Help, my cat is the local bully!

[WhateverTheSeason]

Open to any ideas…

We’ve had our cat for a couple of years. He was previously a stray, is fully grown and was neutered as an adult. Two different neighbours have complained this week that he beats up their cats, and tries to get in their houses. I assume it’s a territory thing, possibly he has more of a tendency to this as he had to survive as a stray for so long.

Is there anything I can do to help this? He’s already neutered. He’s on a mix of wet and dry food. He had his latest vaccinations a few weeks ago, vet gave him a once over and was very happy with his condition. We think he’s about 11. He’s totally gentle and friendly with adults and children, he tolerates dog visitors.

I offered to keep him in at certain times (eg in the mornings so they can let their cats out for a few hours knowing he’s in) but they turned me down!

I assume it’s a territory thing, possibly he has more of a tendency to this as he had to survive as a stray for so long.

Hmm, that could be right.

On the other hand their cats could be real pansy-ar$ed pussies...

If it's injuring other cats, and bare in mind if you've been told this by two people it's likely to have already happened to many more owners... you'll need to keep it inside, there isn't going to be anything you can do to stop it injuring other animals and nobody deserves to have their pet injured or killed as a result of your animal.

My neighbours are a pain as in they encourage my cats in, maybe your cat has got into bad habits before you adopted him. Some male cats are more dominant than others, l would suggest your neighbours squirt him with water and chase him off, he will soon get the message.

The idea of him killing another cat is a hell of a reach.

He freaks out when locked in. I can do it for a short time, but beyond a couple of hours he’ll freak out, spray, get diarrhea. Trauma from his time in kennels. When he first came to live with us we managed to keep him in for a week but it was not a nice time for any of us. So him living in is not an option - he’d have to be rehomed or put down.

Oh, I did suggest this to one of them. They said they’d feel mean doing that! Which was a tad useless… I told them to feel free to turn the hose on him if he’s that much of a nuisance.

I think you’re right on habits - he was on an industrial type compound as a stray where he was welcomed in every unit!

Just found out mine is too 😳

Oh no!

Our old boy, when he was about 11-15, was also the neighbourhood bully. He used to chase our childminder’s cat! Awkward. We also would never have been able to keep him in. It was definitely territorial.

If you’ve OKed the neighbours actively discouraging him, and they don’t want to, then it’s unlikely to be that serious a scuffle with their cats. Most cat ‘fights’ over territory are a good deal of posturing and yowling rather than proper beatings up.

Tell the neighbours they're free to soak him with a water gun or chuck a bucket of water over him.

Honestly, there's no need to keep your cat in for this. I know it's not pleasant for those on the receiving end and I'm sure I'll be shot down for this - but that's part of the risk they took when they chose to let their cats outside to roam.

Cats left outside to roam will fight - that's their nature unfortunately.

Not all cats fight. If yours is attacking other cats than provide a safe enclosure or cat proof your garden.

If the neighbours are too pussy to chase your cat off when you have given them the go ahead, they are the ones enabling your bully. They think you should lock up your cat because they don’t want to chuck a glass of water at him ( I suspect that a firm no or hand clapping would probably do it tbh) .
They are misguided.

We had a neighbourhood cat who attacked me as well as my cats. We tried a super soaker and I once threw a croc at it (desperate to stop it attacking our cat) and it simply attacked the croc. Psycho cat!
Neighbours could work and not be there to fend off bully. If your cat is doing actual harm to more than one cat then you need to do something.

@Wolfiefan i think you missed the point of my post. What is the “something”? I’ve literally posted asking for ideas.

Thanks, yes I think this is what I’m finding frustrating - them chasing him off is really the first and best option and I’m not convinced they’ve actually tried to give him a scare. If anyone has any bright ideas of what I can do from my end I'm happy to, but such ideas are not forthcoming!

Ask the vets if there's anything that can be done, I remember one of my childhood cats was the same (despite being tiny runt when we got him so no stray history) and they gave him something hormonal to calm him on top of being neutered. Can't remember exactly what it was but know we used to joke about him being a boy cat on the pill. I know dogs can get chemically castrated, was something similar to this I guess?

So it’s the fault of the local cats that your cat injures them?? They shouldn’t have to try and fight him off. Cat proof your garden, provide an enclosure or keep him in. Your neighbours don’t need to have their cats return home bleeding and needing vet treatment.

I'd cat proof your garden, for his own safety as much as other cats.

You're running the risk of someone (probably not the two who have spoken to you, but there will be other people) really losing their rag, perhaps after a massive vet bill, and hurting him by kicking or throwing things. One person I know, the vet said their cat must have been hit with a shovel to cause the injuries he came home with. Or they might just catch him and drive him far away. I wouldn't want to risk it.

I chase cats off from my garden all the time, does absolutely nothing to stop them coming back. They can't dedicate their lives to chasing off your cat just in case it turns up. You need to cat proof your garden.

The neighbours have a responsibility here too. Cats very often have a 'pecking' order. One of mine once was second bottom, only below next door's cat whom he wasn't averse to aiming a whack at in turn! I therefore only let him out when I was at home to keep an eye out.

Your neighbours know it's your cat but it could just as easily be a random cat whose owner is unknown. We have a friendly bunch of cats in our street atm and they all get on/play together (mine are indoors anyway) but there is one unneutered tom that we think is a stray and he starts fights sometimes - but it's more posturing than serious. If I could trap him I would (and have tried!) and a quick visit to the vet would ensue...!

It's a risk you take when you let your cat out. However I'm sure you don't want your cat to hurt other cats - is he sabre-rattling or actually causing injuries? He could also pick on the wrong cat one day too. We had one who fought a bit but always seemed to get bitten on the ass (assume from running away lol) - he was allergic to the bites so that meant a vet trip every time.

It's a pity they don't just squoosh him every time they see him and I think your offer to keep him in sometimes might have helped a bit at least. I personally think this is a cat that would be miserable if restricted to your garden or a catio.

Maybe getting something to calm him from the vet would be the best way to approach it?

Cats don't generally fight to the death lol - some posters are overly dramatic!! In 60 years of having cats I have only ever known one cat to kill another. That was a horrible, totally aggressive feral tom - he would face off with humans let alone other cats! - and he killed our 6 month old kitten that had just been nursed through cat flu. He was literally the most ferocious, nasty cat I've ever come across.

You've done a kind thing by giving this poor cat a home and now it's literally biting you on the backside! I hope you can reach some compromise with the neighbours.