Turf wars

[Dilbertian]

We're considering getting a cat. Our garden is probably part of neighbouring cats' territories - we see two different cats crossing it on different routes and never at the same time, but none actually stay in it for long. Whenever there's a new cat in the immediate neighbourhood we hear caterwauling and fighting in our garden until they establish their new hierarchy. We also have several months of spreading Silent Roar to prevent them soiling in the borders.

If we get a cat (or possibly a pair of cats) how can we help them establish their turf? And how can we prevent them from soiling in our borders without compromising their 'ownership' of our garden?

You can catproof the garden but their going to shit at the edge of their territory and if that’s your borders they really won’t care.

Thanks, but I don't want to cat proof. Cats should have the freedom to roam where possible. We're well away from busy roads.

So was I 🤷🏻‍♀️. He still got run over.

You’re overthinking it a bit though, it’s a cat & they sort it out between themselves.

Oh thats sad

Although females are also territorial, it's the boys that tend to do the fighting and ending up at the vets with injuries. It usually takes two to three full on fights for two males to sort it out. So you could opt for a female cat if you're worried about fighting, but even with females there can be conflicts which, although unlikely to lead to injuries, can lead to a cat being chased in or becoming distressed, so there are never any guarantees. Mostly cats will sort it all out without you even being aware of any territorial conflict, though, so I think it's definitely a case of just getting a cat and not worrying about such conflicts unless or until they become a problem.

Cats tend to go out of their way to avoid each other, but if they do see an intruder, they might react. If they're anything like my mog, they'll allow any interloper into their territory. Even into their own home via the cat flap, whilst watching them do this 🤦‍♀️

Cats adjust their timetables to avoid each other if meeting ends in fisticuffs. Our female cat is very protective of her own territory and spent one evening this week guarding the catflap, ready to beat up the yowler outside if it got too close. Honestly, don't worry about it, they sort themselves out.