Feral Cats

[hunterforlife]

Yeah...so can you shoot them:)...i've been looking for some info on whether or not you can shoot them legally or not...And i cant find any...so lets hear it...;)

[coonskinner]

Yeah...so can you shoot them:)...i've been looking for some info on whether or not you can shoot them legally or not...And i cant find any...so lets hear it...;)

call the police or odnr and ask them...:D

[Gern186]

This topic has been brought up before. The best advice that I remember from it was the letters "SSS"........ Shoot, Shovel, Shut up.

[hunterforlife]

This sounds like good advice...:D:D...I just wanted to check the legal side of it...;):p

[hangtownz]

Just remember what you think is a feral cat might be someone's pet.. 3years ago my house cat was shot by some triggerhappy punk in the woods behind my house on opening day of deer gun season. Does this mean I could assume his hunting dogs might be wild dogs and fair game? If it's not game don't shoot it, you'll make a bad image for all hunters.

[badger]

Just remember what you think is a feral cat might be someone's pet.. 3years ago my house cat was shot by some triggerhappy punk in the woods behind my house on opening day of deer gun season. Does this mean I could assume his hunting dogs might be wild dogs and fair game? If it's not game don't shoot it, you'll make a bad image for all hunters.

I hate to even reply to this but, as a trapper I'm compelled. My first question, was your house cat shot in the woods behind your house, shot on your property? If not you need to address your responsibilities as a pet owner. When we make a decission to own a pet we take on certain responsibilities. Some pets are just like kids, they need guidance as they know no boandaries. If I were to post that my one year old son was run over by a car, because I let him crawl around exploring where he wanted to, I would be in jail as a bad parrent. I would deserve to be, and expect to be. As a pet owner, and a father, I don't let my pet or my kids decide where it is safe to be, and where it isn't. I'm in the woods more than most hunters, and I deal with domestics alot. Let me tell you , your pets are animals and go where you think they don't. I get tired of hearing "my dog doesn't do that, or my cat never leaves the back yard" Guess what, They DO!

I agree with you, that shooting at a domestic for pleasure is wrong. That's not hunting, that's killing. But make no mistake, your house cat running around the woods is a feral cat. Don't try to put them in the same catergory as someones hunting dog. Can't remember the last time I read an article where someone was using house cats for a hunting purpose.

If I'm off base on your cat being shot on your own property, contact your local game officer.

[B-W D-end #94]

Feral cats are absolutely no good. They eat rabbits, birds, and cause foxes too much competition. Make sure they arent someones loose pet, ferals usually dont let u get very close and hiss at you. then i give them the 40 grn. deep six. a game warden once told my dad it was ok to thin them out on the farm using good judgement.

[jackalope]

For me No collar no second chance.

In Ohio it is not against the law to shoot feral cats. Regardless of whose "pet" it is.. Once the owner of said cat lets the animal roam it is no longer a "pet" and is considered feral. The same as if you were to let your rabbit out of it's cage to "roam" 24x7 a rabbit is a rabbit.

Even dogs can be shot under certain circumstances listed below.

IN ANY CASE LEGAL or otherwise SSS.....

§ 955.28 Dog may be killed for certain acts; owner liable for damages. - AMENDED 2008
(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog that chases, threatens, harasses, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, threatening, harassment, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, the person is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws that punish cruelty to animals. Nothing in this section precludes a law enforcement officer from killing a dog that attacks a police dog as defined in section 2921.321 of the Revised Code.

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit criminal trespass or another criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property. Additionally, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog if the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time of the injury, death, or loss, was on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer solely for the purpose of engaging in door-to-door sales or other solicitations regardless of whether the individual was in compliance with any requirement to obtain a permit or license to engage in door-to-door sales or other solicitations established by the political subdivision in which the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer is located, provided that the person was not committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor or was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.

CREDIT(S)

(2008 H 71, eff. 9-30-08; 1987 H 352, eff. 7-10-87; 1953 H 1; GC 5838)

[hangtownz]

I hate to even reply to this but, as a trapper I'm compelled. My first question, was your house cat shot in the woods behind your house, shot on your property? If not you need to address your responsibilities as a pet owner. When we make a decission to own a pet we take on certain responsibilities. Some pets are just like kids, they need guidance as they know no boandaries. If I were to post that my one year old son was run over by a car, because I let him crawl around exploring where he wanted to, I would be in jail as a bad parrent. I would deserve to be, and expect to be. As a pet owner, and a father, I don't let my pet or my kids decide where it is safe to be, and where it isn't. I'm in the woods more than most hunters, and I deal with domestics alot. Let me tell you , your pets are animals and go where you think they don't. I get tired of hearing "my dog doesn't do that, or my cat never leaves the back yard" Guess what, They DO!

I agree with you, that shooting at a domestic for pleasure is wrong. That's not hunting, that's killing. But make no mistake, your house cat running around the woods is a feral cat. Don't try to put them in the same catergory as someones hunting dog. Can't remember the last time I read an article where someone was using house cats for a hunting purpose.

If I'm off base on your cat being shot on your own property, contact your local game officer.

I totally understand what you are saying. The cat was on my neighbors property at the time, but being as close to the house as it was he knew better, and my neighbor was nice enough to revoke his permission to hunt or let anyone else hunt on his land in the future. My point is to not only respect the landowner that lets you hunt but also his neighbors and their pets. It's likely the landowner is better friends with his neighbors than the people he lets hunt. I lost my cat but now have exclusive hunting rights on an extra 80 acres. There are no dogs involved, I was just using it for comparison I liked my cat as much as someone would like their dog.
If I wanted to shoot feral cats on my property I'd check with my neighbors first to see what they have, or if they care. It's about respect and knowing what you're killing.

[Bowhunter57]

jackalope,
Thank you, for posting that information! :cool: This has been discussed, cussed and argued on many forums. I'll be quoting this in the future.

Also, the DNR feels that a hunting dog is an extension of the hunter. I'd have to read it as a regulation, but this makes sense when it comes to tresspassing, chasing deer, etc.

I wished I would've kept the article, but in a known hunting magazine I read where the ODNR recognizes there to be a such thing as a "feral cat" and there is no restrictions on how they're to be taken.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[antiqucycle]

As far as I am concerned, cat owners are welcome to confine their cats to the inside of their homes. When they purposely release cats to roam anywhere, the cat becomes a nuisance pest the same as a cockroach if not worse. Why should I tolerate a cat sitting in my car engine, using my flower beds and garden as their litterbox and breeding more and more pests. If you want your cat outside, put it on a leash. Thank goodness coyotes love kitty cats.

[GMbuck]

This past fall while driving down a rural road, my headlights hit a red fox standing in the other lane near the berm. Suprisingly, the fox did not run. I soon realized why. Standing about 5 feet away, on the other side of the road drainage, was a crouching cat. Mr. Fox was not about to let me scare him from his meal. I drove on by, hopefully, the fox "closed the deal."

[GMbuck]

For me No collar no second chance.

In Ohio it is not against the law to shoot feral cats. Regardless of whose "pet" it is.. Once the owner of said cat lets the animal roam it is no longer a "pet" and is considered feral. The same as if you were to let your rabbit out of it's cage to "roam" 24x7 a rabbit is a rabbit.

Even dogs can be shot under certain circumstances listed below.

IN ANY CASE LEGAL or otherwise SSS.....

§ 955.28 Dog may be killed for certain acts; owner liable for damages. - AMENDED 2008
(A) Subject to divisions (A)(2) and (3) of section 955.261 of the Revised Code, a dog that is chasing or approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, that attempts to bite or otherwise endanger, or that kills or injures a person or a dog that chases, threatens, harasses, injures, or kills livestock, poultry, other domestic animal, or other animal, that is the property of another person, except a cat or another dog, can be killed at the time of that chasing, threatening, harassment, approaching, attempt, killing, or injury. If, in attempting to kill such a dog, a person wounds it, the person is not liable to prosecution under the penal laws that punish cruelty to animals. Nothing in this section precludes a law enforcement officer from killing a dog that attacks a police dog as defined in section 2921.321 of the Revised Code.

(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog, unless the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time, was committing or attempting to commit criminal trespass or another criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer, or was committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor against any person, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog on the owner's, keeper's, or harborer's property. Additionally, the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog is liable in damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that is caused by the dog if the injury, death, or loss was caused to the person or property of an individual who, at the time of the injury, death, or loss, was on the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer solely for the purpose of engaging in door-to-door sales or other solicitations regardless of whether the individual was in compliance with any requirement to obtain a permit or license to engage in door-to-door sales or other solicitations established by the political subdivision in which the property of the owner, keeper, or harborer is located, provided that the person was not committing a criminal offense other than a minor misdemeanor or was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog.

CREDIT(S)

(2008 H 71, eff. 9-30-08; 1987 H 352, eff. 7-10-87; 1953 H 1; GC 5838)

That section does NOT give anyone the right to kill a feral cat. It creates strict liability for dog owners and allows the killing of DOGS under certain circumstances.

Section 951.02 arguably permits killing of a dog (and by reasonalble inference) a cat running at large and away from the owner, unaccompanied by any person. Griggs v. Dittoe (1895) Ohio St. 2d 305, 313.

[jackalope]

That section does NOT give anyone the right to kill a feral cat. It creates strict liability for dog owners and allows the killing of DOGS under certain circumstances.

Section 951.02 arguably permits killing of a dog (and by reasonalble inference) a cat running at large and away from the owner, unaccompanied by any person. Griggs v. Dittoe (1895) Ohio St. 2d 305, 313.


Did I say the quoted ORC pertained to cats?? NOPE… Re-read what I wrote......

Even dogs can be shot under certain circumstances listed below


Then I states the code

To my knowledge there isn’t an ORC that handles specifically the killing of “feral” cats.


There is a mention of Cats in the ORC as it relates to injuring or killing animals….

959.02 Injuring animals.
No person shall maliciously, or willfully, and without the consent of the owner, kill or injure a horse, mare, foal, filly, jack, mule, sheep, goat, cow, steer, bull, heifer, ass, ox, swine, dog, cat, or other domestic animal that is the property of another. This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian acting in an official capacity.



959.04 Trespassing animals.
Sections 959.02 and 959.03 of the Revised Code do not extend to a person killing or injuring an animal or attempting to do so while endeavoring to prevent it from trespassing upon his enclosure, or while it is so trespassing, or while driving it away from his premises; provided within fifteen days thereafter, payment is made for damages done to such animal by such killing or injuring, less the actual amount of damage done by such animal while so trespassing, or a sufficient sum of money is deposited with the nearest judge of a county court or judge of a municipal court having jurisdiction within such time to cover such damages. Such deposit shall remain in the custody of such judge until there is a determination of the damages resulting from such killing or injury and from such trespass. Such judge and his bondsmen shall be responsible for the safekeeping of such money and for the payment thereof as for money collected upon a judgment.




SO a short synopsis.. You can shoot any animal that is trespassing on your property as long as you are willing to post sufficient bond for the value of that animal less damages caused by said animal....

This instance of the ORC was meant more towards cows horses etc than cats. But it does specifically note cats in the text..

So if you have chickens and a cat keeps breaking in to your coop and killing those chickens. You are able to show damages for the value of the chickens, value of it's future eggs / offspring / and meat. If this value equates to a higher amount than the cat is worth. the dead cat owner could be subject to paying you restitution to include the price of the bullet for shooting said cat.



In most cases however since cats are not required to be registered with the county they are considered domesticated nonnative animals. Once the cat is allowed to roam freely without an enclosure the animal is a nonnative invasive species and is subject to immediate eradication. The same as if you were out hunting and a fallow deer or elk came walking by..

[GMbuck]

[quote=jackalope;333318]Did I say the quoted ORC pertained to cats?? NOPE… Re-read what I wrote......

Even dogs can be shot under certain circumstances listed below

I read what you said and presumed that you provided it as support for the thought that feral cats can be killed. It appears I was mistaken.

Based on the totality of legislation in this area, I'd have to advise against shooting cats believed to be feral. Just as easily as we could construe selected portions of the revised code to support such an act, the prosecutor could construe cruelty to animals laws to forbid it. I would not want to stake my personal freedom on the 1895 Ohio Supreme Court case referenced in the annotations.

[jackalope]

[quote=jackalope;333318]Did I say the quoted ORC pertained to cats?? NOPE… Re-read what I wrote......

Even dogs can be shot under certain circumstances listed below

I read what you said and presumed that you provided it as support for the thought that feral cats can be killed. It appears I was mistaken.

Based on the totality of legislation in this area, I'd have to advise against shooting cats believed to be feral. Just as easily as we could construe selected portions of the revised code to support such an act, the prosecutor could construe cruelty to animals laws to forbid it. I would not want to stake my personal freedom on the 1895 Ohio Supreme Court case referenced in the annotations.

I think he may have a hard time linking cruelty to animal laws as the second set of ORC I stated is the Ohio Cruelty to animals stature ORC 959 in regards to killing or injuring animals and still contains exclusions for trespass and damages.. There is however a very grey area in the cruelty laws that a prosecutor could argue with regards to "developed locals" It basically talks about the trespass or inherent damage hast to be weighed against local impact.. This is to say a guy in the city will not have a big of impact as a person in the county with a poultry farm.. There isn't much damage a feral cat can do trespassing in a city alley...

Using this tactic is how shooting a goose in your backyard in the city will get you a cruelty to animals charge but blasting that same goose in farmer johns field is hunting.

I however agree this is an extremely slippery area in the ORC that is created by lack of legislation. Dogs are explained clearly and so are feral swine and cows. Cities in Ohio are feeling the same strain with these laws. With the increasing numbers of feral cats the county humane society is having trouble justifying their Trap and kill policies for cats. As they are actually funded for and by dog registrations and not unregulated felines.

However, I still say Shoot Shovel, and shut up.

[hunterforlife]

I hate to even reply to this but, as a trapper I'm compelled. My first question, was your house cat shot in the woods behind your house, shot on your property? If not you need to address your responsibilities as a pet owner. When we make a decission to own a pet we take on certain responsibilities. Some pets are just like kids, they need guidance as they know no boandaries. If I were to post that my one year old son was run over by a car, because I let him crawl around exploring where he wanted to, I would be in jail as a bad parrent. I would deserve to be, and expect to be. As a pet owner, and a father, I don't let my pet or my kids decide where it is safe to be, and where it isn't. I'm in the woods more than most hunters, and I deal with domestics alot. Let me tell you , your pets are animals and go where you think they don't. I get tired of hearing "my dog doesn't do that, or my cat never leaves the back yard" Guess what, They DO!

I agree with you, that shooting at a domestic for pleasure is wrong. That's not hunting, that's killing. But make no mistake, your house cat running around the woods is a feral cat. Don't try to put them in the same catergory as someones hunting dog. Can't remember the last time I read an article where someone was using house cats for a hunting purpose.

If I'm off base on your cat being shot on your own property, contact your local game officer.
:yeahthat:Hunting Cats:D:p now thats funny...Them cats ain't worth anything and they kill the pheasants and bunnies;)...Keep them on a leash...

[XX78]

Do we need to rehash this topic every season? One ignorant person makes a comment and someone else gets his/her panties in a bunch. Is this crap really necessary??????? Was this thread created to inform people or contribute to the board in any way????? In the time it took to start this thread, the answer could have been found.

[deerhunt45]

Do we need to rehash this topic every season? One ignorant person makes a comment and someone else gets his/her panties in a bunch. Is this crap really necessary??????? Was this thread created to inform people or contribute to the board in any way????? In the time it took to start this thread, the answer could have been found.

Excellent post!