New neighbour's aggressive cat

[HoxtonBonnet]

We have new neighbours - they are lovely but have a very aggressive cat. Our own cat has been in massive fights with it two nights running - he came in limping this evening looking traumatised. The new cat is completely brazen and has taken over our garden.

Any tips on how we can handle this? I don't want to fall out with the neighbours. Our cat normally spends all day outside and comes in at night - he likes to roam and would be very unhappy if we kept him in.

[HooverWhenTheCoastIsClear]

Well not much you can do.
They'll just argue your cat is also out and roaming around.
That's what happens.
Our old cat was aggressive, our neighbours told us he was annoying their cat so we had to keep him inside, he went absolutely bonkers but what can you do?
Set up a cat enclosure for your cat, that way they can be outside but safe.
You can get rollers for fences that stop them escaping, perhaps put those on to stop cats getting into the garden?

[Toilenstripes]

I would turn the water hose on him. He will get the message that your garden is off limits. He’s looking to claim territory and needs to realise that he can’t claim your garden.

[LongPauseNoAnswer]

They’re best left to sort it out themselves. That’s what they do. They’ll come to an understanding of sorts and each keep to their own side of the agreed territory.

[Anordinarymum]

@LongPauseNoAnswer

They’re best left to sort it out themselves. That’s what they do. They’ll come to an understanding of sorts and each keep to their own side of the agreed territory.

Yes agree with this

[AwaAnBileYerHeid]

Another one for the water hose here

[TW2013]

We did help the cats when we first moved in to defend their new territory, there were lots of cats, now it has settled down and there are fewer incursions and those cats who do visit seem to be more tolerated. We weren't out there all the time, just broke up fights when we heard them.

[HoxtonBonnet]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The other cat is bigger - it's one of those pedigree ones that look like a leopard/cheetah. It's not a very fair fight!

I would have no compunctions about chasing it away/water pistol etc I just don't want to fall out with the neighbours!

[MargotLovedTom1]

A Bengal? I don't think they can complain about you squirting him with a bit of water, especially when your own cat has been injured by him.

[HmmSureJan]

Nuisance cats always got a bucket of water that was left standing by the door in readiness chucked at them in my day. Never had to do it more than once.

[Branleuse]

Id go for squirting it, putting hose on it or get a dog

[HoxtonBonnet]

I've googled it - I think it is a Savannah cat.

I am also looking at water pistols on Amazon!

I'm going to have to take my cat to the vets - he is still limping and moving very slowly.

[Didicat]

Cat proof your garden will be here only way to keep your cat safe!

[Iwouldratherbemuckingout]

my cats suffered this - very aggressive cat that no amount of water pistol soaking would deter. Came in through the cat flap and attacked mine - they were injured and traumatised. Got a microchip catflap, he attacked it so determinedly he completely broke it. I already had cat proof fencing and he used to jump in. It was awful. Only sorted by his owner moving. I would start with water pistol straight away together with loud noise such as clapping to prevent a routine forming. That was my error!

[Greenbks]

Bloody hell, a Savannah cat? Are you sure it’s not a Bengal?

If it’s a Savannah I’d be keeping my cat in or atleadt come up with a rota for the cats with my neighbours. Your cat could become seriously injured by it.

We have a Bengal that lives a few doors down. It started picking on our cat when she was a kitten (we would go out with her for the first few months as she was too young to be on her own) and had to chase it off every time. At 1-3 years of age the Bengal went for our cat mercilessly, we would have to run out to break up the fight. Now they seem to only get into fights very occasionally, our cat gives back good and the Bengal is petrified of us and will run off is she hears us near her.

Perhaps try to instill some fear in this cat in the form of a water hose or just chasing it off.

[pickledplumjam]

Bengals are a different level of aggressive. They really should t be allowed out. Your only real option is to catproof your garden to keep yours in and theirs out. A Bengal will happily kill another cat. They won't sort it out in the normal way. I would tell the neighbors. They are being hugely irresponsible letting it out. This caused a huge row in our old London neighbourhood and eventually someone drown the Bengal.

[Branleuse]

I thought savannahs etc had to be kept indoors?

[HoxtonBonnet]

It looks like this - not enormous but definitely bigger and more athletic than our tabby!

[HoxtonBonnet]

Looking at pictures of both Bengals and Savannahs and I'm not sure which it is - they both look very similar to me.

[HoxtonBonnet]

That's interesting - sounds like both Bengals and Savannahs are aggressive. Once we have seen the vet I might have to have a chat with the neighbours.

[Medievalist]

If your neighbours are, as you say, very lovely, then I would definitely say something to them. They may not choose to keep their cat in, but they really ought to be made aware of what it's up to.

I'm sure you can tell them in a non-aggressive way. Maybe it might encourage them to let their cat out less frequently. Or even cat proof their own garden so it can't go further afield.

[DreadingSeason2020sFinale]

Unlikely to be a Savannah they're extremely expensive pedigree and I'd go so far as to say, specialist big cats. Bengals are still expensive but more common. And Bengals are also territorial and aggressive. I would hope the cat is neutered (unlikely because trouble causing cats rarely are) but honestly all you can do is make your garden a very hostile environment for it. Make it hate crossing your border. Buckets of water, yelling, chasing and shooing every single time. Scare it off.

[Branleuse]

Its more likely to be bengal. They are quite fashionable now.
The pedigree ones really should be kept in or only let out with supervision or on a lead. Partly for their own safety as they are a high risk of theft, but also because they can be aggressive and territorial and prolific hunters.

[JamieLeeCurtains]

My old cats are being terrorised by one of these fuckers.

We've had some success with cat proofing the garden (netting, wire, etc) and liberal use of a hose pipe, after me quite forcefully warning the idiot neighbour he should provide his cat with its own garden.

(The idiot bought a Bengal cat and only has patio slabs outside, and no cat flap - just unthinkingly cruel to the cat and anti-social for the neighbours who get to deal with the bored, aggressive cat and its cat shit).

[HoxtonBonnet]

Thanks for the replies. Yes - it does look like it is more likely to be a Bengal.

I'll let the neighbour's know nicely that we will be discouraging it from visiting!

Fingers crossed for the vet visit!

[PurpleSweetPeas]

I've had two Bengals. One was a total softy and wouldn't have harmed anything an bog standard moggy would. The other was scared of his own shadows and was bullied by the black and white cat from a few houses up.
I don't think you can blame the breed as some of the most aggressive cats I've encounter have been moggies who terrorised my cats and caused huge vets bills.