New house, frightened cat
Discussion
I initially posted in Caturday when I moved house, but things have moved on but not in a way I had anticipated, so I thought best to start a new topic...
We moved nearly two weeks ago, 'Albie' aka 'The Fink' (used to be called Cat Fink (remember Bat Fink?) but he's now just 'The Fink'), anyway before the move he used to go out and roam all day and just seek attention in the mornings and evenings, no issues with other cats....
We've moved into a house that seems to be the playground for at least 4 cats, two of which are aggressive, one of which is an outright bully (chases all the other cats as well, little bugger even looked me straight in the eyes as he was curling one out on my lawn!). These two wait on a garden wall for The Fink to come out of his cat flap. He's now looking up at the wall before venturing out, and increasingly decides better of it.
In the last house he didn't have a little tray, now he uses it as he's too scared to go outside. The aggressive cats in question belong to our next door neighbour, I haven't said anything as there isn't much to say. Not like she can tell them off.
Any thoughts? Will it just settle down? Seems like its heading towards The Fink becoming a house cat, which isn't what anyone wants.
We moved nearly two weeks ago, 'Albie' aka 'The Fink' (used to be called Cat Fink (remember Bat Fink?) but he's now just 'The Fink'), anyway before the move he used to go out and roam all day and just seek attention in the mornings and evenings, no issues with other cats....
We've moved into a house that seems to be the playground for at least 4 cats, two of which are aggressive, one of which is an outright bully (chases all the other cats as well, little bugger even looked me straight in the eyes as he was curling one out on my lawn!). These two wait on a garden wall for The Fink to come out of his cat flap. He's now looking up at the wall before venturing out, and increasingly decides better of it.
In the last house he didn't have a little tray, now he uses it as he's too scared to go outside. The aggressive cats in question belong to our next door neighbour, I haven't said anything as there isn't much to say. Not like she can tell them off.
Any thoughts? Will it just settle down? Seems like its heading towards The Fink becoming a house cat, which isn't what anyone wants.
These other cats will see your cat as the intruder in thier territory and so fighting may occur whilst they sort out boundaries, great that he has a litter tray inside👍
Buy some feliway plug ins ,these will help him settle in the new home,
Do watch out for the other cats coming in through the cat flap and bullying him,eating his food and more likely peeing in your house to mark it as thier territory.
Buy some feliway plug ins ,these will help him settle in the new home,
Do watch out for the other cats coming in through the cat flap and bullying him,eating his food and more likely peeing in your house to mark it as thier territory.
Try using sodden cat litter and tip the wee soaked stuff around your garden.
It’ll be marking his territory for him.
We had similar issues. Good luck.
I kept the hose pipe handy and dispatched the aggressive cats using it it every time I saw them in our garden.
Two years on and all is now fine.
It’ll be marking his territory for him.
We had similar issues. Good luck.
I kept the hose pipe handy and dispatched the aggressive cats using it it every time I saw them in our garden.
Two years on and all is now fine.
Thanks for the responses.
He certainly feels ok when i'm out there.
Another cat turned up today, its party central round here!
I noticed him taking a dump in the garden earlier, so progress is being made. Hopefully this will continue.
On a separate note, I watched in bewilderment earlier when a fox ran into the garden closely followed by the next door neighbours Jack Russel. A Benny Hill style chase followed for the next 5 minutes.
I'm not getting much work done with all this animal activity outside!
He certainly feels ok when i'm out there.
Another cat turned up today, its party central round here!
I noticed him taking a dump in the garden earlier, so progress is being made. Hopefully this will continue.
On a separate note, I watched in bewilderment earlier when a fox ran into the garden closely followed by the next door neighbours Jack Russel. A Benny Hill style chase followed for the next 5 minutes.
I'm not getting much work done with all this animal activity outside!
Well things have developed just as we thought things were settling down!
Two weeks ago, Albee was out when I went to bed so I set the cat flap to let him in, but not out again...
In the morning the cat flap was dismantled, leading to me thinking some scrotes tried to see whether there was a key in the door. Next night, hearing noises at 4am, came down (expecting a fight) and the bully cat is in the house! He didn't stay long. After this, every night its 'double locked' no entry, no exit.
Last night I went to bed and couldn't get Albee in so I had to make sure Albee could get in, so sorted the cat flap, this is what this post is all about......
The intruder cat has got in again and dismantled/broken through the cat flap on exit, but there are significant drops of blood on the carpet and kitchen floor. Albee seems fine, no visible cuts, whilst slightly jumpy he appears ok. Has he defended his territory? Or could there be a big cut hidden from view? (we have held and checked him over the best we could).
We've checked for dead mice or birds that might be the cause of the blood, but nowt.
Two weeks ago, Albee was out when I went to bed so I set the cat flap to let him in, but not out again...
In the morning the cat flap was dismantled, leading to me thinking some scrotes tried to see whether there was a key in the door. Next night, hearing noises at 4am, came down (expecting a fight) and the bully cat is in the house! He didn't stay long. After this, every night its 'double locked' no entry, no exit.
Last night I went to bed and couldn't get Albee in so I had to make sure Albee could get in, so sorted the cat flap, this is what this post is all about......
The intruder cat has got in again and dismantled/broken through the cat flap on exit, but there are significant drops of blood on the carpet and kitchen floor. Albee seems fine, no visible cuts, whilst slightly jumpy he appears ok. Has he defended his territory? Or could there be a big cut hidden from view? (we have held and checked him over the best we could).
We've checked for dead mice or birds that might be the cause of the blood, but nowt.
Monkeylegend said:
You can get electronic cat flaps that work off of a signal on a cats collar or similar, which only allows the cat flap to open for your cat.
That should teach the next door cat if he tries to get through yours with any speed, head first.
Yup we are now going to get one!That should teach the next door cat if he tries to get through yours with any speed, head first.
But can Albee 'hide' a big cut?
I don't know if they can hide cuts. Has there been anymore blood?
We had one that used to bully ours. He ended inside a few times. We had a water pistol by the door. I also used to make as much noise as possible as I ran towards it. Worked for a while! Came back last weekend for the first time in months. Chucked a load of clothes pegs im it's direction (but not so they would hit him). Not seen him since near our garden.
We had one that used to bully ours. He ended inside a few times. We had a water pistol by the door. I also used to make as much noise as possible as I ran towards it. Worked for a while! Came back last weekend for the first time in months. Chucked a load of clothes pegs im it's direction (but not so they would hit him). Not seen him since near our garden.
Dr Murdoch said:
But can Albee 'hide' a big cut?
I doubt it. If its on his body the fur will probably be matted if it has been bleeding, and anything on his feet should be visible.Smaller cuts or teeth marks/bites can be difficult to see though.One of ours had a nasty bite on the base of his tail which was hard to see but made it difficult for him to jump up or down without "crying" out.
They do hide pain well and self heal pretty quickly.
Fitted an electronic cat flap so hopefully he'll be able chill out in his own home now, rather than living in fear whilst waiting for the black cat to come round and give him a kicking.
Quick question, its a pet-safe cat flap. If I lock the cat flap when Albee is out, I assume he can get back in and it'll stay locked until sunrise or I open it?
Quick question, its a pet-safe cat flap. If I lock the cat flap when Albee is out, I assume he can get back in and it'll stay locked until sunrise or I open it?
I’m not a cat lover so apologies in advance if this is thought of as cruel. I’m just thinking at a tangent.
Supersoakers have been mentioned and as we know cats hate water. If you were to pour water into his litter tray to get a supply of diluted Albee cat pee infused water and spray the other cats with it would they hate being scented with other cats pee. Bit drastic I suspect but wonder if it would work.
Also like the idea of emptying his litter tray around the garden to spread his scent. The litter itself is only clay so shouldn’t hurt the garden.
Supersoakers have been mentioned and as we know cats hate water. If you were to pour water into his litter tray to get a supply of diluted Albee cat pee infused water and spray the other cats with it would they hate being scented with other cats pee. Bit drastic I suspect but wonder if it would work.
Also like the idea of emptying his litter tray around the garden to spread his scent. The litter itself is only clay so shouldn’t hurt the garden.
OP here
Quick update: Albie is now out n about, no longer needing the litter tray. Seems settled on the most part.
2 months ago we realised that our neighbours black cat was coming in for a fight (one morning we found blood on the carpet, no obvious injury to Albie, but we have noticed a new scar on the black cats nose
) , so we got a chip operated cat flap and thats that issue sorted, well ish.
Last night Albie and black cat were having another scrap outside, but we banged on the window and they went their separate ways.
Quick question, If Albie was scared I would of thought he wouldn't venture outside at night? So am I right in thinking all is ok and let 'cats be cats'? Albie has been castrated (and so will the black cat if I catch the little f
ker!)
Quick update: Albie is now out n about, no longer needing the litter tray. Seems settled on the most part.
2 months ago we realised that our neighbours black cat was coming in for a fight (one morning we found blood on the carpet, no obvious injury to Albie, but we have noticed a new scar on the black cats nose
) , so we got a chip operated cat flap and thats that issue sorted, well ish.Last night Albie and black cat were having another scrap outside, but we banged on the window and they went their separate ways.
Quick question, If Albie was scared I would of thought he wouldn't venture outside at night? So am I right in thinking all is ok and let 'cats be cats'? Albie has been castrated (and so will the black cat if I catch the little f
ker!)How about saving yourself grief and potential vets bills from future scraps and installing a cat proof garden so Albie cannot get out the safety of your garden and neighboring cats cannot get in?
I have katzecure and it's amazing. I have no ties to the company, I'm just a delighted cat owner whose cats can now be out at all hours completely safel from other cats, cars and fireworks.
I've even had a cat on heat in my garden (prior to being neutered) and the neighboring toms on the fence unable to get to her. She was yelling her head off and none of then could get in to her - it was quite a sight and reassured me that it kept mine in and the neighbors cats out.
They have a DIY install option if you wish but I had mine fitted by them as I'm not good at DIY.
I have katzecure and it's amazing. I have no ties to the company, I'm just a delighted cat owner whose cats can now be out at all hours completely safel from other cats, cars and fireworks.
I've even had a cat on heat in my garden (prior to being neutered) and the neighboring toms on the fence unable to get to her. She was yelling her head off and none of then could get in to her - it was quite a sight and reassured me that it kept mine in and the neighbors cats out.
They have a DIY install option if you wish but I had mine fitted by them as I'm not good at DIY.
He's probably fine. My 2 have a microchip cat flap. One gets in scraps infrequently during the year but it never really stopped him going out. Once maybe twice in the last 4-5 years have I had to bring him to the vet to treat an injury. The other times I just clean it up for him. He sports a split ear now from one of his early encounters. I don't keep a litter tray indoors and the cat flap is normally locked going out midnight to 5am.
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