Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    Well, yes, you can take him for a ride to the vet and get him neutered. 
    That should slow him down some!  Or if you really feel that he is being
    abused or neglected, take him for a ride to an Animal Shelter.  He will
    at least get fed regularly and have a chance at a loving home.
    
    Just my .02.  I hope Barkley is feeling better.
    
    Feline taxi service,
    
    Sue & Pather & Spot
    
    

    I suspect he is not neutered, and that that would
    help a lot.  A ride to the animal shelter, unfortunately, would
    likely wind up with his being put to death, rather than adopted, since
    there is an oversupply of cats.  So, would talking to his owners
    about neutering be feasible?  If not, I would think about
    having that done anyway.
    

    If he is already neutered there is very little you can do.  As an
    outdoor cat, he cannot be expected to obey property lines any better
    than your own cats can be expected to obey property lines.  The
    only solution then is to either keep your cats indoors, or let them
    just fight it out with him and come to some agreement on their own.
    
    Jo

      We have a cat in our neighborhood that we call  "the bull cat".
    He's an old tom, but not a stray.  He's all battle scarred and is
    quite feisty.  He will jump up in the air and scare my cats right out
    of the windows, too. We've got a ripped screen because of him.  When
    I adopted Pepper who had no home,  she was at the time prego with 6
    kittens that looked just like him!  One time I squirted him with the
    hose,  and he does not come too near the house, at least not when he
    sees me.   It was funny though, when I went over to the neighbors house
    that he belongs to one day.  He was sleeping in a most relaxed manner
    on the sofa.  HE remained sleeping while the neighbor invited me to sit
    on the couch.  I sat next to the cat.  Well,  he responded to the
    gentle rubbing I gave his back until he opened his eyes and saw me.
    He cringed and squinted as if I was going to squirt him right then.
    He went flying out of the room literally, screaching around the corner
    out of sight.  It was funny.  He has reacted that way to the sight of
    me ever since.  So maybe you could try squirting him.  If you don't
    have a hose just use a good strong squirt bottle and when you see him
    coming to the window, wait till he gets close enough to give it to
    him good....
      My guys know to run to the house if they see him coming now too.
    I have 3 of the 7 cats that go out into the yard with supervision.
    So, I know what you mean....
    
                             good luck,  Denise
    

    I agree - neutering and the hose are probably your best solutions.
      Nancy DC

    Thanks for the ideas.  I think I'll try the hose first and also
    keep a squirt bottle close to the window.  This seems to be the
    easiest, cheapest, and least harmful.  If that don't work maybe
    I can try talking to the owner about neutering.
    
    I would never give the cat a ride and drop him off for his death
    sentence.  No kitty deserves that!!  He is real friendly to humans!
    
    I have one (Tamba) that runs in the house when he see him comming, my 
    little female (Poco) just drops down, lays on her back with this
    innocent look on her face as if to say "Please don't hurt me", but
    Barkley (Mr Protector) will stand right up to him.   One of my sisters
    cats (Ross..who is not a fighter) always ends up nose to nose with
    him and you feel so bad because he is so nervous he "Poops".  Poor
    thing!!
    
    Well we will see what happens next!
    
    Sandy (and they scrared cats)
                                                                       

    What a co-incidence! I entered this notesfile today with the intention
    of asking for help on exactly the same problem. 
    
    The situation is almost identical - Domino has got into so many fights
    with a huge ginger Tom who is new to the Neighbourhood that I am almost
    at my wits end over what to do with him. He is permanently covered in
    scratches - last week he had one frighteningly close to his eye. But
    the last straw was yesterday when he came in in a terrible state. He
    had obviously got so frightened he had also "pooped" and he was covered
    in it. The poor little thing couldn't sit down until I'd bathed his
    rear end. He won't go near water usually but he stood shaking while I
    cleaned him up. I've never seen him so upset.I didn't know cats would
    mess themselves with fear - it quite shook me up.
    
    I like the hose idea. I'm going to get mine out as soon as I get home
    tonight & see if I can try it. Hope it works for you too. If you find
    any other solutions as well please note them here. 
    
    Something has got to be done!
    
    Rosemary, Domino & Pip

    Wow what a coincidence..it must be the time of the season for Bully
    cats.  Isn't it sad that are little furfaces gets so nervous from
    these bullies that they even Poop.  Then they look totally embarassed
    from making a mess.
    
    Tonight I will prepare for war with my hose and squirt bottle. On
    one side I feel bad for the bully because I think he is looking
    for human attention and realizes my cats get it!  (I have a soft
    heart for animals and he probably is not neutered and he is looking
    for you know what and could care less about me)  On the other side
    I'm sick of my kitties getting beat up and costing us more money
    at the Vets.
    
    Keep me posted if you find away to rid the bully without harming
    him.
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley ready for war)
                                                     
    

    Well, I'm sure you guys aren't going to like my response because it
    involves dollars, but it would be cheaper in the long run to capture
    the bully cats and have them neutered.  A neuter with a Friends of
    Animals certificate costs about $25 to $30, and it includes everything,
    from the pre-exam to the anesthesia to the neuter itself.  Not certain
    if shots are included too (most vets will not neuter an animal unless
    it is vaccinated; mine won't anyway).
    
    T.K. was a big bully with Nikki until I finally captured him and had
    him fixed.  The vet did him in the morning, and by that evening I let
    him back outside (he was wild-er then than now).  Now he and Nikki are
    the best of buddies, and T.K. is so mellow you could hang him upside
    down by the legs!
    
    If your cats go out, there is not much you can do about Mr. Bully. 
    He'll get them when you're not there to spray them.
    

    Re: .7
    
    Is it possible to keep Domino inside?
    

    re: .10  My thoughts exactly - at least until you can discourage the
    Bully from coming around.
    

    RE:10 & 11
    
    I could keep Domino in but that would mean keeping Pip in (or out on
    his own) as well. Keeping them in together would mean them fighting
    & keeping Pip out on his own would be unkind. They're used to coming in
    and out of the house at will through the cat-flap. Its an electronic
    one so the bully can't get in and Domino can always run back in to
    safety if he wants to. I don't understand why he doesn't do that
    really. He seems to always stand & fight even though he comes off
    worst.
    
    Pip just makes a terrible low growling noise whenever bully comes
    near & never gets attacked.
    
    Last night I was alerted to trouble by Pips growl. I looked out of the
    front door & there they were on the drive. Domino just about to be
    attacked, Pip watching & growling. I ran out with the water bottle &
    squirted bully who ran off & hid under a car. I picked up both my boys
    - one under each arm & carried them indoors. Pip growled at me - his
    dignity upset & both of them started clawing at the door to be let out.
    I kept them in petting & stroking them until they calmed down &
    eventually they went out again but bully had gone. Domino had a bite on
    his leg when I looked at him later & was a bit subdued. He stayed in
    the rest of the night.
    
    I think if I can get hold of bully or find out who owns him, neutering
    is the best solution. Maybe Domino will learn to run away?
    
    Hoping for a peaceful ending
    
    Rosemary, Domino & Pip  

    This has to be a coincidence!!  To resolve my bully situation I
    took your advise and kept the hose in the "on" postion close to
    my back door.  My plan was that as soon as he appeared...I would
    zap him with water.  Well...I never got to use the water because
    since that night I have not seen Mr.Mean Jeans at all.  This couldn't 
    be that easy...my guess is that it's too hot for him to come over  
    and start a brawl!  We'll have to wait for it to cool down to see
    what happens.  My guess is that he will be back...he can't be that
    smart!  Or can he!!
    
    Sandy ( and her happier cats.)
    
    

    Well,
    
    We've gone all weekend & no sign of bully. It's been cooler too so the
    cats have been happier.
    
    However just as I was leaving for work this morning something
    interesting happened. Pip & Domino usually leave the house when I do &
    sit in the front garden & watch me drive away. This morning they rushed
    out of the house & straight across the street to where bully was
    sitting in a Neighbours drive. Then would you believe it! They stalked
    him - right up until they were both about 2 feet away, then they just
    sat down, watching each other. I hung around for a few minutes in case
    of trouble - but nothing happened so I left them all just sitting
    there.
    They did not look at all hostile, just watchful. Could it be they've
    finally agreed territorial boundaries & bully won't come on our garden
    in case he gets sprayed ? I hope so it would be great to have peace
    permanently restored.
    
    Rosemary, Pip & Domino
    

    re: .14
    
    I have come to the conclusion that cats can get moody too!!  The
    bully also appeared in our yard this weekend. (He's back!) First he just
    sat on the outer edge and watched my cats in the yard.  Barkley was
    sitting basking in the sun, on his back, rolling all over the place
    and after about 20 minutes he went over and attacked the bully.
                                   
    After a few screams, hisses, paw fights, and out-right brawl the
    bully went away and Barkley went back to bask in the sun.  In this
    case Barkley started the fight with the bully!  I just don't under-
    stand...maybe it's PMS.
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco and Barkley)

    I have read the previous notes and tried to see if I can apply any of
    the remedies to our situation.  Alas, probably not.
    
    My husbands baby, Wing, used to be a little snuggle bunny until two
    things happened: we got Ruby, a whole female and we had Wing spayed.
    Now Ruby chases and terrifies her all around the house, even pulling
    out Wings fur(you'd think it was snowing).  Now, Wing doesn't like to
    be held by either Jimmie or me.  She will growl, snort and whack at
    your face and then run away. (she sounds like the cowardly lion in the
    Wizard of Oz, sort of a snuffly, snorting kinda GROWL!!)
    
    We can't keep them seperate because the house is too small.  Any ideas?
    We don't chastise either one when it happens but we might yell at them
    to stop it.  How can I get sweet little Wing back?
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing
     

    hmm.  My whole females will also go after my spays and neuters!
    I use the C.A.T. (except on Lil, of course !!) on both involved.
    It usually stops them both short and they forget (for a second or
    two what they were doing) !!  Yup, my burgandy carpet looks like
    World War III just happened and there is enough fur around to make
    6 kittens!  
    
    Try the C.A.T., it might help - if Ruby don't like it enough, maybe
    she will stop chasing a little.  Will Ruby be spayed, or do you breed
    cats?  Maybe after Ruby is spayed things will even off?

    Ruby is a breeding cat.  She has no current plans to spay her.
    
    I agree with using the spray bottle technique.  I spray all those
    involved, not just the instigator.
    
    Jo

and, I would consider using a tokyo cage for Wing so you can:

	1) offer her a place where she cannot be hassled....Ruby won't
	   be able to get to her, and

	2) spend time touching, petting, cuddling her...without running
	   her down first.  Chasing her to give affection is probably
	   delivering mixed signals.  

If you use the cage for awhile, you also can possibly break the "habit"
of Wing running and Ruby chasing...cats do get into habits easily.  It
might be easier to stop the patterns of behavior for both cats if you
physically intervene without separating the cats.  If you separate the
cats, their scents will not blend in the environment and you will just
continue to have the problem...

    Thanks!
    I will try to use the bottle technique on Ruby.  Yes, I plan to have
    her bred, I met you at the show in Salem briefly. Short, blond hair and
    my husband Jim?  At the moment I'm am still hoping that she mated the
    last time I had her with the male.  No visible signs (unless sleeping a
    lot and looking like she is getting a "neuter pouch" is an indication). 
    Her teets haven't changed color yet.  Although, the other cats sniff
    her rear end a lot!  If she has kits, perhaps she will then leave Wing
    alone.
    
    PS: Wing got her first mouse last nite (in the house).
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing
    

    ah, yes.  Well, I just want to clarify the (except on Lil) - I DID
    spray Lil once!  Forgive me, but she was really being a pain in the
    ^*^&) !  I forget who she was going after, but she was VERY determined
    that she was going to get that cat!  Boy, was she surprised !  I was
    so guilt-ridden after I did it, that I had to hug her!  Great with
    discipline, aren't I ??  Poor Lil, she isn't spoiled tooo much !
    
    E.

    Elaine, how can you feel guilty about discipline??  Limoges spends
    most of her time soaking wet, she is always causing trouble.  If
    I felt guilty each time that I nailed her with the C.A.T., I would
    be in therapy for the rest of my life!!  :^)
    
    Jo

    Sorry guys!  C.A.T.= Cat Attitude Trainer?

    Oh Jo, I can't say no to Lil!  Not my Lily pill, my pilly puss!
    She doesn't understand the word no.  She's never heard it since
    she came to live at my house.  Her grampa says that she has an
    attitude problem that she got after she came to my house!  In
    other words, she is spoiled rotten!  But, if you saw her 'face
    and those eyes', could YOU say no to her ??
    
    E.T.

    Lil used to understand NO....and she also used to understand GET
    DOWN....now when she hears those she just looks at you as if to say
    YEAH, RIGHT!
    
    I think she needs to come back to Cattyshack for re-training!
    
    ;-)
    cin
    

    Alternate interpretation of C.A.T. = CATittude Adjustment Tool

    One thing that works wonders with Holly when she gets into a lets see if
    I can drive Little Bit to the North Pole mode is, I pick her up and
    shut her in a bedroom by herself for a few minutes.  She is so
    gregarious that
    doing that 2 or 3 times in a row will change her behavior completely.
    She back slides every few months and I have to do it again.