is it legal to kill cats without colars that come onto my property?

Question

this is not for sport, they scare off all the rabbits that i eat and this pisses me off. I have 3.4 acres and some of these may be feral cats, i will tell the owners to get it if it has a collar and will NOT shoot it, i have a large fence and try to take precautions but this is getting out of hand. animal control refuses to run around my woods all day and trap them, they didn't know the legal ramifications of shooting them though. again, i will not shoot those with collars and warn all of my neibhors (who know were they cats go...my plot is the only around here). again this isn't for sport, i am not some deranged cat killer they are trespassing, scaring off my small game and may have diseases, is their anything i can do before i start to take action in this matter?

I WILL NOT BE SHOOTING COLLARED PETS. i want to get rid of the UNSPAYED UNNEUTERED POSSIBLY DISEASED FERAL CATS, that are giving diseases to my neibhors cats in the first place. feline aids is rampant, yes i want ALL the cats gone but i've already stated i'm not killing peoples pets, i'd rather just pick the fight with my neibhors over that than kill one of their loved ones.. if anything i'll be doing them a large favor by removing these cats who have already gave one of my neibhors cats feline aids which is noncurable and spread when they fight. bleeding heart liberals get out of here, or look at the bigger pictures.

these aren't snowshoe hares, many of these rabbits are very small baby rabbits (which i refrain from shooting until they're alot older). YES the cats eat them, and make a territory, pissing everywhere so the rabbits know it's predator territory

are you people stupid or something? was forrest gump your dad and the worlds biggest liberal your mother? these wild cats go unneutered and spread like wildfire, they also spread disease like wildfire. i say nip it in the bud before there is a SERIOUS wild cat problem that the state will come in an handle eventually. i've seen it happen, even PETA is quick to take this stance, to prevent further death, disease, starvation and cruelty. can't you see i'd like to be as humane as possible? quit thinking about how cute and fluffy they may be and get a brain.

Answer 1

I too am a cat owner but let's get serious, this is a legitamate question, what would you say if instead of cats, he said coyotes, people are being animalist. As for your question, shotguns are no no I believe but a regular bullet is legal and consider as human as the euthanization shot, I believe. I read something similar on pet-abuse.com. But be aware if you kill them, more will just come. Best thing to do is just get a dog, that should scare away or take care of the cats for you and with regular feeding shouldn't attack your rabbits either. Also with that much land, some protection would be appreciate I think.

As for all the cat people out there, Chill. I know most people love cats but not everyone does. They CAN be a nuisance sometimes.

Answer 2

You could get in touch with the Animal Control and ask them if there is a law against it.

Otherwise, if you don't know who the owners of the pets are you can't tell them their cats are loose.

Cats killing rabbits? Are you sure? Cats, Panda Bears and Rabbits are sorta in the same family. They must be really big cats to be eating rabbits.

If they're on your land, what can you do? Why don't you set traps for the cats? The cats are also keeping away the mice if you have that much land, they're doing you a favor.

Answer 3

First of all if the cats have diseases, don't you think your rabbits do too? Don't use that as an excuse. Why don't you get a trap and turn them into the pound. Shooting them is not legal in any state, I believe and is in fact a felony in most states (Animal cruelty laws) The fact that you would even consider this says a lot about your lack of character.

Answer 4

Depends on your state. Most - illegal no, but immoral. What you can do is get live traps and trap them, take them to SPCA, who will contact the owners and give them a warning, and if the cat is trapped again most shelters will confiscate it as animal cruelty as the cat is roaming in a dangerous place, on private land, and causing a nuisance, all of which are no-nos. Try the fish and game department, they will know more about the legality of the issue, and when in serious doubt ask a lawyer, better shell out the $20 for a few minutes of council then getting sued for destruction of private property (which is what the cats will be classed as in states where it is illegal to shoot them, but they are classed as property generally anyway, what you need to know is the trespassing and fish and game laws)

Answer 5

It is illegal to shot cats!! Animal cruelty laws in most states if you are in the US. Why not trap them and take them to the local humane society to get them out of the neighborhood. Most will provide the traps for you. Also, how do you know the cats are not keeping the wild rabbit population under control? Seems like wherever there are rabbits around...there are loads of them!! I would think even with the cats there you should not have ANY problems finding rabbits! Also, think you are setting yourself up for LOTS of trouble if you end up shooting someones pet. Some irate owner may take it as an open invitation to shoot you! If you shot my cat...I would!! Could be setting yourself up to be fined and possibly send time in jail or doing community service (probably caring for strays) or like I said before...you may end up dead.

Answer 6

Personally I PET cat should have a break away collar so if they get stuck on a fence they don't choke 2 death (Like Ive seen happen) so you might be shooting a pet however there is a better alternative! why not set up humane traps around your property with bait and turn these animal to shelter where they will determine if the feral cat is threat and they can put them 2 sleep in a more humane nature and adopt the ones who are safe. Wat if you do shoot one and you don't kill them? wat if they suffer a slow pain-full death? I dunno I think its very inhumane and I don't have the heart to do it but I would set up traps and let a shelter decide if they can be adopted or not or even if they are microchip-ed and belong to someone who's cat might have caught on YOUR gate b4 entering your property and was collarless

Answer 7

OK, let's get one thing straight: YOU ARE NOT BEING AS HUMANE AS POSSIBLE. Call animal control and let them handle it. If not, I hope someone turns your *** in for cruelty to animals. some of the un-collared cats may very well be someone's pet. Cats slip out of collars A LOT easier than dogs.

Call your local animal control, and see what they will do for you. That's the ONLY humane way to do it.

And, FYI, you are the one who needs a brain.

Answer 8

if you kill any animal on your property and someone finds out you can and will be charged with animal cruelty, which entails a huge fine and sometimes jail time

call your local animal shelter and make an appointment to come out and try to catch the pests, be it cats, rats or any other animal that is causing you problems

if you take the law into your own hands the animal shelter wont mind chasing after you so try going above the shelter to a high court, so to speak, to see if you can get a permit or something to catch the animals yourself and then turn them over to the animal shelter

if you are hunting rabbits throw out a few humane cat traps and let the shelter take it from there

Answer 9

It appears that there are as many laws governing the control of pests on your property as there are cats coming across your land.

To be on the safe side, I would contact every authority in your area, local, county, state, and even federal.

In the meantime, if it were me (and I'll deny saying this) I'd be trapping or shooting and hiding the evidence. I don't understand do-gooders making laws that would cause harm on my personal property.

What if the cats infected the rabbits, you ate a rabbit and became ill with an un-named disease...then what?

There has to be an answer. We shouldn't have to allow these wild cats permission to wander your yard at will.

Answer 10

I don't think it is becuase its animal abuse or something, or the person has so many days so if u shoot one that is owned by someone you could get in deep. Oh but i think you can if its indangering your life but you wont be able to use that unless the cat can shoot a gun or use a knife. and even if it iis legal its a horrible thing to do becuase you could kill some poor kids only pet cat