|
Madness
Jan 15, 2004 17:53:17 GMT -4
Post by Kain on Jan 15, 2004 17:53:17 GMT -4
How dangerous is this? This is a picture from PMS which is posted on the forum. Sadly I quite like the girl who posted it but that doesn't stop me feeling discussed with this picture. Hey Tom, remember when you and I got into trouble when we went off on one over a picture similar to this? ;D Kane
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 15, 2004 18:14:18 GMT -4
Post by rasputin on Jan 15, 2004 18:14:18 GMT -4
Hamster looks airsick.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 15, 2004 21:49:48 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 15, 2004 21:49:48 GMT -4
The only "trouble" at "PMS" was when I finally refused - in private messages - to be superciliously lectured to by a punctilious and condescending LH as if I was a ten year old girl and she the school marm - and I really couldn't care less; enough was enough. The only photos I really objected to on a number of sites were gerbils playing with cats, which is way worse than dogs. People are stupid. Both for doing that and not condemning it. I related the time on May 6th 2002 I saw two Jack Russell terriers - illegally unleashed - catch and brutally kill a squirrel in NYC's Central Park. I cursed at and berated the MFer out of the park, as a park attendant called police; if it happened today I'd have followed him to his apartment house door berating him. I did get a lot done subsequently with the NYPD, and Parks Dept. vis a vis the unleashed dog situation in many city parks. We have a stupid woman in this aprtment house with a lovely and rare white boxer dog; she illegal lets him run on the streets loose unleashed - he got hit by a car a few months ago, but thankfully recovered. Stupid people.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 10:43:31 GMT -4
Post by calvinator1 on Jan 16, 2004 10:43:31 GMT -4
People become comfortable with their pets and assume that the pets view the other members of the household the same way they do. They think the dog or cat will always see the rodent as just another member of the family. They tend to forget that cats and dogs still have strong hunting instincts.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 11:06:30 GMT -4
Post by adara on Jan 16, 2004 11:06:30 GMT -4
My rats and hamster used to interact with my cat when I had them out. My cat had no interest whatsoever in harming them, but at the same time I would never leave them alone together unsupervised. I understand where you guys are coming from but you don't know what that dog is like. See here: www.livejournal.com/community/ratties/1701922.html#cutid1 where cats, dogs and rat interact with no problem. I don't think it's a problem as long as it is all supervised and the animals show no aggression towards each other. Of course natural instincts can take over but that's why it should always be supervised.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 17:03:52 GMT -4
Post by dosergirl on Jan 16, 2004 17:03:52 GMT -4
I agree Adara. There are exceptions to every rule. I know that Sukie (one of my cats) can safely interact with the hamsters while attended. She likes to lay on the bed and they will run all over her. She's 13 years old and she has not one hunting instict. I would never put my animals in jeopardy and i'm sure the person who took the pic wouldn't either.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 21:28:00 GMT -4
Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 16, 2004 21:28:00 GMT -4
I previously related the story of the lovely gentle yellow lab who lived in this apartment house and everyone adored. She had to be euthanized three weeks owing owing to chronic illness.
I can't imagine her ever harming another animal. lest it be a scratched flea. She even met a few of my critters, including Sam the gregarious gerbil. It was all safe.
I find it hard to believe a cat could be initially fully trusted; I would not want to be the "test gerbil" - the one who first gets to "play" with the cat. Why would they be interacting anyway?? It is not natural; there is no purpose (except for allegedly "cute" photos).
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 22:18:30 GMT -4
Post by dosergirl on Jan 16, 2004 22:18:30 GMT -4
Believe me if you saw our cat you would trust her with all of yours as well. Now i have another cat who isn't allowed near the hamsters. Sukie is 13, has arthritis,and kidney stones and bladder stones. geriatric and for the most part bed-ridden. She spends 23 of 24 hours in the day laying on the bed. It's enjoyable for her and the hamsters. she really likes to watch them run around.
not natural? i don't know if you want to go there tom....keeping 26 hamsters is plastic rubbermaid bins isn't natural either.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 23:29:16 GMT -4
Post by rasputin on Jan 16, 2004 23:29:16 GMT -4
I didn't mean by my short innocuous comment that this situation was good -- while the pic is cute, and that particular ham is probably not in danger, does this create an unrealistic expectation that household animals all can coexist without danger?
IMO it does -- no predatory animals around my place are allowed out of their box while the rodents are out of theirs -- and the predators have triple-locked boxes.
I certainly wouldn't want one of my rodents to meet the python or the tarantula!
Still, I have nothing new to add to this thread, except the same sentiments that have already been expressed more strongly by others.
Smart people know their pets, and wise people avoid unnecessary risks.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 16, 2004 23:58:31 GMT -4
Post by dosergirl on Jan 16, 2004 23:58:31 GMT -4
For the most part i agree. However i think that the level of domestication of the species in question has to come into play. I think on a whole some animals can be trained against their natural instinct more effectively than others.
What do you think?
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 17, 2004 0:21:40 GMT -4
Post by rasputin on Jan 17, 2004 0:21:40 GMT -4
Dogs, perhaps. Cats, not generally.
Dangle a mouse toy in front of a cat and it goes for the small simulated prey.
And yet, as you say, your one cat is totally mellow about the small critters.
I'm sticking to "Smart people know their pets, and wise people avoid unnecessary risks."
I know that *you* are both smart and wise -- we all know people who are neither smart nor wise.
Some people, thankfully no one I know on this board, will eventually find ways to unintentionally or ignorantly abuse anything and anyone.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 17, 2004 7:04:59 GMT -4
Post by adara on Jan 17, 2004 7:04:59 GMT -4
"Dangle a mouse toy in front of a cat and it goes for the small simulated prey."
I disagree. I'd say only 2/3 of cats do that.. I know plenty of cats that couldn't give a monkeys and their only interest in life is taking it easy, sitting in front of the fire and having lap cuddles.
|
|
|
Madness
Jan 17, 2004 9:02:27 GMT -4
Post by rasputin on Jan 17, 2004 9:02:27 GMT -4
I'll concede that point -- it was a generalization, and not applicable to every feline.
Still, as you say, it applies to most.
|
|