neighbors cat is harassing my kitties

Hi,

I have two one year old cats. They are brothers and get along very well. I do let them outside when we are home and they stay in our backyard. Luckily they are scared to go too far. I do have to let them out because they are very vocal about their displeasure of having to be inside all day. In any event, my neighbor's cat (about 1 1/2 times the size of my cats) insists on coming into my backyard every couple of days. My cats start shrieking and hissing and standing their ground. Well, one stands his ground, and the other runs and hides. As soon as I come around the corner, my neighbor's cat runs away. Last week, I saw my cat hissing at the other cat, and I saw brown fur hanging out of my neighbor's cat's mouth. I also saw tufts of fur blowing in the wind across my lawn. It kind of freaked me out, because I though my cat was hurt. I gave him a good inspection and he was fine, but I didn't like the experience. What should I do about my neighbor's cat? I do not use water or any kind of punishment on my own cats but I feel like trying to squirt my neighbor's cat with a water bottle if he comes near my babies. Any suggestions?

Have you talked to your neighbor? Perhaps you inform them that their cat is a problem, they'll be cooperative.

Also, I take it you check on the cats often. It really does only take a few seconds for a buncher to steal an animal (especially a friendly one) or a fight to start.

If you have a fence, or can put one up, you can add catproofing that keeps cats in AND out.

http://www.catfencein.com/

If it is possible for you to build an enclosure in the back of your house, that would be the best thing. But that is not always possible or economical to do. The other thing would be to get a scarecrow, it is a watering system that attaches to your hose and acts like a motion detector. The neighbors cat comes over, and gets squirted for his trouble, then leaves. Of course you would have to keep yours inside or they will get squirted as well.

Not always ideal to talk to neighbors about their cats. It can sometimes lead to problems with yours if the neighbor is so inclined to cause problems.

It looks like the neighbor's cat considers your backyard a part of his territory and it will take your cats to show him otherwise. I don't know what else you can do. You may shoo the cat everytime you see him or wait hidden and scare him when he appears may help. If your cats succeed in showing him who is boss you won't have any more confrontations and probably no more visits. On the other hand, if the neighbor's cat wins, your cats will let him have the run of the yard until they decide once again to challenge him.

The neighbors are right across the street and are pretty nice people. Ironically one of the neighbors stated that his cat had been attacked recently and he was trying to figure out what cat in the 'hood had done it. Now that I know his cat is a bully, I look back and laugh at his statement. It wouldn't do a whole lot of good to talk to them about it though, because their cat is strictly outdoors.

and yes, I check on them all the time. Honestly, I worry about them and I am a total mother hen with them. My husband says I obsess over them which is true. I treat them like they are my children. I enjoy watching them roll around in the sun. It's pretty cute.

I think I will try that sprinkler. The neighbors cat comes over all day long and in the wee hours as well, when my cats are inside, so it might work to train the neighbors cat that he doesn't like our watery environment. Thanks for the idea. Do they sell those scarecrow sprinklers at home depot or is it a special order item?

Here is the website on it, it is expensive, but highly effective-


http://www.scatmat.com/Products/Scarecrow/

Originally Posted by yayi

It looks like the neighbor's cat considers your backyard a part of his territory and it will take your cats to show him otherwise. I don't know what else you can do. You may shoo the cat everytime you see him or wait hidden and scare him when he appears may help. If your cats succeed in showing him who is boss you won't have any more confrontations and probably no more visits. On the other hand, if the neighbor's cat wins, your cats will let him have the run of the yard until they decide once again to challenge him.

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I agree. We've been having the same trouble with a new cat in the neighborhood. Jamie goes out on a leash, and I can generally chase the other cat away. Last Saturday I didn't see her hiding behind a bush, but Jamie did, and attacked her. So far she hasn't been back in our yard, but keeps sitting up on the fence looking longingly at it. As long as it's mainly hissing and spitting, it should be okay. Do your neighbors get their cat checked out annually and keep him up to date on shots?

I deal with not one, but multiple neighbor cats, especially when the sun comes out and EVERYONE is letting their kits out to play. We keep our windows open, and since we mix bad food with the expensive good food we are the Kool-Aid Kit moms of the block...lol...

I've learned one technique for one particularly nasty cat (you know the kind - they spit and hiss even when asking to be pet) - I introduced her to the bunch as though she was one of my own and a new cat in the house...it took about a month of meet and greets as though she was one of us...but eventually my cats became comfortable and then it was the neighbor's cat who had issues...

Another idea if the cat is approachable is to treat it like an aggresive cat of your own and spritz it with a vanilla/water mix when it's nearby, and make sure to do the same to your own cats. Then they all smell the same and get confused about who's friend or foe...

Ultimately - rather than expensive sprinkler systems - usually a couple of squirts when the cats in the yard every week or so will keep the cat from liking your yard...