Neighbourhood bully cat

[Dr_Rick]

Right, we moved into our current house in August last year with two Norwegian Forrest cats. Unfortunately we lost one of them to an RTA on Christmas Day and have been left with the larger of the two brothers. He's adapted fine and his character has come through over the last few months. For reference he's around the 5kg mark (vet checked as just fine for his breed) and quite sizeable.

However, over the last couple of weeks we have garden visits from what can only be described as a 'monster' cat. It appears to be larger than Magnus, both physically and personality wise. We've actually caught it a couple of times in our house. It used to come through the cat flap and polish off Magnus' food, then belt back out again when one of us comes in. Previously we have a bog-standard cat flap which obviously is a revolving door to these guys. I've now changed it to a microchip sensor flap so hopefully the other cat can't get in to eat the food. Anyway, this morning the pair of them decided to have a scrap from either side of the cat flap; they were simply trading punches and hissing at one another.



The incoming cat appears to be some sort of Maine Coon type (see photo below) it doesn't have the flat face of a Persian, but does have the long hair. It is very well kept so I can't see it being a stray, we did initially think it was simply hungry and kept out all day, but never put any food outside (it simply decided to come inside instead). Now we're starting to think otherwise; I think it's just the local bully.



Other than keeping the food out of reach (done I think), and shooing it away, what else can I realistically do? I have no idea where it lives, but could put flyers up.

[otolith]

He thinks your garden is in his territory. If he thought his territory ended in next door's garden, they'd be doing this there instead. That's cats for you, they like nothing better than a good ruck with the neighbours

[bexVN]

Actually cats try and avoid conflict. Scraps are a last resort thing, that's why you often hear a lot of noise. They try and prevent a fight by vocalising and body language,though there will always be a few that go against the grain.

Sounds like this cat is a newcomer possibly or just twigged there is only one cat now.

If he is new and you have already put a block on the cat flap things may settle down soon enough. Otherwise you may need to try and start deterring him with eg, water pistol, loud noises etc.

[otolith]

To be fair, they haven't had a scrap yet, just some vocalising and pawing through the cat flap - our big old tom cat was always falling out with the neighbourhood cats before he got sick, and it only rarely evolved into rolling about biting and kicking. Usually they would have a good old row, he'd see them off (sometimes with a chase and maybe a swipe at the backside) and then come swaggering back to the house very pleased with himself. They're just expressing their natural behaviour.

[Medic-one]

We had a similar problem with a big cat coming into our garden and attacking/scaring our cats.

One of our cats is a bit of a tomboy so they would fight, but he is smaller and would often come home with scatches on his nose, scabs on his face etc, but our other cats aren't as brave so everytime i've seen this big cat approach i'd get out this big supersoaker watergun i bought for a few quid (for this exact pourpose) and spray the other cat as soon as it would come into our garden.

I think after a couple of times it learned, and peace has since been restored

I did have to appologise to the neighbours once when they had family with small childeren over. The kids entered their garden at the same time this cat entered ours, so i was hanging out the first floor window with this watergun shouting "ksss! go away!" and sprayed the cat (you'd be suprised with the range of some of these water rifles ) but at the same time the kids nextdoor ran back inside crying and the neighbours came out

[Dr_Rick]

The cats have had a few rounds of fisty-cuffs; its not just been through the cat flap, I'm obviously just not sure how many times. We're most likely the newcomers here as we've only been around since August last year and knowing the community, the houses around us are typically 20yr occupancy. I also think that previously having two cats of similar size, brothers, that looked out for each other would have meant that other cats would have kept their distance. Magnus was typically the brawn, his brother Erik was the brains; one set the other cat up and the other came in and biffed them. Now we're down to one, the balance has shifted.

Might go out at lunchtime and see what supersoakers are on offer at the minute; always an excuse. Plus with two small children in the house, it may come in useful to keep them in check too.

[otolith]

Dr_Rick said:

The cats have had a few rounds of fisty-cuffs; its not just been through the cat flap, I'm obviously just not sure how many times. We're most likely the newcomers here as we've only been around since August last year and knowing the community, the houses around us are typically 20yr occupancy. I also think that previously having two cats of similar size, brothers, that looked out for each other would have meant that other cats would have kept their distance. Magnus was typically the brawn, his brother Erik was the brains; one set the other cat up and the other came in and biffed them. Now we're down to one, the balance has shifted.

Ours used to gang up too. There were occasions when our big ginger tom would hear an altercation between one of our females and a neighbour's cat and go stomping out into the garden to sort it out

The black and white cat here is not ours;