Hi there,

A new neighbour (we think, not sure exactly where it's from though as it doesn't have a collar) has a cat that keeps coming into the house whenever we leave a window/door open. We don't and never have had a cat so can't see why it would be attracted to the house other than just curiousity from an open window, despite giving it a good scare whenever it's been found in the house.

Does anyone have any idea on ways to stop it from sneaking in other than having the window shut, which is a bit inconvinient since the kitchen always gets boiling otherwise.

THanks,

Michael

Mine goes into other people's houses. Others come into mine.

Cats are not fussy who they visit.

You could put a fly screen on your window to stop the cat getting in.

Put a prickly plant just by the opening of the window, nothing drastic, or maybe a sprig of holly. The cat wont like that.

Oranges on the sill, they dont like the smell, and once you have eaten them, put the peel there too. (lemon, and lime peel work too)

A few drops of ciitronella oil, that will deter it.

(I love cats, and my 4 will avoid all these things)

Oh how very nice, you've got a visiting cat!

I had a visiting cat for many years, Bella, now sadly no longer with us. During her visits she gave me a great deal of love and pleasure, I shall always miss her and remember her with the great affection that she gave me.

I can't possibly imagine why you would wish to prevent a visiting cat from coming into your house.

In case you hadn't already guessed, I love cats!

why would your new neighbour wear a collar?

Put a picture of a dog in the window, or a cuddly toy. Cat won't like it. Also, get a water pistol and fire near it when you see it approaching. Cats just won't take a hint will they?

Homer, my ole cat used to visit everyone..they adopt you, you don't adopt them!

You can say that again.

One of mine has been miooooooowwwwww at the door for half an hour now. Every night when my daughter goes to bed, the cats get shut out of the lounge, has been a rule now for about 6 years, and he is still persisting.

For the OP, pick it up and cuddle it, tight like you may do to a child, and fuss it with gusto, on and on, and the cat will be put off by over-enthusiasm on your behalf.

My cats dont go near the people who appear to like them,but will harrass those who really dont like them, so try reverse psycology. (I got my friend who hates cats to cuddle one, and try to keep it on her lap, fussing and eager, now none of the cats will go near her, so result all round with kindness)

Always works with me!

Sounds like my cat, he likes to visit our whole neighbourhood. I did sit him down and try and explain to him his not to invite himself to everybody elses house he didn't listen

However the tables have turned my cat has made friends with another cat and now they both hang about in my kitchen.

Tbh I don't think theres much you can do cats are very independant minded lol

That would not work with mine at all. They love people and love different people coming to the house as its a chance to get fussed over!

A BDSM relationship perhaps? (It IS Friday)

My neighbours cat comes in through the cat flap all the time and sneaks up, it seems to wait till we turn off the downstairs light at night and then sneak it up to my kids rooms. If they wake up and try to move it the darn thing attacks them.

My eldest said she was most vexed when she came home from college one day and realised she was locked out, she said she stood on the doorstep in the rain and peered through the letterbox, there sat on the sofa was next doors cat, snug and warm as can be while she stood getting wet.

I have scared it out a few times but it just keeps coming back.

To save what happened to one of our neighbours cats - the bugger snuck into our house, got locked in on Friday morning and was only freed on Sunday evening when we returned home For some odd reason I've not seen it come into our house since - I wonder why

That's one reason.

Can't you get the flap secured?

As it hasn't got a collar I would call the RSPCA to have it taken away, all pets should wear collars.

If you make a loud scream at it, it will be too scared to come back , trust me it works.

We have a similar problem. We have a catflap with a magnet but the cat from next door just headbutts it until he gets in. He's very detrmined and always east our cat's food.

Tried the water pistol trick but the bugger is too quick. I think it's something we're going to have to live with, unless I can get a size 10 boot near his butt!

We used to have a cat that would come through the catflap and attack our cat. We could never get to it quick enough.. it would shoot out the flap. So one night we locked the flap so the cat could get in and not out again. We heard it come in and and headed for the kitchen... we heard a thud as it tried to get out but couldn't. Then we chucked water at it and booted it out.... it never returned

I did exactly the same thing with a feline visitor who used to steal my cat's food. The water thing worked a treat. It hasn't been back since.

Nonsense. In fact the RSPCA and vets do not really like collars due to the potential dangers of it getting caught and choking the animal.

They actively encourage microchipping so that a collar isn't needed.

Whilst appearing to get friendly with the cat this way and gain its trust initially, you can then place your thumb above one of the cats ears and your index finger above the other ear...

...and fold the cats ears down.

Most cats hate it. They will move their head away from your fingers, so you just do it again... and again...

Good grief! If someone tried to make the RSPCA take away my cat just because she doesn't wear a collar, I would be absolutely LIVID. Why should all pets wear collars? Mine is microchipped should she go missing. Besides, the few times she wore a collar, she managed to get her leg stuck in it and once even got it stuck around a chair leg (this seems impossible to me but she managed it! ).

Anyway...OP, why do you want to discourage the cat? Does it really matter? I can think of several reasons why you wouldn't want it (don't worry, I'm not being a rabid animal lover) but you don't mention anything like that. It could be nice to have the pleasure of a cat without the expense of looking after it! If letting it be is not an option, persevere with the water pistol. My friend has allergies and managed to scare a cat away forever by giving it a good soaking just once.

I actually fold up my cats ears. Percy loves it, especially if I wrap them up small and try to shove them back inside. He purrrrs away. I call it EARagami.


My dog is a bit fond of EARagami too.

Cheers for the advice all,

It's my parents house and they can't stand pets so I can't see them being friendly with it, and nor can they be doing with the hassle of chasing it out the house. They also hate the mess and smell of pets and don't want fur over the place (sorry but we're not really animal lovers - making no bones about it! an my parents have mentioned getting it taken away due to no collar if they get the chance)

Think I'll give the garden centre a visit and get a lovely spikey cactus for the windowsill - hopefully it'll get the hint (though it'll no doubt get wise and batter it away!)

Cheers,