My Grandpa vs Neighbourhood Cat

Paris Pluto

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Hi everyone,

I'm kind of embarassed to post this and please don't judge but I really need some opinions. In the last few months, a neighbourhood cat had been coming through our cat door to eat our cats food every single day and initially we didn't mind but then he would stalk, chase, try to mate and fight my two cats in their own backyard and sometimes even coming inside to attack them. Both my cats had abscesses on the base of their tail from being bitten by "Tom" and that's when I thought enough is enough. My initial plan was to get a trap and take him to the pound so I made my way to my friends house to borrow her trap. I come home and my Grandpa told me he found the cat in his bedroom chasing one of our cats so he closed the door, picked up "Tom" and put him in one of our cat carriers and hosed him down with water 3-4 times in the carrier before letting him go. It was also really hot day (38 degrees Celcius) and the cat hasn't been back since but that's not the point. I'm still kinda angry at him for doing that. We got into a huge fight about it but it didn't get anywhere, he's an 82yo foreigner who is so set in his ways.

Anyway, I just wanted to ask. Did my Grandpa do something really effed up? Is that cat going to have PTSD now from being hosed down? Will he come back after a certain time so I can humanely trap him and take him to the pound? What options do I have in regards to cat proofing my yard with the least amount of money?

Also, having the cats indoor only is not an option. I'm a full time carer for my Grandma and their house = their rules. We've gone back and forth about the safety of indoor cats and I just can't get through to them.

Once again, I'm pretty apprehensive to post this but I'm just perplexed on the whole situation.
 

daftcat75

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Cats are pretty resilient. Tom is probably seriously "pissed on" 😹and pissed off.😾 But more than anything, it likely scared him. I don't think any lasting damage was done. But he may not come around for awhile. Cats are stubborn though. And he's going to remember that that he ate well and consistently there. You'll probably get more chances to trap him.

I don't have any ideas about how to keep him out of your yard. But you can keep him out of your cat flap with a microchip cat flap. If your resident cats are chipped (or you can get an RFID tag for their collar), the flap can be programmed for their chips or tags, and Tom gets bounced at the door. Not on the list. 😾

The SureFlap Microchip Cat Door - Keep Unwanted Cats Out!
 

Kat0121

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First off, I'm going to guess that some or all of your cats are intact females? That would be why he's relentless about coming into the house. If so, please have them spayed. He will lose interest in them very quickly.

What your grandpa did isn't ideal but I doubt that there will be any long term problems from it as far as the cat is concerned but if there are intact females and food there, he's eventually going to come back. He won't be able to help himself. I think your grandpa acted out of frustration and not malice.

It's going to be harder to catch him the second time. Cats are very intelligent and he will be more on alert when he comes by for "treats". See if you can borrow a humane trap from a local no kill shelter or rescue. Please research the place that you intend to bring him to. I don't know what "pounds" are like in Australia but here in the US, most animals are killed due to lack of space and resources unless they specifically say that they are no kill. That doesn't that they don't euthanize ever but they put in far more effort than "pounds" do. Here are some resources for you. Victoria Australia: Find one near me - The nOkill Network: AU

I know this might be a reach but would your family consider having him neutered and socializing him as a pet? Neutering a tom will calm him down a great deal and he might just turn out to be the best friend your grandpa didn't know he needed. :)
 
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Paris Pluto

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Cats are pretty resilient. Tom is probably seriously "pissed on" 😹and pissed off.😾 But more than anything, it likely scared him. I don't think any lasting damage was done. But he may not come around for awhile. Cats are stubborn though. And he's going to remember that that he ate well and consistently there. You'll probably get more chances to trap him.

I don't have any ideas about how to keep him out of your yard. But you can keep him out of your cat flap with a microchip cat flap. If your resident cats are chipped (or you can get an RFID tag for their collar), the flap can be programmed for their chips or tags, and Tom gets bounced at the door. Not on the list. 😾

The SureFlap Microchip Cat Door - Keep Unwanted Cats Out!
Thank you for your reply! I really appreciate it. We're looking at getting the microchip cat door but if he does come back, I will get a trap. I feel bad for him though, its not his fault that they let him free roam Undesexed I assume 😭
 
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Paris Pluto

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First off, I'm going to guess that some or all of your cats are intact females? That would be why he's relentless about coming into the house. If so, please have them spayed. He will lose interest in them very quickly.

What your grandpa did isn't ideal but I doubt that there will be any long term problems from it as far as the cat is concerned but if there are intact females and food there, he's eventually going to come back. He won't be able to help himself. I think your grandpa acted out of frustration and not malice.

It's going to be harder to catch him the second time. Cats are very intelligent and he will be more on alert when he comes by for "treats". See if you can borrow a humane trap from a local no kill shelter or rescue. Please research the place that you intend to bring him to. I don't know what "pounds" are like in Australia but here in the US, most animals are killed due to lack of space and resources unless they specifically say that they are no kill. That doesn't that they don't euthanize ever but they put in far more effort than "pounds" do. Here are some resources for you. Victoria Australia: Find one near me - The nOkill Network: AU

I know this might be a reach but would your family consider having him neutered and socializing him as a pet? Neutering a tom will calm him down a great deal and he might just turn out to be the best friend your grandpa didn't know he needed. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I was thinking about socialising him with our cats but my Grandpa isn't so keen on the idea. I also would feel bad 'taking' someone else's cat. But if I *were* to try, how would that work given the hostility between them? Will desexing him stop him attacking my kitties? Also, thanks for telling me to look into places to take him if I manage to trap him but I will most likely take him to a vet first or somewhere where that is a no kill shelter for sure!! 😊😊
 

Kat0121

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I was thinking about socialising him with our cats but my Grandpa isn't so keen on the idea. I also would feel bad 'taking' someone else's cat. But if I *were* to try, how would that work given the hostility between them? Will desexing him stop him attacking my kitties? Also, thanks for telling me to look into places to take him if I manage to trap him but I will most likely take him to a vet first or somewhere where that is a no kill shelter for sure!! 😊😊
If you have a vet that you use for your cats, borrow a trap and take him there and see if he has a microchip. If he does, you can contact his owner. He seems to be drawn to your house for a reason. If all your cats are fixed, it's not the obvious. 😉

Talk to your grandpa. He may have his reservations but it seems to me that he is a kind hearted man who may have gotten overwhelmed by this cat.. I say this because your grandpa was clearly trying to protect your cats from this "bully". If it turns out that this cat has no home, he may have been trying to worm his way into yours. Cats can tell when another cat is well fed and cared for.

Yes. Neutering him will calm him down A LOT.
 
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