could member of colony be attacking others?

Ive written quite a few times of how my ferals are showing up with some pretty nasty wounds. I always assumed it was cats on another st (which used to be a part of their colony or a wild animal).

But now im wondering if a cat who has been coming around for about 3 months could be the one. The cats always run from him (and i always felt bad for him) but today I saw him go nuts - he chased and then attacked a shy cat who had to run up a tree. In 2 years Ive never seen them do this!!!

Tonight they all watched as he approached for dinner and 2 ran away farther than normal.

do they not like him because at night he is attacking them maybe???

i guess if food is provided he doesnt care who is eating - right??? Usually he will eat alone - but he'll come around the others some days - some will hiss at him also.

thanks for any info on this...

PS they are all fixed

It could well be, or it could be a different cat each time. This time of year is the worst for males fighting within the colonies as there are more cats in heat that they feel the need to get territorial over - those smells are still in the air even if they are neutered.

I seen one of mine attempting to mate with an outdoor cat last week, he was neutered about 3 years ago, you think he would have learned by now

We had a new cat that's pretty aggressive show up a few weeks ago, and he made one of the ferals that had been living very close by relocate. He disappeared for two days and showed up walking on three legs. Thankfully he's friendly, so we got him to the vet - but he had a bad abscess from a bite wound on his foot, and I'm pretty sure it's from this other cat. The good news is he didn't come back here, he's in a foster network.

Eithne's right - it could be the new cat or other cats - and the time of the year.

Thanks... its just sooo frustrating!!! I have another cat now with a nasty wound near his tail..

Theres nothing I can do to make this cat less aggressive - right??? The tom cat used to be a real jerk and now hes rubbing against cats he used to attack!!


Im SOOO glad to hear you got the cat to a safe place!! Theres a few that I want to save but they arent friendly - so its so sad they HAVE to live this way.

Is the newer one fixed also?

Yes he is!

in the last 2 years the 20+ cat colony has broken apart - ive had regulars that disappeared and new ones show up. With that many cats I forgot who is who but always check for the clip in the ear and he has one.

With a fluid colony they will always be working on their hierarchy, even when neutered - so no, not much you can do

Originally Posted by m935

Thanks... its just sooo frustrating!!! I have another cat now with a nasty wound near his tail..

Theres nothing I can do to make this cat less aggressive - right??? The tom cat used to be a real jerk and now hes rubbing against cats he used to attack!!


Im SOOO glad to hear you got the cat to a safe place!! Theres a few that I want to save but they arent friendly - so its so sad they HAVE to live this way.

Click to expand...

I feel so bad too that a 2 yr old 10 lb semi-feral "friendly" tom living on my porch attacked a 4 lb 6 mos old neutered only yesterday two hours after I released him. . Fortunately it was only a jump in the bush, big squeal and the little kitty got away full speed ahead for the woods.

He was either friendly feral or shy stray....if only I had the time, resources, energy and a bigger apartment to make it a comfortable situation for him before talking to the foster people.

OK I just witnessed the cat i thought was attacking the others actually do it. AND to the one with the newest wound.

The attacker walked up slowly in between 2 cats eating - they both allowed him to do so and then 2 seconds later he turned and freaked out of hte poor cat. He ran off - so i have to hope I can see him tomorrow to see if hes ok. (I HATE THIS!!!)

Anyway... Ive noticed in the last few days this jerk cat seems to be losing weight.

I know my questions are usually hard to answer. But now this is on my mind... this could be a health issue correct? This is the same cat that once hissed at me and someone told me he could be sick....

But they do lose weight in the warmer months also... right???? Just none of htem seem much thinner - just him - and now im very worried for him and the others....

THANKS.... for any ideas...