Rescue cat going in next doors cat flap

[Thomasshelbyscheekbones]

We’ve got a gorgeous Arabian Mau rescue who has had half his jaw missing and is now recovering so well! He’s been with us 6 weeks and we’ve let him out which he loves! But next door has two older cats and our neighbour was worried about a new arrival, so we spoke them and took a bottle of fizz to them and told them to spray him with water, if they harassed his cats. So far so good. Two days ago our cat was at his cat flap miaowing - and the husband said he would ‘kick the cat’ if he went in his garden again. Apparently just now our cat has been in his house - he’s come around effing and jeffing and threatening all kinds of things to our rescue boy. I don’t know how to respond - he’s SO well fed (5 pouches a day and as many biscuits he wants - although he finds them a bit more tricky because of his injury) he loves being on our bed and only spends an hour or two outside to do his business (and lounge on a more friendly neighbours lounger in the sun - he’s from Dubai, so LOVES the heat!) Any ideas please before it becomes a more serious problem? How do you stop a cat going in to someone else’s house?!

I think you have a neighbour problem not a cat problem. Who threatens to kick a curious cat?!

Your neighbour needs a better cat flap, then strangers won't come in.

Can you cat proof your garden so your kitty can't get out? I'd be worried for his safety anyway if he doesn't have full defence capabilities with his poor jaw.

You need to catproof your garden & report your neighbour for harassment. Your not allowed to act like that.

You’ve been more than accommodating to the knuckle dragger so far.

We bought our neighbour's a cat flap that only opened with the cats chip (also had to pay for their cat to be chipped) after my thug cat kept going into their house and beating up their cat, eating its food and stopping it from leaving the bedroom resulting in their cat shitting all over the bed.
Does ndn cats come into your garden?

Thank you for your responses - I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking he’s being rather unreasonable. His cat definitely comes in our garden and shed etc. In fact our neighbour told me he heard his cat in our shed early one morning and came in our garden to let her out (which of course I didn’t mind) but this was before we got our cat. And I’ve shown him videos of her watching for mice in our garden on our hedgehog cam.
He says our cat is scaring his and she now doesn’t go out. I haven’t heard any cat fighting or anything, so I’m at a loss of what to do.
I think we will offer to get them an electronic flap but not even sure that will appease him!
Our cat wants to go out this morning- but I’m worried to let him...

Please don't let him out, he is so vulnerable and he is already injured. Is he an ex Street cat? Where did you find him? If your neighbour is actually threatening to kick your cat, please protect him by keeping him inside.

Gosh Snagscardies! Your cat sounds like a character! Like a Kray of the feline kind! Does the flap thing work well?

You can't stop him because sadly he doesn't recognize the boundary and he is curious and sees cat flap as open invitation! You have done a really kind thing by saving him, but I really recommend keeping him inside. Get him a big scratching post and different cat baskets and try to keep him in. I guess you could put lemon peel around perimeter but if he gets next door, your neighbour might hurt him.

Can you put a basket in a sun spot for him to lounge in your territory?

www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cheap-diy-ways-to-cat-proof-garden.502581/

I wouldn’t let him out with a nutter next door.

Your neighbour is awful!

I would also keep him in. It sounds like your neighbours objects to your cat being in his garden as much as his house, since he feels his cat is intimidated by it.

BovaryX - his injury is much better, you wouldn’t know unless you looked verrry closely. And the charity gave us their blessing to let him out after vet checks etc as he gets very stressed being kept in. He was a street cat but had obviously been in a home as he is very respectful and affectionate and uses his litter tray etc.
The thing is, he doesn’t stay out very long as he likes to sleep most of the time. I think he was just being curious - he obviously knows how to use a cat flap!

I think your offer to buy a electronic cat flap for next door is a reasonable solution. If your boy likes being out its ashame for him to be kept in forever because of your unreasonable neightbours. In my opinion keeping him in with negatively affect his quality of life if he is used to being outside and wants out. Your neighbour needs to realise he is a cat and doesn't understand the social norms of cat flap. Think he maybe just over reacted as he dont want his loved pet stressed. But he is ott.

Would a catio work for your cat? That way he can still go out but is safely contained so your awful neighbour won’t hurt him.

Definitely get a catio

Hey OP, you have done a lovely thing adopting him. You got him from the charity? What colour is he? Is he black and white? I would take your neighbor's threat seriously. Can you create a catio as others have suggested? He will be naturally curious and it's better to physically prevent him going next door in case he gets hurt. He also may be aggressive to other cats as a natural consequence of his street life. Bless him, great that he has found a loving home. And great charity.

I'd he being aggressive or just visiting?

The neighbour said he came in and “pissed everywhere” (btw he has never made a mess in our house) and terrified his little girl (his cat) so I understand him being upset about the cat going in his house, and will offer an electronic cat flap.

We are fairly rural and have a 100ft garden with woods at the back, so I really would prefer to be able to let him out to roam rather than a catio etc but I don’t know how to stop him going in to his garden!
Btw he also threatened to “knock my husbands block off“ so am wondering to report him to 101 or maybe that will antagonise him more?? We’ve always had a good relationship with them until this last week...
Fingers crossed he’ll be more reasonable with the electronic cat flap idea!
I’ll let you know

I would personally report him because its cat piss it's not like your husband pissed all over the house

Your neighbour sounds really aggressive and horrible. I understand you want to allow your cat to roam, but your neighbour seems to be a serious threat to his safety. It would be awful if something happened to him after he has found a loving home. I really recommend you try to physically prevent him going next door. Line the perimeter with lemon rinds, but that won't be enough. Your neighbour is basically threatening violence and your cat is defenceless against him. He sounds utterly vile.

Your neighbour sounds like a nob I think he deserves a kick.
Poor cat

Your neighbour sounds like a dangerous lunatic, quite capable of inflicting harm on your cat.
For your sake l would go with the catio (you could have a huge one) l totally get that he loves the sun and you want to give him freedom but if that freedom means he might come to some harm from your neighbour, then catio is the way to go. Best of luck with it all

If it’s a big garden build a catio then. I suspect a dog run would be cheaper.

If he’s threatening violence to people too you need to report that. I bet it’s not the first time he’s done that.

We’ve got a mystery cat weeing on our locked cat flap, my cats dead, and I just clean it up. I’m not out for blood over it.

I would cat-proof your garden so your cat has the full space to roam but can't go any further. With neighbours like that next door, I would be worried about my cats safety if he was allowed to roam further.

I know it's nice to think of your cat off roaming and hunting etc. but I think your cats life and safety are at risk here if you continue to do so. A 100ft garden is plenty of space for him to explore.

Try the electronic cat flap option first. Cat proofing a huge garden will be far more costly, although may be the last resort if the cat flap doesn't appease neighbour

The neighbour has calmed down, and agreed to an electronic cat flap (and insists on paying for it himself if I program it in for him!)
He definitely won’t harm the cat (he is even reluctant to spray water on him as he thinks it’s cruel) so I think last night was a combination of hot headedness (and a few beers!).
He has apologised for effing and jeffing and we’ve agreed to let my cat out in the day and he will open his cat flap at night (when ours is in) until the electronic one arrives.
He said our cat wee’d and pooed on their spare bed (I’ve not seen that behaviour from him in our own home) and said he attacked their cat, so I understand his anger.
Thank you all for your help and ideas. I’m glad to have found this forum!
He’s a lovely boy and we are loving being his servants