Neighbour’s vicious cat

[Firsttimetrier]

Our neighbour bought a bengal cat which they started letting out this summer. It’s caused us and our other neighbours nothing but grief by attacking our cats resulting in vet visits due to bite wounds, coming into our houses, spraying urine everywhere in gardens and on back doors etc.

This afternoon, I had our backdoor ajar and our baby in the bouncer in the kitchen. Next thing I know, their cat comes flying into the kitchen trying to attack our cat right by our baby in the bouncer. I manage to break up the fight and their cat then goes towards the baby still in attack mode.

This has completely shaken me up and my husband has messaged the neighbour to discuss as their cat is starting to become nuisance.

We’ve offered them solutions in the past such as alternating days/times when each cat goes out, but they never hold their side.

Are we being unreasonable asking them to stick to a timetable?

Any tips welcome and greatly appreciated.

I don't think cats can be let out on a timetable but I understand why you have asked this. Cats (esp bengals) just don't work that way unfortunately.

I would speak to them as you have here, you sound reasonable and measured and for me, the last straw would be what happened today. You should be able to be in your house, with any door open that you like, without a pet coming in to attack your pet.

It is their responsibility as a cat owner and especially a Bengal owner to find a solution to this. Bengals are very difficult to manage and need a lot of care and stimulation but unfortunately are very aggressive to other cats.

I am a bengal owner so am very aware of the challenge they present.

Hopefully they will respond positively and try to help the situation.

As another Bengal adjacent cat owner you have my sympathy. I've now got a supply of cat first aid stuff and cones of shame for the scratches. And a loaded, very large water pistol by the back door for when the arsehole squares up to me.

Is their cat neutered? Maybe ask them to neuter it if it's not.
I've had similar issues with neighbours cats previously and I know how distressing it can be :(
Maybe you and any impacted neighbours should all ask for contributions towards future vets costs? Not sure there would be any legal recourse for this though.

I’d have kicked the bloody cat if it went towards my baby and I’d be more then just sending a text. Horrible thing.

It does sound like it needs neutered, we've got one round here and he's a regular topic on the neighbourhood Facebook group. And the waterpistol is a great idea.

@Bake I’ve always assumed that he is as they seem like very reasonable, kind people, but I will them when we speak to them later.

@PigLightingBastard This cat isn’t scared of water as I’ve tried in the past to shoo him away from our windows as he used to scratch at them trying to get our cat. He just stares at you and comes towards you as if he’s trying to challenge you.

@Flickerflash thank you. I honestly starting to feel like I’m going mad with this cat. The summer was the worse as we couldn’t open any windows without him trying to get in. It’s just so traumatising for all of us and now more worrying with our 3 month baby getting caught up in the middle.

I love animals but I agree a swift kick would have been necessary if a cat had tried to attack my baby. Might make it avoid the house next time.

@FreakyFrie I’ve never felt so protective in my life. Our other neighbours ran out of their kitchen to see what was going on as I was screaming like a banshee trying to break up the fight and get him out whilst getting the baby out the bouncer. I was shaking for ages after!

Agree that a kick or spraying with water pistol any time it come near the house might make it more cautious about approaching the house?

I don’t think the cat is likely to pay much attention to the timetable.

But this little fucker of a cat has pissed in your house and gone for your baby. You would be entirely justified to put it in a cat box and drive it very very far away before letting it out. I would have no hesitation in your position. Only problem is that your CF neighbours aren’t likely to pay the petrol bill.

I almost considered one, instead of a dog. The breed info of a strong tendency to actively seek and fight out other cats put me off. They need so much attention. If it were a dog the law would be on your side. Beautiful creatures, but sound a handful!
Hope your neighbours are reasonable, would those spiky things (can’t think of the name) you put on fences help keep your cat in your garden and psycho puss out?

Honestly if their cat is that bad they surely should be trying to contain it in their own garden?! You can purchase cat proofing that goes round the top of your fence to contain a cat.

I think it's appalling that you are just expected to put up with an aggressive animal hurting your cat and potentially baby!

If this had been most other types of animal there would be discussion about putting the animal down or having it rehomed/sent elsewhere, but do cats just get to do whatever they want?!

Water pistol. Squirt the cat every single time it comes into your garden. Won't harm it at all. But it won't like it at all.

What an upsetting thing to happen with your baby.

Melchiors mistress that’s horrible

I love cats but Bengals are evil vicious things that shouldn't be bred.

We have one best us that was terrorising our cat. It came in our house one day attacking our cat. We trapped it in our living room and terrorised it back.

Then our younger cat ripped literal chunks out of it.

We don't see it any more.

The only way to deal with it is to make it see that you are scarier than it is, and to do that you will have to consistently fight it off.

I really hate Bengals. They are the Pitbulls of the cat world.

@MadCatandBirdLady did you read where it was trying to attack a baby?! If that was a dog it'd be put down.

@RylansBeard they do own the property and we’ve got along with them well since moving in 5 years ago. Their old cat that wasn’t a bengal was great friends with our cat and came to collect her every day and they’d go off exploring together.

@Suzi888 we live in a terrace maisonette and the fences between each garden is really low, so I don’t think those spikey things would be possible. I think without changing all fences to be 6ft fences, we wouldn’t be able to cat proof the garden, plus we’d lose all the sun in the garden.

@ColeensBoot the cat isn’t scared of water. He’s often out in torrential rain and challenged me in the past when I’ve thrown a glass of water or pointed the hose at him.

@44PumpLane I know! If this was a dog, this would be an entirely different conversation. They have two children of their own and the youngest is 4. I think, based on comments before, he’s been a bit forceful with the kids too. They also can’t keep him in all day as he destroys the house and doesn’t use the litter tray.

This. I have outdoor cats but mine almost never leave our garden, and have never scratched anyone. Been in a few catfights in our garden, which they lose. If they went for a baby I’d catproof the garden or rehome them.

Wish people would research Bengals, they’re a nightmare to own unless you have farmland or similar.

if it isn’t afraid of water put vegetable oil in the water pistol.

Bengals are very territorial, how that translates to a baby I don't know (size maybe) if they can't keep the cat in as they're escape artistes then they need to build a catio.

My neighbours cat went for my dog whilst out walking, a swift kick did the trick.

Keep your door closed and get a scarecrow device for your garden - it randomly squirts water and it's terrifying for humans let alone cats! You will need to keep your own cat in when the scarecrow is on but hopefully the Bengal will stay away after a few shocks.

thescaredycat.com/contech-scarecrow-review/

There may actually be a legal case to answer if the cat is a nuisance, causes damage, or displays aggression / behaviour that is out of the ordinary for a cat. I.e. a cat trespassing in your garden and attacking birds is ok, because it's within the realms of normal and expected behaviour, but if it attacks a baby then that probably wouldn't be and could possibly be dealt with by the local authorities.

Have a Google for "Cats and the Law UK", there are some excellent resources available.