On Sat, 19 Nov 2016 05:35:33 +1100, Bruce >
wrote:

>In article >, Brooklyn1
>says...
>>
>> On Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:27:02 +1100, Bruce >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >In article >, graham says...
>> >>
>> >> Domestic cats are far and away the biggest killer of birds.
>> >
>> >That's why our cats are indoor cats.
>>
>> House cats are likely to lead very short lives when let outdoors, they
>> don't have the survival skills of feral cats. Also in urban and
>> especially suburban areas many assholes will shoot and poison cats. My
>> indoor cats never go out, the ferals never come in. The ferals are
>> far more physically fit; lean, mean, and very powerful... their
>> physiques look very different from house cats, they are larger, weigh
>> more, and all rippling muscle. They can actually climb a tree as
>> effortlessly as a squirrel, that's where they catch them, not on the
>> ground.
>
>My main concern if I'd let our cats out (apart from the damage they'd
>do) is snakes and ticks, but especially snakes. I can just see them
>stick their noses where they shouldn't. The cats, that is.

Cats naturally avoid snakes same as other mammals and ticks are no
problem if properly medicated (Frontline works well), I manage to get
it on my ferals. Depending where you live, if in urban/surburban
areas the greatest danger to cats are humans. In rural areas only a
fool lets house cats go outside, in rural areas feral/barn cats
survive quite well... in agricultural areas feral/barn cats are
considered a great asset.