Problem with neighbourhood cats

Lily-Rose_3

Hi, hope someone can advise.

We have 2 cats aged 9 and 12 ish, and we have a catflap that they have been using since we moved in here about 4 years ago, and there has not ever been any issues.

Just lately however, (maybe the last 8 weeks,) not one, but TWO cats have been coming in through the catflap. It's in the back door that leads into the kitchen. Me and hubby have caught both a big black cat and a big black and white cat in the kitchen! They don't just sniff about outside, they are coming in! And noshing on our cats food!

Also, our older cat used to sit on the couch for hours on end, all snuggled up, and for the past few weeks, she has refused to go on it, and growls at us if we put her on it. We have scrubbed and cleaned it, (even though it's basically clean!) and sprayed it with dettol spray to try and get rid of any odd smells! But no, she won't go near it. The other cat sits on it now and again, but not much. We suspect that a cat may have been in when we weren't here, (and has laid on the couch,) and that is why our cats won't sit on it now.

Is there anything we can do to try and attract our cats back onto the couch? And to stop the other cats getting in? We have started by locking the catflap at night from 11pm-ish til 8am-ish, and have been putting litter down, so they are at least able to sleep and relax at night, without other cats coming in, but we can't stop them coming in, in the day if we're not there!

Even this evening, the big black cat invited itself in! I chased if off, but this is getting annoying now, and it's upsetting our cats.

Short of getting a cat flap that has a chip on it that works with special collars, (which costs quite a lot!) is there anything else we can do?

Also, we still have the problem of our cats not wanting to go on our couch.

No idea by the way, who the cats belong to. I have only seen them both quite recently!

Person_one

For the couch, there's a product called 'Simple Solution' that's worth a try.

https://fetch.co.uk/simple-solution-stain-odour-remover-for-cats-1l-323752011?gclid=CPOjm6mD788CFUQz0wodC6QGxQ

I've used the dog version and it does work.

McKneff

Maybe the cats dont like the smell of Dettol spray

anna42hmr

If I were you I would look to change the cat flap over to one that reads your cats microchip and allow them access only as would stop others coming in altogether, for example

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Mate-Microchip-Flap/dp/B00MIRNPHI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1477160599&sr=8-3&keywords=microchip+cat+flap

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PetSafe-Petporte-Smart-Flap-Microchip/dp/B00MA3TH2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477160599&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=microchip+cat+flap&psc=1

You may also want to consider something like feliway to help your cats relax a bit more at home

Soot2006

We used to have a catflap that was operated by a remote "key" on our cats' collars. Does mean they need to wear a collar, but ours were fine (always an elasticated collar so they can lose it if get trapped) .... In the end one my cats became the cheeky sod who helped himself to the neighbourhood cat flaps.

rach_k

We have the same problem (plus spraying!) so we're just switching over to a microchip cat flap. It wasn't exactly cheap but not what I'd consider hugely expensive either, considering what it *should* do. We used to have one that worked with a thing on the cat's collar but she kept losing the collar and then it stopped working anyway, so we left it as a standard cat flap until recently when a big black tom cat has been inviting himself in and causing chaos.

I've been using a Feliway plug-in to help calm our cat down. You can also get Feliway spray (intended for travel I think) - you could try that on the sofa.

Lily-Rose_3

Person_one wrote: »

For the couch, there's a product called 'Simple Solution' that's worth a try.

https://fetch.co.uk/simple-solution-stain-odour-remover-for-cats-1l-323752011?gclid=CPOjm6mD788CFUQz0wodC6QGxQ

I've used the dog version and it does work.

Gosh that sounds great. Thanks Person One. I will try to get some of that.

McKneff wrote: »

Maybe the cats dont like the smell of Dettol spray

Thing is though, the cats wouldn't go on the couch for about 4-6 weeks before we put the dettol spray on the couch. We just sprayed that last week to see if it would work.

This was the one I used...

anna42hmr wrote: »

If I were you I would look to change the cat flap over to one that reads your cats microchip and allow them access only as would stop others coming in altogether, for example

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Mate-Microchip-Flap/dp/B00MIRNPHI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1477160599&sr=8-3&keywords=microchip+cat+flap

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PetSafe-Petporte-Smart-Flap-Microchip/dp/B00MA3TH2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477160599&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=microchip+cat+flap&psc=1

You may also want to consider something like feliway to help your cats relax a bit more at home

Wow, I didn't know you could get a catflap that worked in conjunction with their microchips...that's very clever. I would prefer to avoid spending sixty quid for this though, especially if it didn't work, so I will try the spray Person One Suggested and also feliway.

If they fail though, and locking the catflap at night doesn't give the other cats the message that they are not welcome, then I think we will have to look into a 'microchip catflap.'

I do wonder though, why, after 4 years here, these cats have suddenly started inviting themselves in. :mad:

Really appreciate the help folks. Thank you.

Trina90

FYI...Dettol is toxic to cats, so I would avoid using that again.

nicter

It maybe the other 2 have just moved into the area recently
We had similar problems in the past with our cats to the point they stopped wanting to go out and 1 of them ( we have 5) would pee with fright when the intruder cat came in
We spent £100.00 on the micro chip cat flap and another £80 having the glass cut in the door for it but its worth every penny. Our cats now feel safe and are back to their confident selves. It does take them a while to get used to it as it does make a loud click when they activate it but they soon get used to it

Sagz_2

I had the same problem, but intruding cats were also spraying, the smell was horrendous!

ID chip reading cat flap solved the problem and steam cleaning plus Simple Solution got rid of the smell.

Yes the flap was 60 quid, fitting cost £15, but it's lasted 6 years so far, well worth it in my opinion.

Lily-Rose_3

Trina90 wrote: »

FYI...Dettol is toxic to cats, so I would avoid using that again.

Didn't know that! :eek: Thank you. I wasn't going to use it again anyway, as it didn't bloomin' work

nicter wrote: »

It maybe the other 2 have just moved into the area recently

We had similar problems in the past with our cats to the point they stopped wanting to go out and 1 of them ( we have 5) would pee with fright when the intruder cat came in

We spent £100.00 on the micro chip cat flap and another £80 having the glass cut in the door for it but its worth every penny. Our cats now feel safe and are back to their confident selves. It does take them a while to get used to it as it does make a loud click when they activate it but they soon get used to it

Sagz wrote: »

I had the same problem, but intruding cats were also spraying, the smell was horrendous!

ID chip reading cat flap solved the problem and steam cleaning plus Simple Solution got rid of the smell.

Yes the flap was 60 quid, fitting cost £15, but it's lasted 6 years so far, well worth it in my opinion.

Thanks so much Sagz and Nicter. I am glad your cats are happy now. But what a cheek these cats have if they ARE new to the area. Who do they think they are invading my kitties territory? Grrrrr! :mad:

I think they may be new actually, as I have never seen them before. Someone suggested chucking water at them if we see them near the house, and to not be friendly at all. Not sure I feel good about chucking water over them tbh!

Anyhow, we will try the spray that Person One suggested, (on the couch,) and also some feliway. And we will continue to lock the catflap at night (which we have only just started doing...) Hopefully this will eliminate the issue; if not, we will seriously consider the 'microchip catflap.'

Thanks again to you all.