If it's not one thing then it's another :(

[LordHaveMurci]

One of our cats is a dainty little thing, very playful & loves being outdoors, hunting etc.

The problem we have is the ginger & white Tom just down the road is always fighting her, he is half her size again so no contest really

She was at the vets a few months ago, cost us about £180 & then again last night as she had 9 separate puncture wounds apparently, poor little thing. Sods law thatt he (new) pet insurance doesn't kick in for another 10 days.

We chase the bloody thing off whenever we see it but nobody is home all day during the week. The question is, what the hell can we do? The woman that adopted this 'stray' Tom cat is now deceased, her husband suffers from dementia so the elsest son lives with him. I don't really want to burden them yet I am sorely tempted to catch the bloody thing & drive it to the next town hoping it's not chipped.

The vet has suggested using a water pistol to scare it off but the bloody thing has to go somewhere & their house is all of 20yds away!

[ali_kat]

Does he come in to your garden to attack her, or is she in his territory?

[LordHaveMurci]

ali_kat said:

Does he come in to your garden to attack her, or is she in his territory?

That's a good point. The cul-de-sac we live in is quite open at the front, our back garden is very enclosed. Rarely see it in our back garden, possibly because of the dogs.

The area at the front could be considered no mans land to us I guess, not to them by the look of it

[ali_kat]

Can you make your garden a little more difficult for her to get out of/him to get into & only let her out the back?

[LordHaveMurci]

ali_kat said:

Can you make your garden a little more difficult for her to get out of/him to get into & only let her out the back?

Not a chance, cat flap opens onto front garden not back plus the cats can get in/out of the back garden quite easily. she's a proper active cat, enclosing her wouldn't work.

Just such a shame, we live in a semi rural location on the edge of open countryside so loads of space for all, or not apparently

[rosie11]

Buy/borrow a cat trap and catch yourself this tom cat, then nip him down the vets and get him de nutted.
For the sake of £19 it will be money well spent getting him neutered

[trickywoo]

Probably is toms fault but we have a small female who will attack the biggest local Tom (neutered) for no reason. He can be minding his own business and she'll pounce aggressively from nowhere - seen it happen. She always comes off second best so no idea what she's thinking.

[paintman]

rosie11 said:

Buy/borrow a cat trap and catch yourself this tom cat, then nip him down the vets and get him de nutted.
For the sake of £19 it will be money well spent getting him neutered

You lay yourself open to a charge of Criminal Damage if you follow this course of action. Legally a cat is considered to be property. (Its the same charge that is used when police dogs are injured or killed in the course of their duties)
I suspect a vet would refuse to carry out the procedure if a scan showed up a microchip & the ID shown is not you.
For those that suggest catching the cat & releasing it miles away the charge would be Theft - again because the cat is considered to be property.

We get neighbouring cats squaring up to ours from time to time & as with you, if we're in then water or chasing them up the garden works but it is a concern when we're out.

Edited by paintman on Sunday 14th December 10:27

[LordHaveMurci]

rosie11 said:

Buy/borrow a cat trap and catch yourself this tom cat, then nip him down the vets and get him de nutted.
For the sake of £19 it will be money well spent getting him neutered

My OH has suggested offering to pay for it to be neutered, assuming it isn't already. Would it make a difference?