First post-serious problem

First time I've ever visited this forum, but I'm asking for some advice. My family and I took in a stray cat about 3 years ago and he's all grown up now. Since then we have gotten him neutered. He's a pretty small cat and has been privileged his whole life, so it appears that when he goes strolling around at night he constantly gets beat up on by other cats. Recently, we've been fearing that he's been getting raped by other stray cats. Is there anything we can possibly do to avoid this from happening? Call animal control? Prevent him from going outside too far?

Or, would it be better for him if we just put him to sleep?

To prevent your cat from being hurt in cat fights keep him inside.Simple as that.

Well don't put him to sleep, just keep him inside.

That's not really an option, he's an outside cat. I live in an apartment that doesn't allow pets indoors. He pretty much spends 16 hrs a day inside the small gate around my apartment.

If you can't provide protection for him and you're actually considering killing him (sorry, "putting him to sleep"), the best solution to the problem is to find him a loving indoor home that can give him the care he deserves.

Where are you located? Are there any farms in your area where he could be a barn cat. If he is neutered, it is doubtful he is being raped. He might be getting beat up by other tomcats. If you can get the toms trapped, and neutered that will help. Putting him to sleep will only solve the problem on your end. He would more than likely like to stay alive longer. If you cannot provide for stray cats (all their needs) STOP feeding them. They won't starve, they will eventually wander off into someone else's area where perhaps all their needs can be met.

You should find him a new home if you cannot keep him inside and safe. Killing him is not an option for something that happens naturally and can easily be fixed.

I am sorry but PTS isnt right in this situation he is a cat he is doing what he has been aloweed to do.... He is an outside cat I realize but the best preventative for this is to make him a inside cat....

Originally Posted by hissy

Where are you located? Are there any farms in your area where he could be a barn cat. If he is neutered, it is doubtful he is being raped. He might be getting beat up by other tomcats. If you can get the toms trapped, and neutered that will help. Putting him to sleep will only solve the problem on your end. He would more than likely like to stay alive longer. If you cannot provide for stray cats (all their needs) STOP feeding them. They won't starve, they will eventually wander off into someone else's area where perhaps all their needs can be met.

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I wasn't sure if this was the section to put this, because he isn't exactly a stray. We've been feeding him, and only him, since he was born near our apartment. The only reason I even mentioned putting him to sleep is because if he is getting raped constantly, that's a terrible life to live. We've considered finding another home for him as well, but where do we go? Are there many people who would take in a cat who is over 3 years old?

And it's a bit doubtful that he'd be able to find food himself. He's not a very independent cat, like I said, he's been quite privileged.

Originally Posted by pizzacakeman

I wasn't sure if this was the section to put this, because he isn't exactly a stray. We've been feeding him, and only him, since he was born near our apartment. The only reason I even mentioned putting him to sleep is because if he is getting raped constantly, that's a terrible life to live. We've considered finding another home for him as well, but where do we go? Are there many people who would take in a cat who is over 3 years old?

And it's a bit doubtful that he'd be able to find food himself. He's not a very independent cat, like I said, he's been quite privileged.

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Believe it or not..there are people who would love an already neutered male cat that enjoys his time outdoors. Finding him a nice barn home is definately an option...most barns do provide food for the cats. I would contact local vet offices and see if they know of any barn in your area that would be willing to take him.

Good Luck

Katie

the rapes you saw is probably a form of dominance. Ie he is accepted by the others in a way, but lowest in the ladder...

animal control to put the other homeless cats "to sleep"? Better call in a good TNR-group - and cooperate with them. When the others tomcats are spayed it will be better for everyone...

And as the others said: work on to make him a indoor cat...

edit: a couple of small errors corrected.

Contacting a TNR group about having the rest of the cats neutered is actually a great idea...it will be better for your cat and for the other strays. Below is a list of TNR groups by state:

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html

Katie

Thanks for the advice/information everybody. Trying to have as many of the other strays around my neighborhood neutered sounds like a good idea.

Can somebody tell me what TNR stands for?

Originally Posted by pizzacakeman

Thanks for the advice/information everybody. Trying to have as many of the other strays around my neighborhood neutered sounds like a good idea.

Can somebody tell me what TNR stands for?

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TNR is Trap, Neuter, Return. You can learn more about it here:

http://www.alleycat.org/

Katie

Is your cat actually being "raped" by other cats? That seems unlikely to me. Do cats do this to eachother?

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Is your cat actually being "raped" by other cats? That seems unlikely to me. Do cats do this to eachother?

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Yeah is seems they do T m


Pizza
I have been caring and feeding a feral colony now for going on two years and have spent a lot of time interacting with and observing their behaviour.

One of the things i have noticed was there is a heirarchy between the dominant male of the colony (wether or not he or they are neutered) and the rest of the colony.

The dominant male in my colony 'mounts' both male and female cats,there seems to be no penetration and it does seem he is asserting his dominance.

The other males will do the same but only to another cat lower down in the heirarchy.I have never observed them doing this to the dominant male and i have never seen any female doing this to a male.

I do think though that this can happen when they are excited too because i have observed them do this when they have been playing.

To think this behaviour would be rape is only a human thought,to an animal it is normal behaviour.( If this behaviour is between the same species!! and not a human and an animal of course)

Putting any animal to sleep should never be an option if the animal is healthy.

The notion that any living being would be better off dead than surviving a rape is so horribly offensive I don't even think I can respond to it.

Also, it probably is a dominance display between two cats, since you've already said he gets in fights all the time. And you just said you suspect it, not that you've seen it, on what basis are you suspecting it?

Also, thank you for feeding and neutering this stray, Is this your first cat? Fighting is what happens to cats that are allowed outside with free roam, allowing them to come in contact with FIV, FeLV, possibly get abcesses, other infections and viruses, etc from the fighting. If this cat is tame and socialized to humans, he should be an indoor-only or outdoor-supervised-only (enclosure/leash) cat. Since you are not allowed to have cats inside, you should find him a good home, possibly with a close friend or relative so that you can visit him often.