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Neighbour's cat making mine miserable

10 replies

Evenstar · 26/01/2013 16:14

My neighbours have a big ginger tom, since the summer he has been making my three cats miserable and going after my rabbits and guinea pigs. He has broken the cat flap fighting with my cat through it, and now is trying to come into the house.

He has sprayed on my partner's son's football boots ruining them, one of my cats is on medication which is costing me over £30 a month because of stress. I am at my wits end, I don't know if there is any point going over the road and telling them how bad things as they will probably say there is nothing they can do.

Is there anything I could do myself? I have sprayed Feliway all around my house (yet another expense) and am fed up of going outside to see my little cat cowering behind the dustbins as he is in my garden again. Anyone had a similar problem and found a solution? Thanks in advance.

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cozietoesie · 26/01/2013 16:37

Have you got a microchip cat flap? They're more expensive but they're really pretty good. (Others can recommend the best type bu I think the Sureflap is suppose to be very robust.) If your cats know there's a safe place to go they'll be a lot happier.

What sort of rabbits and rabbit/guinea pig housing do you have?

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cozietoesie · 26/01/2013 16:39

PS - How good is your relationship with the neighbours? I'm thinking that if he's an unneutered tom and you're on good terns, they might be prepared to think about having him neutered.

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Floralnomad · 26/01/2013 16:41

Keep a bowl of water handy and if you see it in your garden throw it at it , worked for us with a neighbours cat . I know its not kind but it won't do it that much harm and if you keep doing it it may move on and pester someone else.

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HazeltheMcWitch · 26/01/2013 16:44

Yep, water. Get a supersoaker also (bit don't shoot too hard or at the cat's head!). And if the relationship with neighbours is ok, could you mention that he comes into your garden and fights with your cats, stresses them... so that's why he might be coming back a bit wet?

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Evenstar · 26/01/2013 16:48

I haven't met the neighbours so don't know whether the cat is neutered or not, despite the foul smell where he has sprayed I presumed he would be, as I know I would never keep an unneutered tom in the house. The rabbits are in a robust hutch with bolts on, the guinea pigs are inside a shed in a bolted hutch, I think it does make them nervous when he goes up to the hutch and looks in.

I am reluctant to get a microchip catflap if it is the sort that relies on the cats wearing collars as I think two out of three of my cats wouldn't be happy to wear them. The cat does seem to hang around constantly and has a large bell on his collar which makes me think he is a bit of a hunter.

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cozietoesie · 26/01/2013 16:55

If he's big, a hunter/scrapper and with foul smelling spray then there's (sadly) a good chance that he's not neutered - which if true, is likely half the cause of the problems. Ho Hum,

Microchip cat flaps rely on the microchips that cat's have implanted (if yours have them) and will only allow in those cats that have chip numbers you've programmed in. No collars required.

I believe that Sureflap is very robust indeed but others may wish to comment on that.

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Evenstar · 26/01/2013 17:12

Mine are all microchipped, so I may look into that, but perhaps I will give the Supersoaker a try first!

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TheFallenNinja · 27/01/2013 04:40

I've got the same problem with the local scrapper, he's a big lad and my 3 seem to have lost whatever cat battles have taken place.

I came down this morning and it stinks, I'm now looking for the source.

Bugger

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80sMum · 27/01/2013 06:36

I had a similar problem. Here's how I cured it.
Set the catflap to in-only. Wait till you see the offending cat approaching. When it comes in, take your ready-prepared water spray, large metal saucepan and large metal spoon (or anything that will make a hell of a noise when you bang them together).
Enter room that contains unwanted cat. Shut the door behind you. Make very loud noise, shout, bang saucepan etc and squint copious amounts of water at said cat.
It will head for the catflap, but won't be able to get out. Keep up the noise, water and shouting. Chase it round the room if it's a big room. Keep it up for as long as seems appropriate, then open the door and let it escape outside.
Basically, give it such an unpleasant experience that it will never ever want to come anywhere near your house, or your cat, again.
It's all about negative conditioning.