Warning: Feral Cats Along Boulder Glen Trail

Three cats attacked my dog this morning while my wife was walking him along Boulder Glen trail. Both my wife and the dog were scratched up and even followed by the cats afterward. Neither of my sons, with my wife at the time, were hurt.

Three cats conducting a coordinated attack is very unusual, especially when you consider that they went after the dog while he was accompanied by humans.

I'm adding this to the Forum for a couple reasons: to send out a warning to anybody in that general area; and to ask if anybody knows if the cats are feral or belong to somebody in the neighborhood.


Robzilla
"Whoa no. There goes Tokyo."

 

orange cats always outside belong to the house on the corner of vestals gap and gentle heights and backs up to the trail. were they orange?

 

Someone should call the HOA, it is obviously their responsibility to control these wild animals! (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

 

It's animal controls responsibility. Does not sound right at all. Could be rabid?

 

The cats were gray. And I've since spoken with my wife and gotten more info on the exact location. It happened along Truro Parish just beyond the woods. There's a good chance the cats belong to sombody on Awbrey (the attack occured along the trail that runs along the fences for Awbrey houses).

I've spoken with animal control and the HOA. The county will not place traps in this area and the HOA is willing to make the issue be known, but won't/can't do much more.



Robzilla
"Whoa no. There goes Tokyo."

 

Update: I tracked down the owner and spoke about the cats. Their shots are up-to-date. So, no feral, no rabies.


Robzilla
"Whoa no. There goes Tokyo."

 

well it's nice to know we have vampire kitties roaming around the neighborhood! i know there are leash laws for dogs, but i guess cats are free to travel around and attack at will. []

 

Hmmmm...I did hear a rumor about Siegfried and Roy moving to Ashburn...

 

Although I do not doubt the validity of the original post, it is extremely unusual for domestic cats to be so aggressive. Is there any indication that the cats felt threatened and therefore become aggressive?

Speaking of cats and leash, while not as common, it can be done. Due to our foreign service days and traveling routinely, my 4 cats are all leash trained. In fact, one of our cats is a three-legged wonder and I can walk him with a leash just like a dog. Never underestimate a cat; they can certainly be trained but I believe it does take a lot more patience than with a dog.

 

Doesn't the HOA have a rule about outdoor cats?? I thought NO animals were allowed outside without a leash?

 

There's nothing wrong with cats being outside. We moved here b/c the village had that rule and Broadlands didn't. Please don't turn this into some Dog vs cat war.

 

Actually I believe Broadlands does have that rule, I remember seeing it in the homeowner docs when we moved in 5 years ago. <<article 8, section 8.2.q: "Pets are not allowed on common area unles under the control (e.g., leash) of a human.">>
I have kitties, but their out door time is limited to the deck--I don't want road pizza (or fleas for that matter). I'm about ready to trap a troublesome tom and take him to the pound since he likes to sit on my window sills and bait my kitties, and I don't want a (literal) urinary olympiad to commence.

 

There's nothing wrong with cats being outside as long as they are confined to the owners property. I don't care to have strange cats on my patio, in my garage and on my front porch. I also don't care to listen to them fighting at night. It's just plain rude to allow pet cats to wander the neighborhood at will.

 

And how would you keep an outdoor cat on a specific property? Our cat is an indoor cat, but it is not possible to keep an outdoor cat on the owners property unless you use something like one of those collars that shock the animal, and I find those horrible.

When one has an outdoor cat they will wander the neighborhood, it's the nature of the beast.

M.
(with an image of Garfield wearing a shockcollar in her head)

 

It's "the nature of the beast" for a dog to wander the neighborhood as well but we don't allow that because of the nuisance they would be. Why should a cat be any different? If someone has an "outside" cat they chose to make it that way. If they can't find a way to confine the animal to their own property they need to make it an "indoor" cat. Why should I have to tolerate a cat spraying urine on my patio furniture? (which, I might add, is in a fenced yard) A roaming cat is a nuisance.

 

It's also really annoying when people leave there dog on their deck all day and night and they bark all day and night. It's also annoying when Dog owners use my yard and the common areas as a toilet.

Cat's are not like dogs. They do their own thing and can't be leashed except for a few. Thus the common area will be barred to all but a few cats. Maybe no animals should be let on the common area then and your dogs can use your own yard.

Not all cats spray. If you have a problem w/ a particular cat then spray it w/ a hose when it comes by your lawn. Don't take this out on all cats.

There is no leash law for cats in Loudoun law. There's a reason for that! It doesn't make sense. You dog folks who have leash envy need to understand that dogs can be dangerous, that's why they need leashes.

I am a dog person. I love german shepards. The bigger the better. But I don't have one b/c I don't have a yard big enough for what they deserve. Again, please don't start a dog/cat war. I will go the extra mile to raise a grass roots effort to keep this from going any further than it already has. Let's just let sleeping dogs lie and deal w/ it on your own personal level and not the community level.

 

Amen. But if the HOA requires all animals in common areas to be leashed, isn't the HOA essentially saying that outdoor cats are not allowed in Broadlands?

 

I'm fairly certain the language was left vague as not to upset the dog owners. Again Cats can't be leashed. If I lose rights over this there will be an issue that I will have to escalate the response and try to change the rule. If the HOA doesn't fine dog poopers then don't fine the cats. Everyone is happy and we can all deal with the individual problem mano y paw or mano y mano if need be.

 

No one made it a cat vs dog post. It's simply a debate as to whether cats should be allowed to roam freely about the neighborhood. I have nothing against cats, dogs or any pets. I have owned many in the past. I am simply stating It's inconsiderate to allow pets to wander unchecked.
BTW, I don't use a hose. I prefer the super soaker squirt gun.