>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

PermeateFree said:

>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

I’ve not yet read the article but I’m going to guess it is that immobile food is so abundant in NYC that there is little motivation for a cat to catch a rat.

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

I’ve not yet read the article but I’m going to guess it is that immobile food is so abundant in NYC that there is little motivation for a cat to catch a rat.

Nup.

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

I’ve not yet read the article but I’m going to guess it is that immobile food is so abundant in NYC that there is little motivation for a cat to catch a rat.

I’d suggest you read the article then. Any amount of food given to tame cats does not stop them from killing and eating native birds and lizards in Australia. We have known that since 1970.

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

I’ve not yet read the article but I’m going to guess it is that immobile food is so abundant in NYC that there is little motivation for a cat to catch a rat.

Nup.

Cats PR has overstated their ability to catch rats and now the truth has come out or its linked to 9/11

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

PermeateFree said:

>>Their results, published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, showed that contrary to expectations, the cats killed just two rats in nearly three months.

The rats didn’t move away, either. They mostly stayed out of sight and if they wandered into the open, they were a little more cautious.

Despite the rats regularly popping out into the open, the cats barely bothered pursuing them.

From more than 300 videos over 79 days, the researchers saw only 20 instances of a cat stalking a rat.

As for actually chasing down a rat, this only took place a grand total of three times. Two happened when a cat grabbed a rat that was hiding behind a box.<<

If you want to know why, it’s in the article.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-28/cats-dont-kill-new-york-city-rats-urban-ecology/10307924

I’ve not yet read the article but I’m going to guess it is that immobile food is so abundant in NYC that there is little motivation for a cat to catch a rat.

Nup.

Well ding my dongs

Ah well we’ll have to stick to drones

dv said:

Ah well we’ll have to stick to drones

just shoot the cat lovers.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

Ah well we’ll have to stick to drones

just shoot the cat lovers.

harsh but fair

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

I rreally don’t believe him. Not by a long shot. He is talking through his arse. I shot 17 cats in less than .5 minutes with the help of two kiwis with shotguns. The rats were eating off the kitchen shelves. The cats were eating off the compost heap.

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

Bubblecar said:

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

Cats don’t even keep mouser numbers down.
I reckon a snake will kill more.
Someone said that snakes only eat once a month and my reply was, show me a cat that eats one mouse per month.

Bubblecar said:

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Not a lot of differernce. Cats would rather eat the more easily vulnerable native species. Hence Rattus rattus is undisturbed by them.

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

The brown rat doesn’t survive well in Australia.

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

Is that even worth a groan or a golf clap?

Let’s call it a groan clap.

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

From my experience, feral cats will kill and eat anything they can do so effectively without endangering themselves. Therefore most things smaller and sometimes larger than themselves are on the menu.

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

Bubblecar said:

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

Different species.

roughbarked said:

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

The brown rat doesn’t survive well in Australia.

It does in cities near waterways, but not in the bush.

dv said:

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

A bit different in Australia as most of our rats are the Black Rat rather than the Brown or Sewer Rat that can grow considerably larger.

Probably splintered off from some common ancestor

Is that even worth a groan or a golf clap?

Let’s call it a groan clap.

Thanks at least you got the “joke”

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

I would say so.

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

Very few of them or any native rats left at all.

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

I would say so.

I userd to see water rats every night as a child. Haven’t seen any at all since about 1970.

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

I would say so.

What about Ratinthehatus ?

Cymek said:

PermeateFree said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

I would say so.

What about Ratinthehatus ?

THe cat in the hat deigned not to eat it.

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

Yes. I saw one once, at Koo Wee Rup at sunrise. The rakali. It ought to be better known.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakali

As for the rat-catching ability of cats, they normally learn it from their mothers. Our first cat caught everything, each new species it would show off to us, to show how good it was at hunting. Second cat never caught anything. Third and final cat really bad at catching things, but does sometimes succeed with mice, for example.

Putting out rat bait would encourage cats not to catch rats, a cat that ate a rat that had eaten rat bait would get very sick.

roughbarked said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

Very few of them or any native rats left at all.

I feed the native bushrats around me with unsalted peanuts and when in season some grapes. I mainly do so to give them a chance to recognise danger from cats and foxes before they get eaten. When young they are very silly and will virtually walk into an introduced predators mouth, but providing food it stops them roaming too far away from protection. It seems to be working well, as they stay hidden, sometimes all night whilst a cat or fox is in the area, plus they are breeding up and their young are learning the difference too.

PermeateFree said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

Very few of them or any native rats left at all.

I feed the native bushrats around me with unsalted peanuts and when in season some grapes. I mainly do so to give them a chance to recognise danger from cats and foxes before they get eaten. When young they are very silly and will virtually walk into an introduced predators mouth, but providing food it stops them roaming too far away from protection. It seems to be working well, as they stay hidden, sometimes all night whilst a cat or fox is in the area, plus they are breeding up and their young are learning the difference too.

commendable.

I imagine many predators wouldn’t be too keen to take on prey that has a good chance of injuring them

Cymek said:

I imagine many predators wouldn’t be too keen to take on prey that has a good chance of injuring them

I’ve seen rottweillers shy away from a fight with a cat.

Cymek said:

I imagine many predators wouldn’t be too keen to take on prey that has a good chance of injuring them

Would apply to most predators I would think.

Reminds me to set the cat trap again tonight. I do use rat traps but only for English Blackbirds.

roughbarked said:

Bubblecar said:

Arts said:

“For now at least, it’s a bit of urban myth that cats keep rat numbers down. So if you’re considering getting a cat for this reason, think again.”

except in these circumstance

““If you have cats on farms, they are completely ineffective at controlling a rat population unless you get rid of the rats first, by poisoning, for example,” Dr Legge said.

“Then if you get cats in place, those cats will be quite effective at preventing re-invasion of rats.”“

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

Cats don’t even keep mouser numbers down.
I reckon a snake will kill more.
Someone said that snakes only eat once a month and my reply was, show me a cat that eats one mouse per month.

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Bubblecar said:

Yes, it’s due to the rats in this case already being a large entrenched population of big aggressive specimens.

Cats don’t even keep mouser numbers down.
I reckon a snake will kill more.
Someone said that snakes only eat once a month and my reply was, show me a cat that eats one mouse per month.

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Yeah but how many mice are there?

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

roughbarked said:

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Cats don’t even keep mouser numbers down.
I reckon a snake will kill more.
Someone said that snakes only eat once a month and my reply was, show me a cat that eats one mouse per month.

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Yeah but how many mice are there?

And again, how many cats have you?

Small dogs are generally used to hunt rats, very fast, big teeth and a strong bite. A good ratting dog can kill a sizable number within minutes.

PermeateFree said:

Small dogs are generally used to hunt rats, very fast, big teeth and a strong bite. A good ratting dog can kill a sizable number within minutes.

Yep. Jack Russells are well known for it.

If I ever catch the cat who digs up my garden to shit in it, I’ll wring it’s fucking neck.

mollwollfumble said:

dv said:

So what would be the biggest native rodent in Australia? The Water rat?

Yes. I saw one once, at Koo Wee Rup at sunrise. The rakali. It ought to be better known.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakali

As for the rat-catching ability of cats, they normally learn it from their mothers. Our first cat caught everything, each new species it would show off to us, to show how good it was at hunting. Second cat never caught anything. Third and final cat really bad at catching things, but does sometimes succeed with mice, for example.

Putting out rat bait would encourage cats not to catch rats, a cat that ate a rat that had eaten rat bait would get very sick.

Until the 1980s, this species was commonly known as “water-rat”, but during the 1990s there was a push for such descriptive English common names to be replaced with indigenous names. In 1995 the Australian Nature Conservation Agency released a document in which the following indigenous names were recorded for H. chrysogaster. They recommended that “rakali” be adopted as the common name, and the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage has taken up this suggestion. Both common names are now widespread.

Huh. I’ve honestly never heard the term rakali.

Peak Warming Man said:

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

Big rats have little rats upon their backs to bite ‘em, And little rats have lesser rats, and so, ad infinitum. And the great rats, themselves, in turn, have greater rats to go on; While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.

Divine Angel said:

If I ever catch the cat who digs up my garden to shit in it, I’ll wring it’s fucking neck.

Make yourself a Slingshot.

Peak Warming Man said:

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

Orange rats are the toughest of all to catch. But caught it will be, and have it’s metaphorical neck snapped.

PermeateFree said:

Divine Angel said:

If I ever catch the cat who digs up my garden to shit in it, I’ll wring it’s fucking neck.

Make yourself a Slingshot.

She’s probably right for slingshots.

The Rev Dodgson said:

Peak Warming Man said:

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

Big rats have little rats upon their backs to bite ‘em, And little rats have lesser rats, and so, ad infinitum. And the great rats, themselves, in turn, have greater rats to go on; While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.

You’re on the way Rev.

Divine Angel said:

If I ever catch the cat who digs up my garden to shit in it, I’ll wring it’s fucking neck.

A sheet of mesh, bent edges to hold it off the ground. Cat is frustrated and goes elsewhere.

Divine Angel said:

Peak Warming Man said:

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

Orange rats are the toughest of all to catch. But caught it will be, and have it’s metaphorical neck snapped.

Do you have a cat trap? or are you planning on using your bare hands?

dv said:

double negative?

roughbarked said:

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Cats don’t even keep mouser numbers down.
I reckon a snake will kill more.
Someone said that snakes only eat once a month and my reply was, show me a cat that eats one mouse per month.

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Yeah but how many mice are there?

we have only been seeing them here (as in inside my garage) since the old house across the road was demolished but we are seeing fewer now :)

roughbarked said:

dv said:

double negative?

Is failed fake news true news?

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

Small dogs are generally used to hunt rats, very fast, big teeth and a strong bite. A good ratting dog can kill a sizable number within minutes.

Yep. Jack Russells are well known for it.

yes, my dog will hunt the ones that are brought into the house but are not dead yet (the cat that brings them in gets bored of them after that… like “Here’s your gift you useless hunters.. I’ve done my bit )

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Arts said:

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Yeah but how many mice are there?

we have only been seeing them here (as in inside my garage) since the old house across the road was demolished but we are seeing fewer now :)

Reminds me of when we had that large bushfire here and although just missing us, with the help of the wind blowing in the right direction, it burnt through the bush the other side of the road. I was watching the fire when suddenly all these little animals ran from the fire into this place. I thought that’s good some native animals escaping, but on closer inspection, there all the introduced house mice.

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

PermeateFree said:

Small dogs are generally used to hunt rats, very fast, big teeth and a strong bite. A good ratting dog can kill a sizable number within minutes.

Yep. Jack Russells are well known for it.

yes, my dog will hunt the ones that are brought into the house but are not dead yet (the cat that brings them in gets bored of them after that… like “Here’s your gift you useless hunters.. I’ve done my bit )

Seems likely to me that cats see humans as brilliant, amazing hunters, always able to produce great food in abundance at any time.

dv said:

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Yep. Jack Russells are well known for it.

yes, my dog will hunt the ones that are brought into the house but are not dead yet (the cat that brings them in gets bored of them after that… like “Here’s your gift you useless hunters.. I’ve done my bit )

Seems likely to me that cats see humans as brilliant, amazing hunters, always able to produce great food in abundance at any time.

they hate us.. because they are perfectly tuned killing machines, but we pick them up and cuddle them

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Arts said:

my cats catches mice effectively we have been getting one a day lately

Yeah but how many mice are there?

we have only been seeing them here (as in inside my garage) since the old house across the road was demolished but we are seeing fewer now :)

Probably got nothing to do with your cats.

PermeateFree said:

Arts said:

roughbarked said:

Yeah but how many mice are there?

we have only been seeing them here (as in inside my garage) since the old house across the road was demolished but we are seeing fewer now :)

Reminds me of when we had that large bushfire here and although just missing us, with the help of the wind blowing in the right direction, it burnt through the bush the other side of the road. I was watching the fire when suddenly all these little animals ran from the fire into this place. I thought that’s good some native animals escaping, but on closer inspection, there all the introduced house mice.

Sinking ships.

Peak Warming Man said:

The Washington Post is reporting that an un-named source has told them that the rat population in the White House has gone up over the last two years.
The Washington Post can confirm that their anonymous source is credible and that while it’s true some rats have left others have taken their place and one large rat is proving very hard to trap.

LOL