how do I stop a stray cat coming in my house?

Question

we have a cat flap for our two dozy cats who let this mangy thing in to eat their food - I cant shoot it and i cant fit a magnet flap (without repalcing the door!)

Answer 1

The main aim is to make entry into your house unpleasant and unrewarding for this cat, but the house needs to remain pleasant and welcoming for your own cats! Hostile signals within the home are best avoided so focus your attention on the cat as he enters your garden and makes his way to your door. Unfortunately, using a hostile signal directly attributable to you, such as a water pistol, may teach this cat to break in when you aren’t there. It’s important for unpleasant signals to be associated with approaching the house. . When the other cat is out and about, your cat can stay safely locked inside and vice versa. If you know when the intruder is out you can keep watch over your garden and wait to see the route he takes. In a secure garden it’s likely that he enters and exits at the same points each time. You can then booby-trap these points with one part of an intercom system buried just below the surface of the soil or hidden by the fence. Keep watch from the security of your home and when the intruder enters the garden, sound a very loud noise, such as a rape alarm, down the intercom so the sound is emitted right next to the cat. Since nobody is in sight, the cat should associate the unpleasant stimulus with the location. Booby-trap each entry into the garden. If there are times when the alarm does not sound, the cat will soon realise that the garden is only temporarily hostile and will try again later. What prevents most cats from entering regularly is the presence of another cat, prepared to defend its core territory, a dog which does the same, or the absence of any reward worth breaking in for! Because your cat will not fight this individual, and your home is obviously a very cat-friendly zone, dealing with the problem is more difficult. Another way of approaching this problem is to put your own cat in a cattery for a couple of days so you can make a concerted effort to make your home hostile to felines. Borrowing a dog while your cats are away may be something worth considering! ...Good luck

Answer 2

I have had three cats, all of which are stray. I have to say its because my dad had like a crapload of dogs and cats when he was a kid, so its like he has a way with them. So anyway a while ago this cat came to us and we kept it and it was our pet, but times go on and so does life.. So anyways, then there was this one cat that stood at the front door all day long and my mom would try to scare it away but it just sat there like "What *****?" So we took care of it and my dad gave it to his co worker and there the cat lives. Anyway that's beyond the point there's more cats but it'll take too long So to answer your question, yes, it can cost a pretty large amount of money if you take it to the vet, and they might even get rid of it if it has a disease. I suppose it could have a disease but if it did then I doubt you'd be harshly affected by it. Its mostly food. Certain breeds need brushing (very easy, brushes are cheap) and you should buy a food and water bowl for the cat. You could consider getting a bed or toys but its not a neccesity. Also, catnip would make your cat happy (high). Also you don't need to get it chipped, get a collar that fits right (and doesn't make noise, the cat might eventually have to hunt). You should be able to keep the cat if you want. You wont regret keeeping it, sure dogs are better as they do more but cats are really a good companion and they bring joy to the family so I advise keeping it

Answer 3

The only way is to cover up the catflap & do what I do with my cats. They have learned that (like a dog) they have to give you some sort of signal for you to let them out. If not back before bed, go where they usually return (front or back door) they should see you & know that if they don't come in no0w, it is a long night ahead.

Basically, unless you have a guard on your door 24/7, it is impossible to stop other cats getting through an open catflap. So, get rid of it.

Answer 4

a few things u could do:
1. shoot water at it when it comes in
2. if it comes in, nicely pick it up and put it in a small box. then call the humane society.
3. during the day, put a trail of cat treats at the cat flap leading to the backyard so it will follow the trail to the backyard
4. adopt the cat...

Answer 5

Call the Humane Society. As long as there's a food source, the cat will continue to come.

Answer 6

Get an electronic flap, it worked for me saved a lot on cat food so that offset the cost of the catflap.

Answer 7

find humane society poor cat just wants food and a home ..they will help you
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has worked since 1954 to promote the protection of all animals. With nearly ten million members and constituents, The HSUS is the nation’s largest and most powerful animal protection organization, working in the United States and abroad to defend the interests of animals. We celebrate the human-animal bond, and we fight animal cruelty and abuse in all of its forms.

Answer 8

Why dont you catch the cat and ring up your local rspca and have the cat taken away they will look after it and possibly rehome the poor creature. There are many cat organisations that would be willing to help good luck.

Answer 9

try putting some food out side the door and then start moving it down to the end of the garden..and try to lock your flap when yours are in for the night

Answer 10

Catch it nd bring it to your local rescue centre, they can fix it up and rehome from there, try changing the cat flap in the future