Problem with neighbourhood cats

Mupette

we have 2 cats that try it on, it made our little girl so terrified that she ended up with nervous cystitis, twice :eek:.

We decided to change our catflap to the electronic one, so that only our own can come in. Georgie feels a lot safer.

We also have a dog who is too big to use catflap, we looked into a electronic version for the dog, they don't do them, so we lock down the dog flap at night after the 10pm Perry go for a wee game, he goes for his night wee comes in and demands treats and he is settled for the night then.

It saved us money on our timid little girl being ill, and she is so much happier, to me it makes more sense her well being.

Mrs_Z

Another vote here for a microchip cat flap. Worth every penny and will stop any unwanted cats coming in.

Lily-Rose_3

Thanks ever so much everyone.

We have decided to continue to keep the catflap shut at night for a while (like 10p til 8am,) and also when the cats are just inside in the day with us. And keep the litter in the kitchen for them. And we have started shooing the cheeky neighbourhood cats away and not making them feel welcome (not that we ever did!)

We have only been doing this a few days, so we will play it by ear for a while.

If the problem doesn't go away within a couple of weeks; we will get a microchip catflap.

As I said, it's very odd that this has started. I figured out earlier that one of the cats is a neighbour's cat that she has had for 2 years! No point in complaining to the lady though, as it's not her fault. All we can do is not make her cat welcome.

SensibleSarah

Microchip flap worked for my 3 cats in this situation. Although the bully cat would still spray at the back door & sometimes lie in wait in the garden Definitely worth the money for the chip flap though as it stopped other cats stealing food & spraying in my house.

Then I got a dog and despite the dog having zero interest in any cats or chasing them, it works as a deterrent anyway. Now have a dog flap which my cats use as well as the dog so in theory other cats could come in if they wanted, but it's not an issue currently.

OldMotherTucker

To deter other people's cats -

Water squirters!!

And the odd visiting dog!!

no1catman

You don't literally have to chuck water over the other cats. But what you can use (assuming you don't have a child's water pistol) is an 'indoor plant' sprayer - has a hand trigger mechanism screwed into a half-pint container - easy to adjust the nozzle from spray to jet.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Sounds like they've had a look at the local accommodation and catering options and have decided yours is more suitable than their own; they're trying to adopt you.



As a non harmful but entirely Machiavellian tactic, I'd consider casually tossing a few handfuls of dried catnip over the neighbour's front garden as you walk past. And/or some cat crunchies - make staying over there far more interesting than visiting.