Would you report this?

[YorksG]

OP I think you need to decide how much of a problem this is for you. It is quite possible for the situation regarding the cat feceas in his house and other issues re hygene, to be dealt with under the National Assistance Act, by the local authority. Just be aware that you may well be instrumental in changing this mans lifestyle, beyond recognition. If someone, especially someone who is not aware of the complexities of rural life, decrees that this man lacks the capacity to continue to live alone, he may well be placed in some variety of 'care'. He will be forced into close proximity with other people, none of them necessarily people who he would wish to spend time with, or have anything in common with. I recall many years ago, a situation with an elderly lady with many horses (all in good condition, but not conventially housed) who was faced with just this type of 'concern'. She ended up forced out of her home, into a LA bungalow, with two cats for company. I would not wish the forced change on my worst enemy, never mind an elderly man with what others consider is too many cats. If he kept his cats in and was a 'cat hoarder' I could see the need, but these cats come and go and return to his home, if not killed by the OP's dogs!

 

[flying solo]

Oakash that's harsh, you can't just shoot everything! Its not the cats fault.

 

[White socks]

Why wasn't the black one neutered at the same time and realeased back to him?

 

[JingleTingle]

Sounds as if your best action would be to report to the local council. You could also warn the cat owner that you will shoot any cats seen on your land. He sounds as if he would not be concerned over that, anyway. Do not go to a cat charity. They may re-home cats, which kill some 9 million song-birds a year. The cat is something wjhich we could really do without, so a clean shot is probably the most humane solution - I do it all the time.

I'm sorry but I dont find that suggestion at all acceptable - if you had carefully read my posts you would realise that half the problem is my distress over the condition of these poor cats and also, the horrendous death some of them have suffered by my dogs!

I also feed wild birds - but in no way would I condone either shooting or poisoning these cats - a neighbouring farmer offered to set poison for them - an offer I declined as it would be an awful death for ALL of the cats and a huge risk to wildlife.

Thank you for your response but not really helpful IMO.

 

[FionaM12]

I recall many years ago, a situation with an elderly lady with many horses (all in good condition, but not conventially housed) who was faced with just this type of 'concern'. She ended up forced out of her home, into a LA bungalow, with two cats for company. I would not wish the forced change on my worst enemy, never mind an elderly man with what others consider is too many cats. If he kept his cats in and was a 'cat hoarder' I could see the need, but these cats come and go and return to his home, if not killed by the OP's dogs!

I understand your concern, but unlike the lady you're remembering, these cats are NOT in good condition. The gentleman himself sees there's a problem as he's asked a charity to take some away, for the second time.

 

[LucyAnn3434]

I feel for the OP, she's asking advice and has to be on the receiving end of complete tosh. She clearly cares about the welfare of both the elderly gentlemen and his cats. Shooting cats because they kill birds... hmm. I don't think a carnivorous animal could survive on this planet if we all took that attitude. A cull of certain individuals with selfish intolerant attitudes would be far more beneficial.

 

[FionaM12]

The cat is something wjhich we could really do without, so a clean shot is probably the most humane solution - I do it all the time.

Are you actually saying you shoot other peoples' pets "all the time"?

If so, I think that's outragious, and quite wicked.

 

[JingleTingle]

OP I think you need to decide how much of a problem this is for you. It is quite possible for the situation regarding the cat feceas in his house and other issues re hygene, to be dealt with under the National Assistance Act, by the local authority. Just be aware that you may well be instrumental in changing this mans lifestyle, beyond recognition. If someone, especially someone who is not aware of the complexities of rural life, decrees that this man lacks the capacity to continue to live alone, he may well be placed in some variety of 'care'. He will be forced into close proximity with other people, none of them necessarily people who he would wish to spend time with, or have anything in common with. I recall many years ago, a situation with an elderly lady with many horses (all in good condition, but not conventially housed) who was faced with just this type of 'concern'. She ended up forced out of her home, into a LA bungalow, with two cats for company. I would not wish the forced change on my worst enemy, never mind an elderly man with what others consider is too many cats. If he kept his cats in and was a 'cat hoarder' I could see the need, but these cats come and go and return to his home, if not killed by the OP's dogs!

That is also part of my problem - it is now a huge issue for us as the cat population grows - but I am also well aware of rural situations like this with some older members of the community. And I would not want to interfere in his lifestyle in any way if it DID NOT AFFECT me and my property so much. He has no running water, no toilet, no electricity - there is cats mess on every available floor space within his crumbling home!

Please do not suggest I am a 'blow in' to the countryside who is complaining about a few farm cats wandering around! I assure you nothing could be further from the case - and my concern for changing his lifestyle (his choice) dramatically is holding me back - that is why I have asked for suggestions as to how I can best deal with this.

 

[YorksG]

As the man in question is looking for help, I fail to see how the OP considers that she needs to report this to the council, surely the most sensible way forward is to approach a different cat charity, preferably not the RSPCA as they do not deal well with elderly people with mutliple animals.

 

[newbie_nix]

What a stupid answer. Good luck to anyone that shot my cat... be the last thing they did!

Yep same here, if anyone shot my cat I would go ballistic. I agree that the stray cat population is out of control (which is why we adopted and swiftly neutered our 2 rescue kittens) but in the hands of responsible owners, healthy pet cats make fantastic pets and help with pest control - great at controlling rodents!

I am a fully paid up bird loving member of RSPB and I manage to stop ours from killing birds most of the time. They have safety collars with bells (and a tracking device!) and are kept in from the afternoon onwards and overnight. Although its true that cats, collectively do kill a lot of birds (of which mine only account for a handful every year) research I have seen suggests that the biggest danger to birds is MAN. Habitat destruction has a much more devastating effect.

Anyway OP I really feel for you, what a horrid situation to be in, it would break my heart too. You definitely need to report this situation to someone, be it the council or cats protection/RSPCA. Good luck!

 

[FionaM12]

Why wasn't the black one neutered at the same time and realeased back to him?

That would have been a good idea, but I think the OP said he hid the cat's existence from them? Perhaps that or another charity could be persuaded to do the same as last time, but ask him to select his favourite and neuter it.

 

[JingleTingle]

Why wasn't the black one neutered at the same time and realeased back to him?

It was a large white cat that was his late mother's car - he called it Mother Cat He hid it away in an outlaying shed when myself and the charity trapped and took all the other females and kittens. He told me she had been long gone! Within a week I spotted her and questioned him - he just shrugged and grew red.....what could I do?

 

[CorvusCorax]

A lot of the charities will be (not totally, but partially) hamstrung by the fact that the animals have food and shelter.

While I do not think that they need shooting by the OP do these poor inbred saps really sound like ideal rehoming candidates when there are thousands (and will be thousands more after the NY when people chuck out their Christmas presents ) already in rescue with no health or mental issues, looking for homes? It would probably be a kindness for a lot of them to be humanely PTS.

ETA I have had an inbred cat, it constantly had thick green gunge streaming from eyes and nose, slept most of the time, was very 'slow' compared to a healthy cat and died young. It was not a happy existence.

Railing at Oakash will not help the OP

 

[appledoberman]

Sounds as if your best action would be to report to the local council. You could also warn the cat owner that you will shoot any cats seen on your land. He sounds as if he would not be concerned over that, anyway. Do not go to a cat charity. They may re-home cats, which kill some 9 million(or is it 50 million) song-birds a year. The cat is something wjhich we could really do without, so a clean shot is probably the most humane solution - I do it all the time.

troll-eeeeeeeeeeee

 

[LucyAnn3434]

Since they are already around, I think those that can be, deserve the opportunity to be rehomed. However, they should all be neutered and spayed to prevent any more kittens being born. Maybe he ought to have a restriction on the animals he keeps. I always ensure none of my pets can re-produce and always rescue.
What I can't understand, why does he even have cats? He doesn't strike me as a cat lover of sorts. Very odd.

 

[FionaM12]

troll-eeeeeeeeeeee

Doesn't look like a troll, as she/he seems to have posted frequently before.

I agree this post is the kind of nasty stuff trolls write just to wind people up though.

 

[JingleTingle]

Doesn't look like a troll, as she/he seems to have posted frequently before.

I agree this post is the kind of nasty stuff trolls write just to wind people up though.

Am I being accused of trolling? I really do not understand this forum - I have myself suspected some posters of trolling in the past. But I can absolutely assure you this is NOT a trolling thread!!!

I do not think I am in any way a typical type of poster that starts threads to wind anyone up for no good reason! I think if you go back through any of my posts this will be born out!

For heaven's sake - I am an elderly lady who has a very distressing problem that is rapidly getting out of hand. As I do not want to start anything in motion to deal with this neighbour without very carefully weighing up just where it might lead, I felt a few unbiased opinions might be of some use. Providing those suggestion were from the more reasonable and higher IQ members of H&H it could have been of great assistance to me!!!

To attempt to turn this into yet another pointless and pathetic attempt to whip up some troll hysteria to entertain yourselve's is a sad reflection on what was, at one time a helpful, articulate and reasoning forum. And is of absolutely no help to me either.

 

[Lolo]

I would report him to environmental health. I did some work experience with them ages ago (by accident!) and there was a case of a elderly woman living in similar conditions. They took the cats to the vet, all cats were put down (all terribly malnourished, inbred and very ill- it was so sad) and her house was essentially fumigated before she was moved back in with a someone who came to check on her every day...

 

[Mare Stare]

Am I being accused of trolling? I really do not understand this forum - I have myself suspected some posters of trolling in the past. But I can absolutely assure you this is NOT a trolling thread!!!

I do not think I am in any way a typical type of poster that starts threads to wind anyone up for no good reason! I think if you go back through any of my posts this will be born out!

For heaven's sake - I am an elderly lady who has a very distressing problem that is rapidly getting out of hand. As I do not want to start anything in motion to deal with this neighbour without very carefully weighing up just where it might lead, I felt a few unbiased opinions might be of some use. Providing those suggestion were from the more reasonable and higher IQ members of H&H it could have been of great assistance to me!!!

To attempt to turn this into yet another pointless and pathetic attempt to whip up some troll hysteria to entertain yourselve's is a sad reflection on what was, at one time a helpful, articulate and reasoning forum. And is of absolutely no help to me either.

They weren't talking about you - they were talking about Oakash and the comment about shooting the cats to save the birds.

 

[JingleTingle]

Maybe if I post a photograph of the multiple cats scurrying and *****'eing around my property you might offer some sort of apology??

I will attempt to do this within the next day or so - even if it is just to get you professional troll hunters to think twice before you upset somebody even more than they already have. I do not usually post on things that concern me but for once I am at a loss and very distressed, I had hoped for something other than false accusation and derision.

 

[JingleTingle]

They weren't talking about you - they were talking about Oakash and the comment about shooting the cats to save the birds.

Sorry - Im just so totally fed up with it all I just assumed it was aimed at me......I withdraw my tantrum!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Hot port for Grumpyoldmare!!!

Apart from anything, cats welfare aside, it cannot be healthy for the old boy to be up to his neck in cat pee and poo and he clearly isn't coping. He and the OP are the most important people to consider.

 

[FionaM12]

Sorry - Im just so totally fed up with it all I just assumed it was aimed at me......I withdraw my tantrum!

Understandable when you're feeling low and sensitive over such a distressing situation.

Your concern for both the elderly man and his cats is commendable, given that his lifestyle is actually causing you such grief. I hope you find a way of resolving it.

 

[Luci07]

I think you are in a dreadful position...

Why not contact a charity like MIND? To understand what the impact would be if you raise this to the authorities attention? As this is clearly what is really worrying you and the at least you will have more information on what could happen to this man. In terms of the cats..I think that would have to wait till after you know what options you have.

And as for cat chasing ... Mine all will, and the youngest used to live with a cat..