Hi everyone, I have two beautiful black cats who are 11 years old.. They have a great life and a lovely garden to roam around.. I have cat flaps and up until a few months ago everything was great... Now however the woman across the road has started letting her house cat out, from early morning and it is heading straight for my house... It started coming in the garden and my two would only go out when one of us were with them, I told her his and she just shrugged her shoulders and said they are animals... But then it started coming in the house and my two are terrified. I've bought an electronic cat flap but it is even following them in as soon as they go out and come back in it is at their back... I said to her again, but her answer was they are animals what can we do... When I see it in the house I tell it to go out, other times I scream at it... Every morning this week it was came in at 6 am, it must be when mine go out for the toilet... As there is only about a six second window for it to come in... This morning it came up the stairs in the house and started fighting with my two... My two have lost weight and are quite miserable... We cuddle them constantly but one day last week it was even sleeping on the settee and my two were on the window terrified when I came home from work... I went to her door at 6am this morning when it came in, her lights were on, but never answered.. I then put a letter through her door explaining I had had enough and she needed to contact me.... I know this isvwas and peace but I really need advice... Many thanks

I am not really sure what you can do about this. That is the problem with cats, they are allowed out and can roam, unlike dogs which are meant to be with someone all the time when out.

My only suggestion is that perhaps you could turn your cats into house cats for a bit, with a litter tray, and keep the catflap locked. But, the only problem with this, is that the neighbours cat may claim your garden as its own territory and your cats may have an even worse problem when you start letting them out again. Maybe keep yours in for just a couple of days, see if it is enough to break the habit with the imposter.

Hopefully there may be some other members who know a bit more about what you can legally do, if anything.

I really feel for you though, as you must feel pretty helpless.

Thanks Kathy I had thought about keeping them in and using a tray again, but they haven't used one since they were kittens and was worried that they would think they were getting punished... And the other cat is quite brave and already seems to think my home and garden is it's territory... When we put the new cat flap on it didn't come in for about a week then seems to have found a way again... I was thinking about sprays or something but anything I can think of is to prevent all cats and I don't want to disturb my own even more...

could you improve your fence so no others can get into your garden? at 11, yours probably dont leave it much.

We live on a corner and it's mostly hedging and gates, there is no way of securing the garden... I'm just really angry as she said the cat goes out now as it doesn't get on with her new kitten.... I feel sorry for it and if I could even get peace I could put up with it coming in!!

as soon as you see it in the garden, be ready with the hose, a big bucket of water or a big spray bottle, that'll teach it pretty quick!
but i agree to keep them in for a couple of days, so then you can spray and spray and he hopefully wont come back to bother your cats..........

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We've tried the water but it's too fast for us... The minute I hear it or see it I'm up like a lunatic...

Out of interest what cat flap have you got?

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Black with white around his private area



Black Tortoiseshell




R.I.P Patch my well behaved boy dog
R.I.P. Abby and Rebel my beautifull litter sister cats

Can you borrow a dog? Shut it in the room where the cat flap opens onto overnight, squatter cat comes through the flap, gets the shock of it's life, hopefully decides to find another place to squat!

Can't you close the flap for the night, and keep yours in at night? That way, at least you will not be woken up by fighting cats.

I had the same problem 6½ years ago, my Steffie and Tuppence were getting old and were being chased out of their own garden, and even into the house, by younger neighbourhood cats, who claimed their territory as theirs.

But I am not sure my solution is what you are looking for, even though it worked fine for us....

I added Catweazle and Jiskefet to my household, and the 2 young toms reclaimed the house and secured the garden for my 2 old ladies. No more intruders, they would be chased out of the garden at once.

The only other option for you, I guess, is to abolish the cat flap completely, and play doorman to you own cats again.

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Jiskefet & the mognificent Dutch bunch

My little angels at the rainbow bridge