Orange Tabby...He Stays and His Name is Finn (Update with Videos Dec 31)

[ShrekDawg]

I don't know. Don't have a trap, would have to buy one, I guess. Geez, cat drama is making me nuts! I have enough to worry about. At least with dogs you can fence them in, but cats are a special PITA.


ETA: We will take him to the vet tomorrow. His right paw is obviously painful, plus he is really hurting all over, looks like to me.

Ah that stinks! Maybe the vet has one you could borrow! I know what you mean though. Ours used to get out and go all over. This one we don't let out anymore but she used to go out. Our first cat got attacked by a coyote, my dad found him and nursed him back to health, this one brought males to our yard lol we don't live in a rural area so I assumed all were neutered? But it was weird. She never got pregnant despite not being able to spay her right away. Once spayed all the males went away so maybe they weren't neutered haha

Anyway, is there any way you could put something over the fence so Finn can't get loose or other cats can't get in? Like maybe some chicken wire, snow fence, bird netting, or something cheap to put over the openings just he can't run through? Or coyote rollers over the top so he can't jump over? Or is the property too big for that? I'm used to smaller yards so it may not be practical on a bigger area.

That's good you're taking him to the vet though, hopefully he can patch him up! And maybe you could ask him about the fighting and the strays, he may have some advice or ideas on what to do.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Poor guy

Vet is the best choice. Our fixed male got in a fight with an intact tom, after his owners abandoned him when they moved (same owners that kept letting their lab mix attack and kill my chickens after being spoken to several time - dog was getting shot next time it showed up, good for it that they moved and took it with them). We took him to the vet, but they missed a wound on his back, which then abscessed, put pressure on his spine, paralyzed one of his back legs, and eventually we had to have it amputated. Cat fights are no joke.

Wow that's scary. Poor kitty.

 

[speckledhen]

Anyway, is there any way you could put something over the fence so Finn can't get loose or other cats can't get in? Like maybe some chicken wire, snow fence, bird netting, or something cheap to put over the openings just he can't run through? Or coyote rollers over the top so he can't jump over? Or is the property too big for that? I'm used to smaller yards so it may not be practical on a bigger area.

Nope, we have over 2 acres fenced with livestock fencing so the openings are as large as 4". He goes through the fence, not over it, though he jumps over the driveway gate. The game camera on the porch has not shown any other cats than Finn for weeks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ahh that stinks :/ that's definitely a lot of fence to cover and wow that's impressive he fits through 4 inch wire haha

 

[speckledhen]

He's on the way to the vet now. He slept since yesterday, hasn't even wanted to go out to potty. They may have to sedate him, shave some fur to assess his wounds. That nasty gray cat needs to go! Finn just had his shots in February so at least that's good.

I think all those cats that were dumped may have been killed by coyotes and other predators, have not seen those, but this gray cat has managed to survive. Finn hates him with a passion. DH said he would get close to them yowling at each other, call Finn to come, Finn would look at him, then go pounce on the other cat. So, Finn wanted him off our mountain and fought him all the way down the hill, yet again. The first time we saw him fighting with this cat in our yard, he didn't get scratched. When he came home hurt a week ago, and I thought he had been trapped, maybe that was the same cat. He is hurt worse this time, one paw is especially sore. He is adamant that that cat leave.

 

[speckledhen]

The vet said "He is such a good kitty!". He just laid there and let the doc examine him and give him an antibiotic shot. He said we got him there at the right time, that the wounds would have festered, already saw some pus coming from one of the puncture wounds. So he has antibiotics to take for the next ten days. Poor Finn. He wants to go out, but we're trying to get him to use a litter box. He's not happy about being corralled at all, but so sweet, as usual. The total was only $76, way less than the vet he's been going to. Both are good vets and both used to see our dogs, but this one just seems to have more reasonable fees, overall.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Glad you got Finn to vet when you did and got those antibiotics! Hopefully Finn will be on the mend soon.

And aw the poor boy! Doesn't understand being corralled and kept inside is for his own good. He'll be able to go out soon enough though.

Did the vet say anything about the other cat?

 

[speckledhen]

Did the vet say anything about the other cat?

Nope.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nope.

Hmm well hopefully you'll be able to keep him away or keep Finn away from him!

 

[N F C]

Cyn, so sorry to hear Finn has been hurt. You're right, that grey cat has to go!