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Post by blueskyes on Feb 8, 2012 14:32:20 GMT
I have a dilemma! We live in a lovely rural area near York with one immediate neighbour. This neighbour hates cats with a passion and will despatch them without a second thought. Last Spring we found our 4 year old neutred male in our garden (land which adjoins neighbours)unable to walk with a dreadful injury which the vet was in no doubt about had been caused by a brutal kicking. We didn't know whether the cat would recover and if he did whether he would be left with spinal injuries. After several months he did recover and was rehomed for his safety to live with a family member. The cat has had to come back to us as family are relocating and cannot take the cat with them.
I am at my wits end. My two teenage daughters are so happy to have their beloved pet back home - I know that his life will be at risk here. It breaks my heart, as we all love him to bits, but I feel that for his own safety I need to rehome him or keep him as a house cat. He is a fantastic hunter and kept the rabbit numbers down in paddock, moles etc, so would it be cruel to keep him as a house cat? I know however the logistics of doing so would be very difficult! I need some thoughts, what would you do??
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Post by blueskyes on Feb 9, 2012 19:07:34 GMT
Gosh it surprises me that not one person has a view on this. Ah well, a lesson learned and a note to self: Must remember to rely upon my own instincts and not bother others!
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Feb 9, 2012 19:09:41 GMT
Could he not be a yard cat? If he's a good little hunter, do you have any horsey friends who would appreciate him on their yard?
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Post by lillegs on Feb 9, 2012 19:57:30 GMT
You won't know how likely he is to take to being a housecat until you try. Make sure he has a litter tray so that the want to go outside to do his business eventually wanes.
Poor boy, it's awful your neighbour feels so strong, there are so many cat deterrents on the market he could get is he really didn't want him on his land.
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Post by blueskyes on Feb 9, 2012 20:37:39 GMT
Thankyou Milliesmum - A really good suggestion. I don't know any yard owners, however I could always ring round and check out whether any within our area would be interested in taking him. He does like his creature comforts though!!
Also thankyou Lillegs - we got him back on Sunday and so he is 'housebound' for the next few weeks anyway. He seemed quite depressed yesterday, I guess he has to get used to being here again. The most difficult time for keeping him as a housecat is going to be the summer months.
My husband has suggested that perhaps he will remember what happened to him over the garden wall and that he won't go back, I am not convinced about that, do cats remember?
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Post by lillegs on Feb 9, 2012 20:45:39 GMT
Hmmm not sure if he will remember, but you could look into the deterrants yourself and if not too expensive and in a price range you can manage maybe buy one for the neighbour. I know our next door neighbour has something on their wall which emits a noise and the cats all walk around her garden lol!
Makes you look good as far as the neighbour is concerned as you are doing what you can to stop him straying that way and hopefully will stop him getting himself into a position where he could get hurt again.
As you have got to keep him in for now I would just keep as you are and cross the summer bridge as you come to it. If you make it uber nice for him to be indoors with toys etc if he will play and a nice comfy warm bed he may decide he prefers living the life of luxury.
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Post by GinaGeo on Feb 9, 2012 20:53:47 GMT
I'd worry about keeping a cat as a house cat, if it had experience of what was beyond the wall. One of ours would go stir crazy, I think the other two would adjust. It depends on the cat. I think it's got to be your call. You know your cat and the extremes your neighbour would go to.
What a vile neighbour...
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Post by FF on Feb 9, 2012 20:59:07 GMT
I'd visit the neighbour and warn him if anything happens to the cat you WILL phone the police and have him done for animal cruelty.
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Post by blueskyes on Feb 9, 2012 22:36:25 GMT
Thankyou Lillegs will have a look at deterrants. Without having had a look yet, not sure if the deterrants are aimed at gardens rather than land. If only there was something we could attach to the cat to prevent him from crossing the boundaries.
Thankyou Ginageo - On the basis that our cat has had the freedom to come and go with plenty of hunting in his own 'garden' not sure really how he would cope with being a permanent indoor cat. I feel curel just thinking about it.
Thankyou FF - Sadly this person is already well known to the Police for his curelty!
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Feb 9, 2012 22:39:14 GMT
Is there any way he could have an outdoor run done with wire mesh etc., that he could have catflap access from inside the house? Or you could just put him in a carrier and take him out to his run?
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lovebird
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Post by lovebird on Feb 9, 2012 22:55:39 GMT
We have had the same but she let her dogs kill our old cat, our then young cat became a house cat only let out supervised, we too live not far from York, but she is very happy being a house cat. pm if you want names and addresses
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Post by blueskyes on Feb 10, 2012 8:28:51 GMT
Thankyou Milliesmum - a run could be an option, just wonder if that also would be cruel (to be kind I know) - being outside but inside also! Will have a chat with family to decide best way forward.
Thankyou Lovebird - very sorry to hear about your old cat - It upsets me to know of an animal suffering, I can't get my head around the vile behaviour of certain people. However, It is nice to hear also that your younger cat has adapted to being an indoor cat. I am interested to hear how do you manage in the summer when doors and windows are open? I can see that being a problem for us!
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Milliesmum
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Post by Milliesmum on Feb 10, 2012 14:02:33 GMT
If he has somewhere in his run to shelter, plenty to climb on (platforms/fallen branches), and food and water I can't see why he shouldn't adapt. At least he'd be in the fresh air and he could see what's going on in the world! I didn't ask, is he an only cat? Maybe a friend (partner in crime LOL) would keep him happy indoors?
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Post by bomerang on Feb 10, 2012 14:42:48 GMT
in all honesty, i would rehome him to another family member or friend, if he is a hunter he will hat being indoors, and you will be forever turning yourslef inside out trying to keep him away from doors and windows! also imagine if he escapes and goes missing? yo will never know what has happened to him, be brave and rehome him its just not worth the risk. good luck x
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Post by waspblue on Feb 10, 2012 23:35:05 GMT
Hi, so sad to hear of this vile mans sheer cruelty and can only hope that "what goes around comes around" so to speak, and he gets what he deserves. Anyway as long as your lovely boy is now well and happy then that is the main thing. I have three cats, all of which are total housecats for their own safety and also as they are valuable pedigrees and we show them too. My friend has also got indoor show cats but she now has a system that makes her garden completely escape proof for her cats, but which is also non intrusive to look at and means thta her cats can safely go into the garden - not one has ever managed to beat this system which works using rolling logs and an overhang on top of her fence and is cat friendly. May be well worth looking into. If you need more details please pm me and I'll find out exactly what it is called and where she got it from. I hope to God your lovely cat stays safe and happy with you and your family.
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Post by blueskyes on Feb 11, 2012 9:16:55 GMT
Thank you Milliesmum, Bomerang and Waspblue - My husband thinks he will be able to make a run which would be escape proof by adapting what we already have as we have two dogs who are fortunate to have a very large run. Waspblue - I would be interested to know more about your friends set up with her run. It sounds amazing!
We don't have any other cats and hadn't wanted another, when Ginger appeared at our kitchen door as a tiny kitten and adopted us!! During the 7 years we have lived here 2 cats have 'just disappeared' and a third died as a result of horrific injuries - involving a brutal kicking causing an irreparable injury to his spine and bladder plus a gun shot wound to his face. Ginger survived his kicking - we couldn't put him at risk again. So if all else fails and we are unable to provide him with a safe home, we will do as Bomerang has suggested and rehome.
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Post by jacksprat on Feb 15, 2012 8:41:58 GMT
i would be re homing him, i couldnt sleep worrying that it would happen again
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Post by jesssmum on Mar 9, 2012 21:38:10 GMT
Hi Blueskys
I been reading down your posts and until your last I would have said all the surgestions that others have given but after your last post as much as it may upset your children for the safety of this much loved cat Id find him a new home . This neighbour sounds vile maybe he needs a few swift kicks give him a taste of his own medicine.
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Post by blueskyes on Mar 17, 2012 12:11:52 GMT
Thankyou all for your suggestions and thoughts. Sadly, I now know what I have to do for Ginger:( He has been back here 6 weeks and I have to accept it is not the right thing for him, to be kept as a housecat. The worry of him getting out is just too much to bear!
I have therefore decided to contact the Cats Protection League, however, we live in North Yorkshire, approximately 30 minutes from York so if anyone knows of somebody who like a beautiful Ginger male, 5 years old, neutred and the most talkative 'moggy' you could ever know - plus he is a fantastic little hunter, will keep rabbits, moles and scurrying things with longs tails down please get in touch.
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Post by JaysMum on Apr 1, 2012 12:24:30 GMT
Another suggestion is to make him a run to go in, so he can get outside, enjoy the sunshine, do his business and so forth.... not an ideal situation, but if he's to be kept safe and still let him get out, then worth a shot?
As for your neighbour.. that's disgusting behaviour and he should know he can be prosecuted for making an animal suffer un-necessarily so.
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Post by JaysMum on Apr 1, 2012 12:28:25 GMT
Have just read your last post..... so sorry you have decided to do this, can only hope your neighbour moves house and new neighbours allow you to have a cat in the future.
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lovebird
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Post by lovebird on Apr 1, 2012 12:32:48 GMT
The cat haters next door have put there house on the market, lets hope we get somebody who likes all animals.
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