Apprehending/Quarantine a vicious cat-NOT MINE

We have dealt with feral cats for about 4 yrs. with minimal difficulty.  However, we are at an impasse this time.  We allowed this one to eat on our porch without difficulty last week.  Yesterday, we found it confined in an empty house, where it had apparently been trapped for a couple days.  A neighbor and I opened the door and he eventually came out.  I went to put food down and he immediately attacked my hand, drawing blood.  He then followed me home hissing and growling the entire way.  He tried to attack my leg, but i managed to move.  I ended up going to Urgent Care, receiving a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

  I had food on the back porch that our others had not finished, so he helped himself.  So far every attempt to open my back door to feed the other cats, has met with "Snagle Pus" (we've named him).  He has tried to come in the house each time.  I've met him with a broom in the doorway and he attacks the broom.  I have a live trap, but you have to go past him to get at it.   I have called Humane Ohio, Toledo Humane Society, Animal Control, Police non emergency line, 911, Paws and Whiskers, WITHOUT SUCCESS.  I don't know what to do next.  He needs to be quarantined, but how do I do that when i can't get him apprehended?

Hi Debbie, Welcome to The Cat Site.

Is the cat still outside? I guess he may have gone by now. I wouldn't recommend trying to pick him up or touch him, you'll probably get hurt. Are your other cats outdoor only? If possible bring them inside so that you can set the trap up on your back porch. He knows he gets fed there, so he should keep coming back. If your other cats are outdoor only and get themselves trapped try keeping them in a garage until this one is caught.

I think the Humane Society and Animal Control will just have him PTS if they catch him. Maybe Alley Cat Allies could help?

I think his aggression is from starving. Feed feed feed, his aggression will go when he is full, it may take days of eating on and off, but he was starving when he pounced on your hand, it's sad because cats aren't like dogs who might attack suddenly.

Sad also because he is not feral either, just starving.

catwoman707 said:

 
I think his aggression is from starving. Feed feed feed, his aggression will go when he is full, it may take days of eating on and off, but he was starving when he pounced on your hand, it's sad because cats aren't like dogs who might attack suddenly.

Sad also because he is not feral either, just starving.

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agree totally. My latest rescue only ever got aggressive to me when I mistakenly tried hand feeding. It is seen as a challenge.  Hugs fro thee on this!

Someone suggested Benadryl.  So I slipped a tiny amt. of the liquid in food yesterday.  He sulked off to? but was back this morning, but slightly less aggressive this morning.  Other cats are in and out, have been managing to avoid him.  Want to keep Snaggle Pus under observation, until we can catch him.  I did manage to get to the cage.  Hope to catch him tomorrow.  Then off to Humane Ohio?  Or the Humane Societay?

What is your goal for him? If you take him to a shelter he has an excellent chance of being euthanized.

Just so you know.

I feel sad about this situation, I fully get where you are coming from, it just bothers me that he is actually not a feral cat and how sad of a life he must have had to have become so food aggressive

catwoman707 said:

 
What is your goal for him? If you take him to a shelter he has an excellent chance of being euthanized.

Just so you know.

I feel sad about this situation, I fully get where you are coming from, it just bothers me that he is actually not a feral cat and how sad of a life he must have had to have become so food aggressive

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 Unfortunately most "feral" cats that get turned into shelters are PTS. The shelters are already so over crowded and short of funds and the chances of anyone adopting a cat that needs all the extra work of being socialised are very slim.

It would be better if you could have him neutered and blood tested and then release him back where you found him. He won't be so aggressive once he's been fixed and has a regular food source.