How to deter our neighbour's cat
How to deter our neighbour's cat
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Dr Mike Oxgreen

Original Poster:

4,440 posts

189 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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I'd like some advice on how to reclaim our garden on behalf of our two cats, who are being bullied out of it by a neighbour's cat.

Our two are about 13 years old, female and neutered. Our garden is about 25m by 15m, and at the far end of the garden it borders with a neighbour who has a young male cat about 2 years old, also neutered. He seems to have taken ownership of most of our garden, and often chases our two cats back into the house.

Is there anything I can do to tip the balance of power back in favour of our two cats?

Two ideas have occurred to me. Firstly, I could try applying "silent roar" along the bottom boundary - but would that stress our cats as well?

The other alternative is perhaps a little unconventional: I could wee into a watering can occasionally and sprinkle that along the boundary. I've heard this can be quite effective against foxes etc; would it deter the male cat? (I am male myself, by the way, if that makes any difference). Would our two cats recognise my scent and find it unthreatening - perhaps even reassuring?

Unfortunately both my wife and I are out during the day, so we can't do anything like squirting him with a hosepipe - at least, not frequently enough for him to get the message.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

(And I'm ready to be ridiculed for the wee idea!)

ali_kat

32,142 posts

245 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Can you improve the border at the property join so he can't get over it?

paintman

7,852 posts

214 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Don't bother with wood fence panels. Our 6' lap fence was fine when our two were kittens, now they just consider the tops handy vantage pointsrolleyes

TheHeretic

73,668 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd May 2013
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Supersoakers.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

Original Poster:

4,440 posts

189 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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The boundary is a very sturdy 6' wood-panel fence, and as paintman says it doesn't stop him at all. frown

The Highway Man

7,172 posts

202 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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I've got the same problem with my old moggy, he's 13 with 3 legs, I've put a cat flap in my shed where my guinea pigs and rabbits live. The shed is heated and I've put a big bean bag on top of the hutch for my cat to sleep on when he's outside. My next door neighbours 3 cats are forever chasing my cat out of the shed and sleeping on his bean bag. I've now got an outside tap with a hose and water gun, everytime they come in my garden, I drench them, seems to be doing the trick so far, as everytime they see me, they run a mile. wink

Simpo Two

91,443 posts

289 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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I had one cat that was a little recessive and could be scared indoors by passing invaders. I found that running towards them making noise (think 'bayonet charge') did the trick very well. Even the most battle-hardened tom with ears like bus tickets fled biggrin

Dr Mike Oxgreen

Original Poster:

4,440 posts

189 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
quotequote all
So what about my pissing idea? Would that work?

I'm thinking the watering can isn't strictly in the P/H spirit; perhaps I should just get Percy out and spray liberally. That's surely better than installing a urinal on the outside wall of your house?!

Highway Man: is your cat chipped, and have you considered replacing your shed's cat flap with one that recognises your cat's microchip? You can get them battery powered if you haven't got mains in the shed. We've got a "Pet Porte" cat flap in our back door; it's great and works off either mains or a 9V battery. That would prevent "foreign" cats having access to your shed.

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 3rd May 20:22

The Highway Man

7,172 posts

202 months

Friday 3rd May 2013
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No, he's not chipped, the flap is left in the up position during the day as the pigs and buns use it to get in and out of the shed. I'm looking at getting a magnetic flap but I wont be able to put collars on the rabbits and pigs to release the flap.

telecat

8,528 posts

265 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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The Highway Man said:
I've got the same problem with my old moggy, he's 13 with 3 legs, I've put a cat flap in my shed where my guinea pigs and rabbits live. The shed is heated and I've put a big bean bag on top of the hutch for my cat to sleep on when he's outside. My next door neighbours 3 cats are forever chasing my cat out of the shed and sleeping on his bean bag. I've now got an outside tap with a hose and water gun, everytime they come in my garden, I drench them, seems to be doing the trick so far, as everytime they see me, they run a mile. wink
Minnie our three legged cat has all the local cats running scared. She attacks with her Mouth instead of paws which freaks them out!!!

The Highway Man

7,172 posts

202 months

Saturday 4th May 2013
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If they get close enough to him, he'll knock them out with his bad breath!!! laugh