Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How do I stop this cat coming into my home?

18 replies

LivinLaVidaLoki · 18/12/2022 06:53

have a cat, and a cat flap. Lately there is another cat that comes in and starts to eat our cars food (I say "starts" as he is soon found and chased away.

I don't know how it gets in as our cat flap is magnetic, with the little thing on our cats collar. We can lock and unlock it. We lock it when we go to bed as our cat doesn't go out overnight and we lock it when we go out (our cat is a rescue and I don't know why but he will only go out if he knows we are in when he gets back)

It is this huge pedigree type thing.

Anyway, the attempted nicking of the food is bad enough but yesterday I caught this cat peeing/spraying on my.
wall/carpet. Thought I saw a post about this cat on a local Facebook page a while ago so searched for it in the hope I'd see if anyone knew who it belonged to (I'll be honest I'm not sure what this would achieve). Didn't see an owner, but there were multiple comments that this cat does similar in multiple other homes.

I can't help but wonder if it's spayed (due to the spraying) and think that if it isn't, then it really shouldn't be out.

Anyway, regardless of what I think, how can I stop this cat coming into my home?

OP posts:
upfucked · 18/12/2022 06:57

Get a cat flap operated by your cat’s chip.

Lochjeda · 18/12/2022 07:00

@upfucked the op literally says they already have one and doesn't understand how its getting in.

Op, does the cat have a collar? You could slip a little note under it if it does and ask the owner to call you. You could try posting on fb or on the next door app asking who the owner is. Or try changing your cat flap to a different one if the magnet part is no longer working.

MerryMarigold · 18/12/2022 07:03

Or cat used to come in by the loft window. Do you have any windows even a bit open?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cats
Dolphinnoises · 18/12/2022 07:03

@Lochjeda no, the OP says it’s operated by a magnet. Sureflap cat flap (or similar) will sort this immediately OP

friedscallops · 18/12/2022 07:04

I took the op to mean that it was the cat's collar that operated the catflap too! The microchip cat flaps should stop stray cats.

Fuuuuuckit · 18/12/2022 07:08

Microchip cat flap. We had exactly the same - came home after a fortnight away to discover a ginger Tom had taken over and ruined my mattress and bedding. Microchip catflap went in the same size hole as the old one.

Posting our cats through it was quite fun in order for their chips to be recognised...

upfucked · 18/12/2022 07:12

Lochjeda · 18/12/2022 07:00

@upfucked the op literally says they already have one and doesn't understand how its getting in.

Op, does the cat have a collar? You could slip a little note under it if it does and ask the owner to call you. You could try posting on fb or on the next door app asking who the owner is. Or try changing your cat flap to a different one if the magnet part is no longer working.

No she says she has a magnetic collar operated cat flat, if the the visiting cat has the same the they can let themselves in.

A microchip cat flap will only let in her cat.

Dancingtumbleweed · 18/12/2022 07:16

Someone on my facebook had a similar problem. They could not get rid of it. They would put up photos titled "not my cat" of the cat relaxing about their house. They did find the owner it was well loved. Last update showed the cat now has its own bed by the fire for when he visits.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 18/12/2022 07:22

Get a microchip cat flap. The ones which use magnets aren't very good.

Whycanineverever · 18/12/2022 07:23

I have this issue (although tbh the flap on my catflap is broken and I need to replace.

We had one cat come in a couple of mo tha ago which we regimes via a rescue. Now we have another one which looks in fairly hood health so was inclined to think it wasn't a stray. However it's around up to 6/7 times a day including in the snow. I also found it just sitting in kitchen not eating so I need to try and catch that one as well....

Then last night a 3rd one came in - this was a boy again I think which is bad news as my boy will fight it not just growl.....

My cats have kidney biscuits and will only eat gourmet gold so I think the words gone round we provide nice food......

BlandSoup · 18/12/2022 07:27

Yep, microchip cat flap. We had this and it strsssed my car out so much he started to go bald. Got a microchip cat flap and it stopped. Used to see the cats try to get in but they couldn’t.

Lochroy · 18/12/2022 07:35

Lochjeda · 18/12/2022 07:00

@upfucked the op literally says they already have one and doesn't understand how its getting in.

Op, does the cat have a collar? You could slip a little note under it if it does and ask the owner to call you. You could try posting on fb or on the next door app asking who the owner is. Or try changing your cat flap to a different one if the magnet part is no longer working.

She literally doesn't Xmas Hmm

SunshineAndFizz · 18/12/2022 07:41

I knew someone who'd keep a spray bottle with water by the door. Anytime the stray cat came in they'd spray it with water. Eventually stopped visiting.

Dunno if that's cruel or not?

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 18/12/2022 07:48

SunshineAndFizz · 18/12/2022 07:41

I knew someone who'd keep a spray bottle with water by the door. Anytime the stray cat came in they'd spray it with water. Eventually stopped visiting.

Dunno if that's cruel or not?

I think its fine, I say that as a cat owner. We do the same for cats in our house that aren't ours.

Yes microchip catflaps are better than magnetic ones. But it depends on how smart the cat is. My cat has learned to hook his claws under the cat flap and pull it open rather than push it open with his face. That doesn't require the microchip to activate, so it could be doing that!

ittakes2 · 18/12/2022 08:00

You can also get food bowls linked to your cats micro chip.
our spayed male cat still wees to mark territory.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 18/12/2022 08:07

Blowyourowntrumpet · 18/12/2022 07:22

Get a microchip cat flap. The ones which use magnets aren't very good.

I agree, get rid of the magnet one.

It also explains why you may see a group of cats howling as they are all stuck together with their magnets.🐱🐱🐱

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 18/12/2022 08:11

Does intruder cat have a magnet on his collar? If so, a microchip catflap should sort it out.

If, like my old cat, thinks catflaps only work in one direction and uses hi cows to open the catflap from outside, you need a duelscan catflap, so that the dor is locked in both directions until your cat approaches.

If intruder cat is following your cat through the catflap, you need to spray him with water everyone you see him and maybe get the food bowl microchip activated to stop him eating.

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 18/12/2022 08:11

Hi cows should read his claws

New posts on this thread. Refresh page