My cat is being bullied. What should I do?

Question

My cat is getting into fights with the cat belonging to the people who live 2 doors down the road. He has many scratches, scabs and cuts, and he is now scared of going outside, eating his food, using the cat flap, and is very tense and on edge all the time. Is there anything I can do to stop this other cat from coming onto our driveway and mercilessly bullying the hell out of my cat? Please help me, I am really worried for my cat.

I don't really want to keep my cat inside all the time, seeing as we live next to an enormous field.

Also, we happen to have a hosepipe ban at the moment

Answer 1

Ok if keeping your cat indoors is not a viable solution, you can try giving him back up: go out and scare the other cat away (waterspray works) and if your cat uses a litterbox you can spread the contents around to make the area smell more of him - like he is this giant super-marking-cat,
Try talking to the owners of the other cat,
i assume both cats are neutered? if not get your cat fixed (and try talking the other owners into doing the same) One of the numerous advantages is that the cats fight less. I have often seen that a cat after neutering is less of a target for an aggressive tom, that will sort of go "sniff sniff? what? oh nothing to fight there - "

Answer 2

Call animal control. The cat is trespassing, just like any human would be. You can always take the hose to the cat in the driveway as well.
Once the cat has left the area permanently take your cat outside, and stay with it. Allow it to mark it's territory again. This may take several weeks of going outside with the cat. Once he feels like this is his area again he will feel safe.
You may want to lock up that flap too. The other cat could easily come inside when you leave. That will make the situation ten times worse.

Answer 3

Cats are very territorial and territory disputes are common. They don't recognise human private property boudaries.
I have had the problem and what I did was make a simple trap using wood frame and wire mesh. You have to devise a trap door and trigger mechanism. Mine was quite simple. I made a hinged door which can be held open with a quick release pin. The pin is linked by string to a hinged false floor over the real floor. The false floor is simply the trigger. Bait the trap at night with food. Pin door in open position. Cat walks in. Steps on false floor. This does not hurt the cat. His weight simply pulls on the string and pulls out the pin holding the door. the door slams shut behind him. After that it's up to you. I drove a problem cat away about 4 miles and released him. He was a ferral cat. Be careful handling. It is more complex if your problem cats are really someones "pets".
Do you know the real problem?? Can you get your cat done and ask the neighbor to get his cats "fixed"? They don't wander so much after that.
Also, I used chicken wire. I don't recommend this because it's not strong enough. Cats are fierce when trapped. Use a heavier gage fencing material.

Answer 4

Theres only one solution to this, I'm afraid- even if you had Epping Forest next door, you are still going to have to keep him indoors on a permanent basis for his own safety. These cats will bully him to a point where he is very badly savaged,, or is in such a state of fear that he will not eat, or they could actually kill him. He needs to be indoors and safe, so lock the catdoor with a six-inch nail, and buy the poor guy a litter tray and a nice warm bed where he can relax; he must be a bag of nerves, poor little soul>. Thats all you can do I'm afraid, because you cant stop other cats getting to him outside, but indoors, he is 100% safe. Good luck.

Answer 5

This is a tough one - - - how rural is your neighborhood? Have you tried to talk to the human who serves that cat? Those advising you to keep your cat inside are right but if you insist here is a twist. GET A DOG. Get a Yard Dog who likes your Cat. Dogs & Cats have gotten along for centuries in this fashion. Yard Dog patrols his yard and protects those who live in yard or house and that includes Cat. Dogs have been known to die fighting coyotes & wolves that have attacked house cats!! O-K you say you do not want a Dog - - - fine be stubborn - - - What is your yard like? Mesh fencing thwarts small critters - - - and why not provide your cat with a big Cat-House in yard equipped with a ONE WAY flap - - - one that only admits a single entry, your cat, before sealing your Cat inside until you get home - - - or provide this Cat House with food & water - - etc, it can be done. The other old trick is Sprinklers around the perimetter that shield the house but that can waste water. The final solution? You might have to beat up the cat yourself. Confront it, get in its face, Scream at It Stay away from your P##ssy. Cats are bright, that cat will get the message but make it equally clear to your cat that he/she never leaves the property!!! Peace.

Answer 6

I had a simalar problem, I got a dog, the nightbors cats were getting in my house though the cat flap and eating all my cats food, So I got a dog, my cat and dog got along fine after a couple weeks and my problem with the nightbors cats stopped.

Answer 7

I'm sorry about what's happened to your cat, as I'm a great cat lover, and hate hearing about these kind of things.
I'm also sorry about all these other answerer's giving stupid suggestions like
'running into the principals office' and
'teach him the deadly art of cat-fu',
because obviously it doesn't help you one bit. i'm NOT saying all answerer's and answers are stupid, only that they should bother to give useful advice. (some people just care about getting two points)

i think you should keep you cat indoors for a couple of days, a least so it's wounds can be healed. Cats are quite territorial, and if another cat is in their territory, it might attack it.

Also, i think it would be wise to tell your neighbours whats going on.

I hope i've helped you! Good Luck

Answer 8

It really is best to keep your cat inside. By letting them out, you are setting them up to be exposed to diseases that many strays and birds and mice carry. If you love your cat, keep it indoors. It may want out at first, but over time it will stop wanting to go outside. Your kitty is your responsibility, if it is showing you fear of going out, then keep it in..The ball is in your court. I have brought several strays in that lived outside, with a little patience it can be trained to start using the litter box again. Just keep it in a small area until it begins using it again. Then once you place the litter box someplace (it can get to easily) then keep it there. We control the circumstances with our pets. If you are worried, then keep it inside. It will ease for fears and be better for your kitty in the long run.

Answer 9

I would call a pound or animal control. If you don't like the neighbors, get a picture of your cat getting "beat" up then take your cat to the vet and hit them with a lawsuit for the vet bills. They sell surveillance cameras that can run constantly so you can catch it in the act. You could also trap it in a humane trap and take it to the shelter as a stray. Maybe it's not right but its your cat or theirs.

Answer 10

take him to vet and keep him indoors if the other cat was the top cat of neighbor hood he will beat him up every day if he can and i feed strays and there is a top male and a female and they can kick some but a few weeks ago a mother stray had her kits out a dog happen to wander in yard to give chaise but mother got him first jumped on him and growling and clawing at him till he was well off the land but as soon as dog went on to street the cat stoped and turnd back to kittens cats will protect what is theres