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© KYODOPrevention of animal hoarding takes on urgency in aging Japan
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Yubaru
THIS is where the government SHOULD be assisting! There are quite a number of animal clinics here that will do the surgeries for both dogs and cats at cost in cases of need.
Veterinarians themselves want people to get their animals fixed, but it costs money to do it and the government could assist. Far too many animals here get put down yearly, nearly 6,000 a year down here in Okinawa.
Do the hustle
This is a mental health issue and should be addressed as such.
Yubaru
Not in all situations, I have a "hoarder" in my neighborhood, but she takes very good care of her animals.
For some, yes it's a mental health issue, but there are all sorts of people out here in Japan who have mental health issues and they dont center around hoarding animals.
It's not a black and white issue!
that person
there is no problem if they’re well taken care of
zurcronium
Saw a goofy lady feeding cats yesterday in our neighborhood. She is creating the overpopulation of cats as noted happened above and that is not good for the neighborhood or the cats who become abandoned or eventually destroyed.
People are weird about their animals, not just senile old battles who need to be managed properly.
Anonymous
Cats keep the rat population down inside or outside especially in old neighborhoods with wooden houses.
AgentX
Stray cats will exist and breed regardless of whether someone is feeding them or not. Only difference being that they will suffer more and be in poor health if people in the community are not feeding them.
Whats needed is more accessibility (funded programs) to help locals catch, neuter and release homeless cats.
I have caught and released 12 of them now. I also feed them. The population in my area is now stable and healthy. I would prefer to see that than disease ridden animals suffering every day while people turn a blind eye.
As for cats doing business in your garden, come on! It's a problem created by humans, the impact is them doing so pales in comparison to the problems we have caused for their species. It's a non-issue and I would suggest digging a little deeper into your heart rather than hating on them.
Laguna
A friend of mine works for the local animal shelter, which is government-funded. She said that they want to offer services to spay or nueter but cannot due to opposition from veterenarians, who would lose much income if the government stepped in.
papigiulio
The amount of 'pets' being killed off every year because of hoarding or not being able to be sold is horrifying. There needs to come some sort of law to help and/or protect these poor animals. People should buy pets at shelters and not the shopping mall. Those pet shops should close. And unless you can afford it, have your pets neutered, that is the good thing to do.
Goodlucktoyou
Govt sponsored abuse of old peoples rights. As @dothehustle points out, this is a problem that is only present in mentally disturbed people.
having read multiple research papers and studies of my own, elderly people live an especially better life when having pet companions.
in my area there are many feral cats, but also mamushi snakes. Nature has a balance. But local governments should catch and release them after vaccination and neutering.
gaijintraveller
Goodlucktoyou, there would be more mamushi without the cats. Cats kill mamushi as well as rats and mice. They get rid of a lot of vermin.
The way to sort out the feral cat problem is TNR, trap, neuter, release. Killing doesn't work because a fertile female can easily have four kittens every six months.
A big problem is pet shops that sell kawaii kittens that get dumped with their offspring.
I have had all my cats neutered. I drove them to a TNR place in Kawasaki subsidised by Kawasaki and Yokohama. It was a third of the price of a local vet. That makes a difference when you find four kittens.
http://inunekokyusainowa.la.coocan.jp/doubutuhukusi.html
GW
People here only seem to be getting it half right, YES by all means, catch & fix strays, but people MUST STOP FEEDING strays, otherwise the problem will never go away!
To feed strays is to KILL strays, & even with fixing cats still leading HORRIBLE short lives, they still die of diseases, killed or wounded by cars etc.
Those that say their populations of strays are "stable"...…. well ok until MORE strays move in & have kittens and they will IF you are offering food, stop feeding & they strays will not hang around.
I know it sounds harsh but otherwise you are only doing half the task at hand.
I know, I keep three strays of various ages, catch & fix probably 10+ strays that myself & one other neighbor pay out of pocket for, BUT one guy insists to still feed them...…….and YES more strays show up, becomes a NEVER ending cycle, STOP FEEDING & by all means catch, fix & release!
Serengoza
There is a parasite in cat crap that can control minds. Laugh now, but Google it and WEEP.. bwah haha!
Joe Blow
Exactly.
Cats also cause toxoplasmosis, and as a result crazy cat ladies (aka the witches of olde).
Cricky
Basic rule 1 (but not all encompassing) 2 cats borderline insane, more then 3 definatly insane and a hoarder of news papers to boot.
Cats might kill vermin but also kill native species so I'd rather see native species thrive myself. And as a homeless, wild cat is vermin itself this presents a conundrum for cat lovers.
As for having an unwanted animal fouling your yard, spread curry powder around they hate it , soon get the message and won't return in a hurry.
Where I grew up cats were decimating the local indigenous wild life so a curfew was put in place and any cat out doors after dark was shot. Harsh but now nature is blooming without the predators having access to a full menu.
Also cats are one of the few animals that kill for fun, not for substance.
AgentX
The problem will go away to where? It's just willful ignorance to think that the problem is solved by ignoring them.
I agree to an extent. People in communities that only feed them (without neutering) are definitely causing more problems and tarnish the rest.
But speaking from experience, feeding with catching and neutering is fine. If another cat comes in, they are met with resistance by the healthier and stronger cats anyway. They cannot breed. But if a cat is acceptedinto the circle, guess what, it gets desexed also.
Al that said, some people just hate cats and will always find ways to justify their hateful actions.
AgentX
Oh man, ya got me! Haven't heard such a funny joke since the third grade.
AgentX
See:
Exactly. Humans brought them here and irresponsible people continue to add to their numbers and suffering (pet shops and shallow owners, I'm looking at you).
Cats are just doing what their nature dictates, it's not their fault that humans chose to concrete and cut down anything that was green here. They crapped and then nicely covered up the crap in someone's dirt - BIG DEAL!
When you weigh it a up, they are HARDLY a problem in the grand scheme of what goes on in your neighborhood.
As someone pointed out above, they do a lot of good also when it comes to vermin and other creepy crawlies, but many people choose to see only the bad.
Introduce humane programs to control the numbers and help them to stay healthy, and the problems will gradually go away.
Because of the many dangers to them (including psychopaths who literally kill and/or harm them) in any given part of Japan, I don't let my adopted cats outside at all. They have a great life inside. If I lived in the countryside that might be a different story. As for the cats who already live outside in the suburbs, it's not their fault they are in that situation (see: humans, again).
Like I say, I have helped to create a stable (as in numbers) and healthy population in my area, as opposed to the sickly, suffering population that once existed here.
I know it can be done. And I know which I prefer.
Hung Nguyen
I find it amusing to see how the focus of the article has gradually evolved. Originally, it highlighted the issues related to animal hoarding and then it shifted to problems and benefits of stray cats.