The Quack "returns" (the grand finale)

After consulting several very experienced cat caregivers, they told me that after seeing so many alpha-, mutant- and outer-space cats, territorial and aggressive behaviour does not change after neutering. The only thing that does change is the absence of the sexual urge. Several vets confirmed this too. Once territorial, usually still territorial.

Well, I have six titans who are neutered and spayed, so tell me about it. I totally agree.

So, you've got to detect whether an aggressive cat is being so because it is territorial or it just wants to mate. Well, the Quack was going after Ginger, who is male, and Rosie, who is a spayed female. Unless the Quack is terribly confused, I think he is territorial and not just wanting to mate.

That being the case, these friends told me that I would be foolish to release the Quack back to this neighbourhood. My husband totally concurred. He said I would be making a grave mistake if I did. Is there any guarantee the Quack would not attack Ginger again? Can you take that chance?

No, I cannot.

So I asked a friend and as luck would have it, he said I was willing to take over the Quack for rehoming. If the Quack cannot find a home, he can live on in his cat community.

Okay, I guess that's what I'd have to do, for Ginger and Rosie's sake, and goodness knows how many more he had terrorised. I know the Quack will be safe with this trusted friend.

So, I drove to the clinic to pick up the Quack.

 Hey you!

He was still a bit drowsy.

The vet was very busy, but the vet's assistant told me the Quack was SO fierce, he created havoc in the clinic. Apparently, he tried to scale the glass panel and they had to use the net.

Oh dear...I guess I should not be surprised. Anything less would have been quite "disappointing", so to speak.

I hope he did not cause any major damage to the clinic or grievous injury to the vet or his assistants.

I paid the bill and took the carrier out with the Quack inside. This time I put him in the back seat. He was still drowsy so I don't suppose he would escape and kill me, right?

I drove, slowly, at only 50-60km/h, very gentle on the bumpy road, to my friend's place.

The Quack was quiet. I played Il Volo in the car.

Italian music, Mr Quack?

 We reached my friend's place.

 A cage had been prepared and the Quack was still a wee bit drowsy.

Gosh, he looks so innocent, doesn't he?

  I asked the vet to notch his ear, so that's done.

I then said goodbye to the Quack. *Sniff, sniff*...not that we were ever close, but I think I'm going to miss the Quack and I hope he'll forgive me for relocating him without his consent.

I don't think I will ever forget him, especially the way he looks whenever he sees me feeding Daffodil and the rest. But I just cannot take that chance, Mr Quack, not when experienced cat caregivers have already warned me that neutering is not going to change the behaviour of a territorial cat. And I consider myself really lucky that this friend offered to take him. I know he will be safe.

I drove home. A little sad. It's strange how this sort of thing gets to you.

 Time to clean up everything. This is the tupperware bowl I had used for the "bait".

 That's the blue ribbon that saved the day.

 The carrier, all taped up by my husband after the Quack was caught.

 Have to disinfect the carrier properly now, to be on the safe side.

 Ginger came into the house. He even went upstairs.

 Who is that?

My brood has only seen Rosie and not Ginger so Tiger raised the alert and Bunny came to investigate.

 Ginger is still a little unsure.

I'm quite certain Rosie is his older sister. This boy is SO tame, timid and innocent. I mean, look at that face...It's no wonder that the Quack picked on him.

 Ginger, you're completely safe now.

No more Quack.

But just keep to our compound and please don't go to the neighbours.

And so ends the Chronicles of the Quack. Sorry if it's a bit of an anti-climax, but this is the real world, folks.

For entertainment, how about The Hobbit? I hear it's quite good. I'm going to watch it and maybe I can pick up a trick or two from Gandalf or Lord Alron or the elves. I hear they are smart people. We need to be quite smart to deal with highly evolved beings...from outer space.

Updates: Nope, not watching The Hobbit: http://www.peta.org/features/the-hobbit-unexpected-cruelty.aspx

 The End