Neighbour's cat trying to move in

Lleucu

Hello hope you can help us.

We adopted a 14 year old cat from Cats Protection in May and after a shaky start, she has settled in really well, one of the her issues is that she is very aggressive and hates other cats. The aggression had died down and she was becoming quite socialised. We have taught her to use a cat flap, to be picked up and not be aggressive to human visitors.

We have some neighbours, a young family with two sibling male cats, one is desperately trying to move in with us (and other neighbours). I suspect that his care is not brilliant but the main thing is that I do not think he wants to be with his sibling. I do not know if he is spayed.

The neighbour's cat has made a determined effort to get into our house many times, he tries every tactic to stay (from rolling on his back, purring to spitting and growling). As you can imagine this is destabilising our cat, also my husband is disabled and there is a danger he will fall over sorting out the interloper. He says he feels sorry for the interloper, but I do not think it is fair on our cat to 'let ' it move in. (especially as we agreed with CP that she would the only cat).

I have tried talking with our neighbour who seems really indifferent. We have had to lock the cat flap and close all windows because the young fit interloper can get in by jumping.

I am concerned that our cat is regressing to the state she was in when she was rehomed, she has started hissing and growling again, walks around with a permanently thunderous expression and feels tense and angry.

Any thoughts about what we can do?? It seems a bit of a cheek discussing rehoming with her, I am sure that suitably spayed, defleed, properly fed and trained he would be a nice pet for somebody.

Lleucu

anybody got any ideas, the attempted invasion continues!

meritaten

oh dear. yours sounds like an 'indoor cat'? if so, I would use anti cat deterrants around the garden and be actively against this cat entering your home. so much so, you may have to 'harden your heart' and use water guns etc whenever you see him. YOUR cat is your priority. this other cat has a home and however inadequate it is - it is not your concern!

Slinky

Presumably your cat from CP is microchipped. I think you need to change your catflap to a microchip flat which should only allow your cat into the house.

Dimey

I don't have any brilliant ideas but I do feel you owe it to your cat to resolve this problem and not just give him back for re-homing.

Sounds like he's suffered and been rejected enough in his life and he needs you to stick with him and protect him.

Keep him indoors for a while, with extra love and attention. Install a microchipped cat flap so the other cat can't come in.

Phone Cats Protection for advice on how to handle the situation with the neighbour to protect your cat and ideally to make a better home for the other cat with your neighbour.

When your cat is calmer or really wants to go out, let him out with you there initially. Let your cat see you chasing off the other cat so he knows you are on his side and his garden is his territory, not the neighbours cat.

Hopefully your cat will mark his territory. When he starts to go out alone again, it may come to blows while the pecking order is sorted. So watch from the window for a while. Can your cat defend himself from the other cat?

Edit - Just noticed your cat is 14. As Meritaten says, maybe he's more of an indoor cat at that age and you just need to go out with him when he wants to occasionally. Keep the cat flap locked. Have a hooded litter tray indoors.
At 14, he'll probably be happy to just snooze indoors most of the time so you can still give him a safe happy life.

Lleucu

Would not dream of sending her back, she is doing really well. Though she is an 'old' cat, she is quite lively and still runs and jumps:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/101151948@N07/

She is very healthy and has a beautiful blue coat and golden eyes.

We have locked the cat flap having found Harry the interloper asleep in the sink in the utility room. I feel so sorry for him, he looks really thin and is very needy.

Our cat was mainly an indoor cat in the past but likes going out but until we can get the cat flap changed to a high tech one, I fear that we will have to let her in and out and as you say, go out with her.

I will also pluck up courage to discuss CP with my neighbour, I am sure Harry will make a good pet for the right home.

lisajane8482

No advice really but just wanted to say your little lady is beautiful and she is very lucky to have landed on her feet with you.

kazwookie

What a lovely cat you have.

Is the interloper badly treated enough to call the RSPCA or CP? as that may solve the problems. If not I suggest another more forcefull caht with your neighbour, and suggest they take their cat to the vet for flee treatment etc

Meanwhile as others have said lock the cat flap, and windows and keep your cat in, for now with lots of cuddles and play time.

iammumtoone

I feel for you, I have an 'interloper' that visits us regularly, so I do know how tricky it is to keep a cat out who is determined to get in. Luckily my situation is different, my own cat tolerates him and he comes in for a fuss and warmth (I never feed him).

Cats seem to find their own homes, I know the people who my visiting cat belongs to, they are lovely and adore animals but this cat does just not want to go into his own home (think the reason is they have too many other animals). They feed him outside and he 'visits' quite a few houses down the street but never goes into his own home!! I appreciate this doesn't help you but trying to explain it is not necessary the owners fault that the cat does not want to be with them. It sounds like the kindest thing would be for hin to be re-homed, but his owners may take some convincing of that.

In the mean time you are lucky it is winter so it is possible to keep your windows and doors shut so he doesn't get in. I echo what someone said above about a water pistol to scare him off when he comes near, it wont hurt him and eventually he will learn not to come near as he will get squirted.

btw your cat is gorgeous

hazyjo

It's hard, but try hissing at him. Usually stops a cat from doing something naughty, and would probably scare off another.

We also have three visiting cats. It's like the advert sometimes where you open the back door and they're all sitting there! Such scavengers, two of them.

One just sits and stares and grabs the occasional bit of food when we're not looking, one will grab EVERY bit of food and has been known to jump in through a first floor bedroom window in order to get into the house(!), and the third just runs in the door/window and straight upstairs. Not so fussed about food, just wants to be in. Nightmare to get out, especially as my new cat Morris absolutely adores him (and ALL other cats!).

Jx

Lleucu

Thanks to you all for useful suggestions will follow them up.

I think the care of Harry the interloper is on the edge, he is very thin and flea ridden, is out in the cold and the wet and looks miserable. The issue is that he chooses not to be with his owner, I suspect because he has lost out to his sibling who seems much happier.

I will suggest CP to my neighbour, but I do not expect a positive response!!