Wandering ‘orange menace’ picks fights with other cats
Yawning tabby takes a short break from asserting her native feline superiority.
Submitted Photo
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I wish there was something I could do about the cat that lives on the end of our street. His owners let him roam whenever he wants, and he really disrupts our lives. The big orange menace goes from house to house, challenging the other cats, and getting into fights. My cat, who stays in our house, and on our porch, was once attacked by this bully and even got an abscess from the bites. But the worst thing of all, this neighbor cat also makes a special effort to come over and use my beautiful front planter garden as his personal litter box, and glares at me when he finishes his business. I tried talking to the cat’s owners about it, but they don’t do anything to stop it. They actually chuckled a little when I told them, and promised to keep him inside, but three days later he was back in my garden again. Also the cat is a filthy mess and looks like it has not been cared for in years. Although I am angry and feel hurt by my neighbors’ lack of respect, I feel bad for the cat and was considering taking him over to Pet’s Lifeline and dropping him off as a feral just to get him out of the neighborhood. What do you think of this solution?
Westside Mom
Dear Mom: I do not advise taking someone else’s pet in and dropping it off as if it were a feral cat, no matter how unruly the pet is behaving. This would be cruel and unfair as well as illegal. In the state of California, pets are still considered personal property, so you would in effect be stealing the neighbors’ property and surrendering it to an agency because you are irritated with their irresponsible behavior and disrespect. However, you certainly have the right to call animal control and report the pet as suffering from neglect or abuse if you feel this is the case. They can take a report and contact your neighbors on your behalf, which might send a powerful message they need to hear.
Now, let’s talk about the REAL root of your upset. When a cat poops in your prize begonias, then glares at you and slightly squints his eyes, he is really one-upping you.
I see that glimmer of supremacy from cats when I examine them, and I imagine they are simply informing me of their feline superiority.
Perhaps one good way to fight back with this pusillanimous pussy would be to arm yourself with a high-quality toy squirt gun. Be well prepared for his next visit to your garden, and when kitty is fertilizing your planter, give him a good water squirt where it counts. This should deter future droppings, and may curb his enthusiasm for gardening at your house altogether.
The orange cat’s health is a concern, because if he harbors diseases such as FELV or FIV these could be passed on to other cats during a fight or through secretions. I would suggest you keep your cat inside and make sure all his vaccines are current, and send a note to the neighbors outlining your concerns about the situation. But please, avoid taking their pet to the pound, or you may start a war you’ll regret.
Thanks for a good question, and I hope this helps.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: Do you think pets can live happily with only three legs? My husband and I are facing a surgery for our pet and want to believe that she will be OK.
JS, Sonoma
Dear JS: Yes. I have a number of patients, both cats and dogs, that live completely full, happy lives on three legs. One of my clients recently told me that her cat spends a considerable amount of time bird watching on the roof despite missing her rear leg due to an amputation. Another client says that his tri-pod dog is still the “alpha” in the family and corrals the four other dogs just as usual. Amputation due to cancer in that limb only slowed him down for a short time, and he is back, bigger, badder, and less forgiving, than before according to his owner.
Although losing an entire limb is no small matter, pets nevertheless transition through the operation and recovery period remarkably well in general and tend to have a mental strength that is quite impressive. In my experience, they are so resolute and unhampered by human fear that they progress surprisingly fast and are inspirational. I am amazed at the pets, these “givers of joy,” and how they continue to teach us about strength, fortitude and how precious life is. I suspect your pet will shine through in a similar way.
Thanks for a great question and best of luck to your family.
Dr. F
