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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / October 2003Requesting Assistance with a Neighbor's Cat
Hi everyone. Someone on rec.pets.cats.anecdotes suggested I post this question here. My name is Jill and I have a 5 year old spayed female cat named Persia. I'm having problems with a neighbors cat intruding on her space and upsetting her terribly. Persia is an indoor cat; I have a 'kitty walk' that I put her out in on the patio when the weather is nice and I can sit outside with her. So here's the story from Friday night: Things have been relatively peaceful around here for a few weeks. The orange tabby from across the street has stayed away from the patio for a bit (as far as I know; it could be wandering over when I'm at work). But earlier this evening I heard ROWWWRLLLLL and the sound of the mini-blinds being crashed into (or crushed!) I ran into the living room. Persia was under the blinds (which had been considerately pulled up about 10 inches so she could crouch on the windowsill). I pulled the blinds up. Her tail was fully bristled and she was hissing. I went to calm her down; she got down and rubbed my legs. I looked out the blinds and didn't see anything on the patio. Suddenly she was right back up, standing up at the window under the blinds pawing like mad, hissing. I said "What on earth do you see?" I pulled the blinds further up. There's that orange tabby on the fence by the wall, peeking around at Persia in the window. Ohhhh, okay, I'll take care of this! I went outside and the tabby heard me and ran off across the apartment complex driveway. I noticed his/her tail was all fluffed out as well. I clapped my hands loudly and said, "Go HOME!". What on earth can I do about these people letting their cat(s) run? The woman pretty much didn't care when confronted about it. And she also lied and said sometimes her cats escape (she has three of them). I know this isn't true because I see all three of them lounging around in her yard all the time. They don't "escape"; she lets them run loose. Ticks me off to see Persia get so upset. This is her home and her patio. I did get a humane live trap a while back but I haven't used it yet. When I talked to local Animal Control, they offered to let me "rent" a trap. I don't want to see this cat taken to a pound but I'm really irritated by the way it upsets Persia all the time. And about the woman's "Not my problem" attitude. Please note: I've already spent money on a baby gate so that Persia can't crash through the sliding door screen when this cat appears. And on the humane trap (although I haven't utilized it.) I don't feel it is my responsibility to spend more money on account of this woman's cats or her lack of interest in controlling them. I also live on a very busy street. I'm afraid one day I'll find that cat laying on the street or at the curb, the victim of a car. Any suggestions? Jill . > Any suggestions? Hi Jill. I wonder if you could set up some sort of motion-sensor sprinkler? I think the key is to make sure your yard is unattractive since the owner doesn't seem to care if her cats roam. I'm sorry it's upsetting Persia so, I know they are so territorial and I had one in the past who was like her; very upset by stranger cats in the yard. The ones I have now aren't fazed much by strange cats but they seem to be conditioned to them with all the strays around here. Good luck and scritches to Persia. > . >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > be conditioned to them with all the strays around here. Good luck and > scritches to Persia. Well, since I live in an apartment I don't know about setting up some sort of sprinkler thingey. And, unfortunately, I do feed birds and squirrels on the patio which you know is most attractive. Persia just ignores them (I have indoor birds, too!). But she's very territorial, as you say, and can't stand when this cat comes onto the patio. I appreciate the suggestion; thank you! See Persia here: http://community\webshots.com/user/jmcquown Choose the Persia album, of course :) Jill >> . >>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Choose the Persia album, of course :) > Jill > Please note: I've already spent money on a baby gate so that Persia can't > crash through the sliding door screen when this cat appears. And on the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Jill I would consider talking to your vet. Maybe you can get something to help calm Persia down. Or at least maybe your vety might have some suggestions. If this neighbor is in a no-care attitude then I'd see what the rules in your state are regarding animals which roam. I'd also bring this problem up with the agency that is responsible for Animal Control in your state. They may be able to put the fear in this woman about taking responsibility for her animals and keeping them indoors. Another would be to ask your neighbor if she would be willing to give up her cats to you altogether. There usually is no easy way to a lot of stuff because it causes a rift with neighbors but she needs to take responsibilty here and do what is best for the cats. If that means getting them to a no-kill shelter then at least they have a shot at a human who will love them enough to protect them.  SignaturePanther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs! www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time! www.catgalaxymedia.com > Hi everyone. Someone on rec.pets.cats.anecdotes suggested I post this > question here. My name is Jill and I have a 5 year old spayed female cat [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Jill > Hi everyone. Someone on rec.pets.cats.anecdotes suggested I post this > question here. My name is Jill and I have a 5 year old spayed female cat [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Jill I can't help much with suggestions about how to stop the cat from roaming other than what has already been said. The cat we had for years was also an indoors cat and had never been exposed to other cats and the reaction you described is laughingly familiar all the way down to hearing the blinds bashing against the window. I *will* make one suggestion, though, based on one unfortunate experience-you know your cat's personality, but be *very* careful fooling with it or even getting near it when it gets agitated by seeing another cat. My sister has a scar near her thumb from trying to fool with the cat in that condition. Having said that, I'm a little confused about whether the your cat is constantly going apeshit because she sees this other cat or whether it has only happened once or twice. If the latter, frankly I don't see it as that big of a problem. Your cat isn't getting harmed by getting worked up every once in a while. As far as I can tell from what you've written, your cat can't get at the other cat, so there won't be a fight. If it's happening frequently, however, IMO that's another story. In general, I see the situation as more of a problem for the cat that is being let out-like all cats who are allowed to roam, it's subject to lots of unnecessary risks, including as you mentioned cars. To me *this* is the compelling reason to do something, and it does sound to me like you are taking a very measured approach to the situation, which is commendable. Although I don't regard your cat occasionally getting agitated as a big deal, it does IMO give you a concrete interest in seeing to it that the other cat is kept indoors where it's safe. OT-Our cat got to the point where she didn't get overly agitated but would still *alert* if she saw a cat walking by outside and did this hilarious *sentry* routine where she would dash from the window in one room to the window in the next room to keep the *invader* within her sight line. Sometimes the cats walking by outside would look at her like she was crazy, LOL. :-) > I did get a humane live trap a while back but I haven't used it yet. When I > talked to local Animal Control, they offered to let me "rent" a trap. I > don't want to see this cat taken to a pound but I'm really irritated by the > way it > upsets Persia all the time. And about the woman's "Not my problem" > attitude. If speaking to the owner of the other cat(s) hasn't accomplished anything, speak to the humane agents in your area. They might speak to her on your behalf about the various (and possibly deadly) consequences of letting her cats roam. You should also ask if they do pick-ups of trapped strays. If the woman wants her cats that badly, she'll go pick them up from the shelter and will likely have to pay a pick-up fee besides whatever fee is involved from the shelter itself. Sometimes where words won't work, money coming out of the pocket will instead. If your only shelter is one which practices euthanasia, you should be able to place a finder's hold if the trapped cat(s) don't seem particularly adoptable, or request notification of any decision of euthanasia. > If speaking to the owner of the other cat(s) hasn't accomplished anything, > speak to the humane agents in your area. They might speak to her on your > behalf about the various (and possibly deadly) consequences of letting her > cats roam. In some areas, there are laws about letting cats roam about. If Jill's area is one, then the humane society or animal control would definitely be able to help. >You should also ask if they do pick-ups of trapped strays. If the > woman wants her cats that badly, she'll go pick them up from the shelter and > will likely have to pay a pick-up fee besides whatever fee is involved from > the shelter itself. Sometimes where words won't work, money coming out of > the pocket will instead. But if the neighbour doesn't pick them up, then there will be more cats crowding the shelter and possibly being euthanized. It happens where I live often (dogs and cats being picked up and eventually euthanized because the owners are not willing to pay the fine) and I imagine in a place like Tennesse, it's even worse (from what my friend in Nashville tells me, and her father is a vet so I assume he knows of these things). > If your only shelter is one which practices euthanasia, you should be able > to place a finder's hold if the trapped cat(s) don't seem particularly > adoptable, or request notification of any decision of euthanasia. Placing a finder's hold is only useful if a)she's willing to adopt them if no one else does, or b)she's willing to find someone to adopt them if no one else does. If this incident is an isolated incident (and the op makes no mention that it has happened more than once) then it might be best to leave well enough alone. If it happened again, I would tell the invading cat's owner that if it happens one more time, then the cat will be trapped and the pound will be called. However, I would also suggest (in a nice way) that the neighbour invest in some harnesses and leashes, or some kind of outdoor cat enclosure, so her cats would still be able to go outside without trespassing on other people's property. I might even make a gift of one harness and leash to show how easy they are to use. It would be a small price to pay, I think. The humane trap can always be returned or sold and the baby gate can, too. rona Signature***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!*** > > If speaking to the owner of the other cat(s) hasn't accomplished anything, > > speak to the humane agents in your area. They might speak to her on your [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > is one, then the humane society or animal control would definitely be able > to help. That's the law in my area, and I know we do pick-ups. > But if the neighbour doesn't pick them up, then there will be more cats > crowding the shelter and possibly being euthanized. It happens where I live > often (dogs and cats being picked up and eventually euthanized because the > owners are not willing to pay the fine) and I imagine in a place like > Tennesse, it's even worse (from what my friend in Nashville tells me, and > her father is a vet so I assume he knows of these things). Not every cat and dog picked up as a stray is euthanized. It's one thing if someone picks up a vicious stray and the owner never claims it and it's euthed, but here, if a stray is healthy and affectionate, it isn't put down. I don't know what the situation is in Nashville, but unless your friend's dad volunteers for a local shelter or has close contacts in a shelter, he may not have any knowledge of the stray situation beyond those that are brought to his clinic. I don't know many strays that are taken to a vet hospital unless they're obviously sick, in which case he might have reason to assume that most, if not all, strays are euthanized. I really don't mean to be bitchy, but shelters across the country still have bad reputations simply because of euthanasia. As a CET and someone who fights for every adoptable life no matter how crammed we are with cats, it's a very raw nerve to touch. |
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