What to do about local aggressive cat.

[Peonperfect]

My new neighbours have a cat. It hasn’t come into my garden yet thank goodness but it does a target me and my toddler every evening when we leave the house. I don’t seem to see it during the day but in the evening it sits on our front steps and displays quite aggressive body language and arches its back. If you try and shoo it away it comes at you. It has swiped at my toddler a few times and we’re now quite scared of leaving the house as we leave it always walks towards us and follows us away. It is entire and has gone after a few local dogs.

If it were a dog I could report it. Anyone got any ideas?

That'll learn him 😂

In my experience, pouring a bucket of water on a cat might get you a visit from the police

Cat lover here, but I agree with a water pistol. We have an extremely aggressive male cat next door and it attacked our (smaller, female) cat last night. I'm going to blast that f*er with a water pistol every time I see it now. No more Ms Nice Neighbour from me!!

Can’t believe some of the comments here!
i was badly bitten by a large tom cat, on the hand.
That bite could well have badly damaged a toddler’s hand.
OP I would try some of the scent suggestions that people have made, together with a water pistol. Tell the neighbours first, and suggest they keep the cat away from your kid.

Some cats are aggressive twats (I saw as an avowed cat lover). We had similar, though it roamed across a dual carriageway to get to our road. Attacked everyone and everything without provocation - cats, large dogs, humans. Vets and doctors for us all with absesses and infections. It is not acceptable for an animal to be guarding your front door. I would go full blown bucket of water, and politely ask your new neighbours to neuter their cat as it is attacking and scaring your toddler on your property. Appeal to their better nature (though the fact they have an unneutered Tom does not suggest they will be sensible and reasonable...)

I mean I could post a pic of my hand in my dogs mouth and say 'oh look my dog bites me all the time it doesn't hurt at all' when we all know full well the dog isn't attacking me or biting me at all. I'm not sure what your pic is supposed to prove? Of course cat bites and scratches hurt if they're going for you.

Happy now?

Cats sometimes bite and sometimes scratch. You get used to it.

Maybe op doesn't want to get used to her toddler being scratched by a random cat? It's hardly unreasonable.

Yeah, my toddler shouldn’t have to put up with that!!!!

Is it a bloody Bengal?? If so don’t take risks with it. Our neighbours have one and we were absolutely terrorised by it until we got a dog. I walked up the path and it came at me and bit me in the back of the leg. I also had to rescue a neighbour’s daughter after it got into their house. Because we live remote the cats protection came knocking on our door because they were looking for such places to rehome Bengals because they were overwhelmed with them. They are a major problem

High powered water pistol.
Every time it sits on your step, give it a soaking. It will soon learn.

If it’s a Bengal cat it’s no laughing matter. They really are bad. No matter how much water you throw at it, it won’t stop. I’m a massive animal lover and very experienced in dealing with aggressive animals but these cats are another level and it’s amazing how many people own them

Bung a water pistol in your bag and cheerfully give it a good squirt as soon as it starts it's antics and until it runs away.

I recon you'll only have to do it 3 times max.

Not 3 actual squirts, i mean 3 occasions.

Water pistol as has been said

And stern looks and talking in its general direction, certainly if it’s going for your toddler. Let it know who’s boss.

And I’m a cat person

Not one that goes at you with claws and teeth meaning business I’d sooner face a crossbow!

It’s water. It’ll dry. If it doesn’t like getting wet, it should stay in its own garden.

First post nails it. Speaking as a cat owner for over 50 years, this is the best and most humane solution. Harmless to the cat but they don't like water, so it should soon learn that your front step is not to form part of its new territory.

bucket of water/jug of water and do this every single time

I am a cat owner and i would not tolerate this shit either with a child!

Tell the owners too if you know them, to get its balls cut off

Honestly, I'd trap it and get it neutered...

I've had many scratches in my time, just like in the damage photos @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats has shared. I have also been attacked and bitten by a semi-feral cat so viciously I ended up in hospital on an antibiotic drip for several days.

So yes, you do get used to being scratched if you have cats, however I would not tolerate behaviour like this from an aggressive cat towards a small child. It is absolutely not worth the risk of being bitten.

@Peonperfect Might I suggest you carry your toddler in and out of your home for the time being, until this cat has learned (via the water pistol) to keep away from you. And please also ask your dc to stay quiet. Many cats can get very stressed by the high-pitched voices of small children, and this one appears to be choosing 'attack' rather than 'run away'.

I am a cat person, and a cat biting with actual intent to injure rather than a normal bite or scratch to their owner is quite a different thing. I was bitten by my own cat, trying to rescue him when he was being attacked by another cat, and he didn't realise it was me. I got full force cat defence attack.

I fainted from the pain, which felt like my entire arm was on fire, had to have a week of preventative antibiotics, and had nerve damage on my hand that meant I lost the feeling in 2 fingers for about 3 months. God knows what would happen to a toddler if they were attacked in the same way.

OP, firstly can you carry your toddler so the cat can't get at them? Honestly, I'd probably go for the water pistol and also chasing it away from your property every time you see it there, even if you're not planning to go out. I'd try to make it clear to the cat that it's your territory, not his, in the hope he stays away. You can get high pitched cat scarer things, but your toddler will probably be able to hear them too and they're not pleasant. I can hear them and I'm 40 with average hearing.

Another thing that may work in a pinch is an umbrella you can use as a physical barrier to fend him off if he does come at you.

@Renataz @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats has been through every scenario with cats!!
It’s been a while since I saw that face? does he still have a thread?

Fuck me, if it was a similarly sized dog that was having a pop at a small child you'd all be baying for it to be put down on the spot!

@Peonperfect Speak to the owners, but I would do so in writing so hopefully, you get an answer in writing.

Ask them:

Are you aware your cat is attacking us as we leave, he is actively chasing us and swiping at us?

Would you consider neutering your cat so he is less likely to do this, less likely to wander, take risks and get into fights and less likely to get an infection?

What would you suggest we do to get him off our front step and away from us?'

If they know their cat is dangerous to members of the public, and they choose to do nothing about that and you/your child are subsequently injured (and yes cats can inflict some nasty wounds if they want to) then yes, legal action CAN be taken. The idea that cat owners are 100% immune to legal action due to the behaviour of their pets is wrong - but you do have to have some proof that they were aware of that dangerous behaviour.

For now I would spray the step with citrus as cats typically don't like that and possibly get some of the cat silhouette with reflective eyes things that you can place so he feels like there are cats staring right at him, that often puts them off sitting somewhere!

People shouldn't be so dismissive of an aggressive cat. My DH got attacked by a cat once, he was out walking our dog and at first it went for the dog, clamped itself to her face so he was worried for her eyes. He got it off and it chased him and then clamped itself to the back of his leg!! It made a real mess of his leg and he was wearing jeans, would have been so much worse if he'd been in shorts.
We used to have two cats of our own, DH is a cat lover, but don't underestimate an angry cat. I would hate for a poor little toddler to be attacked like that.
OP I'd also give a water pistol a try.