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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To squirt this cat with a hose

100 replies

Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 17:39

Just need some thoughts because my partner didn't let me do it.

I have a cat who is an indoor cat that goes into our back garden as she pleases. Mostly now I'm indoors not too far away. We've built up over 3 years for her to be left alone in the garden.

She's been neutered.

We have a male cat that is an outdoor cat that lives on our street. He's a bully and attacks the other cats in our road frequently which makes me think he's not been neutered.

Earlier I happened to be changing my cats litter tray and looked out the backdoor window. There's the bully cat sat at our backdoor as if waiting to be let in. He then went all over the garden speying with my girl sits. He left so then I went outside to hose everywhere down.

While he was there I told my partner that I was going to chase him away and he stopped me doing so saying it was cruel.

But now truth be told if he came back I want to squirt him with the hose. Normally I would never dream of this as not a cruel person but I don't want him attacking my cat.

She saw him earlier and followed him throughout downstairs through the windows. Fur on end, ears back, tail low. She was anxious.

My partner said she was fine and I'm being silly saying she was scared.

Am I cruel to squirt him with the hose? He honestly is aggressive with other cats.

OP posts:
IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord · 25/04/2024 19:37

If you use the hose on the spray setting so it's gentle it won't hurt him. It will put him off if you keep doing it whenever he enters your garden.

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:01

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 25/04/2024 18:11

Shes not too bad actually, I've seen them playing in the garden. But it can't be nice for her having him spraying in the house.

No course not. Its like someone unwanted coming in your home.

OP posts:
GerbilsForever24 · 25/04/2024 20:02

100% yes. Our greedy cat kept sneaking into neighbours house to steal food. We bought her dc water guns to squirt him! Worked a treat!

MrsCarson · 25/04/2024 20:02

Spray him with the hose. He'll be spraying up your patio doors and the house will start to smell. We had this happen a few times, I chased him off, washed off the patio doors and sprinkled black pepper and reapplied the black pepper often especially after rain. He disappeared and never came back.

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:04

Thanks so much everyone. I'm going to order a water pistol.

I think she was bit weirded out by it all because when I let her out she spent most of the time running back in to check I was there then going back out.

Going to keep her in now for the night.

I just worry when I'm not there an my partner lets her out. I know he won't check on her an the tomcat comes back. Might be worrying over nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:05

IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord · 25/04/2024 19:37

If you use the hose on the spray setting so it's gentle it won't hurt him. It will put him off if you keep doing it whenever he enters your garden.

No of course. I'm going to get the toy anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:06

Spywoman · 25/04/2024 18:11

I have a water pistol in a similar scenario. The other cat isn't traumatised - I know that because it comes back. But if it sees me, it runs away and if I manage to get it with a bit of water, it puts it off for a while.

My cat's an old fella and too long in the tooth to fight. But he stands behind me and preens when I've chased the other cat off!

This made me giggle.

OP posts:
pambeesleyhalpert · 25/04/2024 20:07

Do it! I have a cat and wouldn't mind someone squirting him if he was being a bully!!

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:08

TheresNoFudgeHere · 25/04/2024 18:32

I was all ready to say absolutely not, but as a cat lover I do think a wee squirt with a water pistol (definitely not a hose, that’s a bit much!!) won’t do him any harm, and hopefully he will learn not to come back to your garden.

Not gona lie like I do feel terrible even talking about it or considering it but I don't think I've got any other choice really. The owners won't be able to do anything like so no point even mentioning it to them. I just hope he doesn't try to mate with her.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:09

My brain is running away with me here. I've even conjured up the scenario that the tomcat comes back an tried to mate with my girl while I'm not there.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:10

MrsCarson · 25/04/2024 20:02

Spray him with the hose. He'll be spraying up your patio doors and the house will start to smell. We had this happen a few times, I chased him off, washed off the patio doors and sprinkled black pepper and reapplied the black pepper often especially after rain. He disappeared and never came back.

Oh why what does black pepper do?

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 25/04/2024 20:10

Best use a super soaker. It won't hurt him but it will piss him off and hopefully will stay out of your garden 😉

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:10

GerbilsForever24 · 25/04/2024 20:02

100% yes. Our greedy cat kept sneaking into neighbours house to steal food. We bought her dc water guns to squirt him! Worked a treat!

Hahaha no way! Aren't they so cheeky!

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:11

LakeTiticaca · 25/04/2024 20:10

Best use a super soaker. It won't hurt him but it will piss him off and hopefully will stay out of your garden 😉

Believe me I will be buying the biggest one I can find with the longest range

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 25/04/2024 20:12

We used to turn the hose on a cat that regularly used to lurk in my mother’s little garden, hoping to catch the birds she loved and encouraged.

It would get rid of it for the moment, but I’m afraid the bugger would always come back. Putting some really prickly prunings (pyracantha is especially good 😈) under the shrub where it liked to lurk in wait, did help though.

Nocturna · 25/04/2024 20:12

Does the cat have an owner? I'd speak to them if so, it's irresponsible to have an unneutered cat roaming about.

If there's no owner, take him to a cat rescue shelter as a stray

category12 · 25/04/2024 20:16

They can be really determined, so while spraying at him may get rid temporarily, he'll probably be back.

I had a hideous neighbour cat that used to beat up my cat all the time. I love cats, but it was a relief to me and my cat when he died (nothing to do with me, natural causes!)

I think your best bet is get a catio or cat-proof fencing for your garden so she can be safe to enjoy the garden.

TheRosesAreInBloom · 25/04/2024 20:17

Nocturna · 25/04/2024 20:12

Does the cat have an owner? I'd speak to them if so, it's irresponsible to have an unneutered cat roaming about.

If there's no owner, take him to a cat rescue shelter as a stray

The type of owners who let entire cats wander around the neighbourhoods don’t typically respond well to serious chats about responsibility in my experience.

category12 · 25/04/2024 20:17

And the neighbour cat WAS neutered, he just hated other cats. 😂

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:33

TheRosesAreInBloom · 25/04/2024 20:17

The type of owners who let entire cats wander around the neighbourhoods don’t typically respond well to serious chats about responsibility in my experience.

Show quote history

He has got an owner. They seem nice enough people but I don't think they view their cat the way I do mine

Like before I got my cat he was in my front garden fighting with the other cat up the road. The noise was hideous. I tried to stop it but couldn't so I ran up the road an they just said there's nothing they can do about it, they can't keep him in.

So there's no point.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 20:36

category12 · 25/04/2024 20:17

And the neighbour cat WAS neutered, he just hated other cats. 😂

Exactly some cats are just bullies.

This one is defo not. A stray female last year was trying to mate with him, rolling round all over the place infront of him, dragging belly on the floor, noises.

I wish he would naff off.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 25/04/2024 20:41

In my experience if you run into the garden and yell at them the cat realises that it is human territory and is less likely to come when it thinks you might be there.

I had two quite timid cats so I used to defend their territory for them.

Shellingbynight · 25/04/2024 20:51

You're not being unreasonable. I have cats myself and in the past they were menaced in their own garden by an unneutered male cat, so I know how you feel.

However the chance of you being able to get out of the door, turn the hose on and aim it at him before he's over the fence and far away are probably slim. I certainly never managed it. But if you can, go for it. A squirt with the hose isn't going to hurt him but it might put him off if you do it regularly.

(Our unneutered male was a stray and a rescue centre came and trapped, neutered and rehomed him, so a happy resolution for everyone!)

Original poster
Moonpie6 · 25/04/2024 21:53

Shellingbynight · 25/04/2024 20:51

You're not being unreasonable. I have cats myself and in the past they were menaced in their own garden by an unneutered male cat, so I know how you feel.

However the chance of you being able to get out of the door, turn the hose on and aim it at him before he's over the fence and far away are probably slim. I certainly never managed it. But if you can, go for it. A squirt with the hose isn't going to hurt him but it might put him off if you do it regularly.

(Our unneutered male was a stray and a rescue centre came and trapped, neutered and rehomed him, so a happy resolution for everyone!)

Aw that's good. Happy ending at least.

I think I would get time to do that because he's lovely to people and hangs around people for ages. He was here today for about 20 mins.

He runs up to me when I get out my car (not for ages because not seen him up close.)

I do feel mean like but it's got to be done.

Hopefully if he comes again I can spray him without my partner seeing.

OP posts:
Catsmere · 25/04/2024 22:17

feetlikeahobbit · 25/04/2024 17:57

My cat was a bully boy in his youth, he had been neutered but it was at 2 when I got him. On more than one occasion he came home wet from being squirted with water and I was fine with that. Didn't hurt him and may have saved on vets bills for both cats.
He settled down in old age as he got slower.

I had a cat like that. Spent most of his life getting into fights with another aggressive male. Our vets joked they'd be building a new wing on the proceeds from all his visits getting patched up. I rather wish someone had given him a bit of a squirt!

He lived to be 22.

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