Letter: What is the point of cats?
The domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus, is quite probably the most useless animal on the planet and we have an estimated 10.3 million of them in the UK.
The domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus, is quite probably the most useless animal on the planet and we have an estimated 10.3 million of them in the UK.
They spend 85 per-cent of their lives doing nothing, sleeping or dozing.
Eating, drinking, killing, defecating and mating take up just four per cent of their time and 11 per cent just getting around.
They are highly intelligent animals and more often choose their owner rather than an owner choosing them, only 25 per cent of American cat owners admitted to choosing their cat – the rest just walked in.
Last year in the UK cats consumed 480 million cans of wet food, 150 million cans of dry, 232 million pouches and 43 million tit-bits which is probably the reason why the UK has 80 million rats running loose.
Wild birds are a different story and have been decimated by the domestic cat. Domestic life is not good for cats, milk gives them diarrhoea, cat food rots their gums and central heating causes them to moult.
Bob Wydell
Oswestry
Comments for: "Letter: What is the point of cats?"
The graduate
Well they are an animal one of the few, if the only one, defined as a domestic pet that can roam the land.
They can come in to your garden and yes defecate in your veg patch , flower boarders, and all measures to stop them are just money making myths .
I solved this solution by getting a lovely dog "NO MORE CATS IN MY GARDEN".
Lets be be honest some cat owners are a little odd so to remonstrate with them is pointless.
Squirrel
There are a lot of odd dog owners too!
Cat Owner
Absolutely Squirel, not to mention irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs bark all day and night. A visit to the Admirals Way/Jellicoe Crescent area of Shifnal will show you exactly what I mean.
Katherine de Gama
Count me in! My lot love chasing squirrels but, rest easy, they've never caught one.
sue w
I could nt agree more. I am tired of finding cat .... in my flower beds and lawn.Why do they never do it on their own patch?
Squirrel
Hedgehogs squirrels and birds mice etc do their business in our gardens too, should they all not be not allowed out either?
The graduate
HELLOOOOO they are not some individuals domestic pet .
Squirrel
So what?
The graduate
Well squirrel my dog or horse cant come and crap in your garden, and the wild life are not household pets plus you can shoot a squirrel.
ycrystal
urm, I have 3 cats and they do scratch around in their own flower beds too. :)
Daves Cat
Mine do. First time I've ever had a cat too lazy to jump over the fence :o)
farmer don
Bob youve got it wrong.The most useless animal on the planet is homo sapions They concrete over the land,cut down the forests,procreate like lemmings and winge and fart their way though life and their latest wheeze are windfarms as a monument to their uselesslives!!
Squirrel
What is the point of this letter?
What is the point of humans?
Humans are highly intelligent animals that spend most of their time sleeping, eating, drinking, killing, defecating and mating.
Also destroying the earths resources, upsetting the balance of nature, leaving a lot of waste for rats to thrive on. Polluting, littering and destroying habitat which has led to a decrease in birds
Peter Allgood
What, one might say, is the point of Bob Wydell? But then I am a cat owner so must be a little odd.
Michael Wilkinson
Without Bo9bs letters you would have less to discuss :-)
twisting my melon
Agree with The Graduate on the owner thing. Cats are fine, its the owners that are a bit odd. Most of them talk to their cats and actualy believe the cat understands/cares..
Pussy Galore Telford
You mean they don't?
Mrs Robinson
nothing like a few sweeping generalisations to get the Shropshire Star message boards buzzing......cat owners are odd???? Don't tell me, anyone who owns a chinchilla has a beard and dog owners like to dress up in drag at the weekend. As for snake owners......
twisting my melon
Are you talking to me or your cat..
Olly
What a bizzare thing to write in about.
I assume that the 9 numbers you have used make up part of the 78.25% of figures which are actually plucked from thin air? My cat is an excellent bat murderer, rodent catcher and pigeon worrier. What is your dogs claim to fame? He cant even wash himself, and legally has to have a responsible guardian to keep him under control. Other than eating, drinking, defecating and working to gain money to allow you to do the above, what do YOU do?
Gareth Griffiths
We're also one of the only countries that routinely let our domestic cats roam free, to be killed by traffic or to acquire fleas or other diseases.
Which is precisely why my two cats are primarily indoor animals, and are only allowed outside under close supervision!
Squirrel
Sorry to take issue with a cat lover but we are certainly NOT "one of the only countries that routinely let our domestic cats roam free" It is largely Americans who keep cats indoors and even declaw them.
Nistagmus
One thing missed off the time and motion study the writer has done on cats is that they also make up 63.7% of YouTube videos doing mildly amusing things.
John Andrews
Put it anohther way. What's the point of Bob Wydell's?. What do Bob Wydell's do for the diversity of the planet?
Rob, Telford
I've read this letter three times now and I still can't find the bit where it says that cats are part of some sinister EU plot - come on Bob, you're slipping!
Roger
Domestic cat's are not native to this country so by definition the are the off spring immigrants. Will that do for the usual dose of bias.
Rob, Telford
Not really - old Bob doesn't go in for racism, he just tends to be rather obsessive about the EU (not that his views are entirely without foundation, but after reading the first three or four hundred of his letters they tend to merge together into a sort of blur).
Still, I suppose his new-found interest in cats shows that he hasn't got a totally one-track mind!
Roger
But immigration is a big EU issue all those EUer's from eastern Europe coming here to pinch our jobs, and no doubt bringing their cat's with them, having the freedom to roam as they do?
Rob, Telford
You've got a point there Roger - my cat (Bernard, 15 next month) often stays awake for minutes at a time worrying about being displaced by an eastern European cat.
Jesus H Corbet
"They spend 85 per-cent of their lives doing nothing, sleeping or dozing."
No Bob you've got mixed up. Thems 'Teenagers' not Cats.
Colin Dodd.
If we are to assume that Bobs figures for cat food consumed are correct, then I would say cats are very useful, as they keep a lot of people in employment.
One can only surmise that the writer has nothing very pressing to occupy his time, judging by the research he has done on this highly interesting, emotive, and world changing subject.
Mr Magoo
Eating, drinking, killing, defecating, sleeping or dozing, and mating. This description is more like the make up of humans? So we are more alike than you think?
On another point I would suggest that Bob Wydell obviously has too much spare time on his hands and would suggest getting out a bit more often.
Tiddles
Bob, get a hobby, maybe get a cat
Sydney Bridge
Cat owners are pet lovers who are too tired to walk a dog. Truly mans best, and most useful, friend.
JOHN JONES
Yes, a cat is a lazy persons pet.
Peter
So all those elderly people who have cats for a little companionship are just lazy eh?
And the same for all those people who like to have a pet but who know their working lives are too busy to allow them the time to properly look after a dog. Are they lazy too?
Do you ever put any thought at all into what you post?
JOHN JONES
Peter. If you can't look after a pet, then don't have one.After the death of our spaniel in April we have just bought another one at a cost of £500 and named her Millie,she will have the best life that we can offer,and that includes our time. You don't have pets then? And yes I do.
Peter
Yes - I have 2 cats.
I don't have a dog, much as I would like one, since my wife and I both work - dogs need more companionship than that. Cats are a bit more self-sufficient than dogs in that respect.
My cats are let out during the day, and brought in at night, as the RSPCA advise. They don't trouble anyone else's garden as they invariably come back in to use their cat litter. Both are neutered, so won't add to the population.
So not lazy, just responsible... Who are you to dismiss people as lazy without knowing any of the facts? (I do appreciate facts really aren't your thing though...)
Siofna
What is the point of anything, it's all utterly futile.
Captain Sensible
When it comes down to it, what's the point in anything? Purpose is subjective, so as long as someone has a use for something, be it entertainment, companionship etc, then it has a "point".
Christine
Sorry Bob sorry to use this saying but get a life and write about something usefull lol
Mandy
I totally agree with you there Christine , he ought to get a life!! My cats bring me much pleasure .... He obviously has something missing in his life to be so nasty about cats ! One sad individual .
Tiddles
Ermm, I was thinking about getting a new feline pal and I think Bob is a fab name.
Thanks Bob mate
Bob Bob Bob
Tom
Tiddles!
You shameless hussy! Wait 'til I get home!
Tom
H. St. John Peasbody
Cats are fine as long as they are exercised on a leash.
Rob, Telford
You forgot to mention the muzzle Peasbody...
The Original Andy
I so enjoy cleaning left over cat faeces from my garden left by at least 3 cats that live in our area before I can let my children out. The owners should be doing it and no mistake. Any tips for keeping cats of lawns are most welcome.
Nistagmus
'The owners should be doing it and no mistake.'
Surely that would be even more unpleasant than picking up cat faeces ?
The graduate
Buy a dog!!
Mr Magoo
Get you're kids to clean up to earn some pocket money ;-)
JOHN JONES
Simple solution,do what I do. Find where the cat lives, collect up the faeces and put it through their letter box, I had a visit from the old bill but they could do nothing.
Nistagmus
That is possibly the *least* simple solution there could possibly be !
Firstly, you have to either trap the cat and hope it has a tag with an address on, which most owners avoid, then read it without being scratched to transfusion point, or you have to follow a cat about and hope it goes home and not just to another random garden or just falls asleep under a tree somewhere for hours.
Secondly you have to collect the faeces and carry them a whole lot further than just to your toilet.
Thirdly you have to walk up to someone's letter box and post said faeces without being seen. If you are, you then have to deal with the police.
*And* after all those steps, the whole farrago does nothing to stop a cat doing its business in your garden !
So not only is it not simple, it's not a solution.
twisting my melon
" i had a visit from the old bill but they could do nothing " Rubbish!! what about charging you with criminal damage...............sounds like a porky to me..
JOHN JONES
No, they could not prove that I was the correct person. A tip; when interviewed by police say nothing and never make a statement, this was told to me many years ago by a ex policeman. And I do not tell LIES.
Nistagmus
I like the idea of saying I don't tell lies immediately after recounting a story where you *effectively* did.
try orange peel
My grandfather used to put orange peel on his rosebeds to keep cats away
Pat
There are so many whinger's in this country now i think it has reached epidemic proportions. So many people do not seem happy unless they moan about something or someone ! Bob you and many others should seek help.
Gary
Let's hope this pointless letter does not incite any further cruelty to animals. There have already been several publicised cases of feline poisoning, air gun attacks etc. over the last few years. I would guess most cats give their owners a great deal of companionship and comfort. Some choose cats, others choose other creatures including birds locked in cages to reptiles and insects.
The graduate
But none of them enter your property boundary and defecate in your garden do they???.
Nistagmus
Sometimes. After they've been in the pub, I suspect.
Ah, you meant the cat, not the owner. As you were, then.
Sue W
Really. Surely a prefered method of revenge would be to enjoy a vinda loo and several pints of bitter with ones mates, and in the dead of night pay the offending cat owners a visit.
Nistagmus
No. It just was a silly joke
You see, Gary's post ended with a sentence beginning 'Some choose...' suggesting he was talking about the owner whilst The graduate's reply began 'But none of them...' which if taken in context.........
When you have to explain, it probably wasn't that good a joke.
Gary
Dear Graduate,
We all have to put up with the mess created by wild animals whether they be birds, foxes, badgers hedgehogs etc. Why not have a bang at the thousands of tons of dog dirt, withs its hidden health dangers, their owners omit to pick up and leave on our pavements and playing fields each year?
The graduate
wild animals are not the topic cats are which are domestic pets , and yes i think it is a done subject that we have irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up after the dog . But lets be honest ALL cat owners do not pick up after the cat .
tiddles
Orig Andy,
Have you asked the owners to come poo collecting ?
Top tip is to let your kids out, cats are not keen on kids.
Simples
Rob, Telford
"Have you asked the owners to come poo collecting ?"
...what a lovely way to get to know your neighbours - especially if you make a day of it and invite them round for a barbecue afterwards...
Roger
Bob
All my neighbours have cats. It's not an issue. We talk to each other, that's a good way of communicating.
The cats have their own hierachy in the street and respect each others territory. All seems to work quite well.
re The other post my cat is as old as yours and she only has disturbed sleep when there is a mouse in the garden. She will not rest then ontil the situation is resolved, one way or the other, then goes back to sleeping, eating and a little fussing.
The Original Andy
Tiddles. No, I haven't asked the neighbours to collect! Might be a good idea to let the kids run free though!!
tiddles
We could make the poo collecting more like a treasure hunt, a bit like looking for Easter eggs, involve the kiddies too.
Rob, Telford
If you've got foodie neighbours you could always invite them round for a truffle hunt...
Peter
What's the point of cats?
Well - they provide entertainment, companionship (often for the elderly)and amusement, and we like to delude ourselves, as we do with other domestic pets, that they are affectionate towards us - and where's the harm in that Bob?
Domestic cats were known and revered in Ancient Egypt so for thousands of years people have seen a purpose in them - and since Egypt isn't in the EU you can't even use them as an excuse to get onto your favourite topic!
As for them using peoples' gardens as a toilet - mine will invariably come back into the house to use their cat litter.
Between the two of them in five years they've managed to kill only two birds,(and given their ineptitude in hunting they probably found them already dead!) so they're not much of a threat to the local wildlife either...
The graduate
If you are aware where that little pussy cat lives , then gather up and return to sender .
Jim
Violin strings?
Katherine de Gama
Gosh, there was a brief glimpse of philosophy on the pages of the Shrewsbury chronicle. Nihilism, but it's a start:)
liverbird
they seem to enjoy deficating in freshly tilled soil thus they decimate y veg patch with their vile ways, they should be capped or limited in some way by licencing the earth cannot support so many millions of carnivores and my garden is being ruined by them
crystalspags
What a ridiculous idea, your joking, right? rofl
Badoom tish
How will making cats wear hats protect your veggies?
bored oswestry bloke
I love cats. Grilled. cat stew is good too.
seriously though, Cats offer companionship, just like dogs.
people arguing the whole cats Vs dogs thing are wasting their breath. cat owners will not be persuaded that their beloved pet is 'pointless' and nor will dog owners. I have a pet snake. he literally doesn't move for days at a time, occasionally eats a mouse, and every couple of months he sheds his skin. that's about it. pointless? yeah, probably. but he's mine, and i love him. the point is that pets are a part of the family, and should be regarded as such. especially when they crap in your neighbours garden.
and besides, there's more meat on a dog. BBQ anyone?
Squirrel
So glad to see the vast majority of the comments are in favour of cats, so Bob Wydell go and find something else to complain about - you curmudgeon!
Kirsty
I can't believe this article actually got printed!!! Making cats sound worthless isn't exactly going to help with the crisis of abandonments of cats and kittens is it!!!!
Not very clever Shropshire Star, this has made me very angry! And Bob Wydall, maybe next time be more tactical!
James
Sad to say Kirsty but I suspect it was printed because someone at the Star thought it was bound to get some responses. And with 40 comments plus replies already, that wasn't a bad calculation.
Personally, I found it harmless, amusing old tosh - a break from Bob's usual anti-EU rhetoric anyway.
If he's really made you angry, best thing to do is write a letter yourself.
Katherine de Gama
I would love a cat but live too close to a busy street and am away for much of the time. My bearded collies are my fellow travellers.
Silly Sarah
Target practice. Only wildlife has the right to roam.
Badoom tish
The last time I looked, my cat had 2 points- 1 at the front (nose) and 1 at the back (tail).
Jack
Cats are great. Bob Wydall's 'interesting' and 'informative' letter isn't. Anyone who researches 'cat' based information and statistics needs to get out more. Seemingly, empty vessels always make the most noise.
clever Clive
i love cats especially when they come in our garden and poo on it which can leave a disease called "Toxoplasmosis" which causes blindness. Cat owners just can't be arsed to keep them under control. Also did you know they lick there bums and then lick you, uuuuummmmm
D
So do dogs!
mary f
essential vermin control?
Davey
Never was particularly a fan of cats until I got my own. Got them from the RSCPA at 8 weeks old (and there's a lovely touching story about how they got there, but I'll save that for another day)
Whilst I am now a confirmed cat lover, I do think that some owners could do more to control their animals so that they don't cause a nuisance to neighbours. Whilst they'll never be as obedient & predictable as my dog, the cats have a routine which I and they stick to. Meal times are fixed, they aren't allowed out after dark, their litter tray is always cleaned for them meaning that they use it. (They actually come back home to do their business). They've also been 'trained' never to around the front of the house near the road.
It's extremely rare for them to catch a bird or mouse. They were scared to death of the the huge pidgeon that was lying dead on the patio recently (it crashed into the house)
They're well fed, well looked after, well insured and well loved. They know when they're well off and that means they don't bother anyone else. They've very much become my 'substitute children', they help me de-stress and my life is better for having them as companions
michelle
I have cats, mine like the post above actually come home to poo, unfortunate for me but saves arguements with the neighbours. I also bought cat repellant for my neighbours in case my cats caused any problems on their gardens. The killing of birds etc is easily solved by fitting a bell to the cats collar, therefore they can have the fun of chasing birds/mice ect but the hunted also get a warning from the bell to get away in time, this has pretty much put a stop to my cats hunting.
So I think the original letter here was just to provoke a reaction
Roger
I put a bell on one of my cats. It took a week for him to learn to stalk, accelerate and run flat out without ringing the bell. I couldn't believe it and thought him special, but a vet was on the TV the other and said it was normal. As with all thing "cat" they are very adaptable.
R Suppards
Aside, what exactly is the point of dogs? All the canines I've ever come into contact with have been insatiably stupid, bark for no reason, make smelly piles all over the place, act like deranged teenagers on pot, and generally smell like a hoarder's living-room carpet. The good ones don't have fleas.
And the smaller they are, the more racket they make, bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark yap yap yap yap yap yap.
I once lived next door to a family with three dogs which between them never let up with barking, pooing, yapping, smelling and generally making life a misery for the households either side. My cats are clean, flealess, quiet, affectionate and above all, intelligent. Cats 5, Dogs 0.
twisting my melon
duller than the cyclist v motorist argument.
Felix Endemacker
Cats, in Germany, also are allowed to roam free, excepting for one day of the year when they are required to be kept indoors. If they are not...we shoot them.
One is also allowed to shoot/kill cats on ones own land proveded that they do not suffer.
Rob, Telford
...there's a certain national stereotype starting to emerge here...
..."for you, pussycat, ze roaming is over"...
Felix Endemacher
As you appear not to believe in me. Please be so good as to google the rules here in Germany. I do not lie.
Max F Endemacher
Schwalmtal-Waldniel.
41366
Nistagmus
You see Bob, all your Anti-EU rhetoric BUT look - they have solved the problem over there!
R Suppards
I foresee a Portland Stone memorial to the 55,573 cats who have been "shot whilst roaming" in Germany.
Targetman.
I think cats are great they make perfect targets for my Cat-apult when they are preying on the wildlife near my bird table.
Felix the Cat
Can someone tell me what the point of Bob Wydell is?
Is he jealous because none of us have chosen him to be our 'owner'