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

Help our cat is causing havoc!

14 replies

catwithnocream · 19/09/2023 16:11

Our neighbour has just let us know our cat has been attacking theirs and other neighbours on our road, their cat has had to visit the vet 4 times and now needs stitches! He's quite a big male cat and was a rescue at about 6 months old. He had been neutered. He's very soppy with us, sleeps on the bed and very cuddly but it seems very aggressive towards female cats. I have him booked in to get his claws clipped, ordered feliway plug ins and have told the neighbours we'll lock him in at night when it seems most of the attacks happen. Is there anything else we can do? I'm aware if it doesn't improve we might have to consider giving him up or having him pts but I'd be absolutely devastated.

OP posts:
Gettingbysomehow · 19/09/2023 16:15

It seems a bit over the top having him PTS, if he's unmanageable get him rehomed. Lots of people take difficult cats in. Could be he just needs a much bigger area of his own, cats are very territorial especially males.
He'd probably be much happier on a farm or similar environment.

DisforDarkChocolate · 19/09/2023 16:17

Indoor cat or catio.

Beamur · 19/09/2023 16:19

Whilst at the vets maybe ask for advice?
Keeping him in more will help.

catwithnocream · 19/09/2023 16:19

Yes I think I'm just stressed having just heard about his behaviour, a farm would probably suit him but he's also very soppy and a bit of a lap cat and loves attention so not your usual farm cat. I think he'd go insane if he was kept as in indoor cat that wouldn't be fair on him

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 19/09/2023 16:23

There's not much that you can do. Cats aren't under human control in the same way as dogs. They will fight over territory

Maybe just coordinate with the neighbours on which times/evenings you are letting your cats out.

You can keep yours in some nights, but equally, they can keep theirs in sometimes as well

MotherOfPantherCat · 19/09/2023 16:24

Cats are territorial and, as he's a rescue, you do not know his past , anything that may have happened to him which will affect his behaviour especially with other cats. Usually it's a female who is the local 'Queen' so perhaps he has been in a situation where a Queen (or two) has dominated and possibly hurt him when he was younger. Which would explain his dislike of other females..

Keeping him in at night is a good idea, most cats tend to visit their neighbourhood gardens and territory so if a few are out at the same time, they will 'meet' each other.. and there will be fights, especially if they are older (kittens and young cats will often make up little 'bands of brothers & sisters')

If he was mine, I'd advise the neighbours to have a water scoocher on hand so, if he does appear in their garden and is being aggressive, water on him won't hurt but will discourage him and hopefully he'll learn... I had to do this with a large male who terrorized my own cats in our garden.. even after they submitted to him... it wasn't pleasant but he would have hurt my cat if I didn't intervene.. he eventually got the hint and stopped coming anywhere near us.. especially when he saw me!

If that doesn't work, make him a house cat. It's not that bad. Get a cat tree, scratching posts and some toys to play with him with. Cardboard boxes are good too - cats love them!!

As they get older, cats do slow down and spend more time at home.. my 'old boy' is still a hunter but he spends most of the time in the house and only goes out to visit the neighbours or for the loo!! My wee cat is indoors all the time - they are both happy!! Good Luck!!!

Superlegs · 19/09/2023 16:28

I’d just keep him in at night. Always bring mine in. It’s safer for them, cats are mostly involved in rtas at night.
Don’t think you can do much more than that really, if he’s already been neutered. Unless you want to cat proof your garden, or build a catio.

MidnightMeltdown · 19/09/2023 16:30

If that doesn't work, make him a house cat.

I think that would be extremely difficult. A cat who has been free to roam will not be happy to be kept in. Chances are that he will desperately try to escape at any opportunity.

Beamur · 19/09/2023 16:34

One of my cats (female) gets bullied by next doors cats (male) but they are kept in at night and I let my girl out at night so they just don't meet.
I keep my other cats indoors overnight though as I think it's safer really and reduces hunting behaviour too.

nicknamehelp · 19/09/2023 16:36

You can get a spot on which helps calm them. May be worth a try.

catwithnocream · 19/09/2023 16:39

We have young DC who are in and out the garden in summer with doors open etc it would be impossible to keep him in

OP posts:
TeeNoG · 19/09/2023 16:51

I've been on the other side of this, as our female cat was consistently being beat up by a male cat in the next street, resulting in vets visits, stitches, Antonio, overnight stays etc.

Tbh OP I'd be completely happy with what you are offering to do. Your cat is neutered, you're willing to keep him in at certain times - hopefully you and the other cats owner can manage the situation between you.

I'm not sure how you'd feel about this but we have managed to keep the male cat away but spraying it with water if it so much looks in the general direction of our house......

TeeNoG · 19/09/2023 16:52

Sorry, no idea what Antonio is 🤦‍♀️

catwithnocream · 19/09/2023 17:17

Oh yes we'd have no problem with the water although I'm not sure it would deter him he's quite brazen

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