Help - cat afraid of another cat!

AlwaysWorking

Hi! Sorry if this is a really simple problem, I'm just worried about my wee cat and looking some advice.

I'd been staying at my mum's for a few months and have just moved back home with my cat. Whilst we were away a big ginger cat has appeared in the neighbourhood. My wee cat is afraid of this cat, which has taken to eating her food (I leave some outside as I'm at work all day). She doesn't want to go out and I've found her hiding behind the bin when it appears. If I put her out she cries to get back in if this cat is around.

I've chased this cat off a few times but it doesn't appear worried by me at all and usually only retreats to the far side of my garden fence where it sits and watches me, as if it knows I can't get to it!

I don't want my wee cat to be housebound because she's afraid of this cat. I feel like she's my child and is being bullied! :rotfl:

What can I do??

Fire_Fox

Do you have a cat flap? You can buy ones that are activated by a magnet on your cats collar or by their microchip so this bully cat won't be able to get in your house.

Belisarius

I'm afraid this just happens sometimes. I have this problem with my current cat. If I see the cat who is bullying him, I hiss & chase it away (I have even considered getting a water gun so I can scare him at long range, though this seems excessive). It doesn't sound like your cat has a cat-flap - I think you should either get one fitted (you can get them fitted in windows as well as doors) OR not leave your cat outside when you're away (it may adjust to this quite quickly, especially if it is scared of going out). Honestly, I wouldn't personally leave a cat outside with no access to the house, even if it wasn't being bullied, or make a cat go outside that wanted to be inside.