The Neighbours Cat.

[MountainPeaks]

Looking for some humane suggestions to keep the neighbours cat out of our property. I have a allergy to cats so I can't pick it up and take it back to them (DP has done this a couple of times).

We brought a "doer upper" and we've been living in it, in various states of disarray for the last few months. We can't have any of the windows open without us physically being in the room because without fail that neighbours cat comes in and pees, or poops, in our house. We had just redone a bedroom floor sanded, walls replastered, electrics all fixed up and as we had repainted we had the windows open. Went for lunch and the cat came in a peed on the sanded floors. Just one example to highlight the frustration.

We have a trampoline in the garden which was originally uncovered. Cat pooped on it regularly. We've now brought a cover - cat still poops on it regularly.

Most nights it starts fighting and it goes on for several hours - like 2 or 3. It sits on the wall at the end of our back garden. Sounds like someone is being murdered.

It's regularly decimating our bird feeders, it leaves dead things, semi-dead things, partially injured things all around our back patio.

The neighbours don't have a cat flap because "if the cat comes in it just pees on the floor". They feed the cat outside. The cat stays out the entire time. We've tried to talk to them and their attitude is along the lines of "well the cat was hear before you were and your house has been empty for years".

What's the best way to deal with it (the cat and the owners)? I don't want anything that will harm the cat - even though I don't like them. DP has taken the cat around to owners when we've caught it in the house. We've suggested a cat flap to them and litter tray. We've asked that they put a bell collar on it to give warning to the birds. We don't want to fall out with the neighbours but we are fed up with it. Also TTC and I don't want to be cleaning up anymore pet poop than I need to (ie. my dog).

God what a nightmare. I have read the thread, and fear this will be like 'cancel the cheque' for people with their helpful suggestions.

I have none.

I don't like cats, and would be furious. I think you're handling the whole thing remarkably well. Good luck.

Oops windows ARE shut when I go out

I agree with SuburbanRhonda. They'll be aghast that you've brought in a cat with a known owner, well fed and in no distress or discomfort. If you ask them to take it on, they will refuse. If you dump it on them, then the only person they will attempt to extract boarding and vet fees from is you.

Friends of mine recently had a similar problem. The neighbours/owners were also uncooperative so in the end they drove the cat to another village and released it. If it's owners are unwilling to neuter the cat/attempt to train it not to urinate inside there's not much else you can do.

Wow, your friends are horribly cruel and selfish. At least take the cat to a place of safety FFS.

OP, as a cat owner thank you for being rational about solving this, and I agree it can't go on. I wouldn't give the neighbours the heads up, I would simply take it to the nearest cats protection league and present it as a stray that keeps coming in to your house. If the owners really care they have the chance to call up and claim it back. It's a domestic cat, it shouldn't be left outside all year round. Some breeds of dog have a double coat that can withstand cold temperatures, cats do not.

Regarding neutering, CPL often advertise free or highly discounted neutering. An unneutered Tom cat causes so many problems that often end up on the charities doorsteps, that they have a vested interest to get pets neutered. He could be causing God knows how many kittens, spreading diseases etc. CPL would also be happy to come out and trap/ neuter/ return the feral cats surrounding you.

You would be doing the cat a favour, I bet if they can't be arsed to neuter him then he won't be microchipped/ vaccinated either. If he's friendly he's likely to find a new home where he can be let inside. He's not a happy cat now, he's spraying because he's stressed and feels his territory is being taken over. Lastly, please don't spray him with water, especially at this time of year. If he's stuck outside he could freeze to death, and a relatives cat sadly died from slipping off a fence and landing on her neck. If anyone insists on using water to deter cats, please just use a small toy sized water pistol. No need to douse the cat to make a point.

Good luck.

Omg that's so cruel to drive the cat elsewhere!

"If you dump it on them, then the only person they will attempt to extract boarding and vet fees from is you."

As this cat is currently being "dumped" on us regularly - do we get to start charing the owners for the damage it is causing? I very much doubt CPL will charge us when we explain that we cannot have the house continue to come into the house as it's causing damage and I am allergic, and that we've tried everything to deal with it in a humane way, but the owners take no notice or responsibility. We cannot have the cat continue to come into our house.

MsMims That's what I gathered up thread - that as it's an outdoor cat, if it's not neutered then they would liaise with the owners to get in neutered. We are definitely in an area that is classed as having a problem with feral cats (so it says on our local dog warden page).

First I would have a go with the super soaker, the citronella and the window nets.

Next I would ring the council. The cat is a pest. It is causing you health issues with your allergy and its faeces, it is also damaging your property. If it is not neutered it is also a potential risk to other animals as it will likely be very aggressive to other cats.

Next, I suggest a solicitors letter to the neighbour. This will state clearly that since repeated requests to retrain and control the animal they own have failed you will be charging them for every single damage. Then slam them with the bills.

I own two cats. I love cats. But fuck me this is ridiculous. If a cat fouled in my house as this one does it would need to move like lightening not to have a toe up its arse.

OP, I posted earlier about motion activated water jets. Trust me when I tell you that they will get rid of the cat although I'm not sure how it would work with the dog using the garden. You might need more than one though.

The only problem with them is that you have to remember that they are there otherwise you end up getting soaked. 💦💦

suburbanrhonda maybe no one has used the exact words (on this thread at least) that cats are not pets. BUT people have posted about a cat's 'right to roam' and 'you can't control them like a dog'.

So let me amend my post- cats are not the 'owner's' responsibility when they are damaging other people's property, but no one else can do anything about it because it's the owner's responsibility to do so?

Either cats are pets and owners are responsible in which case they should have the same rules in place as for dogs. Or they are not responsible, in which case the cat is not a 'pet' so other people can treat them as they would any other wild animal or vermin.

In your opinion chronically but the law as it stands recognises that cats are property of their owners, so if you deliberately kill one, or cause harm to one, then not only can you be prosecuted for criminal damage, but also for cruelty to animals.

The law also recognises that cats have a right to roam. There's little point disputing this as the law is unlikely to change any time soon and I say that as someone who has cats who are not free to roam.

FGS..

It is a frustrating situation OP and I get that, and its not your fault your neighbours are asshats.

But, if you turned up at the rescue I work with, and announce you have brought us a cat who is owned and you know who owns it, and you want us to take it and neuter it..

You will be told to take the cat and go away.

We would not take the cat from you in the first place, it is not your cat to relinquish to us. We are not a cat minding service, nor a cat neutering service.

If you abandon the animal on our doorstep having told us that you know whose cat it is and where it lives we would take it back and let it go and quite probably take action against you for stealing your neighbours cat and trying to get rid of it. We'd also quite likely inform all the other local rescues that take cats to put you on the 'black list' so they are aware and don't take this cat in either.

You seem to have a very strange idea of how rescues and animal charities work.

To keep the cat out of your home, simply keep the doors and windows shut.
Cats whilst agile and clever, cannot fly or levitate so you could safely open several upstairs windows and even downstairs ones if they dont open far enough to let the cat in.

To keep the cat out of your home, simply keep the doors and windows shut.

only a mad cat person cat lover can come up with such nonsense.

To keep the cat out of your home, simply keep the doors and windows shut.Cats whilst agile and clever, cannot fly or levitate so you could safely open several upstairs windows and even downstairs ones if they dont open far enough to let the cat in.

The obvious answer that the OP does not want to hear!

"Keep the doors shut".

What? When I am putting out washing. Or in and out for shopping. Or in summer when DD wants to run in and out?

So my enjoyment and use of my property is tempered by someone else's pet? Do you realise how bonkers that is?

The same thing will end up happening to their first cat. Mine isn't the only house it goes in and someone won't realise it's in and it will be trapped. You'd think they would want to avoid another ill cat

http://www.inbrief.co.uk/animal-law/cats-fouling/

This link does support those saying it would be theft to off the cat, and that they have the right to roam.

But they can be classified as a nuisance if a danger to health which the faces and allergy triggering no must surely be. Hence the council may well be the way to go.

Silly I have explained why it's not possible for us to keep windows and doors shut - also we shouldn't be forced to by someone else's cat. The cat got through a first floor window - once of the roof of an extension and once from an old tree. It has also been through our loft window.

Thanks TSS

"We are not a cat minding service"

Neither am I.

*"We are not a cat minding service"

Neither am I.*

That may be true but that doesn't make your floors the CPL's problem, does it?

Billy I may not have an option but to make it someone else's problem if that's the humane way to go. The owners aren't interested in helping.

No advice OP, but it sounds awful.

Honestly, I'd take it to the CPL and just lie and say it's a stray. Given your description of the owner I'm going to guess it's not chipped. I absolutely understand that this is morally dubious at best, but I don't think I'd care at this stage.

I hope you manage to get it sorted out.

The following is what I would try...

Tiger poo pellets (google it, it is a thing really) in the garden.

Put up one of those ultrasonic cat scare things, but may want to check it doesn't bother the dog first/ switch it off when the doors or windows are open or the dog is out.

To keep the cat out the house you could try window screens like those mad by flatcat.

Ultimately I agree it isn't fair your in this situation but it seems there isn't much you can do.

I would also be tempted to take the cat to a charity, with a hefty donation to appease my guilt. But I think your neibours would probably get another cat, or worse... two!

That doesn't sound like normal cat behaviour to me. I have had cats my whole life pretty much and I would say its probably an un-neutered tom cat as it sounds very aggressive. I would also chuck or squirt water at it as cats hate that. We have a cat, but a horrible tom lives nearby and I chuck a glass of water over it when he comes in to our garden.?

msmim yes i felt sick reading that comment and that the poster could relish retelling it
Mine are all now housecats, but if someone did that to someone i know i, or my dp would be having words with them.
That is beyond cruel and nasty to pet and owner.
Similar to the poster who likes to tell the story of how they took an annoying neighbours dog and dumped in a dog carrier amd left it.
Some really sick people out there.

Op you have options, people, including myself have given you options.
You can't steal someone's pet just because it's pissing you off.
People getting distraught at losing their pets and not knowing what has happened to them.

Kali I am not "stealing" someone's cat. We would be taking it to CPL and telling them who the owners were. We would then be explaining why it has come to them and why we haven't, for the twentieth time, returned it back to it's owners. They clearly do not give a crap about their cat, nor do they want to take any other responsibility for it other than taking food out of a tin once a day.

We are trying the options that have been given (as we have stated previously). We have contacted the RSPCA and are waiting to hear back, we will be contacting our council as well. We've just this minute ordered the Tiger Poop pellets.