Dogs everywhere!

I live in a somewhat remote area, but there are four houses all near each other. My cats are indoor/outdoor with a cat flap. The landlordhas two dogs; a moppy poodle kind of thing (which is no threat to the cats, just makes them nervous), and a lab/rottie cross (sweet guy, very friendly, wants to play so chases the cats, but scares them, they end up in trees). The second neighbor has a JRT, which isn"t around often (He is a problem, one of the cats had a bite that I think was from this dog). We have scared him away for the most part, but he still shows up occasionally.
We now have another new neighbor, and he has two dogs, and I don't know what they'll do with the cats. They are boxers, I met them myself (haven't met the owner yet). Both happy dogs, puppyish still, no worry of bites to myself, just jump up a lot. One saw my Hemi through the window, she puffed up as usual and he just stared at her hard, then went away. I could see these guys wanting to play...but too aggressively.
Any suggestions on dealing with the plethora of dogs around here, especially the new ones? The cats are indoor/outdoor, there is no question about that, I don't think they would do well if they were cooped up after having free reign for the last year, and I can't ask everybody to keep their dogs inside (I enjoy the occasional dog visit, I want one, but can't because I don't think the cats would cope). We can't build a fence either since we are renting (and we can't afford it!). Would it help if I built a few hiding places around the property so they have a safe place to run if the dogs come calling? (of course the JRT is small and might still get in....), put some platforms on some trees? should I make a point of sending the dogs away whenever they show up? (I would hate to...I love getting my furbag fix, they don't come by often, but if I have to I will). I'm worried about the safety and happiness of my kitties, and about keeping good relations with the neighbors, plus the happiness and safety of their pets. Suggestions?

What about shooing the dogs that are aggressive (to the cats) away from the property and just doing nothing about the ones that don't bother the cats? I think building areas where the cats can get to but the dogs can't is a good idea. How is your cat flap controlled? Is it by remote on their collars or can they just walk in and out? If it's by remote, could you get another flap that has the same frequency as your current one and build some sort of shelter that they can jump up and get in? That way the JRT wouldn't be able to get into the shelter with the cats. Does that make any sense? lol

I wonder if there's some sort of scent barrier that you could put around your yard that would deter the dogs from coming?

What about getting a portable dog run that you could set up in your yard, it wouldn't be permanent so no problem with the landlord, the only problem is that you would have to physically take them out there and bring them back in. You could create some sort of tunnel for them to get in and out but I'm not sure if you could do that without it being permanent.

Keep your cats inside for their safety letting them outdoors is too much of a risk.

This sounds so risky letting your cats out with those new dogs that have moved in. I have two Jack Russell Terriers that love my house cats, but would absolutely chase and possibly kill a loose cat. Boxer's can be very powerful and fast. I would worry about letting them outside at all. If you must, I would build a security fence to keep all dogs out.

Since you allow your cats inside and out, it would be very hard for you to say anything to your neighbors about their dogs being out. And could cause problems if your cats end up in their yards one day.
The platforms may work, but I dont think its a very permanent fix. I think you could make a cat enclosure without it breaking the bank.
I honestly wouldnt let my cats outside.

Another reason for keeping cats indoor only, not knowing how new/strange dogs will react.

I thought all states had a leash law no dogs allowed to roam at large?If there not on a leash? If it was me My cats would stay inside for their own safety I love them too much to allow anything to happen to them that is preventable.

Originally Posted by Feralvr

If you must, I would build a security fence to keep all dogs out.

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Not all security fences will keep a prey driven dog out if they want something they will get to it. So to the OP, please just leave your cats inside for their safety or build an outdoor enclosure for them where they will be safe and away from the dogs.

If you are 100% not going to keep the cats in here is another idea:

Your kitty door, is there any way you could put a baby gate up inside of the room that it is in? That way if the JRT does get in, the cats can jump over the gate & get away? Not sure if that will work, some JRTs can really jump high.

Honestley, you are as much at fault as your neighbors. They let their dogs roam, you let your cats roam. No difference.

Rural areas can be just as dangerous as urban areas for pets. Coyotes, dogs, fox, racoons, pesticides on crops, hunters, snakes, and the occasional car. I live in a very rural area but that didn't help the neighbors cat who got hit/killed by a car in front of my house a few months ago. That doesn't include the higher incedence of heartworm and cat diseases.

Not trying to preach, it's just that many people do not think about how dangerous it really is.

My cats go outside. Sometimes there are stray dogs. Have not experienced any dogs chasing my cats though. I know that my cats will either outrun any dog or use their claws to beat the dog silly.
Anyway, your ideas - hiding places, platform on trees, shooing the dogs when they come around - sound all okay to me.

Keep the cats inside. Lots of outside cats, even ferels, have adjusted to being indoors all the time. It's really too dangerous for them outside.

There are no easy answers for you if you don't want to keep them inside or can't afford to build them a safe enclosure. Even if you only let your cats out when you were with them, you can't stop a dog that has decided to go after a cat. I've been in rural areas for many years now, and the only thing that has worked to some extent is to have dogs of my own patrolling the property and keeping other dogs off of it. But your dogs have to be outside to do this, and not all dogs will take on the role of security guard. My last set of dogs were outstanding at this job. My current dogs encourage all of the neighborhood dogs on our property to play with them. I saw 12 dogs in my yard the other day.

So your solution: keep them inside or build an enclosure for them.

Originally Posted by gardenandcats

I thought all states had a leash law no dogs allowed to roam at large?

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Nope. The laws vary by town or county. While a state may offer a law, it can be over turned by laws at a local level. Unincorporated rural areas rarely have any type of leash laws.

IMO even if they do go outside, its best to SUPERVISE them outside. Personally I keep mine in 100% of the time. But you have two options:

1. Train them to a harness/leash and take them out.
2. Build or buy a cat enclosure for them to sit outside in safety.

Not knowing the temperament of the new dogs and the fact you have a JRT around - your cats are at high risk to be seriously hurt or killed by these dogs if they are let outside unsupervised.

You are taking a great chance - one I would not want to be doing.

Well, there are two issues I'm seeing, one: letting the cats out and two, how to deal with the dogs.

Regarding the first....wow, I get the impression that some think we are cruel, negligent, naive or that we love our cats less because we risk letting them out. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and I understand the place this comes from. Rather than being negligent by letting them out I have seen how much happier they became once we moved here and they got to start roaming. I know someday we may find them way out on the road (500m away) or maimed by a dog. I hate that thought, but I won't take their happiness away. If this makes people think I'm a bad mom to my cats, so be it. We have carefully judged the level of risk....it is fairly low, especially compared to other living situations we could be in, except when there is the X factor of new dogs around, which is why I started this thread in the first place. The cats don't roam far and the landlord's dogs are generally well behaved except on rare occasions. The JRT rarely comes by, we scared the dickens out of him with an air pistol fired into the air (we keep it by the door in case he comes again).

By the way, there are no leash laws in this part of Canada, we don't even live within town limits. The landlord owns this property and the dogs roam free here.

As for dealing with the situation. I've thought more about it and considered the suggestions. The cats will continue, overall, to be let out. I'll talk to the new neighbor and see if there are regular times he lets the dogs out. Keep the cats clear then and try to train the new dogs to stay away from the "cat zone". A full enclosure or security fence is out of the question. Thanks to someone injuring me at work and haven't been capable of working, or much of anything, for 4 months (I guess I would have been safer if I didn't go out) and workers comp hasn't decided to pay me yet, I have been depending on my boyfriend. An appropriately sized enclosure is WAY too expensive. I doubt the landlord would approve of something large like that being built anyway. Some "safe spots" can be built our of our remnant lumber for when dogs get too interested. The constructive suggestions were appreciated.

Maybe when you get some compensation you can get a chain link dog kennel and modify it with chicken wire? They are not as expensive as other enclosures depending on size you can get a fairly big one for $200. There are ways to modify it so that the cats could go in/out of it by themselves (in house/out kennel). You can find them for cheaper on craigslist too.