Cat being bullied...

[Coolaschmoola]

I'm pretty certain that there's not much I can do, but on the off chance...

We have a smallish female, spayed cat. She's three.

Shortly after we got her, as a kitten, next door got a massive adult tom. There were a few spats once dcat was out and about, but it was ok.

18 months ago NDN got two more kittens.

Now the two ganging up on dcat.

It is getting worse - the young tom literally sits outside staring through the cat flap. They were coming in and attacking her to take her food, so we changed to a microchip flap.

If dcat goes out she gets jumped by the pair of them. It's got to the point that our clean, cat flap using, cat is now peeing in the house instead of going out. I've had to get a litter tray because of it. If I leave my back door open they strut in, eat the food and use the sodding tray meaning dcat won't!

Keeping the door shut isn't really an option - we have dc who are in and out and whilst old enough to be in the garden alone still need to be within earshot.

Any suggestions at all will be welcome. I'm even considering rehoming because it's obvious dcat is miserable.

You need to become your dcat's shadow whilst carrying a water pistol. Nasty fuckers will think your dcat has water-super-powers!

We had this with ndn cat and had to aggressively spray the water bottle in his face. It was very distressing. Does your girl stay inside more? You could try getting her a cat condo and putting by a door or window so she can sit ‘above’ the other cats. It might help her feel more confident.

It's tricky to shadow her or know if she's in more because we both work full time. It's the peeing inside literally next to the catflap that made me realise something was more wrong than a few spats. That and her cannonballing through the flap, and growling at it.

Can you put a voile up to cover the back door, water spray them if they come in and can you move her food and tray somewhere else where they can't find them. Go out with her to give her confidence and spray them if they appear. A catio is a good idea for her safety, poor little soul.

I had this with my old cat, it made him absolutely miserable. I second the water gun. Feed your cat and then remove the bowls, apart from water , where the other cats can't get them. Go out with your cat to toilet in the morning and evening. Spend as much time as you can with the cat outside. It's a horrible situation.

I've already moved her food - the cheeky beggars even go upstairs if they get half a chance! I wouldn't mind if they were friendly to dcat. I'll have a look at a door curtain.

Can you catproof the garden? Keep NDNs out and your cat safe?

We had this, the only solution we found was to use the super soaker on the bully cat whenever he came in our garden. He has gradually got the idea about. I would love to take him to the vet and get him the snip

I'd cat proof the garden.

We got a dog to solve the same problem, which I see as you both work FT wouldn't work for you, how about children? I am guessing that would scare off the visiting cats for good!

We looked at cat proofing the garden but we're hoping to move soon so it would be a lot of expense and not ideal for selling.

I'm going to buy a supersoaker and stick ex army DH on sniper duty!

sniper duty Love it.

My little one is the same, she got bullied quite a lot by other cats (she's an indoor cat now) and yes, it's horrible. You can witness the psychological damage it does to them.

Hope water strategy works out.