Cat / Neighbour Dilemma… 🐈‍⬛

vegansrock

We’ve got a cat flap that links to wi-fi so you can monitor from your phone when your cat goes in and out, You can lock it / open it remotely too.

That sounds interesting

I realise they are expensive, but you can get chip activated feeding bowls. Would that help?
And so does that.

I think the only answer is to have a new, robust chip activated cat flap fitted so that Gracie doesn't break it.

You'll have to harden your heart to Muppet, it's your neighbour that the Cats Protection people need to be concerned about.
not those who let their cats out at dawn or in the evenings as that is their natural instinct. I know how Gracie feels needing the 2am comfort visit!

You must harden your heart, if Muppet can't get in then he may find another neighbour to visit or move out altogether. Your neighbour doesn't deserve him.

FannyCornforth

I’ve ordered the cat flap from Amazon and MrC can fit, he was a builder so is very handy like that (when it suits)

Oh, missed that.

Good.

FannyCornforth

Thanks Sherry and vegansrock
I’m going to fit a new magnetic cat flap so that Muppet won’t be able to come in at all, because it really does upset Gracie.
I’ve been putting it off because of Muppet being out in the cold weather.
As I said, there is a little shelter in our garden that he can use.

🤔 don't make it too cosy or a vixen may find it's a good place to have her cubs.

Fanny, I am sorry that one post has upset you, knowing how unwell you have been.

I notced this intro at the top of the page:
This is a non-judgemental space for you to pop in for a cuppa with some virtual friends.

However, just look at how many supportive comments there are.

Cats can get into trouble, beaten up, lost up trees etc in the daytime too.

I think it's crueller to keep them indoors all the time but I know some people do. It's domestication taken to an extreme.

It is important to remember that:

Cats are protected by law and are free to roam meaning they might go into other people's gardens or allotments.
RSPCA
Annoying though that might be! Someone started a petition to try to change the law but it didn't gain many signatures and fizzled out.

Ps it doesn't mean you have to let them in the house 🐈

Hetty58

So you're both disagreeing with Cats Protection?

Perhaps they should be more concerned about Muppet next door.

I couldn’t have the cat flap fixed so that poor Muppet couldn’t get in. I would be putting extra food down so both Rosie and Muppet had enough and giving Gracie extra reassuring cuddles. Yes, I would be positively enticing poor Muppet into a nice warm, loving home. Why does your neighbour have a cat?

FannyCornforth I know how you feel about Muppet. Your neighbour clearly is a poor cat mum and I wonder why people like that choose to have pets.

I had a neighbour years ago who had 2 tiny kittens, possibly younger than 8 weeks old. They didn't even give them names! Both of them used to scramble up and over my fence for me to make a fuss of them. My own cat was very laid back and didn't mind. I didn't feed them but one of the kittens was sooo desperate to be cuddled and stroked and spent every day in my garden looking for attention.

One evening I came home in heavy rain when fireworks were going off all around despite the weather, to find this kitten trembling and frightened and soaking wet, waiting by my front door! When I moved house I seriously thought about taking him with me, and still regret that I didn't do that. When I went back to pick up some post, he recognised my car engine and came running out to greet me. I feel tearful just remembering that.

You have made a shelter for Muppet in your garden which is a kind thing to do, and I hope that things settle down now that you have your new cat flap.

Germanshepherdsmum

I couldn’t have the cat flap fixed so that poor Muppet couldn’t get in. I would be putting extra food down so both Rosie and Muppet had enough and giving Gracie extra reassuring cuddles. Yes, I would be positively enticing poor Muppet into a nice warm, loving home. Why does your neighbour have a cat?

Unfortunately, even though the beighbour neglects Muppet, she may well come round and cause trouble.

If you see her, FannyC perhaps you could mention the magnetic cat flaps and how good they are. Perhaps she'll get one fitted at her house so Muppet can go in and out when he pleases.

Yes, new cat flap and comfort for Muppet outside.

Sparklefizz would have been tempted to "shop" neighbour to RSPCA.

had a sad story on this. I had a brother and sister cat. Brother cat after period of time, no idea why, started attacking sister cat. sister cat found a congenial house down the road. MY DH of the time was so upset when the "new owners" asked if they could take the sister cat with them as sister cat used to walk him to the bus stop. Said no to "new owners" but the bullying persisted and in the end we had to let sister go to whoever she had found refuge with.

We had a Sureflap, chip activated, fitted in a d/g french door when we moved in 5 years ago. It was quite expensive at the time.
We’ve only changed the battery twice in that time so I highly recommend it.
I’m afraid that unless my cat has a medical issue meaning he has to stay in, he is free to come and go as he pleases.
He is a big boy who gets fed ‘on demand’. He always goes out last thing at night and is usually asleep in his bed in the morning.
He generally spends most of his time during the day in neighbours gardens, he is well liked but is not fed by anyone else.
I’m afraid I too would worry about Muppet and would encourage him to sleep in the shelter you’ve provided, poor little thing.
I prefer animals to people.

LadyGracie I prefer animals to people.

Me too. Animals are sooo much nicer!

I can understand your dilemma Fanny but hopefully it will be resolved by the fitting of a new cat flap. You don't sound irresponsible, a bit soft maybe but that isn't a crime!

I wondered if Gracie seems a bit unsettled as you have had an operation and have been managing your pain medication? Dogs are very tuned in to our anxieties

I really wouldn't put food outside, it could attract rats or the foxes which are around.

I've nothing expert to add, FC, just sympathy for your dilemma. As you know, I am a would-be cat owner (still haven't decided). I feel sorry for Muppet, but you are doing all you can
to help him. So I just want to say that I hope these problems are being resolved and that all the lovely animals will be happy, ...and you too.

I wouldn't feed any cat other than my own. I know you feel sorry for him but he isn't your cat. We get rats without putting anything out

Thank you all so much for your answers. I really do appreciate it.
(I’m sorry that I’m not mentioning you all by name)

Don’t worry about Rosie being distressed by Muppet, she really isn’t. It’s Gracie who is upset.

Muppet absolutely hero worships Rosie.
He was very (too?) young when he came to live here. He treated her like a surrogate mum. He followed her everywhere when he was a kitten, and lay down next to her to sleep.

That’s how the whole cat flap business started. I’d actually forgotten.
Even when the magnet system on the cat flap worked, Muppet could still get in.
He’d put his little nose under her enormous tail and just follow her in.
(A big like how I used to sneak through the ticket barrier on the Tube with my friend.)

Thank you for the recommendation of the digitised cat food dish. Interesting, but I’m not actually that bothered about him eating the food.

I definitely agree about the food outside/ rat thing. We used to feed the foxes (I’m being brave admitting that!) but only if they come right up to the fence.
I’d like to feed the resident hedgehogs but don’t because of the rat thing (we have mice under the shed too)

Shep I’d happily let him live here; I’d welcome him.
But he drives Gracie up the wall. She barks at him and charges around. He’s not really that bothered, but it means that he thinks he is unwelcome.
She doesn’t like cats at all, but in a really ineffectual way.
She’s actually quite scared of him.
If it wasn’t for Gracie it would br a non-issue.
So it’s a lose / lose situation really.

MrC has mentioned cat flaps to neighbour numerous times. She knows that he’d fit it too.
She knows that he comes in because a couple of years ago she gave us a bottle of wine for putting up with him (or should that be her?)

Which leads me to - neighbour has got a few issues, to say the least.
I often think that I ought to be more friendly with her (that’s not really the right word, we are friendly) what I mean is actual friends, but I know that it would open a total can of worms.
MrC wouldn’t let me do it tbh and I’d be mad to.

So I can’t really get involved any more than I already am 🤷‍♀️

Thanks again all

Years ago we moved house with our ( ex Feral and still nervous) cat only to find the sellers had moved without taking their big ginger 🐈.
Our cat refused to come downstairs so food and toilet trays were on the landing while the ginger cat stretched out happily in front of the fire downstairs. With us.
After a few weeks we had to ring the owner and we took her cat back. Our cat came downstairs. Cats eh?
I understand why you would feed muppet Fanny, I would probably do the same.

All good advise and most agree, I don’t know why Hetty was so cross with you this morning seemed a bit unnecessary but anyway it seems as if it’s nearly all solved now

Thanks BlueBelle I was totally livid taken aback!
I had to be really careful - I could easily have got suspended!

I’ll share this here, as it’s as good a place as any.
A scrap collection van has just gone down the street - playing the theme from Steptoe & Son

FannyCornforth

Which chip activated one did you get Visgirl?
I’ve bought two in the past and had to return them as they were faulty (they wouldn’t save the chip information)
Thanks

Sure flap.. They advise at first leave battery out, until they know it. Then put the battery in as it "clicks".

My older Cat who passed away 4 years ago she used it fine, she was about 16 at the time, and my other cat is OK with it, she's used since she was a kitten.

My now younger cat is now 4, gorgeous but not the brightness, she will only use if I prop it open. Defeats the point!
But she hasn't a clue (hand reared kitten Vet said they miss out on kitten skills) so she has staff.

Let Muppet keep coming in FC. Can you let Gracie have a room she's shut into at night with a tray? OR can you shut the door to the room the cat flap is in?

Poor old lad. My bloke's neighbour was like this with her cat. He had one chance to come in at night and if he didn't hear her, he was out all night whatever the weather. He was old too and eventually got cancer. At which point even my bloke took pity on him and would let him in and feed him.

This one tried its luck I didn't let it in although I was tempted. It looked well cared for.