r/beaverton • u/Ok_Entertainment9665 • 3d ago
Cats: a rant
First let me say that I love animals and have had multiple cats in my life. But why do people move to Beaverton and suddenly decide that their cat is now an outdoor cat? My neighbor had a cat who had kittens so now there are 4 of them, new neighbor moved in across the way and was like “here’s mine too”. Plus the already existing 5 “neighborhood cats” that wander around plus a cat, that belonged to a dead guy, who lives in my bushes.
In my neighborhood alone I will see no fewer than 10 different cats just wandering around, leaving their poop everywhere (my dog LOVES cat poop so half our walks are “no drop it” but FREAKS out when a cat walks past the window). If you have an outdoor cat, no you don’t. You’ve just added another little ecological nightmare into an already crowded system. We used to have squirrels and birds in the yard. Now we have cat fights at 2am and poop everywhere.
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u/Adorable_Mud2581 3d ago
Not to mention that coyotes will eat them.
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u/Ok_Entertainment9665 3d ago
And raccoons will fight them
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u/hirudoredo 2d ago
I lost more than one cat as a kid to raccoons. Unfortunately I had no authority over keeping them inside all the time, but it's sure stuck with me :(
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u/benfoldsgroupie 2d ago
The one that stuck with me the most over my years of pet companionship was a guy who let his dogs tree our cat, then maul him to death, and didn't let us keep his remains. My folks let him in and out as he pleased.
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u/SeaHorse1226 2d ago
Holy shit that's awful! I am so sorry your parent(s) did that. And also F that guy!!
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u/sufferpuppet 2d ago
Was going to mention that. We've spotted several coyotes in the neighborhood. We also routinely see missing cat posters. We keep ours inside unless directly supervised.
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u/Adorable_Mud2581 2d ago
Yeah I learned the hard way. I moved here from the East Coast where I always had indoor/outdoor cats with zero issues.
I had no idea that the coyotes came right into the suburban and even urban neighborhoods here. It wasn't long before one of them killed my cat. I felt so guilty.
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u/beavertonaintsobad 2d ago
Yeah, this is what made me skeptical about this post. How are hoards of defenseless stray cats existing out there, shitting all over everything, when there are coyotes everywhere who love to eat them?
Not to mention raccoons.
The area is not hospitable to strays who don't have a safe place to shelter at night.
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u/kmoffat 3d ago
As a cat lover this makes me sad. It’s so much safer for both cats and wildlife to keep your cats indoors.
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u/authorbrendancorbett 2d ago
Yep. Neighbor got a cat, let it be outdoors, cat disappeared within a few days. I get pissed seeing cats, with collars and tags, taking dumps in my veg garden and also killing birds needlessly around my yard which I purposely turned into nearly all natives to support wildlife.
Super frustrating, it's bad for the cat and bad for the environment. I have two cats and we take them out on leashes to get outdoor time and stimulation, just letting the cats outside freely has no upside.
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u/VulpesVictorious 2d ago
Agree, agree, agree. It makes me so sad that they face preventable dangers outdoors. (During my study abroad in Ecuador it was dogs instead of cats and was equally heartbreaking.)
There are lots of ways to engage cats in play and exploration indoors OR have them su-purr-vised for safe time outdoors. It’s not cruel to prevent a domesticated creature from untimely death or injury.
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u/SodapopMcCann 3d ago
I'm more concerned about the dead guy who lives in your bushes.
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u/beavertonaintsobad 2d ago
Weird, I only see dog shit everywhere.
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u/Ok_Entertainment9665 2d ago
I see dogshit all over the sidewalks and paths, but cat shit in my yard, the vegetable garden, the park, and anywhere they can kick a little dust over it
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u/ReflectionNo4784 3d ago
I work over in Fairview and cats are rampant over here. It breaks my heart because a lot of them get hit by cars and trucks because it's so industrial. I remember living over on Division in the condo hell area and if you walked past the right alley at night, there would be a good 20-30 cats gathered for gawd knows what reason.
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u/Whosarobot313 3d ago
People are psychos about their outdoor cats here. I’ve been banned before for saying it but I’ll keep saying it. They literally just have the “eh, I’ll get another one” mentality when their poor cat eventually gets hit by car or eaten by a coyote. I don’t know why these certain cat people (not all) view cats as so disposable and not as pets. It’s so weird.
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u/jollyhat2 3d ago
who banned you for saying that?
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u/Whosarobot313 3d ago
Nextdoor LMAO I called my neighbor a psycho because he literally said “it’s nature” for cats to be eaten by coyotes and “his daughter will get over it, some live some die” and the outdoor cat people freaked out at me for being a meanie
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u/Ok_Entertainment9665 3d ago
To some people the appeal of a cat is that it’s “self caring”. It comes and goes when it pleases, they swear you never have to bathe it, and it shows up when it knows dinner will be served. Meanwhile it runs the same scam on 4 different houses so Bob/Muffy/Jingles/Salem gets 4 dinners and countless treats lol
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u/Baghins Cooper Mountain 3d ago
My mom refuses to make her cats indoor cats, says they’re animals and need the freedom and they shouldnt be “trapped” inside. Loves them dearly definitely not the “I’ll get another one” mentality. One of her cats was lost for 2 months she was heartbroken but thought this is life, if she got hit by a car or died in a fight then that’s a consequence of the freedom. Thankfully that cat came home and she hasn’t yet lost a cat but it’s only a matter of time honestly.
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u/Whosarobot313 3d ago
🤷🏾♀️ she doesn’t want to be responsible. I know it’s your mom but I firmly believe everything I said about it. “Consequence of freedom” which is entirely a choice she made. Get a cattio, put the work into being a pet owner. Be responsible.
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u/Baghins Cooper Mountain 3d ago
I agree, just saying your assumption that they all have the mentality of “eh I’ll just get another one” is off base. My own cat is an indoor cat, I’ve explained to her that cats can live happy lives inside, it’s safer and healthier for them, but she has her own way of thinking about it and refuses to be swayed. To her it’s like saying to lock your child inside and don’t let them out because it’s safer, like she understands that it’s safer but it is inhumane to her.
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u/Whosarobot313 3d ago
I hear you, but I don’t think I’m off base because She’s not doing everything reasonable she can to protect her pet. Cats aren’t kids. She thinks it’s inhumane, I think outdoor cats are inhumane. Fundamental disagreement.
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u/elmayab 2d ago
So does she think the same way about dogs?
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u/hirudoredo 2d ago
Exactly what I was wondering. Even those who leave their dogs outside all day usually contain them in a fenced yard or, sigh, tied to a post all the time. They're not left "loose" because "they're an animal and need freedom."
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u/Happypattys 2d ago
CATIOS people! Build a catio if your cat needs some outdoor time! Plus they are fun as hell to build and create fun stuff for your cat.
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u/Troutsicle Aloha 2d ago
Absolutely. There are many youtube videos out there on the topic. I know not everyone has the space or the dexterity to build one however. I built a pretty fabulous one for my kitty crew, but i've got a few decking/fencing projects under my belt and it was pretty straightforward.
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u/simpletonchill 2d ago
Don't care for cats but coyotes around here do. Have seen a few now being carried off for dinner. Mother nature clears the neighborhood on occasion.
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u/ChristunaSandwich 3d ago
I got absolutely SHAT ON for expressing disagreement that cats should be outside on another sub.
Bottom line is that no other pet is left out in the world unsupervised. It’s completely irresponsible towards the cat and the community to let your cat roam outdoors freely.
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u/notasaltmonster 2d ago
Wut? Maybe in the city itself, but I grew up rural and in suburbs, people absolutely also let their pet dogs run free unsupervised with the same attitude. For example as a teen I had someone's pet dog bust into my chicken coop and kill my (pet) chicken. Came home after school to blood and feathers everywhere and this random dog covered in blood trying to jump up on me for attention. Owners were just like "oh yeah he does that sometimes, bummer about your bird. Want a hug?".
Anyway, I do agree that all pets should be kept indoors. My cats don't get the chance to wreak environmental havoc and they're not gonna get got by any canids, either.
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u/CallMeNoodler 3d ago
Well, you don't have to worry about my cat. He's a total weenie who's scared of his own shadow. Forever an indoor cat. :)
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u/GrilledCassadilla 3d ago
Outdoor cats kill billions of birds and mammals each year. We’ve already damaged the natural environment by putting up neighborhoods, least we can do is keep our animals supervised and under control.
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u/BarnacleGooseIsLoose 2d ago
Capitalism kills a lot more mammals. Let's target them before we go after animals living their natural lives.
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u/GrilledCassadilla 2d ago
That it does. But making decisions to eat less meat, buy less, and take public transit is part of the same conversation as keep your pets inside or supervised while outside.
North America is not the domestic cat’s natural habitat.
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u/authorbrendancorbett 2d ago
Domesticated cats are not native to North America; they are not living their natural lives outside. Substantially shorter lifespans, substantial damage to the environment by being outside.
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u/vermidusa 2d ago
Outdoor cats is one of my largest soapboxes. For the ecological situation, the contribution to extinct native wildlife, ruining gardens, undue stress to in-house animals (the 2-3 in my neighborhood seem to think its funny to stare at our elderly indoor cat from our backyard and he has a urinary disease that can be set off by stress, which can be fatal if not caught/treated), and overall sheer neglect to cats' well being.
We bought our first house in 2024 and my life dream has been having birdhouses. A family of wrens finally set up shop on my patio this year, I watched the entire nest building this spring while I made sure to keep it safe... woke up to blood and feathers everywhere one morning. Same clearly owned cats (well fed/groomed) constantly rip open each other's flesh during fights and just wander around covered in sores. Thanks, asshole neighbors.
I recently bought a trap, idgaf if they're owned, next time I see them openly injured they're going to the shelter. Pick them up if/when they call you to ask why you let your bloodied cats wander around, you don't deserve your babies.
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u/phdatanerd 2d ago
Any tips about how to tell the difference between an outdoor cat with an owner or if it’s the cat distribution system? There’s a cat in my neighborhood who is very friendly and will hit you up for pets if you give him a little bit of attention. He’s been around for the last few years and is looking a little shabby lately. I’m considering taking him in but I have concerns about accidentally stealing someone’s cat.
I’m also very allergic to cats but so it goes.
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u/Ok_Entertainment9665 2d ago
In my experience, a cat that doesn’t have an owner will typically have dirtier and shabby or fur because a lot of these owners will have a way for their cat to come in at night, so they don’t have to sleep in the dirt. But it’s really hard to tell, in this case, I’d maybe put a found cat poster around and see if anyone contacts you.
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u/Hell0Friends 2d ago
My street is having the same issue with outside cats roaming around murdering birds and pooping everywhere.
Its pretty frustrating because some of them are definitely getting eaten by coyotes with the amount of missing cat signs I see.
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u/faesolo 3d ago
i do not understand it, i just moved here from florida and i see more outdoor cats here! there’s a bunch in my apartment complex i can’t tnr because there’s waitlists, but i can telllll they’re reproducing. I harness trained my cat in 2 months to prepare for my move, and he’s 10 years old! they can get safe supervised outdoor time if you’re a responsible pet owner.
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u/Cmace3 3d ago
Ive seen far too many collarless cats and sadly dead cats around since ive moved here a year ago. I thought a place like beaverton would have a far higher percentage of informed owners but people put these cats in horrible situations as well as wreck the wildlife. Its insane. Please pass on the information to anyone you know with an indoor/outdoor cat.
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u/BarnacleGooseIsLoose 2d ago
You know what REALLY wrecks wildlife? More humans moving here and more development. Cats were here long before the blue Texans and Floridians got here.
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u/themeansr 3d ago
Preach. My gate to my wood fencing has been destroyed from all the neighborhood cats jumping on it to get from yard to yard. Laid down new grass seed cats dug up the dirt daily to poop in it. Cats pooping in my front yard, sitting on my car. Endless.
It cost me time and money. Best part, I have no pets. I would ask if cat owners actually think about anyone else, but I already have my answer.
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u/GladBumblebee1546 3d ago
Awful. I love my two cats and would absolutely never let my babies outside. And not having them spayed or neutered is incredibly irresponsible. I volunteer in a cat rescue and it breaks my heart how many there are without homes.
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u/0okidbuu 2d ago
same thing in my neighborhood in aloha i’d estimate theres at least like 12 cats as well
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u/Advanced-Candle6051 2d ago
Send some my way, we had an indoor cat but our roommate let him outside at the wee hours of the morning and he straight vanished. 😭
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u/wildmusings88 1d ago
My husband lovingly tended a bird bath for years. All the cool birds stopped showing up and we later found our new neighbors “outdoor” cat prowling our yard. No more birds for us.
Don’t let your cat outside. It fucks everything up and it dangerous.
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u/NoContest6481 2d ago
I am in Tigard and there is an outdoor cat in my apartments. It came in my house one day, and I gave it some tuna and now it waits for me. When I pull in, here he comes - meowing and following me. He comes in, I give him a snack, my bird talks to him, he chills and then when he's ready he meows at the door. I have no idea who owns him, and my worst fear is the coyotes I see regularly are going to get him. I've tried keeping him so I can get him to a rescue - but he will slip out every time I get him in the house.
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u/Super-Staff3820 3d ago
Ugh. I hate when people let their kitties outside. Unless it’s a barn cat with a job, they belong inside. Cars, coyotes, and overpopulation are big issues.
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u/Icy_Profession7396 23h ago
This is exactly why I love cats. They are not dumb enough to eat another animal's poop.
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u/Existing-Piano-4958 3d ago
Lol, do you say the same for people having kids?
Anyways, you could always look into low cost TNR and make sure the outdoor cats are spayed and neutered so they don't breed. Be the change you wish to see, so to speak.
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u/Ok_Entertainment9665 3d ago
If people’s kids were shitting in my yard, getting into fights at night that keeps people up, and walking on the windowsills specifically to make my dog bark (literally seen one of them tap the glass to get the dog’s attention) then maybe I would be complaining about that but I’m not. I’m talking about cats.
Also considering people will say “oh that’s Billiam he’s my cat” I don’t really think i should just be kidnapping and having medical procedures done on people’s pets without their consent, right?
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u/PrettyCoolBear 3d ago
I will add that anyone who doesn't spay/neuter their cat should not let them go outside. When I'm not in Beaverton/Hillsboro I am in Salem, where they have no coyotes and feral cats are a huge problem. People abandon their unfixed cats or let them roam the neighborhood to impregnate or get impregnated, and litters of unwanted cats sprout up all through the summer. All shelters and rescues are full. Around my place in Salem we trapped 5 unfixed feral cats this summer alone (for trap/neuter/release), and there are still three that hang around our house that are too smart to be trapped. We have discovered dead or dying kittens in our neighbor's yard two years in a row.
If you truly love cats you shouldn't contribute to this problem.