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Post by jess on Apr 19, 2016 16:20:15 GMT
Ok I'll start with a bit of background information - I live in the middle of the woods, so the neighbours we do have are far and few between and none of us really know each other. When we had our first cat Oscar, he was a big semi-feral ginger Tom - for ten years he absolutely ruled our garden/wood area - not even foxes would come into the garden when he was about. So, when Oscar was put down last year the wildlife felt brave enough to return (Hah!) and along with them, a huge bengal cat. In the last few years of Oscar's life this bengal cat would make some appearances, but Oscar always chased the bengal off. We waited a few months before we got Honey and Olive, and in that time the bengal cat has completely claimed our garden as its own. It's a really horrible cat constantly getting into fights with the girls when their outside and will sit outside the windows of our house hissing at them when Honey and Olive are inside with us! The trouble is we have no idea who this cat belongs to and don't know what to do to reduce the stress this bengal is causing Honey & Olive when they venture out - they're absolutely tiny compared to this cat and I'm concerned it'll one day do some serious damage, any advice on how we can deter it from our garden?
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Post by lotsofcats on Apr 20, 2016 8:41:26 GMT
When the Bengal is sat on your windowsill go out and squirt some water (buy a water pistol or use an empty washing up liquid bottle) at him - it won't hurt him, but should deter him from having the cheek to come into your garden and hiss at your cats! Not sure what you can do to stop him attacking them when they are in the woods - hopefully they won't stray too far from your garden.
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Post by tonib on Apr 20, 2016 11:38:07 GMT
jess, I can't think of anything better than lotsofcats suggestion, unless you can find out who owns it. At least I assume someone does, if not then contacting the cats protection or other rescue to trap it & hopefully find its owner or get it looked after. If you can find out the owner then hopefully you/parents may be able to speak to them to see if you can come to an arrangement by which the Bengal & your 2 cats can time share their time outside so they don't meet up. Don't know if there are many vets around you, if not then maybe having a word with your vet may help identify the cat. They won't be able to tell you who the owner is but may be prepared to put them in contact with you or give some advice as to whether it could be a stray. By the way can you tell if it has been neutered, as if not then this might also explain its behaviour & the owner could be encouraged to have it neutered, although it might be too late to alter its behaviour but might save any unwanted pregnancies elsewhere. Its a real shame that this is affecting your cats & your enjoyment of them being outdoors.
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Post by jess on Apr 20, 2016 11:48:31 GMT
When the Bengal is sat on your windowsill go out and squirt some water (buy a water pistol or use an empty washing up liquid bottle) at him - it won't hurt him, but should deter him from having the cheek to come into your garden and hiss at your cats! Not sure what you can do to stop him attacking them when they are in the woods - hopefully they won't stray too far from your garden. Ooh the water pistol is a really good idea! I normally just stare it out or chase it off screaming like a banshee looking like a mad woman jess , I can't think of anything better than lotsofcats suggestion, unless you can find out who owns it. At least I assume someone does, if not then contacting the cats protection or other rescue to trap it & hopefully find its owner or get it looked after. If you can find out the owner then hopefully you/parents may be able to speak to them to see if you can come to an arrangement by which the Bengal & your 2 cats can time share their time outside so they don't meet up. Don't know if there are many vets around you, if not then maybe having a word with your vet may help identify the cat. They won't be able to tell you who the owner is but may be prepared to put them in contact with you or give some advice as to whether it could be a stray. By the way can you tell if it has been neutered, as if not then this might also explain its behaviour & the owner could be encouraged to have it neutered, although it might be too late to alter its behaviour but might save any unwanted pregnancies elsewhere. Its a real shame that this is affecting your cats & your enjoyment of them being outdoors. I don't think it's a stray, it doesn't wear a collar but it looks really well looked after and isn't afraid of humans. Olive and the bengal had a humungous fight yesterday and for the first time we heard someone calling for a 'George' soon after the fight finished, just need to work from which house the calling was coming from! Because there's quite a big farming community in my area, there's 3 vets in my village but next time I'm in the one we go to I'll ask if they treat a bengal, that's a good suggestion
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