Help for a difficult neighbour?

Question

myself and my neighbour are both cat owners. My cat has been into the neighbours house severl times as she leaves her front door wide open and also has a cat flat. she has complained that our cat is fighting with hers. i have asked perhaps she could keep her cat flat closed which she refuses. we now only let our cat out for half an hour a day only and have been keeping a cat diary of these time.she thinks our cat should be kept inside 24 hours a day but her cat should have free run of the unti complex. Now she has got a trap to trap our pet - i dont know what to do? i have gone to the body corporate and also contacted the council but would like to hear some good suggestions/points i can bring up at the meeting we will have to have with the neighbour and body corporate. Any ideas would be most welcome. Thanks

Answer 1

Your cat could get fatal diseases from that cat that can't be vaccinated against. Build an outdoor enclosure so he can go out and be happy but still be safe. If you have a balcony, you can cover that in. You can make it everything he needs, then you can just bring him in at night where he will be warm and happy. The first two links I have included below have ideas for making your own enclosures and some of them very cheaply.

The last one is how to keep an indoor cat happy. Perhaps that may be a viable alternative.

Answer 2

Unfortunately there are alot of people in this World who think what they do is ok but want to critisize others when they do the same thing. It is hard to keep a cat on your own property all the time, if you let it outside to wander. I have had alot of cats in my Life and Love them. A neighbor of mine was complaining that my cat had been walking on his Car, but there are so many cats wandering around, I could not figure out how he knew it was My cat that did it. He could not answer that question, but a week later my cat disappeared. Go Figure ey

Answer 3

I used to live on a 5 acre site all the neighbors were on five acre plots in that area. We all had horses and so we had wooden horse fence which does not deter cats or dogs. In fact I have yet to see a fence that will stop a cat. Anyway, my rotten cat kept going to the neighbors house and beating up her Rottweiler!!! The neighbor kept complaining and I finally told her to keep her gate shut-lol. Is there a leash law in your town regarding cats? Some of the town near me have started saying that you have to walk a cat on a leash - puh-lease! Cats are going to do what they do. When Your neighbor put in the cat door - she is lucky a raccoon hasn't come in yet. Good Luck to you -k-

Answer 4

You know what will happen at the meeting: the body corporate will ask BOTH of you to keep your cats indoors and let them out only on a leash. Beleive me, I FEEL for you; its just that some people can be dang obstinate and feel that everyone should agree with their point of view. Its too bad you both couldn't see eye to eye since you are both cat lovers.

Answer 5

Here's a good point. How about she has to abide by her own restrictions? If any new rules are to be set up, she has to obey them just as religiously as she expects anyone else to. Make sure you're ready to offer a reasonable amount of help to resolve this unfortunate situation. Remember, while she may be facilitating the problem, it is YOUR cat that is entering another cat's territory, but, still, she isn't helping. Tell her that. If she's willing to give it a try, so are you.

Answer 6

If your Neighbor wishes to keep her place safe it is her responsibility. If she is going to put a hole in the door and expects security, she's loopy.

Yes. You are respondsible for your cat.
She is respondsible for her home.

When both are coming together, then, as the first poster says- both of you should pitch in for the cat flap

There are cat flaps that lock when not in the presence of the "key" which is worn by the cat- so only the cat with the key is let in the cat flap.

http://www.catflaps.com/home.html?target=p_87.html&lang=en-gb

If they are setting traps for your cat- remind them that approach can go both ways, and "other" traps may be found in the vicinity for any other cat- including theirs.

Answer 7

that's sad that you have to change the way things were due to your neighbor.i think you at the meeting can come up with some kind of plan...it;s not fair if her cay gets to run around and your baby has to sit in...when your cat goes out you better go to so she don;t get trapped,,my neighbor was complaining about the ferals that live around here for 6yrs,he said he would knock them in the head.2dissapeared 'so now i let the ferals eat on my property...good luck and keep the faith something good will come for you and your kitty cat,,,,,

Answer 8

you are at fault here
no offense but its not her fault your cat is in her house, its yours

you might talk to her and split the cost of a magnetic cat flap that needs a special collar to open, that way her cat can wear it and your cant open it to get in her house

otherwise keep your cat inside if he cant stay out of her home

Answer 9

maybe you could set up different times for your animals to be outside one take morning one take evening
i'm kinda going through something like this except its my cat food and the neighbors dog
they don't want their dog eating my cat food i feed the stray cats that people drop off until i find them homes well i can't feed them now until after dark because his dog is on a diet
and i didn't ask him to clean his dog poop out of mmy yard but i should have

Answer 10

kate, i'm sorry but i agree with the first fella. i think his idea of splitting the cost of a magnetic door is a good one.
you do have a point that whats good for one cat is good for the other, but thats about it.
keep your cat in, or on a leash when outside. good luck