Public Aghast as Kittens Fed Alive to Snakes

stkkts · 08-07-03, 11:55 AM

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsst...1764/story.htm

Quote:

NORWAY: August 7, 2003

OSLO - Norwegian kittens are in mortal danger from pet snakes for whom a rat just doesn't seem filling enough.

A reptile expert said yesterday that cat owners, who hoped kittens they had to give away would go to a good home, were outraged to find that some were ending up as dinner for pythons and other snakes kept illegally as pets.
"Some people get a kick out of seeing a kitten being eaten alive by a snake," biologist Kees Ekeli, director of the Bergen Aquarium in western Norway, told Reuters. "It's cheap and it's a good size for a medium-sized snake."

"It's heart-breaking for the people who have feelings for their kittens."

Sometimes, advertisements offering kittens in local papers stipulate: "Not for snake food."

It is illegal in Norway to keep snakes as pets and to use live animals as feed. A nine-foot-long snake usually eats a big rat about every three days.

Ekeli said owners of snakes, mostly pythons, frequently call a reptile center he runs for advice on how to look after pets who seem only to want fresh kitten for dinner.

"We advise snake owners to train their pets to eat dead mice or rats," he said - typically by heating up the rat or the mouse in a microwave and shaking it to make it look alive.

wyz · 08-07-03, 12:07 PM

As disgusting as this may seem for people who like cats, I was allways wondering if people did use cats to feed large snake..

I thought of that while looking up classified.. so many people are GIVING up their cats it was obvious some herpers would jump on the free food source.

I'm not saying I am for or against by the way.

But now I have my answer.. thanks STKKTS.

WYZ

Colonel SB · 08-07-03, 12:08 PM

I'm not touching that with a 20 ft pole.

The_Omen · 08-07-03, 12:15 PM

Wow.. talk about a loaded story....

Their snake expert appears to not know very much about snakes and feeding to me.

Quote:

typically by heating up the rat or the mouse in a microwave

Can we say POP!
Can we say cooked?
Can we say hot spots and icy spots?

Looks like another story to instill hate in herpers even more so by speaking of cute fuzzy kittens and their demise at the hands of evil men and their evil pets.

Lisa · 08-07-03, 12:17 PM

I know of people that do that, they think its funny. Personally I find it rather distasteful and dishonest. The cats are being given away in good faith as pets. I feel the same about the rats that we breed, we breed some as pets and some as snake food. The pets get socialised and better treats then the ones going for food, thus we expect them to go for pets.

stkkts · 08-07-03, 12:19 PM

I think its just ******** to feed a live cat to a snake. We have all seen what live mice and rats can do. Imagine what a live cat could do.

Im not against other people feeding it to a snake, I am sure it happens in the wild. But I dont have the heart to kill it myself. ugh....

I cant type ********? thats ********!

I feel like cartman in the southpark movie.

LISA127 · 08-07-03, 12:22 PM

I think it's absolutely horrible!!!!! This is why it upsets me so much to see ppl looking for homes for cats and dogs, saying "free to a good home." Those animals aren't going to go to a good home.
Ppl who keep snakes just for the thrill of seeing a live kill disgust me. No matter what the prey.
But kittens? NOT COOL!!!!!!

marisa · 08-07-03, 12:26 PM

Well I don't know how I feel about this. For one, I feel this sort of thing is ruining herping for the rest of us. For two its not needed as rats and mice and rabbits are available everywhere.

but the fact that its kittens doesn't really bother me. Maybe one day people will stop letting their cats mate and have litters which have litters and then they can stop complaining about "good homes" because frankly most people who have misc litters of kittens are not the best home in the first place. Owning unspayed cats in this day and age is way irresponsible.

But this whole feeding live, etc thing is really bad press thanks to some yokels who think its fun to watch .

Marisa

Samba · 08-07-03, 12:54 PM

I don't think the article implied that snake owners are feeding their snakes live kittens just for the thrill of it. If you think about it, doing this could benefit many animals in many ways; cats will not be at an excess population, snakes are fed, and irresponsible cat owners will be 'relived' of their burdens. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

For the people who do this, there is probably not that much of a difference to them whether they feed their snake a free kitten or an expensive rat... the goal is to feed the snake. It's cruel enough to feed a live rat or mouse to a snake, let alone a live kitten. Personally, my boyfriend has made many jokes about getting free kitties and puppies to feed Bandula when we were having hard times, but we would never really do it.

I think as reptile lovers we should be constantly trying to show the public that our choice in companion animals isn't bad. We want others to support us, not create bans and cause trouble. I agree with Marisa all the way.

spyderman · 08-07-03, 01:03 PM

SICK! Is all I can say. I know a snake has to eat, but NOT cats sold as pets. There's plenty of food for snakes, it's not at all expensive, so what's the point.

boa · 08-07-03, 01:08 PM

feeding cats to snakes that is sick you must be a ****** to do something like that.the person who feeds there snakes cats the owner should be fed to bob clarks fluffy retic.

marisa · 08-07-03, 01:16 PM

I understand you guys thinking cat sold for PETS being fed off is cruel but IMHO its foolish to feel ANY cat feeding is cruel. The only reason it is seen as cruel is because cats are pets.

But nowadays people have allowed their wonderful cats to overpopulate this entire continent. They wreck havoc on wildlife, the breed like mice, and most cat owners are NOT responsible for their cats. They don't get them spayed, they don't keep them in if they aren't fixed and their cute little cat has a litter which in turn will become more unspayed cat makers and then again and again. Frankly I'd say probably 50% of those kittens don't even make it because they are either given to someone who doesnt' take care of them or they are put down at the S.P.C.A

I feel if they were going to say round up 1000 stray kittens from a large city and donate them to a large snake rescue, there should be no problem with that.

But then again mice and rats are readily available.

Marisa

LISA127 · 08-07-03, 01:20 PM

Yes, that's the point, various kinds of rodents are bred for this purpose.
Not cats, not dogs, no way!
I volunteer at the humane society. I look in those faces every day. Believe me, we have let them down enough already.

fateamber · 08-07-03, 01:25 PM

But at least the cat would have a purpose in life! I also don't see the real difference between feeding a pet to be or the sad little kitten you find a the cat pound place, I'm not against it but I'm not for it either.

stkkts · 08-07-03, 01:38 PM

I dont understand the logic. You are saying its ok to breed a rat for food, but not a cat. To be honest, both have an equal right to life, regardless of the purposed of its breeding. The only reason you dont think cats should be fed to snakes, is because society has taught you to think that this should be a domesticated animal, and should not be used as food. I bet in indonesia, china, and other pacific islands where it is common place to eat both cat and dog, they would have no problem feeding a kitten to a snake.

dont blame the snake for eating the cat
dont blame the owner for feeding the cat to the snake
blame society for brainwashing you into justifying the death of an animal because its not cute and cuddly. Kill the ugly eh?

Im not saying I would do it myself. But I find it hard to believe that cuter things havent been eaten in the wild.