Stray cat problem

I have a nasty stray cat that I cannot seem to catch. It's a big burly orange male that has attacked my calico several times. It walks around the house at night doing that deep gutteral meow. It peed on my back door where our cat door is. I'm sure most of you know how male cat pee smells......WOW! I've put out the have-a-heart trap with tuna and smelly canned catfood and had no success. I'm loosing my mind. What else can I do?

I'd probably make friends with him and get him fixed so that he would be less aggressive towards the calico, and his pee wouldn't smell so strong, but I'm known to be a little eccentric...

Originally Posted by doggtown

I have a nasty stray cat that I cannot seem to catch. It's a big burly orange male that has attacked my calico several times. It walks around the house at night doing that deep gutteral meow. It peed on my back door where our cat door is. I'm sure most of you know how male cat pee smells......WOW! I've put out the have-a-heart trap with tuna and smelly canned catfood and had no success. I'm loosing my mind. What else can I do?

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I would definitely keep your cat indoors before she/he is seriously injured, the last thing you want is to loose your kitty and/or a several thousand dollar vet bill with only yourself to blame. Is your kitty spayed/neutered? You need to protect yours first and stop giving him reason to hang around. It will only get worse if you don't.

What do you plan to do with the Tom when trapped? Do you need help locating a low-cost neuter program? Have you determined if he's a stray on his own or belongs to someone? Is there a shelter or rescue near you that can take him?

I am fairly certain it's a stray. No collar and he looks relatively dirty. Most likely ferral. If I catch him, I'm debating between getting him fixed or just having animal control do their thing.

Originally Posted by doggtown

I am fairly certain it's a stray. No collar and he looks relatively dirty. Most likely ferral. If I catch him, I'm debating between getting him fixed or just having animal control do their thing.

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If you are debating, begin with get him fixed. It should lessen much all the problems, as already said. Compare with the TNR - think. So please, do begin with this.

Although him being a territorial fully grown up tom it may take a couple three of month to cool down. so yes, this is a problem. During the time you cant let your resident out, as already said.

I believe it is a sin - both literally speaking and religiously speaking - to kill off a feral who is healthy and does manage to live being on his own.
Considering PTS homeless who do NOT manage to live and are slowly dying, AND where there is no other solution - is something else.

You dont need to become his best friend first, it is enough to catch him in this trap. (there were threads lately about cats difficult to catch, look them up ).
Although if you really wish to try to be his friend - it is a feasible course to steer.

Who knows? After him being neutered and the hormones left his body, he and your resident may even become pals. Both being friends with you will make it easier.


Good luck!



Ps. Welcome to the Forums!

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I believe it is a sin - both literally speaking and religiously speaking - to kill off a feral who is healthy and does manage to live being on his own.

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Well said Stefan. I'm still feeling bad over the feral I trapped who inexplicably died during his neuter surgery, although it's better than to think of all the kittens he would have fathered left alone. We simply do not have the right to kill off other creatures because their existence is inconvenient to us.

Originally Posted by bookworm

I'm still feeling bad over the feral I trapped who inexplicably died during his neuter surgery,

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No you shouldnt feel bad. No reason for it. IF you by purpose send him for his premature death, - yes. No nice thoughts.
But you did send him for giving him a better and long live. And I also suspect you did payed for it from your own pocket, didnt you?

But he died. Apparently his time had come. Nothing ever is riskfree. Not life, and not surgical treatments. Without this try for spaying, his life wouldnt be very long anyway.

So, I understand very well you are thinking on him and his immortal soul, and feel deep sorrow for what happened. But you dont have any reason whatsoever to feel bad. Believe me.


Good luck!

It is very unlikely that a feral Tom would actually get that close to the house, unless you have a female in heat. As you say, he's likely a stray - which means he had "someone" at some point. There are any number of reasons he may be out on his own - intentional or unintentional.

Is your calico spayed? If not, it seems to me getting them both sterilized is the first step.

I would also look into rescues in the area over animal control.

Again, if you would like help searching, you can either PM me your zip code or list the name of your county or a large-ish town near you and your state (assuming you're in the US). If you're in another country, let us know the country and again, the name of a large-ish town near you, and we'll see what we can find.