Cause for pause: Theft of cats can go unpunished

... You have to lead your target ;-)

Yes, I'm a cat owner ;-)

Did you think before you typed? A Bengal cat? Seriously?! Robert we are discussing domesticated animals...not the food chain, or fantasy animal fights between "lowly pit bulls and Bengal tigers". Please don't muddy the waters of intelligent comments with obscure senseless ramblings. What are you, 9?

Besides, in the city, a Bengal cat would be shot on sight. So put that in your Garanimals pocket.

If you have a cat problem in your garden. Mix some antifreeze with rat poisen and cat food and place the mixture strategically around your garden. While I have never tried this I would expect that the pest would find the meal very tasty.

On the other hand cats are much smarter than dogs. While I have runover 3 dogs, one racoon, and one bird in the last 25 years, I have never even seen a cat run out in front of a car.

Cat is the other white meat. While doing a stint / tour of duty in South America, I was introduced to a few of the local meals. One of them was fried cat. Taste just like chicken. Cats also are natural predators; they will attack just about anything. Ever see a cat and raccoon fight? Cat’s lose. Dog’s find cats tasty also. I myself like cats and not just to eat. They can be loving and faithful companions. Sadly, if a cat develops rabies it will wander off and pass away. If you love your pet so much spend the money to have a chip installed. They are cheap and you get your cat back. Have your cat updated with its shots. Never de-claw your cat; it has very limited means of self-protection. Keep your litter box clean. Have your animal spade or neutered. The city of Portsmouth offers traps to its residents for trapping cats. I have used them and done very well. The city picks them up and the owner can go claim them, for a price. Therefore, this means your free kitty can cost you big. Responsibility people rest with each of us.

Then mine is missing more then a few links ;-)

It is unfair and will put several chinese buffets out of buisness.

Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through the snow.

Jeff Valdez

Should be shot for letting thier cats out. While they are independent, they are domesticated animals and should not be let out to be killed, run over, shot at, and all the other things to happen to a cat. I own cats and would NEVER let them run outside the home.

All of our cats have been adopted. 1 in particular, the most loving cat I ever had, I rescued as a kitten from a mud/icey puddle as approximately 10-12 week old kitten. Someone had tossed her away like yesterday's garbage. Took her in, cleaned her up, fed her, took her to the vet and she stayed with us till she died.

People who let cats roam should be shot, and people who throw away their pets, or their litters, should be skinned alive slowly, while soaking in alcohol.

It may be illegal to steal a dog from someones property but if your dog gets out, is picked up or decides that another house seems more comfy, it is not a crime because it is an animal at large. Don't believe me, have your dog run away and call the police to help you retrieve your pet from the person that "stole" it, even if you know where it is. You will be told to file a civil suit and prove that the dog is yours. Cats that roam are animals at large. Don't be confused by the law or it's intentions. Now wouldn't it be nice if people that "found" dogs would also return them when their owners attempt to retreive them? It is called common decency. I've got that T-shirt!!!

To the "cat haters" who commented on this article. You are uneducated and cannot read the law!It is illegal for any dog or cat to run free in VA Beach, period. Cats are as much a part of a family as a dog and should be treated equally. Many dogs cause property destruction while on a leash under the supervision of their master as cats do. Also, I hate to break it to you, but cats are top of the food chain. Their genetic code is much older than dogs, and have you ever seen a 2000lb dog in the wild!? As stewards or this planet we should respect all creatures and each others property. I would put a Bengal Tiger up against a lowly pit bull any day! In the jungle, the dog is called dinner. Grow up people and take care of your animals.

Anybody whose cat leaves their yard at any time cannot complain if their cat is stolen. Actually, most of these feral cats don't get "stolen", they just start sticking around someone else's house who puts out better food (and probably also considers it their cat), or they get hit by a car. People who think their cat needs to run free prefer not to think about the fact that when their cat disappears, it is probably dead. If a cat is strictly an indoor cat and someone walks into your home and takes it, then it should be dealt with the same as stealing any other animal. An outdoor cat is simply a stray and nobody has any rights to it.

I don't like cat owners (not all) that let the cat out to wander the neighborhood, pee out that distinct NASTY urine all over a flower bed, day after day...night after night. The cats will meow on and on into the night...it is annoying. The smell of cat urine doesn't come out after a rain--it lingers and REEKS. Cats walk on cars with muddy paws, scratching, and getting hair and prints everywhere. I won't even go into that fishy-rank smelling poo they do. I realize a cat is a cat, but if it is to be considered in the same manner as dogs, it should be the same and it isn't.

Personally I would like to see the dog laws get tougher too. Enforce and increase the barking laws...but in Chesapeake it is a runaround to get an officer to do anything at all. They won't even come out at night when they are barking. The make you file a civil suit against your neighbor, of which you have to have a video tape of the offending animal. Instead of the city just enforcing it as a law, they make you take a civil suit...how much sense is that? They make a law, but YOU have to enforce it. It makes for great neighbor relations and a an even better nights sleep (yeah right).

Cats and Dogs are not the same, and the laws are different for a reason.

A cat owner that let's the cat out at any point during the day/night is not containing their animal like a dog. Dogs have leash laws. Dogs require a fence, a house, water and cannot defecate on other lawns, bark or dig without breaking a dog law. Cats have no laws and therefore no laws to protect them.

If cat owners had to do the same, they wouldn't for a lot of reasons. Cat owners have cats for the simple fact that they ARE independent. Requiring the owner to have it on a leash or contain it would not be convenient. If they contained their cats like dogs, it would make it hard to steal. If it was then stolen from a yard, the penalty should be the same.

Regarding the fee's for stealing a dog...A cat doesn't normally cost nearly as much as a dog. I know there will be someone out there that will quote a large price tag for a cat, but the fact remains the same.

I would support cat laws. I don't like cat owners (not all) that let the cat out to wander the neighborhood, pee out that distinct NASTY urine all over a flower bed, day after day...night after night. The cats will meow on and on into t

I am glad to know that my delegate, Chris Jones, is not a part of any of this stupidity. Felony for cats, no Bumper Balls??? Are any of these idiots up for re-election this November? Just a thought, maybe an issue or two for the General Assembley...welfare abuse/dependancy, illiterate children getting high school diplomas, rampart crime and delegate imposed loopholes in the existing code, crappy congested roadways, neglectful/absent parenting skills. Again, just a few ideas off the top of my head since they obviously need a little bit of input on how to best earn the money they make on the backs of the taxpayers.

meow

people punished for cat/dog abandonment. Makes me sick people think nothing of letting a pet 'out' and never bothering with it again....or those who move away and leave their pets. I wish someone would do the same to these barbarians.

p.s. Cats are NOT like rats.

If you're going to let your cat roam around at night because that's their "independent" nature then it shouldn't be a crime to "steal" the cat if it continues to end up in your yard. However; if someone steals it from your house and / or place of business then by all means, it should be a crime just like stealing anything else. But if you let your cat roam free, I'll just place a trap in my garage and have the SPCA come by and take care of the rest. My cat stays indoors or on a leash...

I agree...but maybe you should keep your cats indoors - at least on Halloween.

That's because they are a pest animal, not unlike rats, 'possums, or crows.

takes my cat and there is nothing that I can do about it. For as much money I've had to spend on Vet bills for the three someone should be punished for taking them. Our cats are very much a part of our lives and are there when the spouse is gone on deployments... knowing there is no punishment for someone taking them - especially since I have three black cats. I am always worried at halloween that one of them is going to be gone.