Thread: When neighborhood strays become a problem

awww poor Merlin - traumatized!
Well, when he is around, get both Samson and Bengal Brat out - he'll get it in the end...
Also, name him. I notice that has a tendency to make them go away. Works for me anyway.

Our previous Maine Coon, Casey, sadly no longer with us due to kidney failure, was originally the neighbor's cat when I lived in town. Since they also owned three large, obnoxious dogs who were never walked or disciplined, he was pretty well relegated to their front yard. A huge and ferocious tom cat began to terrorize the neighborhood cats, including Casey. At the time I had no cats, only a sweet pit bull named Nellie who had gotten to know Casey somewhat. The first and second time she heard sounds of serious fighting next door I let her out and she chased the tom away. The third time, in the middle of the night, I let her out and she chased him so seriously that he never came back. I know she didn't hurt him but to have 80 pounds of pit bull hurtling after you would make even the meanest cat think twice. Casey was fully aware of what Nellie had done for him and began to adore her! She didn't quite know what to make of a cat that was rubbing himself against her (she was a rescue who had been raised without cats), but I praised her to high heaven and Casey would even come on walks with us after that, although I wouldn't let him get too far and always made sure he was back home safely. When I moved to a home in the hills the neighbors allowed us to adopt Casey and take him along, and he absolutely loved his new, large place where no one bothered him, although we only allowed him outside under supervision because of coyotes and other "cat-loving" creatures. Sadly by that time Nellie had passed away from a tumor but she will never leave my heart, having been a most special dog.

This story won't help you unless you're thinking of getting a "protection dog" for your kitties but I wanted to share this experience with you.