Ranting about strays

16 years ago

I'm pretty upset right now, because yesterday, a neighbor's bully cat got in the yard while Pook was partaking of her usual time out there, enjoying the shade and the sounds of nature. The other cat attacked her! I have to tell you, I LOVE animals, but I wouldn't mind killing that son of a.... Actually, I wouldn't mind hurting the owners, too.

This cat has been visiting for a while now, and every time, I've been able to scare it off with a quick trigger pull from my little air pistol (not aiming AT it, of course). I've heard it fighting with other cats (in their OWN yards) in the neighborhood. Well, Pook has been limping, off and on, since it happened last evening, and she's scared to go out in her own yard. I really think it's a pulled muscle, but if it doesn't get better in the next day or 2, I'll have to take her in. *sigh*

She's an older kitty (13), and she's not able to climb much of anything now, let alone the fence in the yard, so during the day, I let her out with and without me, to lie in the cool garden and nap. Another neighbor informed me that the bully cat is old, and the owners thought it was on it's last leg. Hmph, looks fine to me, being able to climb MY fence and beat up my cat! The owners are currently staying in a motel (no idea why), and they left their cat behind "until they can take it to the shelter." They left some food with a nice neighbor lady, but the cat will only come to the owners. The lady is going to try to reach them to come get it today.

SOOO, I'm thinking of putting some barbed wire along the fence posts, where the cats climb, or something to allow the birds to perch, but deter those cats.

Thanks for letting me vent! Pook is like my kid, and when something hurts her, I get very P.O.'d! :)

Brenda

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

calpat
16 years ago
I'm a great pet lover but I sure get sick to death listening to the goodie goodie 2shoes about abuse of their animals. It appears to me that they are the ones abusing their critters by lack of control. I don't mind telling you this attitude of some people really brings out the "nasty" in me. We had two sister cats for 18 & 19 years, they were inside cats, clean & healthy. They died of old age! My neighbor collects strays, she's a young working mom with a couple of kids, plus umteen scroungy cats. Her house smells from the outside, can't imagine what the inside must be like, but I get a bit bent out of shape when I'm pulling weeds and end up with a nasty handful of cat crap! Have a cat trap, but now our animal control charges for pick up, next move will be something a bit more aggresive.Don't mean to pirate your thread Brenda, but sometimes people give that extra little push of aggrievation to set off explosive in me.
Well, that feels better, now hop over to the gallery & see the black hollyhock! Pat
youreit
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh, I hear ya, Pat! And it's ok, because that's why I started this thread. Let 'er rip! :D

Just wanted to report, also, that Pookie seems to be doing MUCH better after having slept all day. I hope she continues to improve! She's still limping, but it doesn't seem as bad.

Brenda
Related Discussions
I went to the nursery about stray kittens using my container
Q
Comments (8)
it might work. The blood might have an old scent to them, and they prefer fresh meat. Also, cats keep the nest clean and often bury uneaten food to keep from attracting other predators. I hope you'll report back to let us know if it works. As I posted in your other message, I find mulching pots with smooth stones works great. I don't even cover all of the soil, just sort of spread the stones edge to edge. The stones are about the diameter of a nickel - some larger, some smaller.
...See More
I need to rant about my frustration in growing roses
Q
Comments (26)
Thanks so much everyone for reading and commenting on my rant. In a sense, it helps me to learn that there are others facing just as much difficulties. Kristine: it's true that it seems roses were much more easy to cultivate in the past. In a sense, I feel like collecting and introducing new roses into the garden because of my love for them, is ironically the reason why they are facing such difficulties. I have a cousin who has two roses at her home grown decades old. They are very healthy and vigorous and I see no disease issue with them. She never buys any knew ones and lives out in the country and so rose diseases are not introduced to her plants. As opposed to mine, where for years I've had knew roses coming in from every all over the country and many different nurseries. One of the biggest regrets for me is knowingly planting roses that had crown gall on them. It was suggested that I cut off the gall from the new bareroots and soak them in a bleach solution. Well, I did that, and eventually these same ones are full of crown gall now have brought it into my yard and spread it to the others. Toolbelt: About the wildflower bed, actually I already do grow many annuals. Mainly cosmos and zinnias! They're great and reliable, but still there is NOTHING like the richness of roses to me and I find myself only looking at the roses if they're in bloom Summersrythm: I do have about 30 rose bushes right now, which doesn't seem like a lot compared to some, but with my poor physical health it is a lot to care for. They are a mix of modern and old roses. The thing about using a product like Actinovate is that it is good if you can remove the gall. On many of mine however, it is right at the base rising up from the roots surrounding all sides, so it's something that would need to be dug up entirely. Picture attached is an example but many of mine are much larger than this and in ground.
...See More
What should I do about a stray egg in a bluebird nest?
Q
Comments (3)
Some birds will lay their eggs in other birds' nests to have the other bird raise its young for it. Check out the cowbird. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/overview To answer the question, though, no, you should not try to remove the egg. It's likely illegal. https://www.audubon.org/news/the-migratory-bird-treaty-act-explained
...See More
Rant about repair work under warranty
Q
Comments (21)
And how long is it that many of you have been fending off these (pressured?) offers of extended warranties from enthusiastic salespersons? How many of us ask for specifics of what original warranties cover, and the time frame, plus in writing ... and ditto for the "extended" coverage? Is the saleserson, and manager, willing to put signature to the warranty, promising to go to bat for you if the makers dig in their heels? All of us aware, of course, that their relationship with the maker is more important to them, than to you, the consumer/(,sucker?). A couple of generations ago, . manufacturers took pride in their products and didn't see them as simply a profit-making opportunity. We respected them - and most of them deserved it. How long have they been building fridges for homes? About 80 years - from about the time of World War II. Before that city folks had ice boxes and ice was delivered in small covered wagons, drawn by one horse, with chunks broken off of a big piece of ice and carried into houses by tongs to be put into the top of the ice box, that had a pan to collect the water below. With other such wagons delivering bread, and milk door to door. Remember those small cupboards in exterior walls by the back door of older houses? Thats where the milkman left what milk products the householder's note asked for. Within about 10 or 20 years of when they began building fridges ... many of them worked well for 20 or 30, often even for 40 years. Fridges built these days last about 10 years ... and when I often tell this story, a fair number of people enter the conversation/(monologue?) about there, and about a quarter of them, say the same three words, "If you're lucky!"!! Have the engineers who plan these machines become so much more stupid over the years, does it seem to you?? Not so, I think - they've been over-ruled! ole joyfuelled
...See More
lesdvs9
16 years ago
They do have a cat fence you can install along yours at the top. I get some extra money I think I'm going to look at that. I did my time in the mtns taking care of the strays and finding homes. These aren't strays here in town, these are peoples cats.

Yeah, I'm tired of the cat fights. This one baby cat that's almost full grown now I guess I've adopted, but I don't want the others I've seen from time to time either. I agree. I get tired of being woke up in the night to cat screams and having vet bills too.

I know my 4 cats stay in my back yard, they're too afraid to go anywhere else. Anytime I go outside day or night they're out there either in the open or hiding behind a bush or on the patio. They don't like people, scared to death of machines ie: mowers, cars etc. My yard is their private little woods now.

Too bad Jackson, the big 110 pound lab, he lost weight, likes cats, he'd be my biggest deterent. In any case he has a fractured knee and not up to chasing cats.

Your pets are your babies, I'd be lying in wait with a bb gun:) Ok at least have the hose ready with the water nozzle on jet and a couple of times of that he ought to get the message. BTW the water scarecrow does really work too if you want to invest that money in it, just make sure you turn it off when you want to walk by, LOL* I tried it out first to keep my cats out of the mini garden. I nailed myself a couple of times....
CA Kate z9
16 years ago
Have the hose on and ready for action! next time Bully comes into your yard give him a good hard spray of water. A couple of times of this and the cat won't come back.
youreit
Original Author
16 years ago
LOL Oh, I totally thought about getting one of those scarecrows, Leslie! But...I have SO many birds visiting my stream and pond (which is exactly where that stray comes in), I'd be afraid of scaring them off, too. And you can bet I'd end up spraying myself! LOL

With my air pistol, in the past, when the cat would be terrorizing Pookie, I'd have to fire far above the action, because I was afraid I'd hit my own kitty! Definitely not my goal. :D I also use it to scare off the neighborhood chickens, and keep them from scratching up my new plants. Otherwise, I let them drink from the pond, since no one else keeps water for them.

DH was able to feel Pookie's leg today, and it appears she has puncture wounds on her front, left "forearm", as if from teeth or claws. I really hope it doesn't get infected. *shudder* She never gets sick, so I'm also really hoping her immune system is strong enough to fight off any cooties. She's such a sweet cat! I hate seeing her so bummed out over that bleeping beast! :(

Brenda
youreit
Original Author
16 years ago
Oops, I was posting at the same time, Westelle! Well, this bully is so skittish, I've only caught him already in my yard, never on his way in, i.e., I walk out the door, and there he is, or I hear the cat fight sounds from inside, and by the time I get out there, all I see is his hind end scrambling the heck outta Dodge. LOL

I saw him yesterday in the next-door neighbor's yard, when Mom and I were returning from plant shopping. He's not as big as I thought, and he didn't move very fast. Ok, yes, I started feeling sorry for him! Sheesh, I'm such a softie! I half-heartedly ran him off, but he was barely strolling. He doesn't look good.

I wish the owners (who have since MOVED!) would just pick him up and take him to the shelter! Some people really make me sick, how they treat their supposed pets. I guess I might eventually have to get a cat trap somewhere and take him in myself. Ugh!

On a GREAT note....Pookie was meowing at me ("Good morning, Ma!") when I got up today! And she went to the door (her old routine). :D I went out with her this morning and stood watch, but she seemed much less nervous. Maybe because the darkness makes her feel safe, I don't know. And she's not limping NEARLY as bad! Life is good!

Brenda
Mikey
16 years ago
This may irritate some of you but I have no tolerance for other people's cats in my garden and I set out a HavaHeart live animal trap for the rascals when they become pests. I would prefer to trap the owners but it seems that is agin the law....

We like cats and have always kept a cat but they are kept indoors. To me it's fine if other people let their cats outside but they better stay where they belong.....in their own yard and not mine.

I never had a cat problem when we had a dog in the back yard. We no longer have a dog and our heavy vegetation and small animal life attracts cats. The cats kill lizards, frogs that have left our pond, birds etc.; poop in my sandy soil, and they like to spray our front screen door where our cat likes to sit.

I've tried squirting them with a hose, throwing objects at them, yelling at them and giving them the evil eye but all that has not worked and thus my final resort has been to trap them. I have trapped perhaps 6-8 cats over the last few years and have released them to our animal control people. None of my immediate neighbors keep cats and they know that I trap strays.
lesdvs9
16 years ago
Doesn't irritate me, I'm glad you trap them and not shoot them or maim them. You have the right to your yard and the nature you have and try to encourage to come into it and want to enjoy. I get just as irritated at the strays who come into mine and fight my cats and the vet bills I'm always having to pay. My cats lived in the mtns too long and were always outdoor cats, I can't make them become indoor cats at this point now. Can't teach old cats or feral cats new tricks. They do stay in my backyard however because they are afraid of people and cars and I wish the neighbors cats would stay out of mine too.

Ranting about strays

Comments (8)

calpat

youreit
Original Author

Related Discussions

lesdvs9

CA Kate z9

youreit
Original Author

youreit
Original Author

Mikey

lesdvs9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Ranting about strays

Comments (8)

calpat

youreitOriginal Author

Related Discussions

lesdvs9

CA Kate z9

youreitOriginal Author

youreitOriginal Author

Mikey

lesdvs9

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

youreit
Original Author

youreit
Original Author

youreit
Original Author