We have 2 Siamese cats, one of which is a bit naughty. He likes to visit other peoples houses and sometime brings home random presents for us which we always return to the people we know he steals from.

Our next door neighbour has a very timid cat, and although our boy is not a fighter he likes to play and chase and he frightens next doors cat. We have offered to pay half towards a magnetic cat flap so he can't get in and have apologised to her on a few occasions (one of which being when someone shouted at him for getting in and he poo'd in their house, something he has never done at home!). We are always friendly to her and have taken wine round to her before to apologise. She is still pretty frosty with us though.

I can understand why she might be a bit miffed but as one cat lover to another I would like to think she would be a bit more understanding. Our cat is from a rescue home and is only 1 so he is still very mischevious!

Is there anything else we can possibly offer to do? I just don't like the thought of my cat being the problem one in the neighbourhood but I am a bit stuck for ideas!

:help:

Only way I can see to stop this would be to keep him indoors?

I think you have been pretty reasonable with your neighbour so far. :suspect: If she is not happy with the cat flap idea, then tell her to purchase a water pistol or you buy it and when your cats venture in her house, she can give them a squirt, you will find this to be the only safe and guaranteed way to stop your cats entering her house.

I am sorry, but if she isnt prepared to do this then tough, she should realise that having a non magnetic cat flap is an open invitation to all the cats in the neighbourhood.

silly woman:rolleyes:

You've been very reasonable with her. Siamese and Orientals are renowed 'thieves' - my Havana is always coming downstairs with toys and things she's found - my old moggie skweek was part oriental and he used to bring other cat's collars home. It's just something they do.

Thanks for your comments everyone. Keeping him inside isn't an option, have tried this on several occasions and he is unbearable, picking at the cat flap, shouting, scratching windows and doors - plus I think cats should be allowed to go outside rather than being kept cooped up.

The neighbour does squirt him with water when he goes in but he doesnt seem to have learnt his lesson yet (although things have ben a bit quieter on that front for the last week or so so perhaps he has given up on that house!)

One thing that you could do to reassure your neighbour is to make sure that she is aware that at 1 the vast majority of cats are pains in the posterior- and that's worse if your little one is male, entire or towards the oriental end of the behaviour spectrum. He's likely to start calming down within the next few months and whilst he's still an adolescent he can still learn new things really quickly.

If he's still entire get him neutered. He's still learning what to do or what not to do so you can play your part in helping him to learn some rules and a few instruction words that you can share with your neighbour so that she knows what to say to him at certain times.

For instance, all of my cats (with the exception of Billy kitten who has only been here a few months) know 'down' 'out' 'no' and simple things like that. They also know the universal instruction to stop what they are doing and go outside, which in my house is to give them a round of applause.

If you were to get your neighbour a supersoaker and also help with your lad's education so that he knows what you want him to do and what you don't want him to do, then it's up to her from that point on. With the best will in the world you can't accompany him wherever he goes to make sure that he's a good boy when he's outside- and if you've already tried to suggest a way of keeping him out of her house then it's hard to think of other things that you can do with that one.

Thanks for your comments Medusa much appreciated.

He is neutered already so thats ticked off the posible causes. He certainly knows the "no" word as he stops whatever he is doing and runs away if we shout that word. Clapping loudly also has the same ffect, our neighbour uses both of these things when he attempts to get in. He is just quite stubborn and naughty sometimes, still very kitteny!

I think we will try some new words through as you suggest with some definite associations of punishment/telling off - thanks again for your help.

I thin you are being more than reasonable. Could you not be mistaking a stand offish manner for frostiness? Some people just aren't the greatest interactors.

I too think you're being reasonable :)

We had a magnetic cat flap which was great once the dafter of the two cats figured out how to use it but then the same cat broke off the magnetic strip and we've been open to imposters since!

There is a cat down the road that looks just like our long haired moggy and I've had to take a double take before when he's come in!

We also have a few scraps as my girls are very territorial and the only time they ever get on is when they're seeing off an intruder - so I have been known to hear a squark or two at the cat flap at 3am! At the end of the day - that's life. My cats are allowed out, and so is this cat, the fact he comes into our house is because we don't have a magnetic flap - our fault. Or rather, our cat's.

I could understand her problem to an extent if her cat was an indoor cat but how does she know her cat isn't doing the same?!

I'd also suggest that perhaps she's just not much of a 'people person' and doesn't have the people skills to come across as anything more than frosty?

I wouldn't worry - I do think you've been very reasonable offering to pay towards a cat flap, your boy's young and as long as you continue with his training you're doing everything you can.

We have 2 Siamese cats, one of which is a bit naughty. He likes to visit other peoples houses and sometime brings home random presents for us which we always return to the people we know he steals from.

Our next door neighbour has a very timid cat, and although our boy is not a fighter he likes to play and chase and he frightens next doors cat. We have offered to pay half towards a magnetic cat flap so he can't get in and have apologised to her on a few occasions (one of which being when someone shouted at him for getting in and he poo'd in their house, something he has never done at home!). We are always friendly to her and have taken wine round to her before to apologise. She is still pretty frosty with us though.

I can understand why she might be a bit miffed but as one cat lover to another I would like to think she would be a bit more understanding. Our cat is from a rescue home and is only 1 so he is still very mischevious!

Is there anything else we can possibly offer to do? I just don't like the thought of my cat being the problem one in the neighbourhood but I am a bit stuck for ideas!

:help:

How old is he? One of my cats was an absolute nightmare when he was little and used to p:rant::rant:s on us in bed if we didn't get up and feed him when he wanted it but he's really calmed down after getting to a year old.

There is also something called Feliway which you can get from the vets. I think you plug it in and it disperses something which chills them out. I don't know if it works or not.

Kitty drugs basically. Right, I'm off to search for Paddy's stash of catnip.