Out of control cats

The Stephens Island wren became extinct because of the lighthouse keeper’s cat. The only European to ever see the Stephens Island wren alive was David Lyall, the lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island in 1894. Stephens Island is the northern-most island in the Marlborough Sounds. David Lyall reported that his cat had brought him 17 birds, which were all the same species (they were later named the Stephens Island wren). The cat hunted the wren, which could not fly, and the wren became extinct soon after it was discovered. In fact, the Stephens Island wren was discovered and then became extinct within the space of a year. Thanks to a cat!
Credits: Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of NZ)

I suspect that the lighthouse keeper’s cat was the ancestor of the big, ginger tom that has been munching up birds and destroying the peace in my neighbourhood for the best part of this month. I am not sure if this cat has a home as it has taken to living under my house. It prowls the neighbourhood, caterwauling all day and night, fighting with every other cat around, and generally making life hell for birds, pets and people.

GingerTom is timid of people and scuttles off the moment I open the door, so catching him is proving tricky. In my neighbourhood, people tend to be quite quiet. Not so now, throughout the day one can hear loud calls of, “shoo”, “get outa here”, “scram” (although one nearby chap uses phrases I cannot repeat here). The weight of this large tomcat has been destroying a trellis and residents are reporting that the lack of sleep is driving them mad (I know the feeling!). There is no point coming to your councillor though as all council can do about this out of control tom, is provide us with a trap. We already know that this cat is wary of boxes of any kind, so I don’t hold out much hope of catching him.
A very large and powerful water pistol is probably going to be my next purchase.