Okay, here's the story. I do apoligize for the long post, but I really, really need help here.
About a year ago, we "adopted" or attempted to take in a pretty young stray. He seemed friendly and got along with the dogs well. So, in he came after vet tests, vaccines and a neuter. Well, he turned out to be a horribly aggressive cat. He still lived outside most of the time and we simply let him in when he wanted. He started attacking us and the dogs randomly at first. Then, it became more frequent and you could have been sitting in the same room as him for an hour and all of the sudden, he'd attack. Vet couldn't find any medical reason for it. We upped his outdoor time, thinking he needed to be outside since he grew up out there.
Well, eventually he did something that we consider too much. He ran at me full force outside, attacked my face (thank god I work with birds and have reflexes for flying objects or I probably would have needed stiches) and when I got him off me, he started attacking the dogs one by one. Finally, we ran him off and he's been outdoors only since then. We still feed him and give him any and all necessary vet work, but we simply can't have that animal in the house like that. The SPCA said they would basically euthanize him at the door and the rescue lady said she can't take in an aggressive cat. We can't simply stop feeding him, that's just cruel in my mind after he's lived off us for a year. So, he is allowed to sleep in the crawlspace and we feed him daily.
We have since gotten a house cat and another stray just sort of walked in the house one day. They are wonderful cats and we just love them dearly. They get along great together, with the dogs, and already know the boundries with the bird. The outdoor cat, Sig, gets along with George, the stray that invited himself in, but attacks CAT, our kitten. We don't let him in or the other two out, but he's managed to sneak past me a couple times now.
So, here's the problem. Since putting his food in our basement/crawlspace we have suddenlt gotten some unwanted guests. RATS! Between the three of them, we haven't had a mouse in the house in months, but apparantly, Sig is afraid of the rat or something. We've never had a problem in the house since we keep it clean and never downstairs because there was never a food supply.
Needless to say, we can't have the rats in the house, but now we have to figure out what to do with Sig. We can't have a cat in the house that is this aggressive. You can't get near him somedays and others, he acts nice and then attacks. I've worked with aggressive animals before, heck, I am a dog trainer. I just can't seem to work with him at all. Zero progress.
I don't know what to do as winter is coming early this year they say. I don't want to abandon the cat outside, I have no where else I can feed him, and I simply can't have a rat in the basement. I like rats as pets, but nasty wild ones carry diseases and we're planning a baby in a few years. I don't want an entire colony to move in.
So, maybe I am completely out of options, but I am hoping someone here can help me.
About a year ago, we "adopted" or attempted to take in a pretty young stray. He seemed friendly and got along with the dogs well. So, in he came after vet tests, vaccines and a neuter. Well, he turned out to be a horribly aggressive cat. He still lived outside most of the time and we simply let him in when he wanted. He started attacking us and the dogs randomly at first. Then, it became more frequent and you could have been sitting in the same room as him for an hour and all of the sudden, he'd attack. Vet couldn't find any medical reason for it. We upped his outdoor time, thinking he needed to be outside since he grew up out there.
Well, eventually he did something that we consider too much. He ran at me full force outside, attacked my face (thank god I work with birds and have reflexes for flying objects or I probably would have needed stiches) and when I got him off me, he started attacking the dogs one by one. Finally, we ran him off and he's been outdoors only since then. We still feed him and give him any and all necessary vet work, but we simply can't have that animal in the house like that. The SPCA said they would basically euthanize him at the door and the rescue lady said she can't take in an aggressive cat. We can't simply stop feeding him, that's just cruel in my mind after he's lived off us for a year. So, he is allowed to sleep in the crawlspace and we feed him daily.
We have since gotten a house cat and another stray just sort of walked in the house one day. They are wonderful cats and we just love them dearly. They get along great together, with the dogs, and already know the boundries with the bird. The outdoor cat, Sig, gets along with George, the stray that invited himself in, but attacks CAT, our kitten. We don't let him in or the other two out, but he's managed to sneak past me a couple times now.
So, here's the problem. Since putting his food in our basement/crawlspace we have suddenlt gotten some unwanted guests. RATS! Between the three of them, we haven't had a mouse in the house in months, but apparantly, Sig is afraid of the rat or something. We've never had a problem in the house since we keep it clean and never downstairs because there was never a food supply.
Needless to say, we can't have the rats in the house, but now we have to figure out what to do with Sig. We can't have a cat in the house that is this aggressive. You can't get near him somedays and others, he acts nice and then attacks. I've worked with aggressive animals before, heck, I am a dog trainer. I just can't seem to work with him at all. Zero progress.
I don't know what to do as winter is coming early this year they say. I don't want to abandon the cat outside, I have no where else I can feed him, and I simply can't have a rat in the basement. I like rats as pets, but nasty wild ones carry diseases and we're planning a baby in a few years. I don't want an entire colony to move in.
So, maybe I am completely out of options, but I am hoping someone here can help me.