Territory and a male cat (neutered)

[SuperFlyHigh]

So I let the cat out about 2 months ago (he was 1 in April). He's had a ball since...

My question is - the other day my neighbour saw him 3-4 doors down in a garden with a huge black cat... my cat Felix is pretty brave and has lovely long claws and fangs... so I'm sure he'd be fine but would the other cat be protecting his territory, and how far does Felix' territory range?! He happily goes into neighbours on both sides gardens (no cats) but there are 2 sisters (1 friendly 1 not) he is friendly with. The neighbours are great on both sides too, cat friendly.

[lljkk]

Cats tend to have overlapping territories, there are scientific studies to tell you real answer how far they usually roam. My rule of thumb is usual max= 300m radius from your property boundaries.

[cozietoesie]

I'm used mainly to Siamese and they seem to have territories which go as far as they can think! The Lodger, on the other hand, was immensely clubbable and very quickly made firm friends with next door's wuss big neutered tom who soon became his wingman. (They used to sit companionably together in the sunshine under a tree in the garden.)

I suspect it depends on the cats, assuming they're all neutered and healthy. None of my Siamese would even give quarter to mercy but they have all seemed to be particularly territorial. The non-Siamese not so much.

[SuperFlyHigh]

cozie Felix is half Siamese (mum was half choc point/half Snowshoe) and he is very Siamese in his ways...

Felix does seem friendly with other cats (Siamese trait) - Lola the friendly tabby sister is his BFF/GF. He followed her around for ages when he first was let out (with her hissing and generally 'leave me alone sometimes IDIOT!' stares and the odd hiss and growl and now they're friends. The other sister isn't at all friendly but tolerates him. Lola bless her used to come to my French windows to see Felix before he was let out.

[cozietoesie]

I wouldn't have said myself that friendliness to other cats was a Siamese trait but maybe I've just been given a particularly cussed bunch who were very jealous of their humans. (I'm assuming that Felix is neutered?) All of mine have taken a pretty Spartan attitude to outside/other cats.

If he seems friendly enough with others, I'd just relax, although it's a good idea - on general safety principles as well - to keep them in at night. The wee small hours seem to bring out the worst in them.

[SuperFlyHigh]

cozie he is kept in at night. No way I want carcasses in in the morning. He can't wait to head out in the morning. He also hates rain (my white cat quite liked it) and rushes straight in!

So far a small baby bird was caught last weekend (I think it fell out of the nest though) and brought into the house.

However he loves his catnip kitten teddies, stuffed penguin and Ikea white rat... so maybe I've been training him.

[SuperFlyHigh]

cozie yes Felix is neutered. He is very much a 'me' cat (as only one there) but if someone else stays (my brother for work sometimes and my mum pops in once a day if she can to see him and lunch feeding) he's happy too. He tends to like females (people) more than males.

I do think re above that a man (the woman who owned him until 4.5 months before me) had a go at him or shouted as he was petrified of my stepdad when he came over and my brother. Still hides from workmen.

If my mum comes over for tea/wine etc or friends do he is very funny and comes to the bathroom area when he hears us talking (split level flat) to 'earwig' and he loves women!

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The university of Lincoln studies show that even in neutered cats territories can range from own garden up to three miles. They also showed that cats time share territories so several cats can have the same territory, but use it at different times.

[code]

3 miles! Wow that is a scary thought.

[cozietoesie]

I suspect that that's in high summer for neutered domestic cats - in winter, I'd lay odds they stick a lot closer to warmth.

[lljkk]

My neutered Toms follow us and then stop and wait for us to return, yowling pitifully because we've gone too far for their comfort. That's 150m-350m away, depending on direction.

[cozietoesie]

Could they be described as couch potatoes, lljkk ? That's really not far at all.

[lljkk]

Not couch potatoes, not yet 4yo, young, slim(ish), fit, out a lot & catching wildlife.

[cozietoesie]

Ah - they want to come back home and slob out with you after a hard day.

Sounds like you're being trained.