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

Original poster

Cats' noise disturbing neighbour

35 replies

catshatsandchats · 03/05/2026 23:06

I'm at my wits end tonight. Two nights ago my downstairs neighbour complained about the noise my cats make in the night. I have two siamese and an elderly rehomed tabby. As is usual the siamese are quite playful. They don't go out as they're not very clever! I play with them during the day and they play together too. At night I take away their toys in the hope they'll sleep. It doesn't always work. In addition to this they annoy the tabby until she spits and growls.

I've ordered some rugs and underlay to dampen the noise in the main areas. I've moved into the smaller bedroom so I'm not directly above her bedroom. I can't think what else to do. I don't want to rehome any of them, I would feel guilty and it would break my heart. They're very much bonded with me. The tabby took a long time to settle originally and I can't face handing her over, knowing how upsetting it would be for her. The siamese bring me so much joy.

I'm searching for somewhere else to live, either ground floor or a house, preferably with a garden where I can build a catio. Unfortunately rent is very high now and I'm retired and unable to work anymore due to illness. In the meantime I don't know what else I can do. Just now they started racing around again. I can't face any more abuse from her. She gets very personal and it has really upset me.

Please don't judge or berate me. I'm just looking for advice - if there is any! I'm upset enough as it is, I don't need anyone else laying into me.

By the way I used to live in a bungalow with a garden. They didn't bother anyone there and I took them into the garden with me. However I had to move to be nearer to my mum.

OP posts:
EmeraldRoulette · 03/05/2026 23:34

I'm really surprised the neighbour can hear them

I live in a flat made of cardboard in sound terms.

Are you sure she hasn't taken against you for some reason? What on earth would she be like if she had a dog living upstairs?

NGL I dread the possibility of a baby upstairs. But I'm really surprised she can hear cats. The lady upstairs used to have a cat. I did occasionally hear when he knocked things over. But that was about it.

autumn1610 · 03/05/2026 23:38

Can you restrict where they go in the house at night so they have less running around space and maybe chill. Mine is like a baby elephant sometimes it surprises me how loud he is when he’s having a mad 30mins but he settles. So it doesn’t shock me they can hear but I can’t imagine it would be for prolonged periods . Could you look to separate them at night so they aren’t playing with each other (personally wouldn’t be my choice) but if your struggling might be a temp option till she calms down, she’s likely to be hyper focused on the noise at the moment

Decoratingisnotmyforte · 03/05/2026 23:39

My cat is playful and very noisy when she wants to play but she is much quieter than my DC. I think just do as much as you can to settle them but try not to stress about it too much, if the neighbour wants silence they need to move somewhere more isolated. Have you tried a feliway?

Original poster
catshatsandchats · 03/05/2026 23:58

EmeraldRoulette · 03/05/2026 23:34

I'm really surprised the neighbour can hear them

I live in a flat made of cardboard in sound terms.

Are you sure she hasn't taken against you for some reason? What on earth would she be like if she had a dog living upstairs?

NGL I dread the possibility of a baby upstairs. But I'm really surprised she can hear cats. The lady upstairs used to have a cat. I did occasionally hear when he knocked things over. But that was about it.

She doesn't like me for whatever reason. She steals my parcels sometimes, I've seen it on the Ring doorbell footage. However they're not quiet when they run around, it's usually only a couple of minutes though.

OP posts:
Original poster
catshatsandchats · 03/05/2026 23:59

Decoratingisnotmyforte · 03/05/2026 23:39

My cat is playful and very noisy when she wants to play but she is much quieter than my DC. I think just do as much as you can to settle them but try not to stress about it too much, if the neighbour wants silence they need to move somewhere more isolated. Have you tried a feliway?

I've had Feliway in the past and don't think it did much but can try it again.

OP posts:
MousseMousse · 04/05/2026 00:00

Relax, don't rehome, you're being a good neighbour and she sounds awful

Original poster
catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 00:00

autumn1610 · 03/05/2026 23:38

Can you restrict where they go in the house at night so they have less running around space and maybe chill. Mine is like a baby elephant sometimes it surprises me how loud he is when he’s having a mad 30mins but he settles. So it doesn’t shock me they can hear but I can’t imagine it would be for prolonged periods . Could you look to separate them at night so they aren’t playing with each other (personally wouldn’t be my choice) but if your struggling might be a temp option till she calms down, she’s likely to be hyper focused on the noise at the moment

I can't really as one of them can open doors. I don't think they'd settle if I separated them as they've always slept together, they curl up together. It's very difficult.

OP posts:
iris1000 · 04/05/2026 07:53

I’d ignore her. She steals your parcels, so I doubt she is telling the truth about how much she can hear your cats. I’ve lived underneath two medium size dogs that teared up and down the flat all day, barking. That was a cause for complaint. 3 cats? No.

JeopardyLeopardy · 04/05/2026 08:01

One of mine can open doors too, I loop a piece of string around the handle on the inside, bring it over the top of the door and hook it under the handle on the outside so the handles are pulled up tight. I think you can get an actual product but the string works for me!

Bitzee · 04/05/2026 08:01

You’re actually thinking about rehoming them because of someone that steals your parcels?! Wtf. I would get the rugs or consider laying carpet in your main areas. Maybe try and play with them right before bed to tire them out (we do this so they don’t disturb us). Beyond that ignore her.

Original poster
catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 09:38

Bitzee · 04/05/2026 08:01

You’re actually thinking about rehoming them because of someone that steals your parcels?! Wtf. I would get the rugs or consider laying carpet in your main areas. Maybe try and play with them right before bed to tire them out (we do this so they don’t disturb us). Beyond that ignore her.

No I'm not thinking of rehoming them.

OP posts:
Original poster
catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 09:40

JeopardyLeopardy · 04/05/2026 08:01

One of mine can open doors too, I loop a piece of string around the handle on the inside, bring it over the top of the door and hook it under the handle on the outside so the handles are pulled up tight. I think you can get an actual product but the string works for me!

That's brilliant, but how do you open the door when you need to go in?

OP posts:
PepsiBook · 04/05/2026 09:40

She's living in a flat, there will be noise. Ignore her. You're doing all you reasonably can

Iydrd · 04/05/2026 09:48

Wtf she steals your parcels?? She sounds mental so I would ignore her cat comments

Original poster
catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 10:04

Iydrd · 04/05/2026 09:48

Wtf she steals your parcels?? She sounds mental so I would ignore her cat comments

Oh she's mad alright, but very very unpleasant and making my life a misery.

OP posts:
JeopardyLeopardy · 04/05/2026 11:43

catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 09:40

That's brilliant, but how do you open the door when you need to go in?

Show quote history

I make a small loop in the end of the string and hook it on the end of the handle, so I can just slip it off the handle.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 04/05/2026 11:47

MousseMousse · 04/05/2026 00:00

Relax, don't rehome, you're being a good neighbour and she sounds awful

This OP.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 04/05/2026 11:49

What is she claiming she can hear? Your floors must be made of piano keys if she can hear cats running around.

If it was easy and convenient, I'd block off the room above her bedroom at night time. But otherwise I'd ignore her.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 04/05/2026 11:49

Nasty neighbour will use anything to whine at you.
What next you are breathing too loud.
Don’t rehome cats it isn’t fair on the cats and the bitch will just find something else to have a go at you at.

RandomMess · 04/05/2026 11:50

We had our handles turned upside down to stop the door opener.

Sorry you have such an unpleasant neighbour. Do you play with them before bedtime to help tire them out?

Leeds157 · 04/05/2026 12:01

Try Feliway Friends, as opposed to the standard Feliway, my two cats are bonded but not cuddly, but within 3 days of the Feliway Friends, they were cuddling. Don’t rehome them because of your neighbour, as much as they may be making you on edge. Just calmly and matter of factly explain that you’ve done what you can, they clearly are unhinged with a grudge x

Original poster
catshatsandchats · 04/05/2026 12:56

Leeds157 · 04/05/2026 12:01

Try Feliway Friends, as opposed to the standard Feliway, my two cats are bonded but not cuddly, but within 3 days of the Feliway Friends, they were cuddling. Don’t rehome them because of your neighbour, as much as they may be making you on edge. Just calmly and matter of factly explain that you’ve done what you can, they clearly are unhinged with a grudge x

I did have that one, the two siamese are bonded well, been together since they were kittens and nothing changed with the elderly tabby.

Thanks for all the suggestions. The problem with the door handle is he'll still keep jumping trying to open it which in itself is very noisy.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 04/05/2026 13:54

It took mine 3 weeks to give up with the door handle.

SpringIsSpringing2026 · 04/05/2026 13:59

What about putting them in a large dog crate overnight? Plenty big enough for 2 cats, beds, water bowl & a litter tray.

she sounds mad though. Can't you just ignore her (and report the parcel theft to the police)

longtompot · 04/05/2026 14:42

@catshatsandchats I read today, not sure if on here, Instagram or FB, but someone said if you play with cats for 10 minutes then feed them, or the other way round, it settles their food hunt instinct and they can then relax and sleep. I wonder if that might work to calm them.