Freckled Scales

Just a place for my reptile blogging.

[freckledscales]

It was a nice day so I took the boy out for a little while whilst it was warm, he also shed recently so it was a good opportunity to see his colours a bit better

[freckledscales]

@ cyrus i just fed you shouldn’t you be snoozing not wiggling about still

[creatures1575]

I gave her a little paper plate with scrambled eggs and then she got CONCERNED after eating them all.

[freckledscales]

Cyrus went into blue a couple days back, I wasn’t meaning to bother him but he was due a quick tub cleaning so I snapped this photo before putting him back.

[typhlonectes]

The Moral Cost of Cats

A bird-loving scientist calls for an end to outdoor cats

People assume that Pete Marra, head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and author of the recent book Cat Wars, hates cats. This is not the case.

“I love cats,” he says, calling them “fascinating, magnificent animals,” that seem to have a “freakish love for me.” He’s even considered a pet cat, despite being mildly allergic. “This is the thing people don’t realize,” Marra told me recently at a café near his office in Washington, D.C. “I’m both a wild animal advocate and a domestic animal advocate. If my mother thought I wasn’t supporting cats, she’d be flipping in her grave.”

It’s an understandable mistake. After all, Marra has made himself the public face of what sounds a lot like an anti-cat crusade. For years, the wildlife ecologist has been investigating the lethal implications of cats and urging that pet owners keep them indoors.

Now, he argues in Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer, co-authored with freelance writer Chris Santella, the time has come for more drastic action: a concerted, nationwide effort to rid the landscape of cats. (The book is based on Marra’s personal and scientific research, and the views and conclusion are expressly his own and do not represent those of the Smithsonian Institution)…

[theexoticvet-deactivated2022070]

Keep your cats inside for their health and the environment.

[fbwzoo]

(This goes for UK people and everyone else too. Sick and tired of people from other countries trying to insist this is just a US problem. Your cats kill wildlife too​, and they still face plenty of dangers.)

[orangelionfurandtaxidermy-deact]

Can’t do that for now, might consider it once my current cats are gone (in about 20 years…). It’s cruel to just lock them up.

But just saying, all the indoor cats I know are incredibly frustrated and destructive. It’s no coincidence that in all those years of having indoor/outdoor cats, none have been sick and all have lived past 20 while the indoor ones are just a massive pile of trouble. It’s probably just bad owners, no stimulation, too many cats in a house, stress and bad food. But still, I’m no miracle owner and my cats are very content sitting in the sun. Outside.

[pangur-and-grim]

“It’s cruel to just lock them up……incredibly frustrated and destructive.”

hey uhh, someone come arrest me. I’ve heavily documented my abuse of these innocents:

you argue that (& I’m rephrasing for clarity) ‘folk who hoard cats without providing them with adequate enrichment/quality food have unhappy animals, therefore indoor cats=cruelty’, without addressing the MASSIVE environmental damge outdoor cats cause daily, OR how we’ve managed to culturally accept indoor dogs, indoor hamsters, indoor budgies, & indoor geckos…..but somehow can’t get past the barrier of indoor cats (hint: it’s bc indoor cats are more work)

from an animal welfare standpoint, outdoor cats don’t meet the Five Freedoms: 1. freedom from hunger/thirst, 2. freedom from discomfort, 3. freedom from pain/injury/disease, or 5. freedom from fear/distress. indoor cats fulfill all five.

[fireflyskylights]

Let’s lock all the indoor cat owners inside their houses for a couple weeks and see if they don’t think it’s cruel. I’m all for keeping our cats and the environment safe, but can you imagine living out your life in a couple hundred square feet? I personally think I would rather not be alive at all for that kind of life.

[birdfightingbigotry]

Cats and humans are not an accurate comparison.

The main reason being that humans can be reasoned with, and cats cannot. You can explain to a human (above a certain age, anyway, and more on that later) why it’s not safe to run out into the street, why they shouldn’t eat antifreeze, what kinds of plants are poisonous, why they should avoid wild animals, why they shouldn’t trespass into a neighbour’s property, why some people are dangerous, etc. You cannot explain any of this to a cat and have the cat understand.

But if you want to compare a cat living indoors with a human living indoors, the most accurate (but still not a perfect comparison) would be comparing the cat to a toddler. Toddlers are below the age of reason, and dependent on their family for most things. Sure they can get from place to place and probably eat things on their own, but they don’t necessarily know how to practice safety when outside, and they certainly don’t know what kinds of things are not safe to put in their mouths. When parents take their small children outside, it’s usually in a stroller or they’ll hold their hand, or the kid will ride in a cart, so the kids get outdoor time, which is beneficial to them, but in a way that the parents can control, to make sure their children are going to be safe.

How would you feel about a parent opening the door so their toddler can roam around outside, unsupervised and uncontrolled, for several hours?

How would you feel about someone doing that with a dog?

Why is it seen as okay to do this with cats?

[jayce-space]

I just don’t understand why cats are the only animal given this treatment of “let them roam”. Animals that are actually still wild like parrots aren’t let out without restraints (an aviary, carrier, harness, flight suit, person holding them) so why should a domestic animal like a cat be treated any different? There are so many options to allow an indoor cat outdoor time safely just as you would dog, bird or ferret. You can build catios, some of which are quite elaborate and allow for plenty of exploring opportunities. You can cat proof your yard, high fences with inward facing blocks or netting over top to allow your feline full exploration of your yard. Harness training can allow in yard tethering or for you to follow your cat on their adventures. You may even opt for a large carrier or bag to just have them be in new areas. Other than that you can make the home itself an enjoyable and stimulating place with a bit of effort. No one says the cat shouldn’t be allowed outside, but they should be protected just as you would any other pet.

[wheremyscalesslither]

im totally antifreeroaming cat. Theres soooo many reasons its dangerous

[the-awkward-turt]

Seriously apply this logic to ANY other domesticated animal and it makes no sense.

“I let my dog run free in the neighborhood. If he’s cooped up inside he pees and destroys the furniture. Can you imagine how bored and sad he would be if I kept him penned up in a yard or inside the house?”

“I have an outdoor free roaming rabbit. She’s smart enough to stay away from predators and out of the street. It would be cruel to keep her inside; would you want to be shut up in the house all day?”

[freckledscales]

I won't lie I actually had a family member who said roughly that about their rabbit, I never did find out how it ended

[freckledscales]

Now that I’ve moved back home I can get to work on sorting out a new tub for Cyrus as he’s outgrown his current one and I decided to hold off till I was back here so I could actually make the alterations needed for it. Though mostly right now I’m trying to work out what size to move up to, he’s in a 21litre RUB atm? (Its either 18 or 21 its been a while since I bought it) The plan is to up the height as well as the length and width so I can drill some holes in for climbing branches, he’s shown an affinity for it so it seems like a valid option to go for enrichment wise? I still need to fully plan it out first I guess

[freckledscales]

Now I’m at the tail end of uni, I’m thinking about possibly another snake in future? I’m not 100% yet, as I’d have to talk it over with my mother as it is her house I’m living in right now with little chance of that changing soon haha. If I did I honestly have so many different kinds I’d want but I’m so indecisive, the possibility of something different to Cy would be fun? I’m so fond of rat snakes and hoggies and sand boas tbh. If I kept to ball pythons something with Mojave is my current lean, I love that morph a ton tbh.

[freckledscales]

Cyrus has grown so much since I got him! He’s kept his colours pretty well so far too!

[geckogalaxy]

Longdog is such a sweet bean he always comes out to greet me in hopes I have a treat for him.

[freckledscales]

I’d like to thank Cyrus for providing me with some good blep content 

[freckledscales]

Tbh Cyrus has been such a gem to own so far like. He consistently eats even if he’s shedding, he doesn’t really stress over moving -I still take the usual precautions and measures ofc but when its time to pop him back into his home he’s always very chill- he’s even gotten very chill about being held nowadays? Overall he’s such a chill little dude and I love him so much. I’m blessed by such a good snake child.

[householdgeckos]

Bubbles

0.1 Butter pastel genetic stripe

Sweet but sometimes shy girl that likes to blow into her water and can be quite active. Feeding very well on F/T rat fuzzies and has not missed a single feeding yet! I hate to let her go and may still keep her but I no longer plan on working with pastel genetic stripes.

Looking to trade for *** = Higher priority Alternatively may sell for $300 +shipping

BEL [No double mojave] *** .1 Genetic stripe with clean sides and solid stripe ** Mojave *

She’s still young but considering 2/3 of the morphs I’m looking for are basic, I’d like offers of older snakes. Only exception being the BEL, which I’ll accept younger snakes.

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Local trades are preferred to prevent scams. Not comfortable with shipping at this time due to the cold weather.

[tailsandco]

boosting because my lord is she gorgeous

[cup-noodle]

Hey guys I’m thinking about buying this rack for my adult ball pythons. what do you think?

[tailsandco]

Looks a little big to me, might wanna size down. The sides and roof touching them when they’re balled up makes them feel secure.

[freckledscales]

Been a while since I posted here hasn't it? Uni has been a major time suck for me I won't lie. Having Cyrus with me has helped though, he's been a great aid in my anxiety so far. He's been great for eating regularly and super chill with handling nowadays. I'll try to update more often!

[wheremyscalesslither]

Its a girl… dammit i wanted a boy. Still tho

GOREGEOUS.

[tbcvaltiel]

Aged morph pics?

I see 999 beautiful baby ball pythons on my dash every day, but oh man I really want to see what all of these morphs end up looking like when the snake ages. Ida was SUPER bright yellow as a baby, and after five years, she *almost* looks like a normal. Someone send me aged morphs I don’t care which ones I just need some pretty grown snek in my life

[kaijutegu]

Lesser axanthic at two and a half months:

Lesser axanthic at two years and a month:

He’s picked up more copper tones in his greys and his contrast isn’t quite so striking- he’s actually picked up more blushing along his middle. I’m expecting him to get more copper as he ages, but I think he’s remained very handsome as he’s grown up!

[freckledscales]

I let Cyrus chill on my bed for a bit and this is what he decided to do