Next door's bully cat

[BobbyBiscuits]

I feel like I should have experienced this before but I haven't hoping for some advice from the lovey ladies of litter tray!

My NDNs acquired a cat, but for reasons unknown kept it indoors for about three years. Suddenly they strapped a fairly bulky looking tracker to the cat and allowed it outdoor access.

We live in a very safe area for cats in that there's a fully enclosed on all sides communal park in the middle of a triangle of three roads. Each home has a small yard/garden that directly access the park.

Unfortunately the 'new' cat doesn't really have a territory as my two and the other three or four others locally have all got their own space. His yard had no plants so he has taken to physically harassing and fighting with my two cats. Who've been here for many years.

I'm wondering if it's OK to buy a small supersoaker type thing just to warn off the imposter. He at one point entered my house and he's much bigger than my younger cat.

My cats have always lived in harmony with all the others in the area. In fact there was a possible 'gay' romance at one point with one who was the doppelganger of my little fella. 🤣

So I'm thinking maybe this cat has not been castrated? It might explain his behaviour.

Would it be out of order to ask about the cat having been neutered? And suggest they do so if not? It's a nice family who've lived there twenty years plus. But the only ones there now are a son and daughter in mid 20s who might not have clocked it's the right thing to do.

I don't get the impression they are that fussed about the cat as it keeps trying to come in to mine and meows loudly outside all day. I know at least one of them WFH so it seems weird.

Sorry it's long, but would you mention this to neighbours or not? I'm concerned there will be a vet visit/bill as other cat is double the size.

Thank you and much appreciated you getting through that essay! X

Buy a super soaker by all means but the reality is this is what cats do and there is just going to be an adjustment period. The cats will all wise up and readjust their schedules/ territories to give bully boy a wide berth. Give it month or so and it will settle.

@Craftymam thank you. Yeah, it's been going on now for about six-9 months. I feel bad for my little cat as I want him to be able to enjoy the outside area. There's loads of space for everyone! It just feels sad this one has been so aggressive from the start! X

6-9 months is quite long!

I would have hoped it would have settled by now. Good news is if they haven’t had any vet worthy scraps in that length of time I’m not sure why that would suddenly change.

Try not to worry. Your cats will get street wise and grow. This one will get old.

My cats been all the archetypes. Lovey dovey kitten, naive young 9 lives idiot cat, varying degrees of cat that’s getting bullied. He’s recently had a stint as the boss cat. And now he’s getting old bless him. Any day now a young cat will grow to be the alpha.

@Craftymam sorry, I forgot to thank you for your reply x

My boy is neutered but still a mean bully.

Unfortunately you just have to leave the cats to sort it out if the neighbours don't want to keep him indoors.

I agree you need to let them sort themselves out. Try to make it so that next door cat can't get into your house, so that yours have a bolt hole if they need it.
It should be obvious is he's not neutered, so if you're not sure then he probably is. I wouldn't say anything to them though, it's their choice and if they've made the effort to put a GPS tracker on him they're likely more concerned for his welfare than you seem to think.

Yes I think it's OK to get a water gun. It will scare it away without harming it.
Our cat used to be bullied by a huge tom from next door (incidentally, it had been neutered so was just very bossy!) and one day my Paddy (big soft baby) was lying on the ground with big tom biting his paw! I used DS's water pistol to send him away when I saw him.
We also had a male cat who had a bromance with a handsome ginger tom from next door but one.

I would try to have words with them first to see if neutering has been done, and also to let them know the situation. Also you can get a chip - activated catflap that would only allow your cats to enter the house.

But on top of that I would also get a soaker. Nothing wrong with trying to make him wary of coming into your garden.

Thanks everyone. We've had the garden done so there's a lot more vision for my two to see if the baddie is approaching. Which has eased their anxiety. We've shooed him away but it seems the lack of foliage has made him less likely to encroach. Fingers crossed he doesn't need to get soaked! X

I'd get a SuperSoaker for sure , especially if he's trying to get inside your house . If he is uncastrated he might be a sprayer <stinks> which would upset your cats even more .

I kept NDN bully cat out with cold water , and I told my neighbours if mine wandered into their gardens uninvited to chase them the same way .