A few questions for knowledgeable cat people

[Lloydcolestilldoesitforme]

Hello
We have been thinking about getting a cat and have a couple of questions.

We live in a large terrace house with a big garden in London. If we get a cat, I would like a cat (s) that go outside but my main concern is that there are already cats living on both sides of us and they use our garden as bit of a thoroughfare. One of the cats in particular appear to be a bit of terrorist towards other cats and our neighbours on the other side have commented that he has harassed their (smaller) cats in the past and now one doesn't venture far. I am worried that any cat that came to live with us would end being bullied also. Am I right to be worried.

Also, is it better to have 2 cats than just one?

Thanks in advance for your help/comments.

Cats are territorial, they have 'home' territory where they eat, sleep, fornicate if you let them, then they have a wider territory that they use for hunting and playing catty games.

The larger territory is often shared by other cats on a 'time share' basis. They leave their scent to tell others they have been there - hence cats sniffing when they go out.

When cats cross other cats' territory they prefer to do it up high - the uppy downy walk you see on fences or they will have a pathway across.

So do your neighbour's cats just walk across your garden or do they use it to sleep in?

If they are using it as their territory your cat will have to fight it's corner, not necessarily literally but it will have to establish your garden as its own.

You could start preparing this now, go out at the same time of day and reclaim your garden, do this at the times you will be letting your cat(s) out am and pm to get the local cats to move away. A water pistol can be useful.

When you get your cats take them out at the same time and supervise them.

I am not going to say this will work, it may not, but it gives you a chance.

Also if you know your neighbours you could ask about what time their cats come and go and settle your around them.