Next door's -thug- cat

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Has started coming in our house and stealing cat food.
Our cats dislike him. (understatement...)
Once he's in it's a problem removing him because he growls, hisses and then attacks us (launches at our legs etc).
He spends an inordinate amount of time in our garden or staring in through the French windows. Any suggestion how to gently discourage him? I have no intention of having outside doors shut for the whole summer.
Enclosed a picture of him sitting on our outside table.

He’s the original cat burglar

You're his wife now.

Look at that neck!

Normal Bengal behaviour there. They just don’t care.

Apart from the boat 🤔

Tinsel your cat is GORGEOUS. Such a pretty cat.

Ooh thank you fluffy! She's currently snoozing away after a busy day of chasing flies she's got a big fluffy tummy

TC! Best photo ever! It's the way it captures his desperate little face reflected in the window.

I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for him...he seems a bit lonely

He's very handsome. A bit like my boy whose a chunky tabby

TC has moved to the next level.

DW and I were out for lunch and DS2 stayed at home studying in his room (mid GCSE exams). TC then saunters into DS2's room.
DS2 chased him down the stairs and out of the house while avoiding being swiped.

We don't know how he got in .

Surely he used his key, I mean he does live with you and all

He was probably in before you went out. Stealth mode and all that.

I suspect Lenny.

TrixieFranklin
Your theory does sound worryingly plausible.

Fluffycloudland77
I think you are right. Apparently DW went onto the garden briefly before she set off to meet me for lunch. We suspect TC got in at that point and toured the house before getting to DS2's room.

MoreOfADogPerson

How very dare you - Lenny is innocent

Now I'm back - he's clearly not satisfied with monopolising the house, car, garden, patio, barbeque and compost bin. The boat is his as well.

Poor little TC, he just wants a loving home and hearth.

I'm very disappointed your DS chased him out, TC will be very sad 😿

He's escalating.

Going upstairs is him ratcheting up the campaign of terror.

Flee for your lives. While you still can.

You have your own boat in your own river near your house?

I love TC's black feet and his complete disregard for anything.

Spartacus
Yes, we live on a navigable backwater of the Thames and have a small day-boat that lives at the bottom of the garden. The cats love it here - though I do tell them off when they bring voles in.

It looks lovely! A cat and human paradise!

With reference to TC's complete disregard for everything, NDN popped round this morning. While chatting to DW, TC appeared and decided that he'd still make himself at home even though his owner was there. (Hope DW's feet and NDN's legs are not too identifiable )

Mmmmm - 'hey technical cat slave, I have other offers waiting in the wings you know. They adore me here and beg me to stay. How can you better this offer?'.

And I (under NDN''s tutelage) have now picked up TC for a cuddle .
Enclosed is a pic of NDN's technique for holding him when he becomes violent (TC not NDN)

That's not a cat. That's a teddy bear.

That doesn’t look comfy. Asbo would go batshit if I held him like that.

Tc has no shame.