*CAT*astrophe. What to do?

A good cattery is your answer. It's asking too much to leave the poor creature at home for such long spells with only intermittent visits from a neighbour. It'll cost you but it's worth it.

My dad rescued some beautiful kittens from a place he was working, and one was given to my mums friend, who adored him (the cat - not my dad!)

Aptly named tiger attacked the old lady next door to his new home and put her in hospital with her injuries.

MissA - my thoughts exactly

I'm wondering why you got a cat if you enjoy your holidays, such long ones, regularly.

You'll certainly need to use the cattery option, I think.

I agree, a cattery is the only option.
I have only owned one cat and he was as daft as a brush and lived to 18. My friend has 4 cats and has fostered cats in the past and a few have been nasty, horrible creatures. She has had horrible scratches, bites and cuts from cats, loads of injections and infections. Afraid I would never put up with that.

This might seem cheeky but you ve just been on holiday going again in June and again in September for long holidays is it really wise having a cat Poor chap doesn’t know whether he’s coming or going or who to connect with

I always took my cats to a reputable local cattery when we went on holiday. They were well cared for and we had peace of mind.

I think asking anyone to look after your pet for a month as a favour is above and beyond what's reasonable.
A professional cattery is your answer 🐱

My daughter once rescued a kitten from a home where the toddler was allowed to carry him around by his neck. When, understandably, the kitten struck out, the family threatened to drown him. He always had issues with unpredictability but with love and care became a lovely pet. It takes a great deal of understanding.

In the long term it would be better to look at the reasons behind this behaviour. You were aware that he had some behavioural issues: do you have any information about what had happened to him in his previous life? Much will depend on how your neighbour feels about the incident and whether you can trust her not to respond with anger should the behaviour be repeated ( which I'm afraid at some point, it probably will)

I would find a good local cattery. Less worry about your neighbour and they will be experienced in handling an unpredictable cat.

If I were your neighbour it would definitely be a 'NO' from me. One strike and he is out in my book. Cats can spread some nasty diseases with their mouths and I would not want to be at risk.
Can you consider putting him in a boarding cattery for the duration of your stay?

You could always ask that neighbour if she’d be willing to ‘risk’ it again?

Is there a local cattery you could use, where you could explain things to them, rather than leave it up to friends and neighbours?
It sounds very out of character, but I can appreciate you don’t want a repeat of that.