It is annoying but I don't think it warrants public funding and government regulation. I know I would rather my money go toward public safety and community revitalization.

Just be thankful you don't live in a third world country without electricity, potable water or adequate food. I think you should focus more on what you have and less on what you think you're entitled to.

Exactly, Shadeseether! To use the author of this threads' semi-exact words; "If people were considerate of their neighbors, we wouldn't need this kind of law."   Because some people are not considerate of their neighbors, we need to pass a LAW?  Someone ANNOYS you, and we need a LAW? And for those people unset about cat poo in their flower beds: Darn those animals, pooping outdoors! We need to install outhouses for them!   Also, do you know what dirt is?  Basically insect poop. Do you put fertilizer on your plants? Cow poop, usually.  lol.

If I lived in a third world country, I would worry about the issue's that have an effect on me there.  If I lived in Florida, I would worry about living in a hurricane zone.  I live in Springfield, Oregon.  My family has a nice home and we like our cars and our yards.  If I wanted cats, I would have cats.  I don't want cats.  There are TOO MANY CATS!!!  They are costing me money that I don't have to spend.  Why in God's name should I pay to repair the damage they do?  I shouldn't.  If I was talking about 2 or 3 cats, it would be no big deal, but don't you think that 13 cats at any given time is just a bit over the line? 
I don't think I'm entitled to squat, however, I DO know that if you came on my property and destroyed my things, you would go to jail for trespassing and damage of personal and private property.  I realize cats are animals and they do their duty outside, or in a litter box, but too many people see cats for free in the paper.. or adopt them because "aw aren't they cute when their babies"?  But then get tired of them when they grow up and boot them outside because they're destroying their things, or because "their cats, they deserve their freedom"!  Its total and complete b.s.! 

Seriously, if you want a cat, fine.. have a cat.. have a whole herd of cats for all I care, but take care of them and keep them at YOUR house, and not at mine!  Stop letting them roam the neighborhoods destroying things and carrying diseases. i.e. mange, distemper, etc, etc.  Getting into trash cans the night before trash day and spreading trash all over the streets, crapping and peeing all over everything.  Do you know that male cat urine is SO strong, it will actually ruin the paint on a car???  Did you know that it eats through vinyl?

If this was the biggest thing I had to worry about in my life, I'd be doing fine and dandy.  The economy and being laid off are the most important worries in my life, but this is actually something I have a chance of doing something about.  I "could" just buy a pellet gun and solve the immediate problem.  Would that be better?  Its more than annoying, its damn expensive!  I'm sick of paying to fix what they destroy.  I refuse to continue doing so.  Something has to be done and soon. 

You know, there are too many stupid people in the world. I think we need legislation to protect us from idiots. I think people should undergo training and education before having children...because their crappy parenting leads to increased crime, dysfunction and idiocy. Poor parenting impacts our entire society. Unfortunately for me telling people how to live is considered fascism. We live in a democratic society so I have to find ways to work around shoddy parenting and stupid people. As much as it bothers and infuriates me, I don't take it personally.

While I understand your anger, it's not helping your situation at all. It's not me that you're angry at. I'm a responsible pet owner and I already told you my cat doesn't go outside. It is my opinion that you're harboring an unhealthy level of resentment over this. Cats are not children. They don't take orders, you can't put them in time out. They are clever and sneaky and really hard to control. IF you want a cat to listen you have to win their respect. Your problem has less to do with cats and more to do with stupid irresponsible people who don't get their cats spayed or neutered let alone build a repoire with them. (it's rare for a neutered male to spray) You and I might be on a level here.

I would like to note however that it's a little foolish to buy an automobile as an investment and think it will remain in mint condition while you drive it daily and park it on the street/in your driveway. The paint is going to get scratched and corrode. The windshield will get chipped. Eventually the parts will wear out and the plastic on your soft top will cloud and crack. (It makes you a convenient target for thieves since they don't even have to break out a window. Soft tops are also susceptible to falling debris from trees, mold/mildew/rot, moss and generally don't weather well at all. I'm not clear what your logic was in choosing one in the first place but it was a poor decision for someone so invested in their vehicles condition.)

It's naive to believe that your car is going to stay in the same shape you bought it in. Cars are made to transport us from one place to the next while protecting us from the elements. (that means they take damage so we don't have to) They are meant to take damage, they have crumple zones even.

If you wanted the car to stay in mint condition you should have gotten a house with a garage. I understand that's not always feasible, but it's more reasonable then expecting all of your neighbors to protect a car that they have no concern about whatsoever. Perhaps they are dealing with their own more pressing problems. (This is what I mean when I say you're acting entitled. Your cat problem is meaningless in the face of a mom in foerclosure or a family member wrestling with mental illness and/or addiction.) You lack any real perspective and are ungrateful for what you have, instead focusing on the relatively minor things that make your life "unbearable." It's ridiculous.

While I don't advocate carelessness such as letting your animals roam, the reality is that no one else cares about the condition of your car and eventually someone is either going to hit it or launch a shopping cart into it. I think that if you can detach yourself from this possession you'll feel less stress and less anger and be healthier for it.

You are responsible for your happiness. You seem to place your happiness in an inanimate object that is susceptible to wear and tear and the aging effects of time. If you place your happiness in an object you set yourself up to be unhappy. Likewise if you place your happiness in one person you set yourself up for heartache. Do you own the car or does your car own you? Your car doesn't define you as a person, your thoughts and your actions do. I know you find this hard to believe but you could even be happy without that car.

Also, animals have been pooping in flower beds for thousands of years, it's a little arrogant to expect that to stop simply because you don't like it. Surely you realize that your expectations are unreasonable.

With that being said here are some productive suggestions instead of rhetoric that you will undoubtedly ignore...

1. Invest in a car cover, a high end one is $80 and will save you the pain and headache of trying to get someone else to protect your investment. (It's also cheaper than repairs by over a grand)

2. Consider getting a garage.

3. Use a cat deterrent. (I've never tried Stay Off! but I hear coyote urine is great for keeping cats away. You could just drip some on the pavement around your car...)

4. Contact the cat's owner to address the issue, if you aren't satisfied with the results take them to small claims court.

It's extremely ill advised fro you to continue to rant with this level of hostility. Also be advised that most cities have an ordinance against firing off pellet guns within city limits. (I wonder if the ticket for that is more expensive than a car cover?) Your words and behavior have taken on a threatening quality and you might find yourself in trouble with law enforcement if you can't control your anger.

Furthermore if I came on your property and started damaging your belongings I wouldn't go to jail. I would get a citation. It's kind of shocking what people can get away with in this country. I know from experience that someone can assault you on your front porch without receiving so much as a citation if there are no witnesses.

So here's my solution:

1. Buy a car cover
2. Get some anger/stress management
3. Stop threatening people's pets and take some responsibility for your role in this situation.
4. Volunteer at a low cost spay/neuter clinic and actually -do- something constructive about this problem.

Stop trying to waste my and other taxpayers money to protect a car that you won't even buy a cover for. This issue doesn't effect me and I shouldn't have to devote any money from my fixed income to protecting your precious miata. I have to find a place for my mom to live and I would like to see my tax dollars go toward helping people in foreclosure find affordable housing.

I second much of the above. And if anything I'd rather see spay/neuter efforts get a little boost to help keep populations under control. But I also find it frustrating that there are careless owners out there who don't get their animals fixed and/or allow them to roam 24 hours a day. Other than the potential mess/nuisance concerns, you'd think they would be interested in reducing the incidence of disease transmission and serious injury from fights etc.

 

You all are funny to read and would make a great video. By the way, there is no ordinance for a pellet or a bb gun or a slingshot as it is not a firearm. I suggest you all go to the philippines where this wont be a problem. Dont choke on the Id tag. With all the new taxes coming our way I dont Believe anyone will have a lot left over unless they are extremely well off or sponging off the system. I hope that you people find a four letter word that starts with l and ends with a e and has the letter f in it.

Does calling people stupid make you feel superior? I've noticed some of the people on these forum's would rather call someone stupid, correct their spelling, or just be plain nasty instead of just giving their view and discussing the issues in a semi civil manner. And we wonder why no one can get along,

Woody, ignore the trolls and they will go away.  They feed off of getting responses.

How about taking up a real cause, for instance, people who are hungry and freezing to death. Lack of jobs in lane county, crime, meth use, the state cutting back the school year. Maybe when some of the bigger problems are solved more people will take seriously the little more trivial ones.

Sillyme, Thank you another kind person is another one our world needs, I Feel far better about myself i know when i go to bed at night knowing i have helped a ill neighbor, or fixed a meal for their family,or just been there to listen without judgment, not that i cant spout off at times but feel much better if i dont.Thank you again, hope to talk with you again.

 

It's sad to hear so called educated people call others stupid, seems to be a STUPID word for an educated person to use. Try being nice it feels good and I'm a very busy mom and grandmother. More common sense than educated, busy mom, but do agree with not letting mt dog or cat bother others my cat has never been outside, my dog goes out in my fenced backyard only long eneough to deal with her personal issues, being a yorkie she doesnt even like the outdoors

KUDOS TO YOU !!!!!   NOT ONLY ARE YOU PUTTING UP AN EXTREMELY GOOD ARGUMENT BUT DANG !!!  YOU EVEN GAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE SO CONSUMED WITH CATS.  MAY I ADD THAT BIRD POOP ALSO ACTS LIKE ACID AND EATS RIGHT THROUGH THE PAINT ON OUR CARS, AND HOW DO I  KNOW ?? BECAUSE I HAD TO REPAINT THE HOOD ON MY ONE YEAR OLD CAR DUE TO BIRDS POOP. BUT DID I RUN TO CITY HALL AND TRY TO GET A LAW PASSED ? NO,  I CHALKED IT UP AS LIFE AND THEN I REMIND MYSELF THAT THINGS HAPPEN SO YOU FIX THEM AND GO ABOUT YOUR WAY.   

YOUR LIPS ARE MOVING BUT ALL I HEAR IS BLAH BLAH BLAH....YOU DIDNT USE MUCH COMMON SENSE WHEN YOU GOT YOUR YORKIE AND CALLED IT A DOG, ITS JUST A MOUSE ON STEROIDS AND IF YOU WERENT AROUND IT MUCH I'LL BET YOUR CAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT FOR LUNCH NEXT TO A SIDE OF TUNA.  IM SURE SHE DOESNT LIKE THE OUTDOORS MUCH FOR FEAR A HAWK MAY COME BY AND PICK HER UP. BY THE WAY I LOVE BEING AN EDUCATED, BUSYMOM WITH  COMMON SENSE TOO.       

Do you know what this woman goes through all day everyday? No you don't. So if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. You have no business being rude. And by the way, My DOG is not a rat, and my cat would never do anything to hurt my DOG. They are best of friends. So obviously you have no idea what your talking about.