General Chat

I'm not at work today - thanks to a stray/unloved cat!
This morning, (about 2.30am) for the second time in less than a week, he came into my bedroom!
He got upstairs by coming through the cat flap, and terrorising Betty (the cat) who sleeps downstairs.
Once up in my room, George (another cat who sleeps on my bed) 'jumped' him - and he let out a terrific howl (the stray, not George who can just about summon up a squeak!)
The bl**dy cat, on both occasions was on the floor, but level with my head.
I let out a shriek (goodness knows what the neighbours thought) chased him downstairs-and promptly threw up.

I went upstairs- and my bedroom stank -not only of un-neutered Tom cat- but of the gross infection he has in his ear, that is slowly causing his ear flap to shrivel
I threw up again.

I told the Cat's protection League about him last winter, when he first appeared with terrible scabs and wounds on him, but they didn't do anything, in case he had an owner.
I had to lock my cats in the house during the cold weather, because he would keep coming in. Now he has an ear infection, they may do something.

He's the worst sort of cat - an abandoned uncared for one.
if he were totally feral, he wouldn't want to come in the house.
If he was owned by anyone who cared, he would be neutered, and take the hint that he's not welcome- he also wouldn't be in such pain from his ear.
If he tries to get in the cat flap, and one of my cats (or me)is the other side, he starts snarling, spitting and gets quite violent -he broke the flap once.

One of the 'downsides' of having a cat flap is that odd cats may stroll in, but they don't usually try to take over the house - and one shriek from me followed by a dousing in water usually dissuades them from returning.

This one, however, is a nasty piece of work!!

rant over

Oh Maggie,
you must feel really rough and tired.

What a shame that Cats Protection didn't help the poor cat long before this, so that he wasn't prone to infections and upsetting you, your cats and the rest of the neighbourhood.

I hope you feel better soon and get some rest tonight.

Gwyn

Hi Maggie
Sorry but if the cat's in pain and homeless/starving, he should be taken to RSPCA and put painlessly to sleep......just my opinion, as he sounds like a health hazard to you and your pets.

Mau

10 out of10 for cat flaps the best invention since sliced bread

Don't see the point of them iff cats can get through think of all the vermin that can get in

Sleep tight :D

Hi Mau,
The cat's definitely a health hazard. I felt quite sorry for it when I saw it last winter - but never encouraged it, and never touched it.
It's so vicious that, one day, I came home to find 3 black cats in my garden in a 'stand off' with it. This was a bit odd, as I only have 2 black cats - the other one was one that my cats usually have shouting matches with - but they joined together against the stray!!
If I could catch him, I would take him to the RSPCA, but I should imagine he's well aware of my feeling towards him, also, I don't fancy being scratched to bits!

The cat's protection league have traps to catch them.


Stan, in all the years I have had cats - and subsquently cat flaps,- not one rat or mouse (if that's what you mean by vermin) has voluntarily come through the cat flap!
Quite a few have come through involuntarily (presuming they didn't want to die), in the mouths of my cats - they're brilliant rat/mouse catchers -and regularly wormed.
Quite often I come down to the kitchen to a mouse spine, tail and liver - caught and eaten by Mr Miu. I have no leatherjackets in my garden, thanks to the cats (mainly Betty) killing every crane fly that ever entered the house.

Sorry Maggie if I offended you not intended <3 When I was young cats were always put out at night ,so I dont see the reason it has changed

What a poor boy!

What sort of crap is that about it being somebody's cat?

Any tom I catch is in and having his nuts off before he can turn round,somebody's cat or not. There is a cat charity near me who subsidise neutering so I get it done and pay them the difference when I can. I have borrowed traps from them in the past.

My neighbour caught one in a very similar circumstance to you.She rang to see if I would take her and him to the vet. He didn't seem to like the experience much because he managedto spray her all the way down. She stank,the car stank until I scrapped it That was the cat who sprayed,not the vet.

Maybe,if you ring the RSPCA and explain the circumstances they will arrange to trap him.

The RSPCA have cages and traps for the cat..

I would ring them as they should come out and get him..

Let us kow what the RSPCA say or do...

Poor cat.
He sounds like he is looking for help.
It might be your own cat spraying.when they are scared the stink too.
If somebody does own him,they should't own animals if they are neglecting him.
Maybe he has been a pet and been abandonded,not his fault. He is probably in pain too and that will make him grumpy too.


Marion

Hi Stan,
No offence taken!
We never had cat flaps for our cat when I was child either - and when we lived in the north of Scotland, the cat tended to spend the night in my bed.
However, when we moved to Cornwall, she stayed out for a lot of the night - coming home with a fish in her mouth (she didn't eat it until it had been cooked) after the trawlers had docked their fish.
However, I work and would prefer not to have to either lock them in (with a litter tray) or lock them out with traffic around and more likelihood of them roaming too far.

Have rung the RSPCA - and they said to contact the Cat's Protection League!!
Will have another word with the volunteer I know at work.
Last time I complained about it, she asked around the neighbourhood about a stray ginger tom and somehow thought I meant another ginger tom (but neutered ) called Harry - a cat much loved (by everyone) who wouldn't hurt a fly!!

At least now this poor beast has an infected, and rolled/disintegrating ear flap, he's easier to identify!!

Hope the problem is solved soon Maggie..........sorry but you've given me more good reasons for not liking cats!

Mau x

Maggie

This is probably a bit of useless info but once you get the cat sorted ie RSPCA or others, you can, I believe, fit some magnetic appliance either to the cat flap or your cat's collar which is supposed to keep out unwanted cats.

I never had a cat flap for my cats partly because of the bringing home the trophies. My little black cat once brought me the biggest rat. The scream is still resonating around the area. Completely the wrong reaction I know. Not sure which would make me feel more sick the remnants or the infected ear.

Hope you find a solution for the sick cat soon.

Vera

Mau, most cats are lovely. To be honest, if I hadn't had 3 cats already, I would have taken this monster in. Once de-balled, de-flead and taught a few manners -yes it can be done - and kindly! - he would probably be lovely.

Hi Vera,
I wouldn't put a collar on a cat - and this stray cat could probably bust through any cat flap that has either a magnet or small plastic clip lock.. The cat flap I have has a panel I slide down inside, which I prefer, as it shows my cats they're definitely shut inside, and the stray that he is definitely outside!!

Trophies/gifts can be a problem.
One Christmas morning, when I was having a lie-in, George brought a rat up to my bedroom to show me!!
One evening, I thought Betty was 'haunted'. there was a small black stick-looking thing coming out of her mouth -and she was making a very loud 'humming' sound. I rather tentatively said 'hello' - she opened her mouth (she usually answers me back ) - and a live dragonfly flew out!! LOL