Would be cat burglar

*doodle*_2

Hello all,

I not had a decent nights sleep all week and I am beginning to feel like a zombie because of it.

I have three cats. My girl, 3, spends most of her time roaming the fields near my house or sleeping her adventures off upstairs. My boy, 3, is a wuss and my other boy, 1, is another wuss. Their kingdom only extends to the back garden. They prefer their home comforts too much and do not roam.

My problem is that a strange cat is attempting to force entry into my house every blooming night by punching the cat flap very loudly all night long. Despite not wearing a collar, he is well fed and clean and obviously wants to play with my boys (my girl is a bit anti-social). I know this because he is usually sits on the kitchen window sill every morning or is sat on the back step when my back door is open. Also, my boys will sit outside quite happily with it.

We have shouted at it, thrown water at it but it keeps coming back. Does anyone have any ideas how I can stop this vagrant from punching the living daylights out of the cat flap?

Many thanks in advance

cjmumto2

Lie by it one night with a water pistol?

Mayflower10cat

Are your cats curfew'd at night? If they are, you can block up the catflap outside & inside once they're all in the for the night. Neighbours have had various issues with feral cats (and not so feral cats!) and a young fox coming in at nights, they finally made a real Heath Robinson contraption (a sheet of wood with two holes at the top and a skull & crossbones painted on it...!) drilled through their nice wooden door to take two long screws, then used wingnuts to attach the 'draw-bridge' onto the outside of the cat flap every night, then unscrewed in the morning. Not very pretty admittedly, but it did deter the invaders. And they couldn't whack the locked flap and make that really annoying noise.

*doodle*_2

I only lock the catflap on bonfire night, new years eve and the evening before trips to the vets. They really don't like being forced to stop in and they embark on mini protests. Locking them out is not an option. Mind you, I do like the draw-bridge idea it's just a shame that it wouldn't work. I guess that I should hope that the ginger pest will give up or that mine decide to defend their patch.

Mayflower10cat

Could you try and find out who owns him??? Seems like a nice enough, non-aggressive cat. Maybe the owner has no idea at all his cat is 'house-breaking' at night! Or maybe he's locked out at night?

Fire_Fox

I have chronic insomnia so know how you feel, one option is to buy some wax ear plugs - much more comfortable and effective than foam.

Your cats will not suddenly defend their territory from their friend. Whatever route you take needs to be consistent, barricading your cats in and wearing earplugs whilst they readjust seems to me to be the easiest option, cats are more likely to get hit by a car at night anyway. Otherwise consistently soak this cat, every time he shows up until he gets the message. This means planning: you will need quick access to the appropriate window, a ready supply of water and a tool which will aid your aim (large water pistols, buckets, hosepipe). If you watch Supernanny it's much the same, if you quit after twenty attempts the cat learns that persistence gets results. I don't see any way you can persuade his owners to keep him in at night when you are not prepared to do the same, it may be your boys go knocking for him some nights!