*Creepy Cat Encounter

[echickenlove]

Either that or its a feral cat. I have seen feral cats that act agressive also. Could be the cat was trying to take it's next meal. Definantly be careful letting your chicken outside until something can be done about it.

 

[d.k]

No sign of Creepy Cat today at all, thank goodness. Thanks for all the info, guys.

 

[Gersbud]

Glad to hear that you didn't see creepy cat today. I have some cat problems with my neighbor cats but my one EE hen likes to chase them away and my little Rudy roo just watchs.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I was gonna say the same thing. A feral that's had absolutely no exposure to humans wouldn't know how to act and wouldn't necessarily just run away like you'd expect them to. The first thing Killer Kitty did when I caught her was to take a chunk outta my finger. Her half-sister was the same way. Both ferals.

 

[lacyloo]

wow creepy

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I would definately set out a live-trap for it. By trapping it and calling animal control to come get it, you solve the little problem and maybe even save yourself a HUGE problem(like being treated for a rabies bite). If the cat is just an aggressive ferel, it is still a danger to you and your animals. If it is a rabid cat, it poses a HUGE threat to you, your animals, and everything living in the area.

Just suspecting that it may be rabid would bring the .22 out of the closet and set by the door for the cat's next visit. Rabies are something you really do not want to gamble with, think of all those signs and symptoms of rabies and now imagine them on that big neighborhood dog down the street or any of your animals.

Set out a trap for it and hand it off to animal control. If it is just a ferel, then you're just protecting your critters. If it is rabid, then you've protected you and your critters and the rest of the area and now your area can be marked with a rabies warning.

-Kim

 

[d.k]

*Don't have any guns, AC lead is supposed to call me back, and ckg w/ neighbors tomorrow to see if anybody knows Creepy Cat. . . . Might be able to borrow a catch trap from next dr. (if it's big enough for this bugger!) . . . .

 

[gila_dog]

How dangerous is it to handle a rabid animal, dead or alive? If you live trap it, what then? If it slobbers on your trap, is it dangerous for you or some other animal to come in contact with that later? If you kill a rabid animal, what precautions should you take while removing it and burying it?

We had some rabid foxes in our area last summer. A tourist got bit by one. The forest service killed that one and 9 others thru the summer. They said local citizens killed more. They said this could become a big problem as other animals, like skunks, coyotes, cats, dogs, etc. start catching the disease. This is a serious matter. Where we live there isn't any "animal control". I suppose you could call the county sheriff and eventually someone might show up. But it's better to be able to do you own animal control.

 

[chcknrs]

Rabid animals will also get hydrophobia, I think in the second stage, which is a fear of water, so tossing some water their way should work. But I do have to agree that you need to be able to be your own animal control, just in case. We have seven acres, and the .22 is always handy.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
**EVERY ANIMAL CAUGHT IN A TRAP SHOULD BE TREATED AS THOUGH IT COULD BE RABID**

I had to make sure to get that point across, lol. You NEVER know when an animal can be carrying a disease(Rabies being the most dangerous). Any animal caught in a trap or recently shot, needs to be treated with much caution.

If you've trapped an animal stay out of reach of teeth and claws. Some coons can and will reach through the cage to grab a person. If you NEED to move the trap, put on some thick leather gloves and a move the trap as quickly as possible. If it was me, I would put on a pair of thick gloves just to snap a dog leash onto the trap so I could drag it. Leave the animal in the trap until animal control(or whoever) comes to get it. If no one is coming to retrieve the animal, go ahead and shoot it. Do NOT release the animal somewhere else, this is usually illegal(because it's the fastest way to spread rabies).

If you want someone to come retrieve an animal you could try any of the following: animal control, animal shelter, local animal hospitals, police(not 911!), or a wildlife rehabilitator. If any of these people can't help you or don't know who can help you, I would think your only option would be to dispatch the animal. Personally, I think shooting would be the safest bet, especially if suspected of rabies.

If you are not trapping, shoot anything acting strangely(cats acting strangely aggressive, fox/coon acting strangely friendly, etc). Make SURE the animal is dead before any kind of handling. When handling a potentially rabid dead animal, where rubber gloves. Rabies is passed via body fluids(saliva and blood, mainly). If you want to have it tested for rabies, place the carcass into a plastic trash-bag and call those numbers listed and see who can help you out. If your not going to test for rabies, bury the animal DEEP. You don't want anything digging it up and eating it.

As far as the trap itself, I would carefully clean it with a pair of thick rubber gloves and straight bleach(gotta love bleach, it kills everything).

I know my posts make me sound like a trigger-happy animal serial killer, but I'm not I assure you!

We haven't had a rabies warning around here in a awhile(that I know of), but this post would be how I would react(I've got animals and family to protect).

-Kim