My cat has an admirer - advice please!

Snuggles

I have a two year old rescue cat, Maisie, who was spayed five months ago (just before we got her). She goes out every day, but often stays in the garden. For some weeks now, another cat has been turning up in the garden. It sits right in front of our patio doors peering in at Maisie. Initially, Maisie was scared to go out when it was there, so I tried to shoo it away, and generally discourage it from hanging around our house.

However, this cat is very persistent. Maisie will now go outside when it's there and doesn't seem too bothered by it (in contrast another neighbouring cat gets short shrift if it tries to come into our garden). The cat seems very friendly, it has shown no signs of aggression whatsoever. It wanders round the garden rubbing it's face on everything and makes little "chortle" noises when Maisie goes out. Maisie hissed at it once, and it immediately rolled over onto it's side and back. Now we often look out to see it rolling around on the patio with Maisie looking on.

I quite often leave the door ajar if it's warm enough for Maisie to come and go (no catflap), and a couple of times I've come into the room to find this cat has come in the house and started playing with one of Maisie's toys (a kickeroo!), while Maisie looks on.

Up until yesterday, I wasn't sure what sex this cat is, but my OH said that when it was rolling round on the patio last night, he saw that it had male parts.

Now, I don't know much about feline, erm, activities. But I was wondering, might this cat be interested in doing the naughties with my cat, even though she has been spayed? Also is the behaviour of this cat the sort of behaviour you would expect from a tom cat who is looking to mate?

Like I said, it shows no aggression at all, quite the opposite, but it turns up every day without fail and sits outside waiting for Maisie. When she goes out they seem to touch noses, but other than that she doesn't seem overly interested in it. I just don't know why it keeps coming or what it wants, and I don't know if we should try to discourage it?

Just to say, this cat looks healthy and well looked after, so I don't think it's a stray looking for a home.

geri1965_2

Maybe it just wants a friend?

tanith

One of my old cats had a male 'friend', they were so sweet he would sit outside and wait for her to go out and then they would go walkies or just sit close and just watch the world go by. I just assumed he'd been 'done' as she had. He won't be drawn by your cat if she has been spayed , I don't see that you need to do anything other than leave them to it. Unless you want to discourage him from the house/garden of course in which case a well aimed water pistol would see him off..

McKneff

ah bless, I think that's lovely.
You would have to be a lot closer to establish whether a cat is male or female.

I bet you get a lot of pleasure from watching them.

Our cat is unbelievably aggresive with other cats so she is a real billy no mates. I wish she did have a friend. She is terrified of people.

Just enjoy..................

McKneff

Oh no, not the water pistol.
Maisie might be upset if her friend stopped coming. Just leave them to it, i think its lovely.

Annie

Sagz_2

If your OH saw him rolling about and could tell he was male then he's not been neutered (visiting cat, not OH!). I'd be a bit worried about him coming in as he may start spraying your house to mark it as 'his'.

gettingready

Personally would just let them be, sound like a beginning of a beautiful friendship....

Would try to find out if the cat has his own home though, where he is well looked after - especially in terms of regular flea treatment....

McKneff

gettingready wrote: »

Personally would just let them be, sound like a beginning of a beautiful friendship....

Would try to find out if the cat has his own home though, where he is well looked after - especially in terms of regular flea treatment....

First part :j:j:j

2nd - :eek::eek::eek::eek:


Or worms.OMG:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Snuggles

Ah well, you have all collectively hit the nail on the head. It does seem as though this cat just wants a friend, and it is indeed very cute to watch. But I'm worried it might spray and I'm also concerned about fleas (I was also worried it might be looking to mate, but it seems that's unlikely).

OH says that Maisie will come into contact with other cats when she's out anyway (she does go for a wander beyond the garden) so there's no point trying to discourage this cat just because of the flea worry.

I just know that if we don't do anything now, this cat is going to be sneaking in the house all summer when we have the door open most of the day. I would hate to think that it might come in and spray.

On the other hand, me and OH are such softies, we probably don't have the heart to try to shoo it away - it's quite hard when you're confronted with a fluffy grey cat rolling around on it's back with it's paws in the air making the cutest chortle sounds!

Fridaycat

Sagz wrote: »

If your OH saw him rolling about and could tell he was male then he's not been neutered (visiting cat, not OH!). I'd be a bit worried about him coming in as he may start spraying your house to mark it as 'his'.

The first part of your sentence is not necessarily true - I would be able to tell the difference between a neutered male and a female if I was close enough.

Many people who have male cats as pets have them neutered, both to reduce possible spraying and aggressive behaviour, so being as this one looks well cared for and not a stray, I would be very surprised if he were not neutered.

Your second point is absolutely true, whether for an entire cat or a neuter. Most cats spray to mark their territory (though entire Toms are more prolific).

Snuggles wrote: »

Ah well, you have all collectively hit the nail on the head. It does seem as though this cat just wants a friend, and it is indeed very cute to watch. But I'm worried it might spray and I'm also concerned about fleas (I was also worried it might be looking to mate, but it seems that's unlikely).

I would let the cats sort it out amongst themselves and try to prevent the visitor into the house if you can as this then produces the risk of both cats spraying to mark their territory.

cte1111

Fridaycat wrote: »

Most cats spray to mark their territory (though entire Toms are more prolific).

Is that really true? I've got 2 males and 1 female cat (all neutered), none of them have ever sprayed.

Re the OP's visiting cat, I wouldn't worry too much about it. As you say the cat looks well looked after, then it is likely that this includes flea and worming treatment.