Topic: Cat problem: The continuing kitten chronicles

[Clark Kent]

The continuing kitten chronicles
Saber is not doing so well.  Lately he has gotten in the habit of sneaking outside when someone is at the door and not paying attention.  He gets out there, and will spend a day or two away, then come back with the crap beaten out of him.  Last night was the worst yet.  I got home late, and realized he was gone, so I searched around on a hunch.  eventually I found him in the back yard, and he was a real mess.  Chucnks gouged out of his scalp, his ears chewed and mangled, pieces of his silky soft fur coat ripped out, just a general mess, and he was out of it as well.
I have no regard for the cat he keeps getting in fights with- next time I see it it will get a BB up its butt for the trouble, but I can't seem to keep saber in doors.  I've gotten a little tired of that damn stray pissing all over the outside of the house to mark it's territory anywyas.  He has his rabies, so i don't have to worry about that, but he's getting the crap beaten out of him, and I think this will seriously be the end of him if he keeps it up.
How can I keep him inside?  Oh, and yes he's neutered, so please don't suggest that.  Actually, since he was neutered he's become more restless.

[Bonk]

Overfeed him,  cats love that, and it ought to slow him down a bit. (though cats should only have the equivalent of one mouse per day)

Is he sneaking out the front or back? Do you have a backyard? If so, let him out the back and he may venture no further. Being kept in may be what's motivating him to stay out too long. You can try going out with him a few times too, enough to condition neighboring cats/crows/eagles to expect you to be with him.

I've got the crows out in the woods where I'm staying conditioned to scatter at the snap of my fingers. There are significant numbers of agressive crows there and they take great exception to the presence of a cat or other predators (they'll hassle eagles relentlessly). After a few days of throwing rocks at the crows when they dive-bombed the cat, they now scatter at the snap of a finger from a raised hand - expecting the rock to follow. Realisitically, eagles are too transient to be conditioned but at least the cat is wary of the sky now because of the crows, she hustles scross open spaces glancing upward, and heads for the cover of the bush asap.

[Just plain old Punisher]

Have you thought of getting a screen door?

[AlienLXIX]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

[Clark Kent]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

At this point, I really dfon't care if the stray dies a horrible death.  It pees all over the out side of the house, and all over anything that's left outside for any period of time.  It's nearly broken through a few screen windows trying to get at saber.  It causes alot of damage, and I can't get rid of it any other way, so if it dies in pain at this point, I just don't care anymore.

[Sirgod]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

Tubby is as Big as your Fence. I'd Give Tubby 3 to 1 odds fighting Godzilla. That is one big Cat.

stephen

[Clark Kent]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

Tubby is as Big as your Fence. I'd Give Tubby 3 to 1 odds fighting Godzilla. That is one big Cat.

stephen

I guess alien has a thing for big pussies.   

[AlienLXIX]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

Tubby is as Big as your Fence. I'd Give Tubby 3 to 1 odds fighting Godzilla. That is one big Cat.

stephen

I guess alien has a thing for big pussies.   

D'OH!

Hey!  Shouldn't that be "Ferret has a thing for big pussies"?

Well here is another thing you could try and that is talk to your SPCA or equivalent.  Tell them what you have told us and they might be of some help.  Ask if they have one of those "humane" cat traps that they use to catch strays and raccoons with.  But if that doesn't work just do me one favor and take it out quick.  Kill it fast not slow and aginizing.  Partly because I know you aren't a mean person and partly because it'll drive Saber nuts if that sick cat is yowling, crying and screaming.

[Clark Kent]

Fences work wonders.  Got one in my back yard.  We let Mental Midget (Tubby) out every other day or so and he romps around, eats grass and tries to sneek up on birds.  However we try not to let him go out alone.    The problem with BBs is that they can rust (if ya got the cheep stuff) or become an absess (sp?) and then they die a slow horrible death.  I know because some rotten freaking a-holes did that to my cats when I was little just because they were board and the parents were stupid enough to spoil them.  Try one of those raceing guns, you know the ones that make a loud bang?  Maybe that would work.

Just trying to help . .

Tubby is as Big as your Fence. I'd Give Tubby 3 to 1 odds fighting Godzilla. That is one big Cat.

stephen

I guess alien has a thing for big pussies.   

D'OH!

Hey!  Shouldn't that be "Ferret has a thing for big pussies"?

Well here is another thing you could try and that is talk to your SPCA or equivalent.  Tell them what you have told us and they might be of some help.  Ask if they have one of those "humane" cat traps that they use to catch strays and raccoons with.  But if that doesn't work just do me one favor and take it out quick.  Kill it fast not slow and aginizing.  Partly because I know you aren't a mean person and partly because it'll drive Saber nuts if that sick cat is yowling, crying and screaming.

I don't think I'm a mean person, and normally do not condone cruelty towards animals.  That said, this cat has to go.  Saber is already gut up and scarred for good because it.  Hell, I've seen alley cats less cut up than Saber is right now.  Also the physical damage around the house and yard.  I'd like to take it out quick, unfortunately, if I fire anything more than the BB gun I'll get caught and arrested.  Truth be told, I'd rather take out my trusty old MAK-90 and take care of it, since that would most likely kill it darn near instantly, but I'd rather not go to jail for this.
More fun: it would appear this cat is not actually a stray.  A couple neighbors have stepped forward to say that this cat belongs to another neighbor.  however, they do not do anything to keep the cat in check, I don't think it's been spayed/neutered, it's definately not declawed, and it is an incredible nuissance.
I'm sorry about this alien, as I do agree with you, but quick and painless isn't much of an option in my case.  If I'm lucky I can put a few holes in its posterior and it will never come back, but I doubt it.

[AlienLXIX]

Ok I see what's going on and you can take the "neighbors" to court for not controlling their pet.  If that cat is doing the all the damage then it's like an unruly dog and needs to be taken from them.  As far as I know the rules for dogs in that instance is the same for cats esp if there is property damage done and done repeatedly.  Do you have an animal control in your town/city?  Get a hold of them and tell them what's going on and they can do what needs to be done to 1) catch the cat and 2) get the owners of the cat involved.  You shouldn't have to have your cat terrorised and your home torn up just because some people think that their animal is just the cutest little thang.

[Clark Kent]

Ok I see what's going on and you can take the "neighbors" to court for not controlling their pet.  If that cat is doing the all the damage then it's like an unruly dog and needs to be taken from them.  As far as I know the rules for dogs in that instance is the same for cats esp if there is property damage done and done repeatedly.  Do you have an animal control in your town/city?  Get a hold of them and tell them what's going on and they can do what needs to be done to 1) catch the cat and 2) get the owners of the cat involved.  You shouldn't have to have your cat terrorised and your home torn up just because some people think that their animal is just the cutest little thang.

That's a great suggestion, and should be the way to go.  However, i've already thought of that, and there is a problem.  There are several neighbors on the block that only tolerate us out of convenience.  They often have been caught tracking through our yard looking for regulatory infractions to call cops/fire dept. etc on us.  On a few occassions they've called in police on us for having a car parked on the road, etc.  In any event, going the legal route would up the antii on this issue, and that's not something I currently want.  Of course, that never stops the neighbors from training their dogs to crap in our yard, or a family a couple houses down.  We'll start with a few nips in the bud for the cat and work up from there.  Nothing permanently damaging, but maybe some negative reinforcement will do the trick.

[AlienLXIX]

Good luck to you then.  Sure sounds like a good time to move though.  Why are they (your neighbors) all up in your face anyway CK?

[Clark Kent]

Good luck to you then.  Sure sounds like a good time to move though.  Why are they (your neighbors) all up in your face anyway CK?

They are just philosophically opposed to us.  For instance; one neighbor feels justified in capturing squirrels in traps and slowly drowning them in the lake to hear them scream, whereas I feel that is reprehensible at best.  He feels that it is ok to kick our dog, or hit it with lumber, whereas I feel I should leave their dog alone.
You know, just small disagreements.  I'd like to move, but need $$ for that.

[Sarek]

Sounds like you're the one who should be calling the police.  This is more than a philosophic disagreement, they sound psychopathic.  Sooner or later they're liable to move up from torturing animals to something far worse.

[AlienLXIX]

There is great wisdom in that Sarek is saying.  I think you have every right to call the police after all of that.  If at the least for Cruelty to Animals!

[Clark Kent]

there is also wisdom in the fact that this guy is on the fire department here and has alot of pull in town.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

Video tape his ass doing it then...

[kmelew]

Video tape his ass doing it then...

...take it to the police.  If the police still refuse to do anything about it, then take it to your local newspaper/TV station. 

[Clark Kent]

And how do I manage to video him indiscretely as he does this in his back yard?
I'd have to be on his property to video this these days, as I  don't have a boat to do it anymore.

[AlienLXIX]

Where theres a will there is a way!  I just wish I could help you out.  I'm evil enough to figure out how to get a video down there when the time is right but since I currently CAN'T see the land layout I can't help.