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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

HELP!! Being held to ransom by a stray cat

189 replies

Gatekeeper · 03/01/2021 10:34

this sounds ridiculous but I don't know what to do. I'll start off by saying I have lived with cats on and off for last 30 years so am experienced cat wrangler Grin

I have two cats who mostly stay indoors but like a bit sniff about every day in our garden . The last few weeks have seen a small entire tom visiting which they didn't like one bit- lots of stands offs in the garden. After lots of enquiries and he wasn't claimed we trapped him & got him neutered. Have done this many times over the years with strays.

Kept him in shed overnight to recover and after a feed took him to a farm several miles away- know the people there and they are willing to let ferals & strays live in barn etc

10 days later he turns up at the back door again!!!! However he is becoming increasingly aggressive and our cats are frightened to go out. They aren't the only ones as he also goes for me each time I'm out and has made a mess of my legs as he launches himself at me clawing away. My legs are terrible this morning as even with jeans on he's shredded them! Bloody hurt I can tell you

We still have the trap but even though he's been obviously very hungry he won't go inside.
He's there all the time

HELP

HELP!! Being held to ransom by a stray cat
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
YouBoughtMeAWall · 03/01/2021 15:51

Oh wow! He is angry with you! Grin I think you’re going to have to ask the vet for his balls back. That’s clearly what he wants.

Prestel · 03/01/2021 15:59

@thecatneuterer
There really isn't such a thing as stray/feral relocation
Our local Cats Protection will help rehome stray/ferals occasionally, but we are quite rural so more small holdings etc which might be willing to take them. I appreciate it depends on where you live.

NadoligLlawen2020 · 03/01/2021 16:07

Aw - he’s totally gorgeous as is your other cat!
Plug in felloway defusers would help with integration. We have the felloway friends version (3 dotted round the house). You could also put some zylkene or neutracalm sprinkled on his food - we do that whenever one of our cats gets anxious and attacks all felines and humans in sight!
I’m a full fledged cat-minion though. We have several cats in the house and a couple who live out in the shed as they don’t want to come in.

SaturdayAfternoon · 03/01/2021 16:11

@Gatekeeper

I've never heard than spook is a racist slur. One lives and learns
I had that exact book!!
SaturdayAfternoon · 03/01/2021 16:14

Quoted the wrong part of the message!

EachandEveryone · 03/01/2021 16:27

Can you roast a chicken and attach it to a fishing rod and dangle it out of the window so he can’t get to you?😀

Original poster
Gatekeeper · 03/01/2021 16:44

@SaturdayAfternoon I've never met anyone else that had it !

OP posts:
TheLongRider · 03/01/2021 20:19

You could always rename him Puck or Púca (Pooka). It means mischievous imp.

Prestel · 03/01/2021 20:34

Puck's a great name for a cat.

NiceGerbil · 03/01/2021 20:55

Darth maul is perfect!

He looks so fucked off sorry OP but I'm laughing!

Also don't think spook has racist connotations here. Spooks was a TV series about spies. Means spy or creepy here.

Weedsnseeds1 · 03/01/2021 20:56

What actually happens when he attacks? Is he trying to get in and you are trying to block entry with your leg? Or do you step out and he just flies at you from nowhere?
Any other clues - hissing, ears flat, fluffed up? Or could it be highly over enthusiastic play? Does he seem angry, scared, exuberant?

Athenajm80 · 03/01/2021 21:23

He is so handsome but looks very pissed off. I have no helpful suggestions sorry, but I agree that he has adopted you. Maybe he's angry as you haven't succumbed to his charms and given him copious amounts of Dreamies and catnip. You should be worshipping him and catering to his every whim 😁

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/01/2021 21:30

Where is he sleeping? It’s really cold out there.

Shannith · 03/01/2021 21:56

Where are you. I foster for a rescue in the south who take in strays. New Moon Rescue. If you contact them they will be able to put you in touch with someone local to you who does the same.

Mind you my feral foster that stayed hissed at and went for me for 6 months. She sits on my lap now bless her anti social little heart.

Shannith · 03/01/2021 22:05

To reiterate, there are rescues that ONLY take in strays. New Moon being one of them and they work with lots of others that do.

My feral is now a house cat in the winter and goes back to her feral ways in the summer. My normal rescue one is nice all year round but it's extra rewarding when hissy mc hissy pants comes for cuddle - should you decide to let him keep you Grin

Weedsnseeds1 · 03/01/2021 22:38

And you mentioned earlier that you don't think he is actually feral, more "second hand". What in his behaviour makes you think that? Was he affectionate when he first showed up?

Confusedcatlady1 · 03/01/2021 22:44

Wow look at his face! He is a very determined cat to travel all that way back to your house and he does look mighty peeved off 😂. I don’t have much advice on how to calm him down (my stray cats have always been friendly) but I have suffered from a cat bite so it’s good that you’re heading off to the GP tomorrow. You definitely deserve your gin tonight 🍸.

Original poster
Gatekeeper · 04/01/2021 13:04

@Fluffycloudland77 he is sleeping in our large wood store which is like a massive shed really. He is right in the corner and we have rattled up a shelter for him using two polystyrene fish boxes lined with straw. He is using it as have seen him and he has full protection from the elements. Feeding him twice a day

@Weedsnseeds1seeds I'm', not doing anything- this is the third time he's done it and the worst managing to get through my jeans. First time I'd fed him and he flew at me, 2nd time I was walking to the wood store and he pounced, third time walking out of the back door- didn't even see him as he was hiding underneath a shrub. No hissing or warning- just straight at me . The reason I though he was 'second hand' was that he he is very vocal, meowing away and initially did head bumps and rubs round my legs, like he has been socialised to some extent. I was in garage this morning looking for me wellies and he was outside scraping the door and crying piteously

@Shannith I'm in NE England

I rang GP surgery as soon as they opened this morning and I could tell receptionist was trying not to laugh. Nurse practitioner rang me back and has prescribed a course of anti b's which I'll collect tonight. Leg was red hot last night and throbbing

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/01/2021 13:33

I wonder if he’d calm down if you let him in?.

HighHeelBoots · 04/01/2021 13:36

I had that book too. You have brought memories back

AnyFucker · 04/01/2021 13:39

You need to move house. But he might follow you there too.

Mama1980 · 04/01/2021 13:40

Wow he's beautiful. (Sorry!)
Can you let him in? Sequester your other cat away in a room for a bit and see how he does?
Hope the AB's kick in quickly

Original poster
Gatekeeper · 04/01/2021 13:42

I don't want to let him in, my two cats are frightened of him and I might not be able to get him out!!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 04/01/2021 13:42

I am laughing so much at how he is glaring at you in that picture 😂😂

He is SO pissed off!

Beamur · 04/01/2021 13:53

@AnyFucker

You need to move house. But he might follow you there too.
Grin I wouldn't let him in either. Joking aside, he could hurt you! Again...