Cat / Neighbour Dilemma… 🐈‍⬛

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?

Hetty58

So you're both disagreeing with Cats Protection?

Perhaps they should be more concerned about Muppet next door.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Your Gracie sounds just like my Oliver who will invite his friend indoors when I have gone up to bed,I now just leave dried food out of a night-time as our visitor was actually helping himself to sachets of cat food and taking them away with him,his owner even has a video of him jumping back over her wall with a sachet in his mouth he is so cheeky.

Fanny, you have a few issues going on here.
Firstly, whatever your feelings about your neighbour, it's not OK to encourage their cat into your house. You may not see it that way but by allowing him to sleep inside and allowing access to food, that is what is happening. And by 'allowing', whether you mean to or not, another cat into Rosie's territory, you will be causing her a deal of stress.

The best help that Muppet needs is safe shelter when the weather is cold, which you have provided. Search online if you haven't done so to see what works best - blankets freeze in very cold weather, better to use straw. Cats are chancers with food and its probably best not to leave food outside for him because your next problem then will be rats.

I assume your new cat flap has sorted the access problem - is it microchip activated? I had an unwelcome visiting cat a few years back who would burst through magnetic cat flaps to get in. He was the only cat I have ever actively disliked, an absolute thug.

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

Our last cat used the fight with the cat next door THROUGH the cat flap. Paws poking through and battering the flap back and forth, like a couple of professional boxers using a punch bag, sometimes in the middle of the night!!

Nothing wrong in trying to be kind and helping Muppet Fanny. Some people shouldn't have pets. Your neighbour doesn't sound very nice.
Also nothing wrong in having a cat flap, gorgeous Gracie must be allowed to use the garden. I didn't realise you also had Rosie.
If Finn wasn't 35kg l would have got one him. Unfortunately he is now so poorly l have to help down the step once or twice a night.
Good luck in your search for a new super duper cat flap.

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

I had a cat fly through the cat flap after my cat, trying to attack her in the kitchen.
Chip activated cat flap solved that.

However I now have a second younger Cat, who won't use the cat flap. One will one won't..

Oh! I don’t think of myself as robust at all.
I’m a dithering, anxious wreck in real life!
And yes, I am especially wussy when it comes to animals.
I wish just she was nicer to him. She has had cats before, and has another one too, who doesn’t seem to be an issue.
She just doesn’t seem to like Muppet.
He’s a really tiny little thing, but he is really feisty, especially with Gracie.
When she was a puppy and he a kitten, she decided that she could boss him around; but it backfired, and he’s definitely got the upper paw now

Why doesn’t it sound like you ?Probably a night time tablet thing but your posts are usually quite robust and this sounded in your words ‘wussy’ and a no brainer ……mend the cat flap

I realise cats are naturally nocturnal but if we Domesticate them then it’s what’s comfortable for us within reason(of course) mine never seemed to complain about being in at night just what they got used to I guess.

Anyway problem solved glad you’ve got the new cat flap on the way it should solve the main worry and you can still look after muppet if you want without infringing your own boundaries

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)

Thank you BlueBelle (why doesn’t it sound like me?)
Rosie is in the vast majority of the night, she just likes to go for a wander around, especially around dawn. (Cats are crepuscular creatures - active at dawn and dusk.)
She sleeps on my chest much of the night.

She and the foxes are friends, they keep a respectful distance (Rosie is quite a formidable cat, a gentle giant)

Anyway, I’ve just been downstairs and it seems that Muppet hasn’t been in tonight, so he must have spent it safely ensconced in his own house. 👍

This post doesn’t sound like you at all Fanny sure you haven’t got an imposter
First seems simple to me get a man or woman in tomorrow to fit a new cat flap then muppet can’t wander in and eat your food? No brainer
If you feel sorry for muppet and think he’s being poorly looked after put some food out for him in the shed area each day
he ll soon look for it and with a new cat flap won’t be coming in

Personally I have always got my cats in about 10pm and had them in over night and let them out first thing in the morning always felt that was safest They never complained but each to his own It’s hard to change a habit/ routine especially with a cat though so you ll probably need to stick to the outdoor night bit and risk the foxes

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.

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.

You’ll have to take the food away at night. Feed her in the morning. She will soon learn.

So you're both disagreeing with Cats Protection?

Cats are naturally nocturnal so you’re right to give yours the option to be outside. It’s a dilemma regarding the intruder but I don’t have any clever ideas, sadly, other than trying to encourage your cat to eat in the day. You’re obviously an animal lover, hence your concern for the poor creature from next door.

FannyCornforth

Anyway, insults aside, what’s wrong with my cat going outside at night?

On second thoughts Hetty, scrap that, I’m not interested in your opinions about me, my animals, or indeed anything else.