Oxford scientist warns of 'drastic action' if neighbours allow cats to roam and kill birds

An Oxford University educated research chemist has issued his cat-owning neighbours with leaflets warning them of "drastic action" if they continue to let their animals roam free and kill the birds in his garden.

Dr Clive Mowforth claims he has received arson threats in response to the leaflets after he told owners they should control their cats and stop letting them roam free to "murder" dozens of birds in his specially redeveloped garden.  He sent out the angry leaflets, complete with photos of the two "leading killers" and three dates detailing when the latest birds were killed. The leaflet is addressed to "cat menace" and has been posted to more than 100 homes.

Neighbours living in the street said they are concerned for their cats' safety and have been upset by the leaflet.

“In the last week alone, cats have killed a jackdaw, a blackbird and a house sparrow,” said Dr Mowforth. “I was watching the sparrow whilst eating my dinner. She was sat quietly enjoying the food in the evening sun when a cat leapt right onto the shoulder-height table, grabbed the bird and ran off. This was the final straw.”

The 57-year-old said he has spent more than 10 years converting the garden at his Gloucestershire home into a “paradise for birds” and set up video surveillance when he noticed how numbers had fallen and how many were being killed.  He has sent local households in the village of Dursley pictures from video footage of the worst offenders and said he has identified 10 'killer cats' in the area.  Dr Mowforth claimed complaints had been made to the police and RSPCA about him, adding "the extreme elements within the pro-cat brigade have threatened arson."

"The bird table has been put away until the first set of deterrents is in place.  I don't see why I should have to pay to protect the birds in my garden from cat-owners who simply let their pets roam free. If a dog went into a neighbour's garden, dug holes, left excrement and killed wildlife, all hell would be let loose.  I expect to have to spend hundreds of pounds over the coming months."

Dr Mowforth, who has a BSc in Chemistry from Exeter and a DPhil from Oxford University, claims he used to see lots of birds in his garden but the numbers have decreased as the local cat population has risen.  He said up to ten different cats visit his garden day and night, and estimated the bird murder-rate at about one per month.

He added: "I have spent over a decade converting my garden into a paradise for birds. But despite being close to woodland I see few birds these days and those that do venture to my lawn, pond and bird table run the risk of being killed by cats.  Changes in agriculture and habitat loss have had a dramatic effect on bird numbers but locally cats can also have a big influence." He added: “In the longer term there needs to be a widespread neutering campaign to bring down the size of the enormous cat population."

The "final straw," Dr Mowforth, said was when he was sitting in his garden eating dinner and a cat jumped on to his bird table and killed a goldfinch. He now says he could be forced to move if the killing does not stop.  He said: "This could now push me out of my house. I'm about to retire and I want to be able to enjoy my garden."

Amanda Woods, 39, who has two cats in the street, said: "There is nothing you can do to stop your cats going in other people's gardens - unless you have house cats. One of the cats is my nine year old son's cat and he got really upset when he saw the letter. We all got leaflets through the door, it's all over Facebook. If he doesn't like cats in his garden there are things he could do about it. He could just spray them, or set up sprinklers. It's harmless and it means they won't come back.  My neighbour thought about taking the leaflet to the local police station, I'm not sure if he has yet.  If they don't take it to the police I'd happily do it myself."

As well as the 26 neighbouring houses on Dr Mowforth's street, the letters have also been put though the doors of adjoining streets.  One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, was shocked when she noticed her cat was one of those pictured. She said: "Everyone in the street got one of these letters through the door.  I was actually quite shocked when I saw it. My cat is actually pictured on the front of the leaflet. I think the whole thing is a bit like Crime Watch for cats, it all seems very petty. I was actually really concerned when I read the bit about him taking 'drastic action' against the cats.  I don't know what it could be but it certainly sounds very worrying - I'm sure the RSPCA would be interested to hear about it.  I haven't bothered confronting him because I don't want to cause a big argument but I know he has upset a lot of people."

The RSPCA declined to confirm if any complaints had been made but said they were not investigating any claims in the area. Gloucestershire Police said there did not appear to be any instances of arson threats recorded.

veya_victaous wrote:Honestly Cats are a real pest species, and should require a licence and be mandatory to keep in an enclosed yard, indoors or on a leash. JUST LIKE A DOG.

If a dog was to come into my yard and attack my pets I would have every legal right to demand it got put down and the council probably would with out my asking.

Bloody Murdering cats come into my yard can expect a rock hurled with sufficient force.

nicko wrote:I'v never heard of a cat mauling a child to death,   where as a dog~~~~~~~~

captainJane wrote:We have a real bad cat around these parts and I am afraid it will be teaching a couple more cats to do the same. It has been offered several homes, and it is fed a few times every day. It is not killing for hunger and sometimes it just wants to make a creature suffer.. I am hoping to get chickens by next year and if this prat of a cat remains I do not fancy my chances. The foxes does the odd killing but they at least eat their occasional prey and the various people in the neighbourhood help out. In a real dilemma and thinking of catching this cat and dropping it into a local shelter. Or over the cliff if it keeps on crossing my path.    

Raggamuffin wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:Honestly Cats are a real pest species, and should require a licence and be mandatory to keep in an enclosed yard, indoors or on a leash. JUST LIKE A DOG.

If a dog was to come into my yard and attack my pets I would have every legal right to demand it got put down and the council probably would with out my asking.

Bloody Murdering cats come into my yard can expect a rock hurled with sufficient force.

You could be prosecuted here for hurling a rock at a cat if you harmed it. Quite right too - there's no need for violence.

victorisnotamused wrote:people who dislike cats are not humans.....  

Raggamuffin wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:Honestly Cats are a real pest species, and should require a licence and be mandatory to keep in an enclosed yard, indoors or on a leash. JUST LIKE A DOG.

If a dog was to come into my yard and attack my pets I would have every legal right to demand it got put down and the council probably would with out my asking.

Bloody Murdering cats come into my yard can expect a rock hurled with sufficient force.

You could be prosecuted here for hurling a rock at a cat if you harmed it. Quite right too - there's no need for violence.

victorisnotamused wrote:people who dislike cats are not humans.....  

eddie wrote:
I have to agree with Veya: cats are a nuisance.
They just shit and shit in peoples gardens and it's not right.

They kill wildlife and like Veya says, keep,them enclosed within their own gardens etc so that their owners can ensure they don't kill stuff and they can clear up the stinking mess they leave!!

Also they have no freakin loyalty to their owners. They'll go where they get fed.

Lone Wolf wrote: 

HUNTING of cats out "in the bush" in Oz means 5 km (3.2 miles) out of town ("built up areas"..). NOT simply on the town's urban_fringes..

Shooting or poisoning cats or dogs within town limits is still an indictable offence down here. As is killing someone else's pet out of spite or malice (self defence against savage dogs is always a possible legal defence..), especially if it's known to be someone's pet.       ::-3::   

veya_victaous wrote:

Lone Wolf wrote: 

HUNTING of cats out "in the bush" in Oz means 5 km (3.2 miles) out of town ("built up areas"..). NOT simply on the town's urban_fringes..

Shooting or poisoning cats or dogs within town limits is still an indictable offence down here. As is killing someone else's pet out of spite or malice (self defence against savage dogs is always a possible legal defence..), especially if it's known to be someone's pet.       ::-3::   

your allowed to defend your property and pets are property. I'm not gonna let more of my pets with more financial/ecological value than a cat become food/toy for a murdering Moggie  (and more emotional too since I would never dream of letting them run lose around the neighborhood AND INTO OTHER PEOPLES YARDS  )

cats are murders owning cats is essentially aiding and abetting a murderer                          

      Jesus  should have made specific exception for casting stones at cats  :asboredas: 
 ::troll:: ::troll:: ::troll:: ::troll::

nicko wrote:Cats will dig a hole and bury it!  dogs will crap anywhere and people will tread in it .  My Granddaughter came on a visit with dog crap all over the wheels of her pushchair.When did you last step in cat shit?

veya_victaous wrote:Not if it THE CAT is about to harm something and as they have enough times when trespassing in my yard that I assume they will      

MURDERERS, I TELL YOU       


.....
Not that I have to much any more, since i got a 2nd dog she is a Jack Russell and I have specifically trained her; she is ONLY allowed to bark, chase, try and catch CATS.

it took a bit to get her to not chase the birds (the first dog never was interested) and she got a smack the first time I caught her catch a skink  (2-7cm lizards, very common where there are no cats and only well trained dogs) and I think the first dog told her they supposed to protect lizards, he's a Maltese cross and a very calm dog so I have introduced him to my larger lizards that I try and breed for release back in the wild. Cats are one of the main issues driving the native lizards to endangerment/extinction    there are other things like roads that are not a help either     

I hope that puts my opinion in Context after losing Several Lizards to cats over the years. plus losing Birds and Fish......  Murdering Bastards Goldie never hurt anyone      

Raggamuffin wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:Not if it THE CAT is about to harm something and as they have enough times when trespassing in my yard that I assume they will      

MURDERERS, I TELL YOU       


.....
Not that I have to much any more, since i got a 2nd dog she is a Jack Russell and I have specifically trained her; she is ONLY allowed to bark, chase, try and catch CATS.

it took a bit to get her to not chase the birds (the first dog never was interested) and she got a smack the first time I caught her catch a skink  (2-7cm lizards, very common where there are no cats and only well trained dogs) and I think the first dog told her they supposed to protect lizards, he's a Maltese cross and a very calm dog so I have introduced him to my larger lizards that I try and breed for release back in the wild. Cats are one of the main issues driving the native lizards to endangerment/extinction    there are other things like roads that are not a help either     

I hope that puts my opinion in Context after losing Several Lizards to cats over the years. plus losing Birds and Fish......  Murdering Bastards Goldie never hurt anyone      

If someone's dog got hold of my cat, I might be forced to harm the dog in order to protect my cat.

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

If someone's dog got hold of my cat, I might be forced to harm the dog in order to protect my cat.

And if someone's dog was in YOUR yard you'd be perfectly entitled to, I'll do you the courtesy of doing my best o keep my dog out of your yard... and in a perfect world cat owners would do the same   

Raggamuffin wrote:Dogs can be a nuisance with all that barking they do - it's noise pollution.

Nems wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Dogs can be a nuisance with all that barking they do - it's noise pollution.

Have you heard the noise cats make when fighting !?

Raggamuffin wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

If someone's dog got hold of my cat, I might be forced to harm the dog in order to protect my cat.

And if someone's dog was in YOUR yard you'd be perfectly entitled to, I'll do you the courtesy of doing my best o keep my dog out of your yard... and in a perfect world cat owners would do the same   

It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

victorisnotamused wrote:TBF though veya has a point

In Australia, cats of the moggyius domesticus variety, are a foreign invasive pest species, much like the rabbit and cane toad and need to be controlled

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

no doesn't work that way at all

Your cat belongs on your property otherwise it is in the wrong , and it is VERY selfish to suggest otherwise Why should anyone else have to deal with your pet on their property...  

and a dog is fully with in it's rights to keep murdering cats out of it's territory.

And most councils will do something about dogs that bark all day... or dog owners that lets their dogs run loose around the neighbourhood... they should apply the Same to Cat owners.. It is discrimination plain and simple

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PETS OWNERS... DOWN WITH FELINE APARTHEID

harvesmom wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

no doesn't work that way at all

Your cat belongs on your property otherwise it is in the wrong , and it is VERY selfish to suggest otherwise Why should anyone else have to deal with your pet on their property...  

and a dog is fully with in it's rights to keep murdering cats out of it's territory.

And most councils will do something about dogs that bark all day... or dog owners that lets their dogs run loose around the neighbourhood... they should apply the Same to Cat owners.. It is discrimination plain and simple

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PETS OWNERS... DOWN WITH FELINE APARTHEID

Too right!! If my dog got out and caused damage or poo'd where he shouldn't then  I can expect a fine, why should it be different for cats???

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

no doesn't work that way at all

Your cat belongs on your property otherwise it is in the wrong , and it is VERY selfish to suggest otherwise Why should anyone else have to deal with your pet on their property...  

and a dog is fully with in it's rights to keep murdering cats out of it's territory.

And most councils will do something about dogs that bark all day... or dog owners that lets their dogs run loose around the neighbourhood... they should apply the Same to Cat owners.. It is discrimination plain and simple

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PETS OWNERS... DOWN WITH FELINE APARTHEID

Raggamuffin wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

no doesn't work that way at all

Your cat belongs on your property otherwise it is in the wrong , and it is VERY selfish to suggest otherwise Why should anyone else have to deal with your pet on their property...  

and a dog is fully with in it's rights to keep murdering cats out of it's territory.

And most councils will do something about dogs that bark all day... or dog owners that lets their dogs run loose around the neighbourhood... they should apply the Same to Cat owners.. It is discrimination plain and simple

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PETS OWNERS... DOWN WITH FELINE APARTHEID

It works that way for me. I don't care where the dog is - if it attacks my cat, I'll protect my cat.

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It works that way for me. I don't care where the dog is - if it attacks my cat, I'll protect my cat.

And you will be in the wrong, Particularly if Your cat is in someone else yard..  you will probably go to jail.

Raggamuffin wrote:Veya, you are clearly mad, and you sound like an animal abuser. It's a good job we have laws in the UK to prevent people causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Veya, you are clearly mad, and you sound like an animal abuser. It's a good job we have laws in the UK to prevent people causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

That sounds to me like a very radical interpretation of what he said.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:Veya, you are clearly mad, and you sound like an animal abuser. It's a good job we have laws in the UK to prevent people causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

That sounds to me like a very radical interpretation of what he said.

He already said he would throw stones at a cat, and his last post was clearly the ramblings of a mad person.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

He already said he would throw stones at a cat, and his last post was clearly the ramblings of a mad person.

You read the whole thing, in non-combat mode?

Raggamuffin wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

He already said he would throw stones at a cat, and his last post was clearly the ramblings of a mad person.

You read the whole thing, in non-combat mode?

Look, if you want to support an animal abuser it's up to you, but don't start on me.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Look, if you want to support an animal abuser it's up to you, but don't start on me.

Where did Veya advocate abusing animals?

Ben_Reilly wrote:I have, I see him saying that if a cat comes onto someone's property and starts wreaking havoc, that person has the right to protect their property. I don't see him saying anything that comes even close to advocating animal abuse.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Ben_Reilly wrote:I have, I see him saying that if a cat comes onto someone's property and starts wreaking havoc, that person has the right to protect their property. I don't see him saying anything that comes even close to advocating animal abuse.

You don't think that throwing a rock at a cat with the intention of hitting it is animal abuse?

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:
It wouldn't matter where the dog was. If it was in someone else's garden, I'd still protect my cat. They should keep their dog under control at all times.

no doesn't work that way at all

Your cat belongs on your property otherwise it is in the wrong , and it is VERY selfish to suggest otherwise Why should anyone else have to deal with your pet on their property...  

and a dog is fully with in it's rights to keep murdering cats out of it's territory.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PETS OWNERS... DOWN WITH FELINE APARTHEID

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:
It works that way for me. I don't care where the dog is - if it attacks my cat, I'll protect my cat.

And you will be in the wrong, Particularly if Your cat is in someone else yard..  you will probably go to jail.

and then claim that it had escaped !    ).

Lone Wolf wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:
It works that way for me. I don't care where the dog is - if it attacks my cat, I'll protect my cat.

And you will be in the wrong, Particularly if Your cat is in someone else yard..  you will probably go to jail.

   Rubbish, veya'...

1. You need a body to prove that your dog is dead.
2. You need evidence that a particular person attacked your dog.
3. If you get past that point, then it's up to you to prove that your dog wasn't attacking others ~ especially if those others happen to have bite marks to help claim that your dog was attacking them (and, if they still have their wits about them, they will remove said dog from your yard ~ and then claim that it had escaped !    ).

THE only time that you're likely to see someone end up in jail, is when they have entered your yard with the intention of killing your dog ~ AND you have witnesses and/or evidence to such an act..

ON THE other hand, if you killed a savage or rogue cat in your yard, the smart thing to do is either bury the evidence in your back garden, or dispose of it elsewhere. And the cat's owner would then be left thinking that it's either been run over, met some other untimely end..

LEAVE the body laying around or allow others to see you kill that cat unnecessarily, though ~ and you may find the Animal cruelty laws trumping any ol' Trespass laws !    ::resmahauth::