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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

New cat appeared in my garden, WDID?

2 replies

AllGoodDogs · 24/04/2019 23:32

Last week my cat came in at night being very vocal, was visibly bushed up, wide eyed etc. On further investigation we discovered a big tabby cat in the garden. Sat on the kitchen windowsill actually. I went out and he was quite friendly. Allowed me a quick stroke, sat there for a bit longer then buggered off.

Tonight I've just gone out to put the rabbits in for the night and he's sat on the garden chair. My cat was on the garden fence, 4 feet away, I don't think he even spotted the tabby until he went to use the chair to hop down off the fence.

They were quite amicable until my cat came in and the tabby tried to follow. Mine bushed up again and miowed at him until I came in and shut the back door. Tabby cat is now the other side of the catflap, my cat is quite unsettled by his presence.

Not seen cat before last week, we've had new neighbours 3 doors down move in a couple of months ago, not seen them to ask if the cat is there's but will keep an eye out for them.

What do I do? He doesn't seem aggressive towards my cat (there was a Bengal who cost us and others in my road £100's in vet bills over the years through them fighting, but they moved away last year) but my cat is obviously unsure of him, and although he doesn't seem interested in the rabbits they were thumping in the hutch so weren't sure about him.

Should I try to get them to be friends, or just ignore him, or chase him away?

OP posts:
potatopeelings · 24/04/2019 23:49

Ignore. He's new to the area and is establishing his territory so don't encourage him. If he gets too bold and your cat gets stressed because he is muscling in on your cat's territory then use a water pistol to put him off.

Could just be after food of course Grin

Thymeout · 25/04/2019 11:16

Your cat seems to regard the garden as communal territory and only gets upset when neighbour's cat tries to encroach on inside space. I'd support him in defending the house, shooing the invader away, but leave them alone to work things out for themselves outside.

We have a v timid cat who is bullied by her sister. We were surprised how relaxed she was when a new, bigger, tom appeared in the garden. Didn't bother to get up when he appeared while she was sun-bathing, even when he approached and greeted her with a quick nose-to-nose sniff.

I wouldn't encourage it by stroking on the windowsill and shoo away from the door, but otherwise ignore. Sorry - can't help with the rabbits.

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