How to stop young cat going into neighbours’ houses?

[AngryBirdsNoMore]

Hello

I have a young female (spayed) Bengal cross. She’s an indoor-outdoor cat who we got as a rescue at about 6 months (she and her siblings were the result of a Bengal queen escaping and having a liaison with a local Tom). The fosterers were clear that she would need to continue to have access to the outside. Bengals are such a clever, active breed and she had become used to outdoor access.

She turned one a few months ago and is not a small cat. We have a fairly saturated neighbourhood when it comes to cats, so inevitably other cats have been coming into our garden to establish it as theirs and she has been roaming into other gardens to explore new territories. Terrace houses, London, cul de sac with very little traffic.

The problem comes with the fact that most of my neighbours are leaving their bifold doors, kitchen doors and windows etc open to make the most of summer - as are we! - and the cat is going into other people’s houses.

I got a shitogram WhatsApp from my (very unpleasant at the best of times) next door neighbour today, stating her rage in very aggressive terms that my cat was going into her house, as she has a cat herself and doesn’t want to deal with cat fights. My next door neighbour on the other side (a truly delightful woman and an exemplary neighbour) has also noted that the cat goes into her conservatory which she isn’t very keen on.

Is there anything I can do? Buy them water pistols?

Im due to give birth in three days and don’t really want neighbour and cat drama :(

Thanks

Woah, she’s not “fucking massive and insanely strong”. This is not the pit bull of cats. Her mum wasn’t an F1-F4 - the restricted types of Bengal which are close e enough to wildcats to have to be kept inside. She’s pretty watered down compared to a ‘real’ Bengal. We wouldn’t have got her if not - I have no interest in causing anyone trouble or in having a violent or dangerous animal in or around my house.

This cat is a softie, very affectionate, very playful - but very people focused so keen to go into other peoples houses which is unacceptable. She’s not small, but she is dwarfed in size by several of the moggy toms around us.

I’ll look up katsecure - thank you!

I plan to move one day and have katzecure rollers and rescue old bengals to live out their retirement in comfort.

Best breed ever. Mine also had a zest for life.

Apolgise to both neighbours. Buy them each a supersoaker and give them permission to use it on your cat.

They certainly do have that! My last Bengal cross lived to be sixteen - she had to be put to sleep early last year as she had galloping cancer that had spread to her brain. I was heartbroken: they’re such a clever, human-centred, affectionate breed, like little dogs.

Cat tax: here’s my vicious pit bull of a cat with her favourite person, my son.

Email your cat outlining the repercussions if she continues visiting neighbours homes.
CC your neighbours so they know that she has been told.

She's gorgeous I'd let her in my house anytime. 😍

Gorgeous! You sure she’s Bengal cross rather than tabby cross? Some people mix the 2 up and don’t see any typical Bengal features in her.

Thanks all for the advice (and compliments!). DH and I are discussing Katzsecure which looks like a good system and not as unsightly as most catios.