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OK - What do I do now? I've caught the feral cat....
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Some of you may remember my little Monty's demise at the hands (paws) of a feral tom cat. Since then, the cat initially disappeared, then turned up again (having attacked and badly injured Cassie, my 11yr old female). he vanished for about a month and last weekend has turned up again. During the past week, while I've been in Europe on a business trip, the thing has attacked Cassie's sister (drawn blood and made her hide for 2 days), then attacked Monty's mum, who also disappeared and when finally found wouldn't come in for 12 hours. He also tried to break in the cat flap while I was away and poor K Jnr was (metaphorically speaking) having kittens as to what to do. I've got a cat trap again and managed to catch him tonight. problem is - what do I do with him?? I've spoken to my vet, who is quite happy to put him down for me tomorrow morning. I want rid of him as he's an absolute menace and has so far cost me nearly �400 in vets' bills, but I'm loathe to destroy a healthy (at least, I think he is) cat. He's a real monster and my girls are terrified of him and I must admit, to be rid of him for good would be great, but I still feel guilty. What would you do? Sensible answers please. Thanks, K.
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Hi Kleiber,its a horrible dilema. I would hate the thought of being responsible for having a healthy animal put down.But,my honest opinion is that there are more lives than just the cat's to be taken into account. It's obviously a real bully of a cat and even if it were taken somewhere lse to be rehomed (if that were even possible),other cats and lives would suffer. I think it would be for the best to have the vet put him down. Its awful what you've had to go through,you poor thing you:-(
Hi, lindapinda - yes, I know, it's a horrible decision to have to make, but like you say, he's terrorised my girls for months now and he killed Monty. My worry is, if he got hold of little Mischa, he'd kill her or seriously hurt her and she's been through so much already. I feel that I can't risk anything else happening to my lassies. Where we live is a cats' paradise - no traffic and lots of lovely countryside for them to go out and enjoy themselves, but this cat has been such a pest, I'm worried about letting them out now. I think it'll be a trip to the vet's in the morning....
(I did go out and talk to him earlier, trying to calm him down, but he just went mad and tried to attack me through the bars of the trap. I know he's scared and wild - that's what makes me feel sorry for him, despite what he's done!)
(I did go out and talk to him earlier, trying to calm him down, but he just went mad and tried to attack me through the bars of the trap. I know he's scared and wild - that's what makes me feel sorry for him, despite what he's done!)
Jules, if we had a CPL round here, or an RSPCA, I would, but in this part of Wales, I'm afraid to say that animal welfare isn't exactly a priority. Cats especially are not well treated (that's how I came to get Mischa - she had been very cruelly treated when she was only about 4 weeks old)and is only now becoming a "normal" cat - if kittens are ever "normal"!!
Our local animal "sanctuary" is run by someone who is only after the money and doesn't give a damn for the animals, so if I took him there, he would just be re-released, without being neutered, and would become someone else's problem. I'd hate to think that he might attack another cat who belonged to a child or a pensioner and maybe kill it, like he did with Monty.
Our local animal "sanctuary" is run by someone who is only after the money and doesn't give a damn for the animals, so if I took him there, he would just be re-released, without being neutered, and would become someone else's problem. I'd hate to think that he might attack another cat who belonged to a child or a pensioner and maybe kill it, like he did with Monty.
What a terrible dilemma for you. Personally I just couldn't condemn the cat to death, as I'd have it on my conscience.
My story of a feral cat is exactly the opposite of yours. The poor thing was starving and heavily pregnant when I found her eating scraps off my bird table. The poor thing could barely stand.
She was so timid - she was even scared of the wild birds! In time she came to trust me, and for about five years I kept her fed and watered in my garden.
She collapsed just before Christmas two years ago and I had to take her to be put to sleep.
Sorry, just read through my reply and it sounds like I am trying to talk you out of it. I'm not, honestly, I just want you to be sure you're not acting in haste and doing something you'll later regret.
Best of luck, whatever you decide.
My story of a feral cat is exactly the opposite of yours. The poor thing was starving and heavily pregnant when I found her eating scraps off my bird table. The poor thing could barely stand.
She was so timid - she was even scared of the wild birds! In time she came to trust me, and for about five years I kept her fed and watered in my garden.
She collapsed just before Christmas two years ago and I had to take her to be put to sleep.
Sorry, just read through my reply and it sounds like I am trying to talk you out of it. I'm not, honestly, I just want you to be sure you're not acting in haste and doing something you'll later regret.
Best of luck, whatever you decide.
Thanks for your reply, mrs chappie. I, too, took in a feral, heavily pregnant, female, just over 3 years ago. She gave birth to 8 lovely kittens, 6 of whom I found homes for and 2, I kept. I kept Mum as well and she is now a very loving member of our household. Monty was one of her babies and he was killed by this tom cat in July. His mum has been bitten on one of her legs and his sister and my two old girls have all been attacked by him as well. I know you're not trying to talk me out of it, but what else can I do? If I let him go, he'll kill my girls and no-one around here is interested in taking on yet another feral cat. I feel bad about it, but I think my mind's made up.
It's a shame you haven't got a CPL Kleiber, 'cos it's a horrible decision for you to have to make on your own. Mind you, I contacted the CPL over the feral cat I looked after, and they said they would come and collect her, but would have her put to sleep. She was the complete opposite of yours - she was as soft as a brush!
I contacted my local vet, who advised the opposite of the CPL! And she lived happily for a further five years.
Sorry, back to your problem. I wonder if he fights over food? If he doesn't have regular food available? Do you think he is out and out just nasty? I guess you've already thought about that sort of thing.
Hey, if the vet thinks it's for the best, then be guided by him. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow morning.
Take care lass.x
I contacted my local vet, who advised the opposite of the CPL! And she lived happily for a further five years.
Sorry, back to your problem. I wonder if he fights over food? If he doesn't have regular food available? Do you think he is out and out just nasty? I guess you've already thought about that sort of thing.
Hey, if the vet thinks it's for the best, then be guided by him. I'll be thinking about you tomorrow morning.
Take care lass.x
http://www.catchat.org/adoption/wales.html
you could try out some of the cat rescue homes on the above link.
you could try out some of the cat rescue homes on the above link.
http://www.jugglingcats.co.uk/rescue/wales_cat _rescue.htm
For both north and south Wales, Kleiber.
If none of the info's of any help to you, then however much we might love animals, you can't have a cat attacking children, sorry to say. I hope you get the problem sorted out though, with one of these organisations being able to help.
For both north and south Wales, Kleiber.
If none of the info's of any help to you, then however much we might love animals, you can't have a cat attacking children, sorry to say. I hope you get the problem sorted out though, with one of these organisations being able to help.
This is not a position I would want to be in - I have two cats and thankfully although there are some bruisers round here, nothing they can't handle.
However, if you managed to find a rescue centre, I think neutering may help, it does with some cats.
If that is not an option, rather than put the cat to sleep, if you are in a rural area, why not drive it 20 miles and release it in a very rural area (as long as you are sure it IS a feral and not someone's pet!) away from other houses? Where you are, there must be miles and miles of space! At least that way, you do not have to wrestle with the fact that you are loathe to put a presumably healthy cat down, but at the same time ensure your own cats are not hindered. Although cats have been known to make their own way home so that may not work, but may be worth a try.
However, if you managed to find a rescue centre, I think neutering may help, it does with some cats.
If that is not an option, rather than put the cat to sleep, if you are in a rural area, why not drive it 20 miles and release it in a very rural area (as long as you are sure it IS a feral and not someone's pet!) away from other houses? Where you are, there must be miles and miles of space! At least that way, you do not have to wrestle with the fact that you are loathe to put a presumably healthy cat down, but at the same time ensure your own cats are not hindered. Although cats have been known to make their own way home so that may not work, but may be worth a try.
Ooops! You're right BB! Sorry for that misunderstanding - but whatever, no one wants their animals being hurt either.
I like Barmaid's idea of removing the offending cat to some other area, but it might just be putting the problem onto someone else. I think the idea of neutering might solve things as well, but again, the problem might be in catching the animal first. That's why, given the same situation, I'd try and contact some animal welfare group, who'd know what to do about it.
I like Barmaid's idea of removing the offending cat to some other area, but it might just be putting the problem onto someone else. I think the idea of neutering might solve things as well, but again, the problem might be in catching the animal first. That's why, given the same situation, I'd try and contact some animal welfare group, who'd know what to do about it.
Kleiber. I once had the same problem, and had no choice but to have the feral cat put to sleep, this in fact is the kindest thing for the feral cat and your first duty is to your own cats welfare.
any starving animal will become very aggressive, their natural instinct is to lessen the population and so increase their chances of finding food
imagine how distressed the feral cat is, as he is starving, put your guilty feelings to one side and do him a favour
Jo
any starving animal will become very aggressive, their natural instinct is to lessen the population and so increase their chances of finding food
imagine how distressed the feral cat is, as he is starving, put your guilty feelings to one side and do him a favour
Jo
I think kleiber you are in the right mind to have him put down, he sounds like hes very wild and might never be rehomed, in fact hes maybe never known humans, never lived in a house etc and has lived wild all his life and has fought to stay alive, i know its sad to put a healthy animal down but i really think you will be doing the right thing.((hug to you))and a big hug to all your furry girlies ((hugs))xx
Hi, everyone - thanks for all your replies. Jules, I'll answer you first. It's a place called Ty Agored in Ceredigion (it means "Open House" in Welsh, but that's a joke!). It used to be run well, but the lady retired and sold it to someone else. This other person has no idea about animal welfare and has actually stopped taking in animals now. There used to be an old pot-bellied pig there - he was ugly and ancient, but a real sweet-natured beast. She had him put down!
Now for everyone else - I think it would be totally irresponsible of me to take the cat and dump it somewhere else. It would just become a problem to another person and anyway, who's to say that it would survive?
Yes, I have checked that it isn't anyone's pet (I'm not that heartless that I'd have someone's pet cat put down, just because it doesn't get on with mine!!) and the vet scanned it to check for a microchip as well. It's not starving - it's just downright vicious. Jo-Amiga, you're right, and I thank you. To be honest, guys, as I said last night, I think what I've done was the only option. This beast has been around here for nearly 3 months now and I've been feeding it, to try and tame it, but it hasn't worked. I have a farm, with, amongst other things, some young chicks (free range - only 5 of them) and I'm not having the lives of my animals put at risk. K. Jnr wanted to shoot the cat, but I took it to the vet's this morning as I think that was the kinder thing to do.
Now for everyone else - I think it would be totally irresponsible of me to take the cat and dump it somewhere else. It would just become a problem to another person and anyway, who's to say that it would survive?
Yes, I have checked that it isn't anyone's pet (I'm not that heartless that I'd have someone's pet cat put down, just because it doesn't get on with mine!!) and the vet scanned it to check for a microchip as well. It's not starving - it's just downright vicious. Jo-Amiga, you're right, and I thank you. To be honest, guys, as I said last night, I think what I've done was the only option. This beast has been around here for nearly 3 months now and I've been feeding it, to try and tame it, but it hasn't worked. I have a farm, with, amongst other things, some young chicks (free range - only 5 of them) and I'm not having the lives of my animals put at risk. K. Jnr wanted to shoot the cat, but I took it to the vet's this morning as I think that was the kinder thing to do.
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