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 hold with the old chestnut about people only having pets because they're unable to find friends in their own species, but some people on here really don't do anything to dispel it.

To clarify, I stated earlier that I don't believe Bengal cats should be outdoor cats, I recommended to the OP that she used a supersoaker as a deterrent and I also said the only long term solution would be if the NDN built a catio.
I've been told I'm talking rubbish by one poster and you've inferred that I have no friends, simply because I don't believe that killing, injuring, or stealing and dumping a neighbours pet is a good solution to anything.
And if it really makes you feel better to believe I'm a mad lonely cat person with no life other than my cats, you are welcome to believe whatever you like about me.

I don't believe that killing, injuring, or stealing and dumping a neighbours pet is a good solution to anything.

If it's any consolation @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I wholeheartedly agree with you.

No need for cruelty - but (and I know this seems hypocritical) if I was concerned about the safety of my baby, and the owner ignored my fears, I would be tempted to bung the offending cat into a box and release it in the next country, but suggestions to shoot, trap and leave, kick the bejabers out of etc are appalling.

The cat owner needs to step up here - if they don't like it indoors, then tough! The cat is their responsibility, as is the need to keep other people's children and pets safe

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

Sadly, after texting our neighbours, we are still on the same situation on day one after we agreed they would message us and keep him in.

I guess the only thing on our side at the moment is the weather and the fact our backdoor is hardly ever open.

Thank you for all the suggestions, sadly the water thing doesn’t make a difference, if anything, it’s probably made it to worse as he challenges me when I throw water at him.

Let's hope the cost of living and housing situation sorts itself out so we can move out!

@Avrenim we already have a microchip cat flap, but yesterday I had our actual backdoor open which is how he came in. Before this, he’s gotten in throw our windows as we are a ground floor flat. Keeping our windows and doors closed isn’t a realistic situation, especially when it’s warmer weather, and I don’t think the neighbours are taking this seriously.

@Firsttimetrier I am sorry to hear that - and while Asbo Cat wasn't the reason we moved, our cats are definitely much happier that we have! (Though we have other challenges in the new place.)

Along with several other neighbours, we regularly used to go and talk to Asbo Cat's owners about the situation, although I think they were more sympathetic than yours, it sounds like. Fingers crossed that things improve for you.

Have you spoken to the RSPCA?

Bengals are really vicious. My vet says he thinks they shouldn't be allowed to breed them.

I love cats but Bengals are proof that even a cat that is just a little bigger and more aggressive than your average street mog (which has genes and behaviours to match its environment of humans, and adapts to other cats) is a problem.

Make it really unwelcome it your house, OP. That's a bucket of cold water and a large broom you need. If an animal is aggressive towards you or your family, then act accordingly. Drive it away. Or being a cat it will decide your house is yours.

They are really good looking animals but not great pets. They should have remained licensed.

Your house is theirs....

Agreed! I can’t believe that they aren’t. Bad for the animals, owners and neighbours.

Report to rspca?

If any animal came in 'attack mode' towards my dc im sorry but chances are it would end up very injured!

@Quincythequince - I have just looked at my fat placid tabby cat and think, if you were a third bigger, I would not fancy my chances in picking you up and pooting you out of the house.

Fact is, even a fat soppy cat can suddenly stiffen up and move like an eel. Cats are strong. I do not want a bigger tougher one

you've inferred that I have no friends, simply because I don't believe that killing, injuring, or stealing and dumping a neighbours pet is a good solution to anything.

I was citing the old quote - which I acknowledged was a 'chestnut' - and responding with hyperbole and exasperation at the people who appear to be saying that cats should be allowed to do whatever they like and people just have to put up with it, however vicious or disruptive they may be. Somebody upthread (can't remember who now) even suggested that OP should rehome her own cat, now that next door's Bengal believes it owns the house!

I am not suggesting that cat lovers have no friends at all, but there definitely seems to be an element amongst a lot of them that's a kind of feline equivalent of PFB, and they just can't believe that other people do not love cats and believe that the whole world revolves around them.

I certainly do not advocate violence towards any animal - or person - UNLESS necessary in self-defence or protecting vulnerable people from their attack. The same as I would never in a thousand years dream of whacking somebody passing by me in the street with a golf club, but if they let themselves into my house and tried to attack or otherwise hurt my DC, then I would make no apologies whatsoever.

I think you might need to bite the bullet and ask them to rehome him. He clearly needs better management and a much bigger garden than they can provide.

Ask them "What do you suggest I do when your cat pisses on my furniture , attacks my cat , comes into my house and goes for me and my child"

Hopefully they won't shrug and say "Cats will be cats"
They need to know how much trouble he's causing and what you will do to deter him and defend yourself .
If they say you can't do THAT
Then you say well keep him in, he's the problem

When I got my moggies I said to my NDNs if they go into the gardens and they don't want them there throw water , cold water (avoid the face if they can)
Thankfully our boy doesn't venture far and our girl is very territorial so protects her garden.
And they come inside to toilet .

The neighbours aren’t taking it seriously because you didn’t kick off holy hell yesterday because ‘they are nice’. But there not really are they?

If you’d have gone around there and gone apeshit and told them that the next time their cat goes near you and yours it’d be the last, they would quickly have resolved the issue.

Unfortunately you give and inch and they take a mile. I normally chance it with people but not when it comes to my family.

I think you might need to bite the bullet and ask them to rehome him.

Sounds like he'd be more at home at the zoo - although he might very suddenly be shocked to find that he's no longer 'top cat'.

Tell the neighbours that next time the cat moves to attack your child or just enters your place that will you capture the cat with force if needed and take it to the animal shelter. It is a wild animal in your house. It is not being looked after correctly. It needs owners who can meet its needs.

Your neighbours are really in the wrong here OP. You have to be a very proactive owner if you have a Bengal, they are not easy pets. They have so much energy and curiosity, they are territorial and need lots of attention and stimulation. If he's wandering, spraying and fighting, he's a menace and it is really up to your neighbours to prevent the issues THEIR pet has been causing.

They need to look at getting him a catio (and be prepared to cage off quite a big area) with toys- with a wide variety of toys in rotation and they need to actually dedicate time to play with him and fuss him. There are also things they can do to stop the spraying at theirs if he does it. If they can't provide the above, he needs to be rehomed.

I say this as a Bengal lover, too. My parents have a rescued/rehomed bengal and she does hate other animals, but she's also timid and tiny so she has lost every fight she's ever had- and it's always other cats attacking her! She is so loving as well, although I'd never assume to leave her unattended with children. When DCat was younger my mum used to spend about 30min a morning playing with her- toys, running obstacle courses around furniture, pounce games etc, so she'd tire herself out and snooze for a good while. They are gorgeous but hard work. Based on experience, DP and I turned down an adorable Bengal kitten in need of a home recently as we don't think we're around enough or in a suitable property for such a high energy breed - esp as a bouncy kitten; plus I'm aware our old girl is maybe the minority and we might not get such a sweet one again.

Obviously do everything you can to keep the monster mog out of your house but it's honestly on your neighbours to either make adjustments or decide whether he might be better suited to another home.

Indeed they are.
I have suggested that cats generally can’t harm. I have sad that Bengals are generally much worse due to their breed. Many don’t get this.

I also don’t know why dogs keep being mentioned. 🤔

My comments are specifically about bengals, in this situation as it stands, because this is the OPs problem.

Not small dogs, not other mother placid domestic breeds - bengals.

@SunshinePlease101 in hindsight, maybe we should have kicked off more, but we also have to live next door to these people so we tried to approach the situation without too much conflict. I guess that’s how we are as people, trying to be reasonable, but sadly that’s not helped this situation as they’ve shown on the first day that they aren’t going to change or take this seriously.

I'm extremely allergic to cats so I would be very cross indeed if a car kept sauntering into my house and would not be deterred by a shoo or a water pistol. I actually struggle to breathe. I don't see why someone else's need for a pet should be above my health inside my own home. Luckily I have never had this problem all neighborhood hood care being truly outdoors cats.

Exactly this. It’s no way acceptable and the cat should be kept indoors permanently like many others are.