How do you stop a stray from coming into your home

[shhhh]

I am posting this for my mum... She has already got x2 cats and has a cat flap. Problm is that there is a stray in the area that keeps coming into the house through the flap. It doesn't have a "access key" but butts his way in. Apparently a stray will get into a house if he wants to.
Problem is that he nicks my mums cats food and is also weeing around the house! . Mum is mortified as I am sure I would be.
Mum has contacted RSPCA who have left a basket outside to catch the cat (even left inside at back door) but could only do it for a week. During that time the cat never came near!!! Mum is trying to catch the cat to get its bits chopped off and to also re-home it iykwim.

What can she do to catch it..???? She has even tried locking it out of the cat flap but it just breaks its way in. So far she has replaced 3 cat flaps!!

Help!!!!!

Could she set the cat flap to only come in? That way, when the stray comes in, it is trapped (leave some food to tempt it in the first place) and then she can get the RSPCA round to pick it up. IME, the RSPCA will come if you tell them you have the animal trapped indoors. What they don't want to do is come and have to catch the animal.

Get a water pistol (or old washing up liquid container) and squirt it when it comes in whilst making a nasty hissing noise.

thanks lonely mum. Well she hasn't tried this as she didn't want to have a cat for hours while she waited for the rspca....Not sure how soon they would come..The cat was trapped in the house last night by error and they were going to keep it in but chased it out in the end as they didn't know how it would be with them etc and it was 2am!!

Think mum is also concerned as to the impact it's having on her cats..??

sm I suggested that but mum never sees it come in. The case is that she usually gets home and its sat on the arm of the chair (how cheeky!!) and usually scarpers... Suppose if its in when she is she could chase it out that way.

I don't think the RSPCA come out that quickly (unless you are lucky and there is a warden in your area when you ring up) and I think your mum was right to release the cat last night at 2am, but surely it is worth the inconvenience of waiting for some hours for an RSPCA van if they will then take the cat away once and for all (and sort it out and find it a home etc). I understand your mum doesn't want to traumatise her cats further, but having the stray coming in repeatedly and taking their food must be stress enough for them right now.

Also, has your mum got a cat basket and transport? Could she take the cat to the RSPCA herself?

lm yes she does have a basket and transport so i think she will have to take the cat herself etc.

batters yes the cat flap is magnetic etc..as i said apparently a stray will gain entry whatever!!!! honestly he butts the door v v v v hard !!!! apparently this is the case for wild cats.

thanks for your suggestions so far.

How do you know if a cat is a stray or not? We have one who is always determined to get in, but I have no idea where it comes from. My dp is terrified of cats too, which doesn't help.

Hi shhhhh - I've got exactly the same problem here ! We changed our flap to a magnetic one to keep it out and still it barges in - my one cat then lost his collar and now he has to headbutt his way in too - so those flaps aren't that great !

When we first started being invaded my one cat was extremely upset and it actually led to him being very ill and needing an operation - stress can cause them to get bladder stones which is what mine got !

We did trap the cat once inside - but I really wouldn't recommend it - it went berserk - peeed up the walls - jumping around knocking stuff off shelves - it was not an experience I would like to repeat - and it really went for me when I went to let it out !

Our only solution now is to give ours a litter tray again - and move it and the food out of the kitchen (where the flap is) and shut that door - so there is nothing for the invader to come in for now !

yup think this cat is maaadd!!! Kelly we are guessing it's a stray as it's not got a collar and noone local seems to be able to claim it. It may not be but its the impression we get.
With it weeing everywhere it makes us think its not been "done" and usually people with cats that are house pets usually get them "done".

SC, thats exactly the reason why mum doesn't want to catch it...with cats you have no idea how mad they are and how they will react. Butting the dorr alone shows how mad and insane it is!!!

Mmmm back to the drawing board.!