Tonight, our neighborhood is a safer place to be- if you're a cat. For the almost three years I've lived here, the neighborhood cats have been bullied unmercilessly by an unneutered black-and-white male who, from what I can tell, belongs to no one. He has terrorized and beat up our oldest female cat for as long as I can remember. To say that it has been frustrating would be an understatement.
This afternoon, Susan and I finally decided to take matters into our own hands. We decided the time had come to relocate the bully. I was not wild about the idea of taking him to a shelter, where he would likely be put to death. Relocation seemed a more human option, and certainly one which would leave our cats feeling less on edge.
Our neighbor grabbed the cat, put him into one of our cat carriers, and is at this very moment driving over the Fred Hartman bridge into Baytown. The cat will be deposited at least ten miles, a bridge, and one body of water away. I'd like to say I'll miss him, but I'm just grateful to know that the 4 a.m. catfights will be ending- at least until the next bully moves into the neighborhood.
