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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To of given this cat a boot up the backside and to call the RSPCA?

50 replies

katsopolis · 05/05/2016 22:02

Large Ginger tabby has been coming into my garden for 3 weeks- several times a day. Fighting with my very old (18 year old) cat, harassing the birds and coming into the house- i've water pistoled it 3 times this week. Next door have had the same problem, and even had to take their own moggy to the vet.

It's the other next door neighbours. She is a pain in the arse. I've been over several times to tell her (as have next door) that she needs to keep her violent cat in doors. And it is violent- if you approach it, it hisses at you and lashes out.

Was disturbed 20 mins ago by a horrible catterwalling in the garden- this cat had mine literally pinned to the ground and was biting his throat. I couldn't pull him off- so I gave him (I will admit a bit too) firm booting and it ran off. My own cat was just lying there looking lifeless- so DP ran and called the vet and has taken him off to the emergency vet. Heaven knows how much it is going to cost us- and as DP has just taken voluntary redundancy we can't really afford it. It could honestly be the difference between saving our cat and paying the gas bill.

Neighbour has come over and claims that she has me "abusing her cat" on CCTV. She does have CCTV- but when I pointed out it was necessary for me to potentially save my own cats life, I was left with no option. This was happening over the garden fence and other neighbour came out and was backing me up and we have tried to tell her again, calmly, that she needs to keep the cat indoors if she wants to keep it. The cat isn't injured- I saw him bolting over her garden fence in another direction as we were talking.

I'm pissed off. I'm seriously debating calling the RSPCA and reporting her.

Someone please tell me IABU and talk me down because i'm not a nasty person.

OP posts:

Izlet · 05/05/2016 23:21

I came on to give culinary advice for the shallots as well.

No advice re cat. Sorry

MidniteScribbler · 06/05/2016 00:20

Borrow a dog. A big one. I had only lived in my place a week when the cats finally realised that my yard was not a worthwhile hangout.

AerithEarthling · 06/05/2016 00:30

He probably isnt neatured so yes you should call rspca, her cat seems stressed as well maybe you could suggest for her to use those anti stress drops in his food so he isnt so angry.

AerithEarthling · 06/05/2016 00:36

I just read this cat was inside for 6 months well maybe he is just marking his home. My cats got into issues with the cat across the road when i let them out. He was being a dick and harrassing them eventually he got over it and he ignores them now.
We had another cat who was a dick who also tried to bully them.
I think cata just try it then get over their issues eventually but he should defo be fixed if he isnt

Botofspother · 06/05/2016 00:37

I am having the same problem with a bengal 2 doors down. It comes into our house, seeks out my cats to fight them.... In our own bloody house. We are buying one of those chip reader cat flaps although in the summer when doors and windows are open it's not too practical.
I too have contemplated capturing it and taking it to be rehomed but I felt too guilty.
I can't wait for the bloody thing to croak it if I'm honest!

BillSykesDog · 06/05/2016 00:39

Shallots used as weapons is possibly the most Mumsnet act of aggression ever.

Cats fighting is annoying, but unfortunately natural. They are animals and only semi-tame ones at that. I would keep your cat in but build it a small run so it can go out in the sunshine safely. But really, at 18 it's going to be a sitting duck for any aggressive cat or fox or whatever wildlife is about. It's not just unneutered cats either. Lots of cats are just like that, territorial. And this new cat will be trying to stake a claim.

OrlandaFuriosa · 06/05/2016 00:42

Could lend you my terrier... Fearless when it comes to cats and rats...

WalkingBlind · 06/05/2016 00:51

I have 3 spayed girls and the one Tom cat in our road harrasses them and tries to come in my house. Water pistol didn't work so I chucked a whole pint (of water)... Soggy moggy wasn't chuffed!

It's owners watch me chase it away endlessly, it's never in the house (this happens when it's screaming at my windows at 3am etc). Next time I saw it I let the dog out (husky x), at first I wasn't gonna in case the dog did anything but when the little shit saw the size of my dog it decided my garden wasn't worth it.

Still cries at my housecats from the road behind my fence though

coffeeisnectar · 06/05/2016 00:58

Is this cat ginger and white? Do you live in Dorset?

Just wondering as our ex neighbours moved ages ago and gave us their cat. The cat was never fed, was aggressive and not very friendly. We calmed him down and he turned into a really lovely boy. And then she stole him and took him to her new house even though I'd said she couldn't have him back.

If he's been cooped up with her kids he will be back to his old ways.

ToastedOrFresh · 06/05/2016 01:13

There's a 'visitor' cat that comes around to help himself to my cat's uneaten tea. I got fed up with this and left the cat flap primed to in-only one evening. The inevitable happened (we've also noticed that it comes out to hunt just as dusk is falling) and I had it trapped.

I picked it up, doused it in cold water, gave it a smack and let it go. I actually managed to frighten it as I felt sorry for it looking scared. During the commotion it bit me so, fair's fair.

I ended up looking how to deal with a cat bite on the internet. After running the bite site under cold water I decided I better had go along to casualty and get a tetanus injection.

The cat came back a few days later and we're kind of back to square one. So, I lost.

I went to the vet to ask what I should do as I would like to know who owns the cat i.e. is it micro chipped ? I was advised to put it in a carry cage with some food and water overnight and bring it in to the vet the next day.

I'm not to keen on being responsible for it overnight especially if it's likely to injure itself in it's panic to get out of the carry cage. Although the person I spoke to at the vet said it will eventually settle and probably go to sleep.

So, here we are. Supporting two cats. Our cat isn't that bothered by it although the, 'visitor cat' has sprayed in our house. So we're kind of stuck with it.

The visitor cat is not a stray. It has a home and is well cared for i.e. where it eats breakfast. Stray cats look dirty and thin and dare I say sad. The visitor cat is none of these things.

There's other cats in this neighbourhood but I don't know who owns them. So, I can't help but wonder if the visitor cat is a regular there too.

Sorry the OP's old cat got bullied by the aggressor cat. Glad there wasn't worse injury but sorry that's an unexpected bill to be paid on top of his being made redundant.

suspiciousofgoldfish · 06/05/2016 01:29

I am partial to a shallot Netflix, chuck 'em my way.

lalalalyra · 06/05/2016 02:20

If he's only been allowed out for a couple of weeks then there's going to be a scrap for territory and 'top cat' position. It's horrible, but it's just cats being cats so you'll not get the RSPCA interested. If your old boy can't defend himself then you need to cat proof your garden for him or keep him inside.

I sympathise. The people down the street from us have a new cat and our two, and another neighbours cat, are having occasional scraps as they establish their hierarchy. It's started to settle down now after a few weeks so hopefully your neighbours cat will calm a bit too.

MadamDeathstare · 06/05/2016 02:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anklebitersmum · 06/05/2016 02:41

Sonic gun. Blast at the intruding cat every time you see it in your garden and it'll soon get the message. They really work and are very satisfying to use t'boot don't harm the animal.

ScrotesOnFire · 06/05/2016 10:31

Just in case my last post got missed....

Cat proof your garden.

It is easy to do yourself using flimsy mesh and brackets.

The demon cat can't get in and your elderly cat can't get out.

It's the only logical solution.

Snoringlittlemonkey · 06/05/2016 10:52

Netflix throwing shallots at the cat! that made me chuckle!! You're sooooo middle class

kinkytoes · 06/05/2016 11:00

It's early days. They take a little while to establish and suss out territories so give it a bit longer if you can.

Also, you're complaining about vet bills but is your cat not insured? If money is an issue I would have thought insurance is a necessity.

dailyfailrag · 06/05/2016 11:01

We had a bastard unneutered tom in our old street. Owner was an absolute cock and claimed he couldn't afford to have him fixed, despite spending all his money on his motorbike.

Eventually all the cat owning neighbours threatened to take him to small claims court over any future vet bills. The little shit had probably cost the local neighbours about a grand in vet bills. Funnily enough he found the cash to have the procedure done after that.

Ratbagcatbag · 06/05/2016 11:11

If water fails in a pistol, try orange juice, cats hate te stuff, it makes their fur all sticky and takes them ages to clean off. Should distract him for a while.
I would also be asking the neighbour go make sure any cctv is not pointing in my garden or I'd be ringing the police.

ApollO88 · 06/05/2016 11:39

She said she had u on cctv? Where did the scrap happen? In ur garden? I'm pretty sure there are laws about cctv and ur property. Not 100% sure what they are tho. She shouldn't have it placed where it over Looks your property though I think? Maybe someone else will be along that knows more?

RidersOnTheStorm · 06/05/2016 11:44

Agree with those who say the camera is illegal.

Moreisnnogedag · 06/05/2016 11:57

I'm sorry about your cat. I was worried about our (neutered) Tom when we moved in - I heard a couple of scraps in the weeks after we let him out. Now nothing so it may all settle down? I'd go get a giant nerf super soaker rather than a sonic gun. If they were scrapping I wouldn't want to scare my own car even more (and I'm a crack shot)

19lottie82 · 06/05/2016 12:03

LOL at the cat "harassing the birds".

OP..... I understand that this cat is a PITA but I'm not sure what you can do? Or why you'd want to call the RSPCA?

If you're cat is elderly and can't defend himself then you should really keep him indoors or only allow him out under supervision. What about other cats, dogs, and foxes?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 06/05/2016 12:06

FGS don't put barbed wire up on your fence, I know a cat whose tail is half what it was as it got caught up in some barbed wire the neighbour put up. I seem to remember after googling that it's illegal anyway.

Keep going with the water pistol!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 06/05/2016 12:07

I'd keep an elderly cat indoors.

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