The Ginger Tom From Next Door

[Threecats]

Good morning everyone,

A recent post requesting ways to deter a cat prompted me to tell this story😊

Ten years ago I took on three black cats, all rescue, a mother cat and her kitten, plus mum’s sister, ‘Auntie’ Nina, who actually spent more time looking after the kitten than her mother did and she still does to this day but that’s another story! Due to their background they are all very nervous and easily spooked. Fortunately, I lead a quiet life so they are quite happy here. I also leave a wardrobe door ajar with space for three cats on the shelf ( who needs room for clothes 🙄😊) for hiding purposes when the dustmen come etc.

All was peaceful in our world until my neighbours took on an ex-Tom rescue cat called Joe. Now Joe is a big, handsome, ginger fellow who had only just been ‘done’ when he moved in with my neighbours. Once he was allowed out and discovered he had three ladies living next door, he thought he’d died and gone to Heaven! 😹

He took to visiting my girls and trying to get through the cat flap ( it was locked but that didn’t stop him trying!) I came home one day to find them hiding in the wardrobe looking like maiden aunts who had just been goosed in the shrubbery🙀 I realised Something Had To Be Done, so I obtained a water pistol. Now this was no ordinary little water pistol, this was a whopping great thing with a large canister for the water and a pump action plunger that could send a jet of water  a good 20ft! I know that because I stood on my back step to try it and nearly squirted my neighbour in the ear!! He was going to his shed at the time and I had no idea it would shoot water that far. Thank goodness for the hedge being in the way - I think it gave him a bit of a turn though. I slid back indoors quickly before he saw me😄

One spring morning, I set my trap for Joe. He was quite punctual and would come visiting his new lady friends around 10.00 am, so I propped the cat flap open and waited. When I saw him casually stroll into the garden looking innocent, I took up my position, Rambo style, on the hall floor with my ‘weapon’ loaded and aimed at the open cat flap. I saw his shadow cautiously approaching as he climbed the back steps leading to the cat flap. He clearly couldn’t believe his luck that the flap was open. He sniffed eagerly all around it, his whiskers quivering and eyeballs shining with delight….. then he looked through the flap and, as they say in the best romantic films, our eyes met🙀 An expression of frozen horror came over his features as he took in the scene. He then launched himself about 4 foot into the air, which I thought impressive given that he’s quite portly  and he was off, over the handrail and back through the hedge without touching the ground, 😹 I never even got a squirt at him. Mind you, it took me 10 minutes to get up off the floor but it was worth it, he didn’t bother them again😆 

[Alberta56]

Joe looks a nice pussy, but a most unsuitable neighbour for your girls. Our Sooty was very nervous too. Once when we had visitors she disappeared. We eventually found her squeezed into the incredibly narrow gap between a cupboard and the wall. Not sure if she could have got out again unaided. Still anything better than facing dangerous visitors.😿😿😿xxx

[Threecats in reply to Alberta56]

You’re right Alberta! Auntie Nina once wedged herself under my bedside cabinet to hide from one of my dangerous visitors. Unfortunately it was the plumber who had to change a leaky radiator valve right next to the cabinet. In the end Nina’s nerve broke and she shot out and ran for it. She nearly gave the poor plumber a heart attack as he had no idea she was there🙀😹 …. that was before I came up with the wardrobe idea!

[Alberta56 in reply to Threecats]

How nice. A place of safety for cats.

[Hidden in reply to Alberta56]

Theres a naughty black poodle who gets walked in the park near us called Sooty!

[Alberta56 in reply to Hidden]

Our then neighbours named Sooty when she was still a feral hanging round all the local houses. They sometimes fed her as I did. They thought she was a boy.

[sassy59]

Great story Threecats and thank goodness your girls aren’t being pestered now. What a handsome boy Joe is though. Xxxx

[Threecats in reply to sassy59]

He certainly is! He always eyes me suspiciously when I go round to feed him whilst my neighbours are away - he carefully checks that I’m not carrying any offensive weapons before he comes to say hello😹😹

[peege]

I too have a giant water pisto l- a supersoaker . It's always at the ready by my back to fire at pigeons & seagulls how dare to perch in my tree or on the brick wall. I dont want them nesting & pooping in my little paved garden. Works a treat with the pigeons up to 30ft away.

[Threecats in reply to peege]

It’s certainly got a good range, Peege! Sounds ideal for the job😊

[Greenthorn in reply to peege]

You've given me ideas!

[Thepainterswife in reply to Greenthorn]

Me too , but then I don’t think I could actually shoot anything even with water. The greedy wood pigeons are my problem but I know I’d feel guilty if I frightened them 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

[Thepainterswife in reply to peege]

😂🤣😂 omg I can’t believe I’m associating with supersoaker -toting mercenaries- I’m seeing oil smeared sweating bodies with bands around the foreheads and camouflage across the cheeks where I used to see such gentle people 🙀 🐦🔫😂

[Greenthorn in reply to Thepainterswife]

You've given me more ideas!

[Threecats in reply to Thepainterswife]

You’d be amazed 🤣🤣

[MoyB]

I absolutely loved reading your account of Joe and his Ladies, so much so that I've just read it out to my husband. We are both still chuckling!

Glad to know you got up off the floor in the end and Joe is no longer bothering the girls.

xx Moy

[Threecats in reply to MoyB]

Glad you both enjoyed it Moy 😊xx

[Donald_1931]

What a wonderful tail. If you could write one of those each day, or even every other day, for the duration I will die with a smile on my face. 😍xx

[Threecats in reply to Donald_1931]

Glad you liked it, Don. You’ve got more years in you than I’ve got stories😊xx

[Greenthorn in reply to Threecats]

Or one each week ha ha.

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

What a great story of your ginger neighbors, it must have been a funny site. Thank you so much for sharing. You have a lovely day and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

[Threecats in reply to Damon1864]

Thanks Bernadette, I hope you and Jack enjoy the rest of your day too😊xx

[Karenanne61]

😂😂❤️

[Oscarpebbles2021]

Love the pic of Joe, He, looks abit like, my lovely Oscar who is, a loving soul with a funny character. Loves, attention and tummy tickles, attaching a pic..

Colour pic

[Threecats in reply to Oscarpebbles2021]

Oscar looks a beautiful cat and sounds like he has a lovely nature too. Thank you for posting his picture.

[Alberta56 in reply to Oscarpebbles2021]

He looks a beautiful cat. i like ginger toms. xxx

[Hidden in reply to Alberta56]

The ginger tabbys are really friendly aren't they?

[Alberta56 in reply to Hidden]

My first feline love was next door's neglected ginger tom. He came to me for affection and cornflakes. (He must have been hungry.) Like Sooty he was a bit of a weed and never stood up to Nicholas Thomas, the fine alpha male cat from a few doors down. Nick was named for a little kitten whose adventures were told on the radio. He did not remain a dear little kitty for long. 😸😸😸xxx

[O2Trees]

Wonderful story !!!

[Threecats in reply to O2Trees]

Thank you 😊

[SORRELHIPPO]

I love the sound of the maiden aunts>

[Threecats in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

😄 it was the look of shocked surprise on their faces 🙀Mind you, both adults had previously had an encounter with a gentleman caller before I took them on, so I suppose it stirred up memories!😹

[Greenthorn]

Loved the story. I too bought a water gun. I even repainted it in colours that pleased me. Unlike you, I got to use the gun several times, shooting on a cat on the fence or a cat on the fringes of the garden. They make an awful squeal on being hit by a shoot of water and get the hell out of my garden. I haven't used the water gun this year but your story reminds me that I could do with some cat shooting practice. Its fun haha. Once there was a fox in my garden, staring at me eye to eye, sizing me up I reckon. I was scared, he wasn't that far away from me. (This is a town garden.) I think the fox bottled it before I did. Thankfully there was then a gap in the fence and he climbed through it with pace. I don't think a fox could get in my garden patio now. If he or she did, I think I would die. 😂

[Threecats in reply to Greenthorn]

Oh Greenthorn, I’m an animal lover. I would never deliberately squirt the water gun directly at a cat. My ‘trap’ was a very much last resort due to the stress he was causing my cats and all other deterrents having failed. The jet that comes out of my squirter is very forceful and would be quite painful I should imagine, so my plan was to shoot past him with the idea it would scare him off. I can’t condone shooting up cats for fun! Maybe the cats sent the fox round to have a word😄

[Greenthorn in reply to Threecats]

Whoops. Actually my aim was above the cat to give him a shower! If the cat were quick, he'd never get wet.Your last sentence is probably true.😂

[Ergendl]

Love it. Yes we had one of those pump action spray guns. Looks really cookie in the hands of 60+ year olds.

[Threecats in reply to Ergendl]

So long as it works, Ergendl, I don’t mind😄My neighbour already thinks I’m nuts after the incident with the fish (a story for another day) so me running about with a spray gun wouldn’t surprise him🤣

[B0xermad]

Ha ha that's so funny 😆 thank you ,I now have an image of a stealth mission of you lying in wait🤣

[Threecats]

😂I’m ok on the stealth mission, so long as no one expects me to get up off the floor in a hurry 🤣

[1947Mags]

Great first laugh out loud for a long time, I can picture both you and the cat take care Mags

[Threecats in reply to 1947Mags]

😊 glad about that x

[Hidden]

He's a handsome lad!

[Threecats in reply to Hidden]

He is that and he knows it!How’s Baby doing? Still being spoilt I imagine 😊

[Hidden in reply to Threecats]

Baby is extremely hot under her fancy collar in regard to the heat and thinks that we control the weather and is driving us mad with bad tempered meows and yes she is still getting spoilt with her Monday treats!

[Threecats in reply to Hidden]

Yes, my lot are fed up with the heat too!

[Blackcat99]

🐱🤣🤣

[Izb1]

This made me laugh out loud. I have a jug of water ready for when I see the cats that poop in my garden, the trouble is they usually do it when i am not around x

[Threecats in reply to Izb1]

😄 glad it gave you a laugh x

[watergazer]

🤣. I can picture the scene. I’ve now filled up a squirt bottle with water for when our cat , who likes to leave his waste on our grass , ventures on next time. The citrus spray was maybe 50% successful

[Threecats in reply to watergazer]

I tried leaving citrus peel around the cat flap at first, to deter him but his desire to see my ladies was obviously stronger as it didn’t!

[mytabbycats]

That was brilliant!

[Threecats in reply to mytabbycats]

Thank you😊

[Jane2005]

Love this story ❤ 😅

[Threecats in reply to Jane2005]

😊x

[garshe]

Great you got,rid of the Ginger Tom. I an very wary of cats as my friend was scrammed on her hand by her cat. Apparently the cat had been in contact with a rat. .she almost lost her hand and arm.It was horrendous and looked gross as scabbed over and unsightly. The hospital called it The Thing

She recovered but her hand is ,deformed put me right off cats as they do bring rats etc nto house. Xxkeep safe Sheila xx🐱🐺

.

[Threecats in reply to garshe]

Yes, scratches from cats can be nasty. I’m glad your friend recovered. I must say though, that Joe is a lovely cat, a very gentle soul, he just has a bit of a penchant for the ladies!

[blueskies--2]

Fabulous story threecats, cats oh so funny at times and very clever. Thanks for your story Enjoyed read.

[Threecats in reply to blueskies--2]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it😊

[dunnellon]

What a funny story! We use the big water gun on the squirrels when we spot them climbing the pole to the bird feeder! I always miss, but it gives them a run!

[Threecats in reply to dunnellon]

Thank you😊 I can imagine the water gun does! Mind you, they’re determined little beasties, so I imagine you have your work cut out keeping them off your bird feeder!

[Thepainterswife]

🤣😂🤣😂 that’s hilarious , I don’t know what’s more funny the maiden aunts recovering from the ordeal in the shrubbery or you channeling Sylvester Stallone with a giant water pistol . Priceless 😂😭 x

[Threecats in reply to Thepainterswife]

🤣🤣 Rambo hast got a patch on me and my water gun🤣x

[Thepainterswife in reply to Threecats]

I don’t doubt it and with some of the replies im beginning to think this group is a cover for covert ops ! 🔫👀😂

[Qr83k_-Jd]

That is ssoo hilarious I laughed so much I nearly went myself. It really was funny to think of the cats face (which you described so well) when you were staring through the cat flap. I bet he got a shock but, has he ever come back to the cat flap? Thankyou for sharing this funny story. It takes me ages to get up off the floor so you are not alone.

[Threecats in reply to Qr83k_-Jd]

I’m glad you enjoyed my little tale 😊 Also glad I’m not the only one who forgets I’m no longer 21 when I get the bright idea to lay on the floor!!

[Qr83k_-Jd in reply to Threecats]

To true Threecats it's awful really but that's life so they say.

[Threecats]

Put it this way, I was glad I wasn’t the one who was going to wash his trousers after that fright😂 He said he thought it was an enormous rat! As if I’d have one of those in my bedroom 🙄😂

[Threecats]

Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad my little tale brought you some pleasure.

[Threecats]

Yes, poo in the flower beds can be a downside for sure!

[poppyshola]

Aw bless, I realised upon having my first tom cat castrated, he was no longer one of the gang .. the only cats that would play with him were kittens and as soon as they grew up they went their own way ...and with that in mind do you think he might have wanted to make friends with the girls ? And even they've got the wrong end of the stick .. 🙂 ?Still , now he's realised they got a pistol wielding Dad

😜 I'm sure they don't need to worry about that now 😃I loved your story ... especially the surprise earful the neighbour got whilst you discreetly slid out of sight

😂😂😂It's a good job we don't live close by .. cos your little antics would be right up my street and I would want to assist

😂

[Threecats in reply to poppyshola]

Aww, I’m sad to hear about your ex-tomcat not having playmates. I think you’re right. Joe’s a lovely cat and very friendly, even with me when I go and feed him whilst his mum & dad are away. Although he checks what I’m carrying first - just in case, you understand😂 Unfortunately, my girls being of a very nervous disposition, didn’t appreciate his friendly overtures🙀😹

It was certainly a narrow squeak with the neighbour! Never was I more grateful for a hedge😄 He hasn’t forgotten the episode with the fish yet - a story for another day😂

As for me, I’m a water pistol toting Mama just looking after her girls 🤣🤣

[poppyshola]

😂😂 I understand. Poor girls ... we all know the intentions of a frustrated tom.. I do wonder if the tom does understand his little tadpoles are no longer with him, so he's wasting his time 😏Wouldn't it be nice if his owners got him a lady friend of his own 😊

We can't complain... we have a castrated tom and a neutered female of our own and to the left of us our neighbour now only has two now .. the neighbour to the right had a beautiful grey female but they suspect she was poisoned after she came home and died in the man's lap one day... bless her she was in agony... he was so upset..

the remaining ones all get on fine

😆