Post by sharon on May 23, 2013 9:22:59 GMT
I am desperate for ideas to keep an unwanted cat out of my home.
It is a problem I admit to creating, by accident. A ginger tom started visiting us 3 or 4 months back. He was very friendly, unneutered, and cried for food. Being a cat lover, and hating to see a cat in pain, I assumed he was a new stray in the area, and took pity on him and fed him outdoors on a few occasions.
He always ate with such gusto - clearing the bowl and then still looking for more - that my husband and I remained convinced that he was a poor stray.
As time went on, we thought that we should get him properly rescued, and a proper home. But in order to do that, we had to make certain that he didn't have an owner. So we put a collar on him, with a message asking any owner to call us. We didn't expect a call. But, to our huge surprise, a lady phoned a few hours later to ask why there was a collar on her cat! Turns out he lives nearby and has a home. (Unfortunately my husband took the call, and 1) didn't explain that we'd been feeding him, 2) didn't find out exactly which house the cat lives in and 3) didn't get a return phone number for the owner! Besides, she didn't seem that interested in engaging in a conversation about her pet's behaviour.)
So we stopped feeding him.
But now, he is forcing his way into our house, via the cat flap, and stealing my four cat's food. Plus he is attacking one of my female cats on a daily basis. Plus he is spraying around the house. Plus he is "mounting" my neutered BOY cat!!!(
!) And my boy cat is also spraying everywhere to try counteract the spraying of the ginger invader. He comes into the house both night and day. Makes himself comfortable. And mews so loud he wakes us up at night when he "strolls casually" into our bedroom!
Now here's the clincher: **** WE HAVE A MICROCHIP OPERATED CAT FLAP!!! *** There is no way the ginger invader should be able to get in. But, despite the strength of the cat flap (much stronger than magnetic ones), and the fact he's not programmed to permit entry, he still gets in, and has now broken 2 of them! And at £100 a time to replace, this isn't funny.
We have been trying to discourage his visits by chasing him out of the house (day and middle of the night - I am so very tired right now!). We make loud noises. We hiss at him. We've been spraying him with water from a spray gun. But nothing is working.
He's a cute little fellow, but he is making our human and cat lives hell. My four cats are totally freaking out. And one of them actually went missing for 6 days as a result of one of his attacks. And I haven't had an unbroken night's sleep in days. I need this to stop.
Has ANYONE got any ideas what I can do? I am at my wits end.
It is a problem I admit to creating, by accident. A ginger tom started visiting us 3 or 4 months back. He was very friendly, unneutered, and cried for food. Being a cat lover, and hating to see a cat in pain, I assumed he was a new stray in the area, and took pity on him and fed him outdoors on a few occasions.
He always ate with such gusto - clearing the bowl and then still looking for more - that my husband and I remained convinced that he was a poor stray.
As time went on, we thought that we should get him properly rescued, and a proper home. But in order to do that, we had to make certain that he didn't have an owner. So we put a collar on him, with a message asking any owner to call us. We didn't expect a call. But, to our huge surprise, a lady phoned a few hours later to ask why there was a collar on her cat! Turns out he lives nearby and has a home. (Unfortunately my husband took the call, and 1) didn't explain that we'd been feeding him, 2) didn't find out exactly which house the cat lives in and 3) didn't get a return phone number for the owner! Besides, she didn't seem that interested in engaging in a conversation about her pet's behaviour.)
So we stopped feeding him.
But now, he is forcing his way into our house, via the cat flap, and stealing my four cat's food. Plus he is attacking one of my female cats on a daily basis. Plus he is spraying around the house. Plus he is "mounting" my neutered BOY cat!!!(
!) And my boy cat is also spraying everywhere to try counteract the spraying of the ginger invader. He comes into the house both night and day. Makes himself comfortable. And mews so loud he wakes us up at night when he "strolls casually" into our bedroom!Now here's the clincher: **** WE HAVE A MICROCHIP OPERATED CAT FLAP!!! *** There is no way the ginger invader should be able to get in. But, despite the strength of the cat flap (much stronger than magnetic ones), and the fact he's not programmed to permit entry, he still gets in, and has now broken 2 of them! And at £100 a time to replace, this isn't funny.
We have been trying to discourage his visits by chasing him out of the house (day and middle of the night - I am so very tired right now!). We make loud noises. We hiss at him. We've been spraying him with water from a spray gun. But nothing is working.
He's a cute little fellow, but he is making our human and cat lives hell. My four cats are totally freaking out. And one of them actually went missing for 6 days as a result of one of his attacks. And I haven't had an unbroken night's sleep in days. I need this to stop.
Has ANYONE got any ideas what I can do? I am at my wits end.
