Responsible people who have no other alternative but euthanasia have their pets put to sleep painlessly by vets. Only creeps and sadists drown animals.

The cat could have hyperthyroidism or some kind of other disorder that can be controlled with medication. It may not be just behavioral. Although the symptoms weren't nearly as severe in my cat, she had a change of personallity, ravenous eating, continual meowing as a result of hyperthyroidism.

Burlap Bag.

Rocks.

Lake.

Seriously.

but even if your male cat has been neutered, it is possible for him to have had an extra, undescended testicle that had gone undetected by the vet when he fixed the cat (I mean, really, who would have looked for that?) I had done a little research on this a while back when one of my cats was acting a little, ah, oversexed, and it was fascinating to me that something like this could actually happen. We ended up having to fork out about $80 for a testosterone test only to have it come back negative, so who knows why our little guy was acting that way (too much kitty porn?)

A resource you might want to tap into is the Best Friends Animal Society. Their website is www.BestFriends.org. I recently had a question about a dog we are having trouble placing due to his behavioral issues, and I could not believe the information they responded with. I know they've got a really long list of animals waiting for placement, so they probably won't be able to take Oliver, but they might have some ideas about someone who could.

Eleven years ago, we found a little three-week-old kitten and nursed her to adulthood much as you did--although you had a much tougher hill to climb--and she...how should I put this...always had a real attitude. When she finally succumbed to cancer a few years ago, she took a little piece of me with her. I'm glad we had her in our lives, although I do know somewhat what you are going through.

I want to commend you for rescuing Oliver, though, as well as for your desire not to have him put to sleep. You found him for a reason. There is a solution out there. Whether it's organic or behavioral, you will find it.

Why not give pyschoactive drugs a chance? It might be something as simple as prozac or another anti-anxiety med. Until the LW tries those things, there is no reason whatsoever to kill the cat.

I'm the sentimental-est cat owner you'd ever want to meet -- the living caricature that trolls make fun of when they say "cat lady" -- and even I don't think the LWs here should spend all their money (and their sanity) to save this cat.

Some cats are insane, or damaged, in some mysterious way (just as some humans are), but they are NOT humans ultimately. They are animals....companion animals, yes, but still animals. Therefore, we have finite resources we can dedicate to them. If this was your damaged child, of course you should spent all you can to help him to a normal life. But not for a CAT (unless you are a billionaire or something, then go ahead).

Why? Why aren't I twitching with tears and sentiment for this critter?

Because I have been, many times, to the local animal shelters in my community...which happen to be model shelters that have the highest possible standards, cleanliness, volunteers, etc. And while they can place every puppy they get, most friendly adult dogs and most young kittens....they cannot remotely find enough homes for ADULT CATS. There are simply far too many in this world, about 5 times (or more) as they can find homes for.

So what happens is that healthy, lovable, affectionate cats who would make WONDERFUL PETS are sent every day to their deaths, unwanted and unloved. This breaks my hearts a hundred times more than the fate of your one, miserable, crazy, violent, hateful cat.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKES...for your conscience, if you have not neutered this cat, it worth trying since it is both cheap and practical, although it is late to neuter a 3-year old male and he will not lose all his aggressive tendencies now, as he would have if "fixed" as a kitten. You don't mention it, so it's not clear if you had this done. It is worth trying. So is an animal behavourist, and so is "kitty Prozac". However, the chances of any of this working on a cat this old are slim. Do it so you can live with whatever happens as a result, so you can say honestly "I tried everything".

To have a pet euthanized at the vet's is a very difficult decision, but trust me, it is far harder on YOU than it is on the cat. The technology is very well developed, the medication works instantly and the cat feels ZERO pain or even stress (unless he's the type who hates the vet, in which case he could be tranquilized in advance OR a few vets will come to the home). You can hold him, and he will close his eyes in an instant and it's all over, with no pain or fear.

And why do you need to do this? SO YOU CAN ADOPT ONE OF THOSE NEEDY, good sweet lovable ADULT cats, one who is waiting at your local shelter this very moment, days or hours from being put down the same way FOR NO REASON. So that cat can have a long, good, happy life with you and be the kind of wonderful pet that turns people into "cat ladies" like me. THAT CAT has a life worth saving. Your cat probably does not.

You can give your cat's life (and death)a great deal of meaning by giving his "place" in your home to a needy adult cat. Please consider doing this: it's the humane, the right thing to do in this instance.

Sorry you're a lemon sucker, but most Americans have pets, either cats or dogs (cats are now more popular than dogs), so you better get used to it. If a pet gets on your property, go ahead and chase it off or talk to the owner. Don't even think about hurting it, though, since you'll be in trouble with the law, not to mention the person whose beloved pet you made the grievous mistake of harming.