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Original poster

Neighbour's aggressive cat

210 replies

mimblewimble · 06/11/2023 23:29

Our neighbours a few doors down have a very territorial and aggressive tom cat.

He was fighting with and injuring our cat so much that we had to speak to his owners. The owners are lovely so it's really awkward to bring up with them. The cats now don't go out at the same time any more - we have to coordinate with the owners on WhatsApp every day.

We also can't leave any doors or lower windows open if their is out, as he will enter our house, or fight our cat through the windows. Now this isn't ideal, but it's been workable.

However we now have the problem that he is attacking us. If he is in our back garden and we go out there he stalks and tries to attack us. DH, the kids and I are all scared to go out there on our own is we know he's out.

We have tried to shoo him from the garden, but he will either just stay put and stare, or if you get too close he turns on you. We have tried water pistols but he just moves slightly away and then returns.

It now seems to be getting even worse, as a couple of times recently he has actually chased me down the street. I have been scratched by him a couple of times, and he can't be scared off.

I'm worried he will cause one of us a serious injury, especially one of the kids.

How on earth do I go about raising this with the neighbours, and what can I reasonably expect them to do?

The cat is already neutered, and he's just a normal tabby as far as we know.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Fedupwitheveryone · 07/11/2023 18:38

I had an arsehole cat like this growing up. He adored my mother and attacked the rest of us to a violent degree. He was neutered but had been a rescue so had issues. Eventually ended up getting him injected w female hormones a couple of times a year, worked a treat.

OP I'm dealing with a similar neighborhood cat, and also have a cat of my own. I've taken to storing a few squirt bottles filled with 50/50 vinegar/water around the house - they hate the smell. I put that around the perimeter of the walls as much as i can when he's about. Could you potentially store one outside your front door or spray the path heavily? Whenever I get him with the vinegar it keeps him away for a week or two. He now runs when he sees me rather than hissing at me.

But tell your neighbours - there's not much they can do but next time he's violent show them your injuries and ask them if they can speak to the vet about something to calm him down. it could be Felixway plug in or it could be hormones. Good luck.

Shry · 07/11/2023 18:58

I'm sorry youre going through this, some cats are just like this. Especially cats that have had a hard life or cats that were taken away from their Mothers too soon as kittens and never learnt the correct social skills.

It might not be your neighbours fault, but I think they need to be doing everything they possibly can to help the situation as responsible cat owners. Can you do some research and share it with them? I would recommend Feliway plugins (one for each storey of the house plugged in to a socket that isn't blocked by furniture) and also Zylkene which is a calming supplement that is added to a cats food - i don't know scientifically how effective it is but a friend of mine said it helped her cat.

Has this behaviour been always been around for this cat, or was it ok and at some point he has changed?

stealtheatingtunnocks · 07/11/2023 19:05

Fedupwitheveryone · 07/11/2023 18:38

I had an arsehole cat like this growing up. He adored my mother and attacked the rest of us to a violent degree. He was neutered but had been a rescue so had issues. Eventually ended up getting him injected w female hormones a couple of times a year, worked a treat.

OP I'm dealing with a similar neighborhood cat, and also have a cat of my own. I've taken to storing a few squirt bottles filled with 50/50 vinegar/water around the house - they hate the smell. I put that around the perimeter of the walls as much as i can when he's about. Could you potentially store one outside your front door or spray the path heavily? Whenever I get him with the vinegar it keeps him away for a week or two. He now runs when he sees me rather than hissing at me.

But tell your neighbours - there's not much they can do but next time he's violent show them your injuries and ask them if they can speak to the vet about something to calm him down. it could be Felixway plug in or it could be hormones. Good luck.

They transed your cat to stop it from being an arsehole? There’s a joke in that.

Hilly7 · 07/11/2023 19:40

The cat would absolutely be seeing the end of my shoe

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 07/11/2023 19:55

AlwaysGinPlease · 07/11/2023 17:00

You'd never hurt an animal yet you'd give a cat a " good hard kick" which would injure and possibly kill it?! Ffs! What is wrong with you? Sick.

Show quote history

Read my post again properly - the one that you responded to.

IVbumble · 07/11/2023 20:20

I had a rescue Russian Blue and if you only gave him dry food you'd get a swift bite on your shins.

Mind you not as bad as a friends husband who got up in the night naked for the loo & their cat bit onto the dangly down bit & wouldn't let go. Try explaining that in A&E.

Lavender14 · 07/11/2023 20:24

So this was actually my cat. He's a dote around people but was absolutely terrorising the other cats in the area and constantly fighting. He's an indoor cat now and it did take a while but he's adjusted well and I do think he's less stressed now as a result. Saved him and other cats a lot of injuries.

I'd just speak to the neighbours, as long as you're friendly and polite about it there's no reason why they should take it thick.

Theunamedcat · 07/11/2023 20:27

Anyone suggested an airhorn? Keep your cat shut indoors for a bit and everytime the other cat comes near airhorn

scottishGirl · 07/11/2023 20:40

I agree with previous posters about getting it on video so the neighbours/ vet can fully understand what it's like. Do you have any other neighbours? I wonder if they also experience this. Sorry you are going through this! Sounds horrific honestly. I wonder if something happened to him before being rescued that causes this behaviour...

Original poster
mimblewimble · 07/11/2023 21:04

They've said none of the other neighbours have complained and they don't see this behaviour at home. He certainly attacks other cats - he has a bit of a reputation on the street - but not sure whether others have said anything directly to his owners.

OP posts:
Rachie1973 · 07/11/2023 21:11

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 07/11/2023 07:54

Okay so one time you didn't have shoes and one time it got you from behind. But the next time you even see it, run at it first with your arms out and shouting. If you have anything non breakable in your hands at the time, or can pick something up instantly, throw something at it. You have to get the first move in - if you allow it to control the encounter it will remain dominant and aggressive.

I really shouldn’t LOL but can you get this recorded?

Ive had the worse couple of days and OP I genuinely feel for you, it’s a horrible issue, but some of the mental images have me chortling out loud.

hotcandle · 07/11/2023 21:22

This reply has been deleted

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RogueFemale · 07/11/2023 21:31

SisterhoodNotCisterhood · 07/11/2023 09:56

We have a car round here that's mean and it keeps attacking other animals but has now progressed to children. It's recently attacked the neighbour's toddler as they walked down the street! She managed to get it off him but it was a vicious attack with it wrapped around his legs, claws and teeth sunk in, even if it did only last seconds. Her child hasn't really interacted with the cat at all so the cat doesn't have beef with him or anything because of a pulled tail or anything. She's said next time she see it, it's going to learn how to fly with a boot launch.

Cars do indeed keep killing and injuring animals and humans as they walk down the street, but oddly no-one suggests giving cars a good kicking.

AlwaysGinPlease · 07/11/2023 21:31

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper

I did read it. Your point is?

RogueFemale · 07/11/2023 21:34

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

This is a horribly cruel suggestion and likely a criminal act as a cat is the property of its owner, just the same as a dog, a horse, a cow or sheep. It's theft.

RogueFemale · 07/11/2023 21:36

Hilly7 · 07/11/2023 19:40

The cat would absolutely be seeing the end of my shoe

Edited

It's illegal to abuse animals.

RogueFemale · 07/11/2023 21:40

To everyone on here advocating kicking the cat as some sort of 'solution', think again. Firstly, it is illegal to abuse animals. Secondly, it's not any kind of solution to the problem, any more than kicking an aggressive child.

TrashedSofa · 07/11/2023 21:49

RogueFemale · 07/11/2023 21:40

To everyone on here advocating kicking the cat as some sort of 'solution', think again. Firstly, it is illegal to abuse animals. Secondly, it's not any kind of solution to the problem, any more than kicking an aggressive child.

Please cite the legislation stating that physically defending oneself or a child against an animal attack is illegal and amounts to abuse. Be specific.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 07/11/2023 23:55

AlwaysGinPlease · 07/11/2023 21:31

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper

I did read it. Your point is?

You seemed to miss the part that I've copied below in bold for your benefit:

"I'd never deliberately hurt an animal that wasn't harming me or another human"

I'm not a particular fan of cats, but I wish them no harm - but if they clearly wish to do me (or my loved ones) harm, then I will take full advantage of my relative size to them to make them stop.

Just like I don't go down the street deliberately hurting annoying people, and I ignore/avoid them wherever possible; but if a burglar broke into my house with a gun clearly visible, and I happened to be behind him with access to a heavy swingable object, then he would have made the choice for my normal rules to change very markedly.

Surely you don't really believe that vicious cats (or dogs) who attack and maul/seriously injure humans think that they are just playing and are not trying to dominate them or frighten them away?

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 08/11/2023 00:00

Cat threads often seem to go this way, with cat lovers thinking that cats can do no wrong and should be allowed to do whatever they like, no matter how much it affects other people/cats/living beings - and accusing people who disagree with them of being 'cat haters'.

I don't hate or want to hurt them at all, but I'm not going to live in fear of injury or seriously restricting my use of my own property, just because some nasty wayward cat thinks it can do whatever it likes completely unchallenged.

FrangipaniBlue · 08/11/2023 00:23

I have no advice but cane on with sympathy, we had a family cat exactly like this!

He would turn on you on a blink.

He'd sit at the end of the drive having staring contests with the neighbours two Doberman who never dared set paw in our garden.

CalistoNoSolo · 08/11/2023 09:58

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 08/11/2023 00:00

Cat threads often seem to go this way, with cat lovers thinking that cats can do no wrong and should be allowed to do whatever they like, no matter how much it affects other people/cats/living beings - and accusing people who disagree with them of being 'cat haters'.

I don't hate or want to hurt them at all, but I'm not going to live in fear of injury or seriously restricting my use of my own property, just because some nasty wayward cat thinks it can do whatever it likes completely unchallenged.

Cat people are really weird. It's like normal rules of behaviour don't apply to them or their vile creatures. If someone had posted that a small dog was coming into their garden and baring it's teeth, biting and scratching, I doubt anyone would be telling the op to dog proof her garden, video the attacks, or talk nicely to the owners in case the poor little doggy was in pain.

ilovesooty · 08/11/2023 10:30

You don't have to be a weird cat person to find it pretty objectionable when people talk blatantly on a regular basis of hoping cats actually suffer and come to harm.

Tabbytabs · 08/11/2023 13:34

I had a cat like that round here. He would come into my house, eat my cat’s food and refuse to leave. Growling and scratching and trying to attack. I figured out the best way to get rid of him, the hoover. He absolutely hates it. I would chase him out of the house and the garden with the cordless stick hoover. Then I got 2 boy cats and I’ve not seen him round here since. He is still in the area, but stays clear of our property. My little girl cat is a menace to society, will attack dogs and is a general bitch, but she was no match for him. The boys are soft and stupid, but are big and he obviously didn’t fancy his chances!

Dilbertian · 09/11/2023 23:37

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 08/11/2023 00:00

Cat threads often seem to go this way, with cat lovers thinking that cats can do no wrong and should be allowed to do whatever they like, no matter how much it affects other people/cats/living beings - and accusing people who disagree with them of being 'cat haters'.

I don't hate or want to hurt them at all, but I'm not going to live in fear of injury or seriously restricting my use of my own property, just because some nasty wayward cat thinks it can do whatever it likes completely unchallenged.

LOL. Plenty of cat-adoring Litter Tray posters here on this thread, telling the OP to use supersoakers/cat-scarers/other deterrents/charge at the cat before it attacks etc.

I sometimes wonder whether half the "Oh you big meanie don't hurt the poor little puddy" types actually have a arrogant bastard feline cat.