Hi, I have been a member of the forum for over 10 years, but only post when I need help. Anyway, I am in rural Adams County, Ohio. We are fortunate to have an HSAC near us and they are doing a wonderful job. They have accepted strays (multiple) over time from us. Today I find that we are in an untenable situation. We have four indoor/outdoor cats (two neutered males and two spayed females). This beautiful blonde bobtail tomcat showed up on our property around the first of March. In the period of time between then and now, one of our two males has been into a fight with the bobtail. Our cat was the aggressor and also the loser of the fight. This has occurred and the last incident was deadly serious. And yes, we did keep our cats indoors initially, and after the first "incident" we kept our boy in but thought the bobtail had moved on (not so).
We were able to stroke and pet the bobtail on our deck and give it food, and it usually temporarily left. Not a solution, tried to get it in a carrier twice without success. At this point our HSAC was on board with taking this fellow. We finally were able to trap him (humanely) and transfer him to our workshop in the barn which we have used over the years for strays pending testing, neutering etc. Well, he "hid" in the workshop (a first). The day he came out I was petting him and he bit though my hand with no warning. ER visits x2. I wanted to think this was isolated. My partner accidentally let him out of the workshop, and then it took another 9 days or so of getting "close" to him on the deck when he visited to trap him again and get him confined to the workshop. That said, when we were in the shop something occurred to startle him. He ran to my partner instead of me, which was fine and lifted himself up to be petted beside where she was seated. Then he (without warning) delivered a bite. Fortunately his teeth lacerated the anterior wrist instead of punctured because my partner's wrist was too wide of course for him to clamp down with a true bite. I had to disclose these facts to the HSAC because I have a conscience. They recommended euthanasia.
Meanwhile because of commitments we have not been able to set a humane trap up in the workshop. Our vet also suggested euthanasia. Meanwhile, I have been going out alone to feed him ("Bobby") and he is jumping into my lap, purring, and "marking" me at this point after only a few days of visits and feedings.
We can't keep him because our one otherwise gentle male wants to kill him (get killed in the process) and the other three are terrified of him. If anyone out there knows of a solution besides euthanasia please post. I am absolutely heartsick and feel that this would have gone completely differently if I had realized how feral he was to begin with. Thanks for any help or advice. Sincerely, Carole
We were able to stroke and pet the bobtail on our deck and give it food, and it usually temporarily left. Not a solution, tried to get it in a carrier twice without success. At this point our HSAC was on board with taking this fellow. We finally were able to trap him (humanely) and transfer him to our workshop in the barn which we have used over the years for strays pending testing, neutering etc. Well, he "hid" in the workshop (a first). The day he came out I was petting him and he bit though my hand with no warning. ER visits x2. I wanted to think this was isolated. My partner accidentally let him out of the workshop, and then it took another 9 days or so of getting "close" to him on the deck when he visited to trap him again and get him confined to the workshop. That said, when we were in the shop something occurred to startle him. He ran to my partner instead of me, which was fine and lifted himself up to be petted beside where she was seated. Then he (without warning) delivered a bite. Fortunately his teeth lacerated the anterior wrist instead of punctured because my partner's wrist was too wide of course for him to clamp down with a true bite. I had to disclose these facts to the HSAC because I have a conscience. They recommended euthanasia.
Meanwhile because of commitments we have not been able to set a humane trap up in the workshop. Our vet also suggested euthanasia. Meanwhile, I have been going out alone to feed him ("Bobby") and he is jumping into my lap, purring, and "marking" me at this point after only a few days of visits and feedings.
We can't keep him because our one otherwise gentle male wants to kill him (get killed in the process) and the other three are terrified of him. If anyone out there knows of a solution besides euthanasia please post. I am absolutely heartsick and feel that this would have gone completely differently if I had realized how feral he was to begin with. Thanks for any help or advice. Sincerely, Carole