[Dixie Yooper]

The 78 year old lady is probably scared to death of the boy, even if he's only 14. If she had bought a bb gun in the first place and caught the cat in middle of relieving itself, everything would have been just fine.
In my neighborhood, there are several dogs and cats wandering around, marking what they think is their territory and hiding out at our bird feeders. I don't catch them in the act too often anymore, but when I do, they stay away for several months.

[ccmay]

I don't catch them in the act too often anymore, but when I do, they stay away for several months.

.22 snake shot is very good for this purpose. Won't do permanent harm if you hit them in the @$$ from twenty feet or so, but they will remember your house forever.

I saw an ad for high-power hand-held lasers that were hot enough to cut through duct tape. That might be a good way to remind a critter that he's unwelcome in your garden.

-ccm