Is it normal...free kittens!

28% Normal
40 Comments

So...

I keep an eye on the classifieds for free kittens.

I have a pet boa-constrictor named Reggie. They provide a food source for him, it helps control the population of an invasive species, and gives the kittens a home...if short-lived. I take very good care of them before I feed them to Reggie.

I already know that this is going to get a backlash, but seriously...what's the difference between that and any other snake food? Why would you hate snakes so much that you'd deny his next meal?

Voting Results
28% Normal
Based on 79 votes (22 yes)
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Comments ( 40 )
  • GetulaHunter
    10 years ago

    I am a snake breeder, and I have been breeding snakes for over 20yrs. My user name is GetulaHunter, if you look it up Lampropeltis Getula is the scientific name for Kingsnakes. Point being I am not just a troll like I suspect this person is. His comment that, "I don't believe constrictors will eat animals that are already dead." Is BS and if he was any kind of snake owner he would know better then this. I have over 200 snakes and they all eat fresh previously frozen food. Here is a couple companies that provide this to show that I know what I am talking about. https://micedirect.com/ , http://www.rodentpro.com/index.asp, http://gourmetrodent.com/frozen-rodents/, So anybody that is a serious snake person knows very well that constrictors will eat previously killed food Items. Also here are some testimonials from other snake breeder/owners that do the same. http://www.rodentpro.com/testimonials.asp. This person may just be doing this to prove a point, and if so then I semi understand. What gives any one person the right to say what animals should or should not be called a pet verses food. Some people eat K9, some eat horse and others eat monkey, so normal to one may not be "normal" to others. BUT COME ON MAN, CUTE LITTLE, INTELLIGENT, CUDDLE LOVEABLE KITTENS! HOW COULD YOU?

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Well said. But my point still stands.

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  • noid
    10 years ago

    I think the real issue is you are betraying people's trust, assuming you are answering "free to good home ads." People like myself who have taken in homeless kittens and cared for them so that they could go to a loving home and have a good life, or people who are giving away beloved kittens raised in their homes - we do our best to find good homes for the kittens. You are abusing our trust. I would feel very mad and sad if I learned my time, effort, and love for the kittens was wasted because someone I put my trust in fed them to a snake. Get your snake food at the pet store or wherever snake owners are supposed to obtain their food from.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Snake food is live animals. It doesn't come in a box or bag, allowing people to dissociate from what it really is like they do with cat food.

      The first point you made would be a good one, but none of the adds I answered were worded that way.

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      • noid
        10 years ago

        Well good that you don't answer those kinds of ads. I understand the snakes need to eat live animals, but don't feel they should be gotten from people who are trying to find the animals a good home so they can have a safe and happy life.

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  • Terence_the_viking
    10 years ago

    Aaw but the ickle kittens they so purty please don't eat the kittens.

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  • GoraIntoDesiGals
    10 years ago

    I want to cut your snake into pieces and turn it into cat food.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Perfect! So you agree that feeding one person's concept of a pet, to another pet is acceptable.
      Good to hear I'm not alone!
      You must be one of the two who voted "normal" so far on this post.

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      • GoraIntoDesiGals
        10 years ago

        Erh no I didn't vote normal and I'm one of those who believe there's a hierarchy of "pet value" as snakes have more primitive reptilian brains that aren't capable of emotion or thought.

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        • RoseIsabella
          10 years ago

          Exactly!

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    • RoseIsabella
      10 years ago

      I've eaten rattlesnake and it was delicious. Constrictor is probably similar.

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      • [Old Memory]
        10 years ago

        It might! I agree! Thank you for proving my point.

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        • RoseIsabella
          10 years ago

          As far as I'm concerned in the hierarchy of "pet value", kittens, even the dirtiest and most feral of street cats, will always trump snakes of any kind because of their mammalian nature and innate cuteness. I don't hate snakes nor am I afraid of them. I've handled a few snakes in my time and enjoyed it but the majority of mammals, even the domestic rodents who are routinely thought of as mere food by snake owners, are more valuable and worthwhile companion creatures to me than any snake and the majority of reptiles.

          I'm not trying to prove or disprove any supposed point. But as the majority of comments to your post have shown most people naturally place a higher value on kittens than snakes.

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          • [Old Memory]
            10 years ago

            Does that mammalian nature come into play when your cats eat mice? Mice are cute. Mice are mammals.

            Seriously...I'm not trying to be a dick, but explain how your cats are more valuable than mice or rats.

            ...I'm listening...

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            • RoseIsabella
              10 years ago

              It depends on the mouse. A domestic pet mouse is different from a field mouse just like a domestic house cat is different from a wild or feral cat. So as as far as I'm concerned a domestic pet mouse trumps a non domestic cat. It's always a subjective matter but regardless I would NEVER risk my life to save a snake's but I would for certain cats and especially my own best friend.

              Like I said before, I don't hate snakes and I'm not afraid of them but...they're always gonna be at the back of the proverbial pet bus for me and a vast majority of people.

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      • GoraIntoDesiGals
        10 years ago

        So my cat may like it too :)

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        • [Old Memory]
          10 years ago

          It might! You should try it! I agree.

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  • Nelos
    10 years ago

    This infuriates me as I'm sure these people are trying to find homes where the new owners do not purposely allow their snake to kill their new "pet". Feeder rats and mice are bred with the intentions of feeding snakes.

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Sorry to infuriate you, but it's the cycle of life.

      My whole point is that feeder rats and mice lives are no less valuable than a kitten's.

      If you can explain the difference, I'm listening.

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  • kittykat9930
    10 years ago

    This is fucked up. Someone needs to call animal protection on you if you are serious. I have 3 cats and I'm totally against any harm on animals. How about we feed you to the bigger animals? Is a human more valuable than a rat?

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      1) I suggest you call animal control in your area and ask them. You'll find that it's not illegal as long as I don't harm the kittens prior to feeding them to the snake.

      2) If you are "totally against any harm on animals," what do you feed your cats? Lettuce?

      3) You'd go to jail if you fed a human to a bigger animal. For obvious reasons.

      Yes. Most humans are more valuable than rats. If you don't think so, see a shrink or join another species.

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  • dom180
    10 years ago

    If you really want me to answer this seriously:

    People who give away their old pets usually still have an emotional attachment to them. They give them away trusting that they will be given a safe home. You are abusing their trust by killing those animals. You might as well let the snake eat a human child you're babysitting and expect the parents not to be angry.

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  • dinz
    10 years ago

    I got a question, do you inform the people who are offering these kittens that you are going to feed them to a snake? And are these kittens alive when you feed them to your snake?

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      I would if they asked, and yes, I don't believe constrictors will eat animals that are already dead.

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  • charli.m
    10 years ago

    You only posted this to upset people, didn't you?

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    • [Old Memory]
      10 years ago

      Wouldn't it only upset snake haters?

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      • charli.m
        10 years ago

        I see you've carefully thought this through.

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        • [Old Memory]
          10 years ago

          I take it you don't feel it's a good topic for debate?
          Honestly, is a kitten more valuable of an animal than a rat? Indians think we're disgusting for eating beef. Jews - pork. Vietnamese happen to be fond of cats
          So are snakes

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          • RoseIsabella
            10 years ago

            Some people eat snakes! I ate rattlesnake meat in a Cajun restaurant on Bourbon St. in New Orleans and it was delicious. I bet your "pet" snake doesn't taste much different.

            :-)

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            • [Old Memory]
              10 years ago

              Could be.

              You're doing nothing but prove my point. Animals eat other animals. Humans are at the very top of the food chain, and snakes are certainly on our menu.

              I've eaten rattlesnake too. Very fishy. Almost too strong of a flavor for me, but to each their own. I would certainly try boa if it were offered.

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          • [email protected]
            10 years ago

            That's why the whole worlds all fucked up.

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          • charli.m
            10 years ago

            I understand the logic. I also understand that humans are emotional creatures, and more are inclined to feel for the wellbeing of a cat over a snake.

            The feeding of other animals to pets doesn't sit well with me, though I know it is a necessity. And I actually prefer rats to cats, personally. However, I'm able to remove myself from that emotion. I'm sure you know that people will respond with outrage. Why else would you post this?

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            • [Old Memory]
              10 years ago

              I posted this to encourage debate, and make people think. Athough, as I said, I anticipate outrage, that's not my goal..

              Thank you for your well thought out, intelligent response. That"s what I was hoping for.

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  • SRS_Boyholes
    10 years ago

    Bunnies, gerbils and guinea pigs are a common food source for larger snakes, and even a squeaky pinky mouse is pretty damn cute. Every month, I take four live fuzzies and kill them to feed my baby Bull snake. My roommate hates opening the freezer to recently offed baby mice and frequently asks why I insist on putting the mice on her ice cream tub. 75% (if not higher) of the average American's (sorry for not having international stats) diet is comprised of red meat. That's right, folks, we're talking about cows. People keep them as pets, so where do they fall on the "pet hierarchy"? Because we sure do kill, and waste, a lot of them. At least my snake has the decency to eat all his food.

    That being said, while feral cats are definitely a problem, I don't see Craigslist as a good place to get healthy kitties and it maybe a bit of a betrayal, as I doubt they would be so giving if you told them your intents. Or maybe you have and it didn't make a damn difference. I also couldn't feed Boris kittens, though and maybe that's just my hang up. It's definetly not normal, house cats not being a natural, or even close to it, diet for snakes. But, as long as you're within the law, and it isn't harming the snake, I see it no different than someone buying a cute little bunny rabbit, sold as a pet, to ensure the survival of another, equally important, animal. If we're going to be pissed at snake owners, be pissed at the ones that don't secure the tanks, or worse yet, release them into the "wild" where they end up killing someone's kid.

    Snakes are very capable of emotion, by the by. M snake is very pissy towards everyone except me, even experienced snake handlers. I wouldn't trade him or my G. pulchripes for all the fluffy kittens in the world. I have three fluffy kittehs as well, that are not feeders, so I'm not a mammal hater, or whatever. Herps are just better. Pretty sure OP is a troll or just adding some food for though (heh) but these arguments leave out the worst killers of 'em all, us.

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  • DontBeAPainInTheAss,Tom.
    10 years ago

    Actually, if more people started doing what you do, it could put animal mills out of business (which, if i remember corectly,produce 63% of pet store animals; these mills are often disgusting and cruel) And why isnt catwhisperer88 calling the cat-fucker sick and twisted? Its not like the boa is RAPING the kitties! *face-palm*

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  • catwhisperer88
    10 years ago

    You're sick and seriously twisted.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    Haha...I'm sure you're being antagonistic. I'm going to guess you got this idea from here:

    http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/03/01/puppies-snakes.htm

    ...I knew a guy who claimed to do this too. I don't know... I see your point, it's no different than feeding grasshoppers to spiders really, but people really hold an affection for baby mammals and I'm sure this will piss some people off.

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  • gummy_jr
    10 years ago

    For fuck's sake!

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  • [email protected]
    10 years ago

    ycl=====8 For good pussy-FUCK A CAT!

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