Rescue cat scared from garden by neighbour's cat

[AvonleaGirl]

A couple of months ago DH and I adopted a rescue cat, let's call her Toffee. After settling her into the home, we've introduced her to the garden.

The rescue told us she was a cat who would want to be outdoors and from her body language, she definitely wants to go outdoors. However she's scared from going out because she's frightened of two cats, let's call them Minty and Fudge, who live next door to us.

Minty likes to go into our garden and sunbathe, which was fine with us before we adopted Toffee . We still wouldn't mind if she didn't scare off Toffee from enjoying our garden.

She chased Toffee from our garden this morning and we've seen her meow at her before. The other cat Fudge doesn't go into our garden but meows at her loudly and repeatedly.

Toffee is a very gentle cat and she's very fearful around Minty and Fudge rather than aggressive and bold, so doesn't seem like the type to stand her ground. Shortly before we met her, she was adopted once before to owners who already had a cat. From what the rescue centre told us, she was returned through no fault of her own but because of difficulties with the previous cat.

As cat parents, we obviously want Toffee to be able to go outside and enjoy her own garden. I was wondering if you have any advice for how we can help her establish her territory, build more confidence to use the garden and deter the other cats from being aggressive? We don't want any fights or for any of the three cats to be hurt.

One method I've read about is to scatter her used litter in the corners of the garden - has anyone tried this?

Thank you!

Every time you see the other cat in your garden shoo it out. Reclaim the space, so the other cat knows it's no longer their territory.

Or cat proof your garden - keep the other cats out, keep yours in.

Water pistol for Minty and Fudge every time they come into your garden.

Our previous cat used to solely toilet at the back of our garden (although obviously we had litter trays indoors for her too) and we barely ever saw another cat until she was pts last year aged ten. If we did she chased them straight off! We now have a two year old boy who prefers to use the litter tray - will come in to use it then straight back out - and loads of cats passing through. I’m no scientist but I’m sure there’s something in that. He’s desperate to make friends with next door’s cats but the girl gets annoyed if he’s hanging out with the boy which breaks my heart!

When we started letting our boy out we did scatter used litter around - I’d read that somewhere too. I thought it was to keep his scent and create a boundary for him but presumably it would work the other way.

Go outside with your cat until the other cats learn it’s not their territory. It worked for us. Do not scatter dirty litter, we did this and the other cats didn’t care and it was impossible to clean up 🫣

Chase the other cats out with a broom. That's what we do.

It’s going to take time. The neighbours cats view your garden as part of their territory so of course they’re going to defend it. It sounds like they’ll naturally be the more dominate with your rescue. Cats are creature of habit so they likely have set times they visit your garden. We always give our neighbours water pistol to deter our (6!) cats (we do live very rurally so lots of space and some of those cats came from our neighbours who know I’ll never say no to an abandoned feral kitten) - so I agree with pp give super soaker water pistils a go. Maybe let your neighbours know that’s what you’ll be doing depending on your relationship. It won’t harm the other cats but it will annoy them so they’ll move on (eventually - it won’t be quick!)

I would be careful about shooing the other cats out too aggressively given what you know of Toffee's history. She's still learning to trust you and may worry you're going to do the same to her (I had this experience with a traumatised rescue cat, thinking I was rushing out of the house to defend her and instead completely terrifying her and making the situation worse).

Are you able to go and be in the garden with her as much as you can, just at first? This should help keep Minty and Fudge away while also showing Toffee that she is safe wherever you are.

Cat-proof your garden so they can't come in anymore. Or, soak the intruders with a water pistol.

Water pistol. Or, more to the point, a pump-action water pistol that can shoot a fair distance because the water is under a bit of pressure.

Shoot the neighbour's cats whenever you see them in your garden. It doesn't hurt them (other than their dignity) but it does make an association between your garden and getting wet, and they will start to avoid your garden.

Give your neighbour a heads up that you'll be doing this and why, especially that Minty is chasing your cat out of your garden.

I could reach the bottom of my garden with mine, if I was shooting from the upstairs window. My cats were timid and there were some serious bruisers coming in.

Staple some upright mesh panels on top of next doors fence so that their cats can't come into your garden. That's what we did when our very old girl could no longer stand up to the neighbour's cats . Worked perfectly.

Thanks everyone for your advice - much appreciated.