Cat being bullied by neighbour's cat

Deep_In_Debt

Hi All

I have a couple of young female cats, both speyed.

There is a big full Tom who lives just a few doors up. Since he has lived in the street he has been a big problem for me. My previous elderly cats were bullied relentlessly by him; he'd even come in through the cat flap and spray in the house.

Last week one of my cats was bitten by him causing an abscess. I took her to the vet and after a few injections and a course of antibiotics which she finished at the weekend she was back to herself.

However, just this evening I heard a cat fight outside and it seems that my cat has been attacked and injured again by the big bully. My cat doesn't roam very far and tends to just hang around the gardens.

I do have a microchip catflap now so at least he can't get in to the house so that is one saving grace, but it is becoming a real problem now, especially as I will need to take her to the vet again tomorrow as she is clearly not happy.

I'm a little bit nervous about speaking with the owner. I'm female and live on my own and just worried about any repercussions.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I can deter the bully cat from coming in to my garden?

Many thanks

tealady

Have a look on the internet on ways of cat proofing your garden to prevent this cat getting in.
Also could you have a word with the neighbour about getting their Tom neutered.
I think some cats will still spray despite being neutered, had the same problem myself, fortunately the neighbour moved and took the cat with them.

[Deleted User]

Definitely speak with the owner, doesn't have to be confrontational just a chat about the benefits of neutering to them, less injuries from fighting etc.

tyllwyd

It sounds as if this tom has been the same for a few years now, so I wouldn't be too hopeful about persuading the owner to get him neutered - seems to me that if they were worried they would have done it by now.


Is trying to cat proof your garden practical, so your cat can't get out / he can't get in? Does he usually come into your back garden at the moment, or do the cats meet on the street?

jenny-wren

Our next-door neighbour's cat loves nothing more than defending OUR garden from any other cats, including our own. Any time I saw him being agressive or confrontational I squirted him with a water pistol. Now the very sight of the water pistol sends him back over the fence quick smart ... and he has reached an understanding with our cat about sharing HER garden. He'll still have a go at other cats that come into our garden but he leaves ours alone. It might be worth a try.

rach_k

We had a big tom chasing our small female cat and coming into the house during the night. We fitted a microchip cat flap and I started sitting quietly and waiting for him, then jumping out and squirting him with water whenever he came in the garden. He got the message pretty quickly... and I have to admit it was quite satisfying for me after having to clean up all that cat pee!

lindens

We have similar problems with 3 toms visiting. I bought a small water pistol and spray them all when i see them. It has worked and only 1 continues to visit. now

Deep_In_Debt

tyllwyd wrote: »

It sounds as if this tom has been the same for a few years now, so I wouldn't be too hopeful about persuading the owner to get him neutered - seems to me that if they were worried they would have done it by now.


Is trying to cat proof your garden practical, so your cat can't get out / he can't get in? Does he usually come into your back garden at the moment, or do the cats meet on the street?

It's a bit of both, they meet in street and he comes in to my garden. I do have high fences and a high gate around my garden, so not sure how to keep him out.

I'm loathe to keep my shut in one place; one of my cats is happy just pottering in the garden but the other one loves to explore. She never goes far, just other gardens and to the pond at the end of the cul de sac.

Deep_In_Debt

lindens wrote: »

We have similar problems with 3 toms visiting. I bought a small water pistol and spray them all when i see them. It has worked and only 1 continues to visit. now

This is something I have been considering today.

Deep_In_Debt

jenny-wren wrote: »

Our next-door neighbour's cat loves nothing more than defending OUR garden from any other cats, including our own. Any time I saw him being agressive or confrontational I squirted him with a water pistol. Now the very sight of the water pistol sends him back over the fence quick smart ... and he has reached an understanding with our cat about sharing HER garden. He'll still have a go at other cats that come into our garden but he leaves ours alone. It might be worth a try.

Definitely worth a try. I've seen the massive super drencher things which look tempting!

Deep_In_Debt

Just an update. Vet could find nothing seriously wrong with Bonnie. She couldn't feel any bite wounds or puncture wounds. She thinks that in Bonnie's haste to get away, she may have pulled a muscle or twisted her leg. Bonnie's had a shot of pain killer and I will keep an eye on her over the next few days in case she does get an abscess like last time.

As I was putting Bonnie in to the car, the owner of the big bully pulled up and asked me what was wrong. I told him she had been in a fight with another cat, a big ginger one, but he didn't seem to register. I was in a bit of a hurry as I needed to get a very fractious, yowling cat to the vet as soon as possible, so I think I missed a perfect opportunity to say something.

Thank you for all your suggestions, I am certainly going to look into the water pistol option.