New cats in the area. Help please

[LivingForRedWine]

Hi everyone

I was wondering if any of you have experience of how long it takes for cats to be accepted in a new neighbourhood by other cats in the area.

We moved house 6 weeks ago and waited 4 weeks before letting our cats outside as recommended. This all went fine they both went out and explored the garden first kept coming back, went further, came back.

Anyway for the past few days I have had to run out to very loud cat screeching. I am not sure whether it is our cats or neighbouring cats making these noises but every time it is one of our cats hiding under our car and another cat (has been two different cats) stood at the end of the car. My presence has scared the other cat away so there has been no actual fighting yet.

This has happened at different times of the day each time. They have been kept in at night to keep them safe from attacks but I am not sure how long this will go on for. I cant keep them in any longer they want to be out, but the threat of being attacked is making me anxious.

I am aware they have only been going out for just over a week so will probably be a while yet as the other cats are obviously just defending their territory. So I guess I am hoping for somebody to say that they have been through this and it will actually get better and they will soon be accepted/tolerated by the other local cats?

Any help would be appreciated.

You just have to let them got on with it - the truth is, they may never be accepted but they should all learn their own boundaries with time. The issue will likely be that the regular cats aren't used to your garden having resident cats in it.

Our cats both go out and while the youngest sometimes comes back with the odd scab from a fight, we've never had anything major and they're 6 and 13 now.

Thank you for the reply. Yes I did think that they probably just need to just learn to get on with it. Glad your two have never had anything major happen.

I live in an area with lots of cats and they are all very territorial!
Finlay found out when he was very young that he was no match for the local terrors and consequently does not venture into our road at front of house at all
He spent a while exploring and then discovered his own territory in some nearby fields - I do worry as it involves him crossing a busy road - but he seems happy to spend hours or even days in his little rural world
He occasionally visits a local nursing home, the grounds of the Drs and local library and gardens of a local Manor House lived in by an elderly recluse
Hopefully your kitties will find their safe and happy place soon

Awwww, they'll be OK after a few weeks, once they let the other guys know that your garden is their territory! Just give it a little while.

Thanks so much everyone. I feel a lot better about it now. Hopefully they find their own space soon.

Your garden is probably considered by another cat (or cats) to be 'their' territory, so your cats will be facing resistance from these other cats as they try to take that territory. Personally, I'd help your cats out a bit - get a water pistol and shoot any strange cats you find in your garden with it and also shoo them out if you encounter them. If you see them spraying in your garden wash the urine away. Clear any cat shit you find and just generally make your garden an unfriendly place for the neighbours' cats.

We have a vicious, large tomcat that moved in next door and have learned from bitter experience to give him no quarter whatsoever. If we see him, we chase him out or shoot him with the water pistol. He's a nasty fucker and has attacked our cat several times so just be aware that your cats may be attacked too, so go on the offensive early on. Water doesn't hurt them, but they don't like it, so it's a good deterrent.

Agree with @zurigo if you get one or two cats that won't take the hint that this is NOT their territory any longer!

I have two cats. One barely goes out and is very timid. The other is a territorial brute. We had new neighbours recently and their cat has tried to explore our garden and driveway. My brute cat is NOT ok with this but I try to let them get on with it unless it sounds like somebody is going to get hurt. Cats will usually work it out by themselves. There was a programme on tv a few years ago showing how neighbour cats usually work out a sort of timeshare between themselves. Try not to worry too much. The yowling is usually just posturing.

The water pistol is a great idea! Thanks everyone, I will do that if any other cats come into the garden!