He doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a name, but a stray orange and white tomcat is making a name for himself in a Langley City neighbourhood.

Ninety-three year old Vicky Jenkins is now home from hospital but she is still nursing bite wounds from the nasty cat that attacked her while she was out in her garden last Thursday.

The injuries are so bad her arm swelled up the size of a pumpkin and she canB次元官网网址檛 use her hand at all one week later.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been hanging around my backyard for years, and he is super friendly but has a vicious streak,B次元官网网址� said Vicky.

B次元官网网址淟ast Thursday, I was in the garden bending down to pick something up and he was there wrapping himself around my legs, when he just lunged at me.B次元官网网址�

The stray tomcat clamped down on her forearm with all its teeth.

B次元官网网址淗e hit a vein. IB次元官网网址檝e never seen so much blood. It was squirting out of my arm,B次元官网网址� she said.

Neighbour Ken McKay, came running over and drove Vicky to the hospital.

Doctors gave her a tetanus shot and sent her on her way.

B次元官网网址淏ut they should have put her on antibiotics,B次元官网网址� said McKay. Cats can carry all sort of viruses and disease in their saliva. Vicky went to her own, doctor who did prescribe antibiotics. But by then her arm had swollen to double its size and turned black and blue, said McKay.

On Wednesday, one week after the attack, JenkinsB次元官网网址� entire arm was swollen and purple and blue from fingertips to elbow.

B次元官网网址淭he cat was back again in the backyard this morning,B次元官网网址� said Vicky. Neighbours believe the cat originally lived at a home but became stray when the people moved away and didnB次元官网网址檛 take the cat with them. Its diet is the many birds that frequent the neighbourhood, said Vicky.

This isnB次元官网网址檛 the first time the tom has attacked.

Two years ago, a four-year-old girl was bitten twice by the stray, said her dad Blake who lives a few doors down from the Jenkins.

B次元官网网址淎t the time, my daughter was four. ItB次元官网网址檚 a really friendly cat. But one day it just lunged at her and clawed her out of nowhere,B次元官网网址� said Blake. B次元官网网址淭wo weeks later, it came out of nowhere and attacked her again.B次元官网网址�

Since then, Blake has told his kids to stay clear of the cat.

B次元官网网址淭he cat is really friendly but has a mean streak,B次元官网网址� he said.

McKay said the stray cat recently attacked another neighbourB次元官网网址檚 kitten.

For McKay who has lived in the neighbourhood for more than 30 years, seeing the injuries endured by Vicky was the last straw.

B次元官网网址淚 called animal control right away,B次元官网网址� he said. Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) is in charge of animal control in both Langleys.

B次元官网网址淚 was told I could have a trap and I could try to trap the cat and bring it to them. But then they may neuter it and re-release the thing back into our neighbourhood. This bylaws need to change. If this was a dog that bit Vicky, animal control would come here and pick up the dog,B次元官网网址� said McKay.

B次元官网网址淚t should be their responsibility to take action and take action immediately.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎nd what worries me is what if this cat attacks a kidB次元官网网址檚 face, imagine the damage it could do.B次元官网网址�

LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson has since spoken with Vicky and is sending out an officer to trap the cat.

B次元官网网址淲e will determine the best course of action once we have him here at the shelter,B次元官网网址� said Nelson.

Cats, stray or domestic, donB次元官网网址檛 usually have an aggressive streak but Nelson wonders if this cat has an undiagnosed medical issue that is causing it to attack.

Nelson said there are no bylaws regarding cats, unlike dogs, which are required to be licensed and canB次元官网网址檛 just roam free AS cats do.

B次元官网网址淲ith a nuisance cat we will often lend them a trap and then take the cat in. We will give it a medical check up, neuter it and see if we can find it a home. If it is too feral, we may look for it to be a barn cat. ItB次元官网网址檚 always looked at case by case. If there is a public safety concern we would have to look at not releasing it back into the neighbourhood,B次元官网网址� she said.

In the case of the attacking tom, she said LAPS only has had the one complaint about it. However, Nelson said they will go and trap the cat.

B次元官网网址淏ut I really encourage people who are directly affected by a nuisance cat to call us,B次元官网网址� she said.

Langley has a huge stray cat issue, with an estimated 25,000 homeless cats.

Tiny Kittens, a local non-profit, has been making great strides with its trap and neuter program in a colony of feral cats on a rural property in Aldergrove. They have also managed to successfully adopt out some of the cats. LAPS offers free spay and neuters at least twice a year, and hosts a day when they will pick up or take any unwanted kittens or pregnant cats.

B次元官网网址淚 recently got a cat from LAPS and I had to sign a contract to keep the cat inside,B次元官网网址� said McKay. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the way it should be, but not everyone is willing to keep a cat inside.B次元官网网址�

LAPS can be reached at 604-857-5055.