Unfair Treatment of Cat

[R. Richard]

I'm calling on all UK Literoticans to protest to your representatives about the blatantly unfair treatment of Larry the cat. Let us review the PRINTED evidence. "... a street-smart character with a licence to kill." Clearly, Larry should be properly addressed as 0010 Larry! (Right is right!) Also, complaints that 0010 Larry is tomcatting around Downing Street should be immediately dismissed. He's your 0010 Larry!

Cameron calls in Larry the cat to catch the rats

LONDON (Reuters) – Downing Street has a new occupant -- a street-smart character with a licence to kill.

Larry the cat has been brought in to the Prime Minister's official residence to clean up a gang of rats who have been openly parading in front of the TV cameras.

He had lately been living at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home after having been taken in as a stray.

He was recruited on Tuesday specifically for catching rats, but Prime Minister David Cameron's young children are believed to have been in favour of seeing him move in.

Larry will be looked after by Downing Street staff, who helped choose him, and will have the run of most of the offices and official rooms as well as the garden.

Battersea said Larry showed all the signs of the hunter instinct needed for seeing off rats as well as the right qualities in coping with the demands of daily life at Number 10.

 

[3113]

I think you're quite right. Larry should be issued a double "O" and maybe some other gadgets as well as an Aston Martin. Good call RR.

Oh, and he likes his saucer of milk shaken, not stirred.

 

[stephen55]

I think you're quite right. Larry should be issued a double "O" and maybe some other gadgets as well as an Aston Martin. Good call RR.

Oh, and he likes his saucer of milk shaken, not stirred.

Larry the Cat is much to feline to be swayed by false messages from Hollywood. Larry the Cat gets his advice on milk martinis straight from Ian Fleming, so he knows to take his saucer of milk stirred, not shaken. (He doesn't want to bruise the milk.)

 

[R. Richard]

Actually, they should have named Larry, 0010 Feddy and equipped him with steel claws and a laser weapon on his flea collar.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I'm sure Larry-- 0010 Larry, sorry-- will carry out his deadly duties with aplomb and savoire faire.

 

[JackLuis]

Now for a mouser at the Bank of England? There are a lot of Rats there.

 

[stephen55]

Larry is being shown the latest Catmobile by Q, the resident MI-6 TechnoWunder.

Q: And OO-10, do try to bring it back from the field in one piece this time.

Larry: You have no idea how rough things can get, out in the field.

Q: And this...just press the button and poisoned milk will spray into the mouth of any enemy rat.

Larry: Poisoned milk? Surely you're joking!

Q: I never joke about my work, Larry.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Even the most suave cat lacks the weight to deal with rats properly. The PM needs a terrorier, an SAS trained jack russell!

 

[stephen55]

Even the most suave cat lacks the weight to deal with rats properly. The PM needs a terrorier, an SAS trained jack russell!

I've got a terrier cross (read mutt) named Sam.

Sam, otherwise known as Sam Spade, is just the ticket for taking on the big rats.

Scene three: Sam has just been surrounded by the Ratagan Gang...

"Sorry I got up on my hind legs, boys, but you fellas tryin' to rope me made me nervous. Miles gettin' bumped off upset me, and then you birds crackin' Foxy, but it's all right now...now that I know what it's all about."

 

[3113]

Even the most suave cat lacks the weight to deal with rats properly. The PM needs a terrorier, an SAS trained jack russell!

True. There's that infamous scene in the "The Great Train Robbery" (1979 starring, yes, Sean Connery as a sort of Victorian rogue 007)--which was directed by Michael Crichton of all people. It features a betting parlor where folk bet on how fast a terrier can take down a bunch of rats. According to the director's commentary, actually letting the terror do this to actual rats was not strictly allowed by the film company (no harm to animals and all that). But the British crew secretly got a special terrier from Ireland (one who not only made his living killing rats but was known to do so in record time), rounded up a bunch of sewer rats and closed the set.

Crichton says (paraphrasing--and I love this because it is so much the comment of a writer!), he was morally ambiguous about setting the terrier on the rats and the rats on the terrier, but it was the terrier's job, and he'd never seen a terrier do this and why miss the chance? So what you see on film is the terrier taking down the rats.

About two years ago my building had a rat problem and terriers (or just a terrier maybe, I wasn't there to see) were brought in as the first phase in getting rid of them.

What cats ultimately do is simply make rats decide to go elsewhere because they smell a predator. I know my neighbors saw rats, but all I ever saw was the cat peering into certain corners and such when she heard or smelled something suspicious. Believe me, she was very, very, very eager to find a rodent and bring it down, mighty huntress that she is, but they were to scared to come out and face her

 

[TE999]

Maybe if they kept things cleaner at #10, especially in the kitchen, they wouldn't need Larry. I'm guessin' that old brick pile has more rat hidey holes than a Swiss cheese. Larry needs a cat sized miners helmet with a light on it.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Maybe if they kept things cleaner at #10, especially in the kitchen, they wouldn't need Larry. I'm guessin' that old brick pile has more rat hidey holes than a Swiss cheese. Larry needs a cat sized miners helmet with a light on it.

I'm sure there's sewer access in the subcellars, with ancient Roman stonework and some cryptic engraving somewhere on the wet, mossy walls...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

True. There's that infamous scene in the "The Great Train Robbery" (1979 starring, yes, Sean Connery as a sort of Victorian rogue 007)--which was directed by Michael Crichton of all people. It features a betting parlor where folk bet on how fast a terrier can take down a bunch of rats. According to the director's commentary, actually letting the terror do this to actual rats was not strictly allowed by the film company (no harm to animals and all that). But the British crew secretly got a special terrier from Ireland (one who not only made his living killing rats but was known to do so in record time), rounded up a bunch of sewer rats and closed the set.

Crichton says (paraphrasing--and I love this because it is so much the comment of a writer!), he was morally ambiguous about setting the terrier on the rats and the rats on the terrier, but it was the terrier's job, and he'd never seen a terrier do this and why miss the chance? So what you see on film is the terrier taking down the rats.

About two years ago my building had a rat problem and terriers (or just a terrier maybe, I wasn't there to see) were brought in as the first phase in getting rid of them.

What cats ultimately do is simply make rats decide to go elsewhere because they smell a predator. I know my neighbors saw rats, but all I ever saw was the cat peering into certain corners and such when she heard or smelled something suspicious. Believe me, she was very, very, very eager to find a rodent and bring it down, mighty huntress that she is, but they were to scared to come out and face her

A black rat got into our pantry once. The terrorier was scratching and banging on the pantry door so I opened it and took out the top drawer. As I did a hairless tail disappeared down the back. "Oho!" thinks I, and proceed to take out each drawer in turn as the rat dove down the back of each one. Severe strategic error, that, because the terrorier had squeezed herself into the bottom drawer and was waiting. One snap, one squeak and job well done.

Unlike Michael Crichton, I have no moral ambiguities about rat killing. It's one of those politically incorrect pastimes I have no problem with. Heck, I even like watching roosters fight so long as they don't have those horrible steel spikes on. That's brutal and rightfully illegal but just two brainless chickens having it out in the barnyard is a kick.

 

[TE999]

I'm sure there's sewer access in the subcellars, with ancient Roman stonework and some cryptic engraving somewhere on the wet, mossy walls...

Uh Huh...no doubt... #10's built over the remains of other houses...most probably Roman, possibly Medieval...it's over 300 yo so no one truly knows. Maybe the Rat King lives down there.

 

[R. Richard]

Uh Huh...no doubt... #10's built over the remains of other houses...most probably Roman, possibly Medieval...it's over 300 yo so no one truly knows. Maybe the Rat King lives down there.

Rat kings are phenomena said to arise when a number of rats become intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, ice, excrement or simply knotted. The animals reputedly grow together while joined at the tails. The numbers of rats that are joined together can vary, but naturally rat kings formed from a larger number of rats are rarer. The phenomenon is particularly associated with Germany, where the majority of instances have been reported. Historically, there are various superstitions surrounding rat kings, and they were often seen as an extremely bad omen, particularly associated with plagues.

 

[3113]

I'm sure there's sewer access in the subcellars, with ancient Roman stonework and some cryptic engraving somewhere on the wet, mossy walls...

Likely the cryptic engraving is complaining about the rats

Unlike Michael Crichton, I have no moral ambiguities about rat killing.

His moral ambiguity was more about setting the whole thing up for show and I'd applaud him for that rather than mocking it as being PC, otherwise he'd have indicated he had no qualms about cruelty to animals for the sake of entertainment--this was artificially done for a film, not to get rid of rats plaguing the set. As you say, roosters fighting in the yard is one thing, forcing them to fight to the death in a pit so people can bet on them is quite another.

He says on the DVD that he quickly got over any moral qualms when assured that the terrier was killing off real sewer rats rather than tame pet rats used for film.

and they were often seen as an extremely bad omen, particularly associated with plagues.

Um, well, then people got it right. They probably were associated with plagues.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Likely the cryptic engraving is complaining about the rats


His moral ambiguity was more about setting the whole thing up for show and I'd applaud him for that rather than mocking it as being PC, otherwise he'd have indicated he had no qualms about cruelty to animals for the sake of entertainment--this was artificially done for a film, not to get rid of rats plaguing the set. As you say, roosters fighting in the yard is one thing, forcing them to fight to the death in a pit so people can bet on them is quite another.

He says on the DVD that he quickly got over any moral qualms when assured that the terrier was killing off real sewer rats rather than tame pet rats used for film.


Um, well, then people got it right. They probably were associated with plagues.

Ah! Thanx for the clarification. I would definitely have moral qualms about setting a terrier on domestic, pet store rats. In fact, I'd plain refuse. Wild sewer/dump/house/tree rats on the other hand, get no quarter. Being married to a microbiologist gives you a serious view of disease vectors.

 

[stephen55]

My father in law has a hobby farm. A barn is always attractive to rats, so a method of keeping them feeling unwelcome is a good idea. Besides organic pest control (a good ratter), a small calibre firearm has always been a viable alternative. But even the lowly .22 LR can kill a cow, so what to do?

I introduced my FIL to the .22 calibre shot shell. It's the same size as the regular .22 LR cartridge, but shoots a load of very fine pellets.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9868/p8150385.jpg

For those in the know, the pellets are about # 12, otherwise called "dust". They do a great job of converting rats into garbage and if a few pellets bounce around and hit the livestock, they don't seem to notice. As per usual firearm safety, wearing eye protection is mandatory.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

My father in law has a hobby farm. A barn is always attractive to rats, so a method of keeping them feeling unwelcome is a good idea. Besides organic pest control (a good ratter), a small calibre firearm has always been a viable alternative. But even the lowly .22 LR can kill a cow, so what to do?

I introduced my FIL to the .22 calibre shot shell. It's the same size as the regular .22 LR cartridge, but shoots a load of very fine pellets.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9868/p8150385.jpg

For those in the know, the pellets are about # 12, otherwise called "dust". They do a great job of converting rats into garbage and if a few pellets bounce around and hit the livestock, they don't seem to notice. As per usual firearm safety, wearing eye protection is mandatory.

A good quality 5mm airgun is another excellent alternative, especially around sheep whose fleece would stop any ricochets. It also does wonders on pigeons sitting on the rafters and won't carry far enough to present any hazard to the neighbors.

 

[R. Richard]

Quote:
Originally Posted by R. Richard
and they were often seen as an extremely bad omen, particularly associated with plagues.

Um, well, then people got it right. They probably were associated with plagues.

Yes, the fleas that ther rats (and other vermin) carried transmitted the 'black death' or bubonic plague.

 

[stephen55]

I've got a Webley Viscount side lever air rifle in good old .177 calibre. On a whim, I decided to mount a rifle scope.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airrifle/Air%20Arms/AA-Khamsin-Mx2.jpg
(Not mine, but very similar)


It was a setup for crows, not rats, as I lived in the city at the time. Any use of a firearm was strictly verboten inside city limits, but in the summer, the damn crows would start making a racket at about 4 am. (Dawn comes early in the summertime up north.) Hence the scope mounted Webley.

One fine summer morning I was up and ready. Taking position out of sight behind the garden shed, I waited only a minute or so before a crow decided to take up position on top of my next door neighbor's fireplace chimney. Phhtt! And damned if the crow didn't fold over and topple into the chimney! I never had the heart to tell my neighbor about the addition to his chimney.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Lovely, just lovely. And the crow story is s hoot!

Mine is a 5mm Diana with scope. I mounted a box of ballistic putty on my back (cinderblock) wall for practice when the weather gets milder. I expect to be able to put a bullet exactly where I want it by the deer opener. Given a choice I much prefer neck shots. No tracking and the meat spoilage is minimal.

And if the rats ever come wondering down the FIOX cable again . . .

 

[Stella_Omega]

Rat kings are phenomena said to arise when a number of rats become intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, ice, excrement or simply knotted. The animals reputedly grow together while joined at the tails. The numbers of rats that are joined together can vary, but naturally rat kings formed from a larger number of rats are rarer. The phenomenon is particularly associated with Germany, where the majority of instances have been reported. Historically, there are various superstitions surrounding rat kings, and they were often seen as an extremely bad omen, particularly associated with plagues.

There is some information that rat catchers created rat kings, by pulling the skin off the tails and tying them together, the thread hidden by blood and filth. Then the catchers would parade this bundle of misery around town to drum up business.

 

[stephen55]

There is some information that rat catchers created rat kings, by pulling the skin off the tails and tying them together, the thread hidden by blood and filth. Then the catchers would parade this bundle of misery around town to drum up business.

That sounds about right.

I just can't see rats getting tangled up like that.

Let's hear it for truth in advertising.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

That sounds about right.

I just can't see rats getting tangled up like that.

Let's hear it for truth in advertising.

Agreed. Rats may live in nasty environments but that doesn't mean they don't groom themselves regularly, if not constantly. Another medieval myth.