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We have a simple cat flap to let our cat Kismet (almost a year old) out and she has free reign to do so. The disadvantage is there's a cat in the area that likes to come in and has been doing so for the past month though it tends to run out when noticed.

I managed to corner it and get a good look. It seems pretty docile as it let me pet it, but from it's looks I'd guess its a stray. I'd be fine with it coming into the house however Kismet doesn't like it and is noticeably nervous and agitated when it's in. The intruder is pretty hefty as cats go and I don't see Kismet winning in a fight.

Its now got to the stage where its in every night, probably due to the cold. I'm loath to keep it out if its looking for warmth, but Kismet comes first.

Other than replacing the flap with one that only lets Kismet in, any ideas to discourage it?

Sharp-kun wrote:
Other than replacing the flap with one that only lets Kismet in, any ideas to discourage it?

Loud noises, get a dog or get a spray bottle fill it with water and hose the intruder cat down whenever it comes in to reinforce the idea that this place is a bad place to hide.

But we all know what you should really be doing, that is buying a second set of tags, setting up a vet appointment and deciding when to put the second dish of food because you've already expressed sympathy for your furry invader which means your two steps away from just throwing up your hands and accepting the regime change and adopting it.

1) Find a local no-kill shelter and bring the stray in.

OR

2) Learn how to socialize cats that are strangers to each other and adopt the new guy.

The current situation isn't good for your cat because the stray one is very likely to give him a disease as long as it's living out on its own and coming into Kismet's house/territory regularly.

There are also RFID pet doors that only allow your chipped pets in.

Or be a good person and don't let your cat wander the streets.

spaceviking wrote:Or be a good person and don't let your cat wander the streets.

This. Speaking as a cat owner myself, I've never understood why so many people let their cats roam free outside, terrorizing the local wildlife and often being a nuisance to neighbors.

And being in danger themselves. Outdoor cats are exposed to cars, dangerous animals, and diseases, and I've heard they often have much shorter lives.

Of course, cats like to go out and its a natural desire for them to do so, plus they can be rather noisy if not let out, so I can see why that would be a tough choice.

The Romulan Republic wrote:And being in danger themselves. Outdoor cats are exposed to cars, dangerous animals, and diseases, and I've heard they often have much shorter lives.

According to our vet, indoor only cats have a life expectancy about ten years greater than outdoors cats.

So indoors we have a window open (with flyscreen) so they can enjoy outdoor aromas and such, and there's several scratching posts around the house.

Gandalf wrote:

The Romulan Republic wrote:And being in danger themselves. Outdoor cats are exposed to cars, dangerous animals, and diseases, and I've heard they often have much shorter lives.

According to our vet, indoor only cats have a life expectancy about ten years greater than outdoors cats.

So indoors we have a window open (with flyscreen) so they can enjoy outdoor aromas and such, and there's several scratching posts around the house.

Indoor cats live for about 12-15 years on average, indoor-outdoor cats live to about 4 to 5 years on average. If someone cares at all about their cat, they will not let it outside, never mind that domestic cats decimate local bird populations.

Yes, indoor cats live longer, but telling people who let their cats out that they're bad people who don't care about the animal is not a great way to convince them.

Losonti Tokash wrote:Yes, indoor cats live longer, but telling people who let their cats out that they're bad people who don't care about the animal is not a great way to convince them.

Not the message I intended to send, sorry if it was taken this way. I meant it more as; "I implore you to keep the cat inside in the future for the sake of the cat."

Oh, no worries; I wasn't directly addressing you, Vortex. You're absolutely right, last year I left my cat in the care of someone who let him go outside and as a result he caught something and died at age 5. He was a cat I'd rescued from someone who neglected and abandoned him, traveled across the country with me, and he got unlucky. Keep your cats inside, definitely. All I meant is a tone like "or be a good person blah blah" is counter productive since it just makes people defensive and double down.

Yeah, I know what you mean. This one time we let my grandma out and she got into some nasty stuff and died. Clearly we should have just left her locked up in an old-folks home.

(The nasty stuff was alcohol and she died after several years drinking it while having diabetes)

I doubt that indoor cats have better lives than outdoor cats. Longer perhaps, but better?

I'm not sure who you're responding to, since that was exactly my point.

Dominus Atheos wrote:I'm not sure who you're responding to, since that was exactly my point.

Not to you but to the people who encourage keeping cats indoors at all times.

I can see how it would be better to keep your cat indoors if you live in a city because it´s probably a lot more dangerous. But then I wouldn´t encourage geting a cat if you´re in a city at all.

Gooby pls

Kismet and my last cat would not have been happy being kept indoors. The last cat I had lived to a nice old age of 16 or so going outside every day from when he was young. We're in a relatively peaceful estate with a park over the (very quiet) street so its not exactly an unsafe environment. With the wife and I out during the day it's not fair to keep Kis stuck inside alone (even if she does nap most of it).


It depends on the area you're in in my opinion. If I was in the center of Glasgow I doubt I'd even get a cat let alone let it out. I had a friend who lives in a flat who got a kitten a few years back and I felt sorry for the thing since it wouldn't be able to go outside or see other cats.

I'd be fine with taking the other cat in if it is a stray and Kis could get along with it. One of my friends is a vetinary nurse (she's who we got Kis from) so might ask her if she could take a look if we can catch it and pop in.

Dominus Atheos wrote:Yeah, I know what you mean. This one time we let my grandma out and she got into some nasty stuff and died. Clearly we should have just left her locked up in an old-folks home.

(The nasty stuff was alcohol and she died after several years drinking it while having diabetes)

I know I just said a thing about explaining things politely to people but this is a really stupid analogy and I have no idea why you think it was appropriate. Besides cars, outdoor cats are also in danger from diseased prey, other cats, dogs, being carried off by owls, etc. Indoor cats still need vaccinations and such but don't face any of those threats and are pretty easy to keep happy if you pay attention and play with them, all without them helping be one of the most destructive invasive species in the world.

Sharp-kun wrote:Kismet and my last cat would not have been happy being kept indoors. The last cat I had lived to a nice old age of 16 or so going outside every day from when he was young. We're in a relatively peaceful estate with a park over the (very quiet) street so its not exactly an unsafe environment. With the wife and I out during the day it's not fair to keep Kis stuck inside alone (even if she does nap most of it).

Even in a peaceful area you run into problems. I come from a very small village, and even there I see dead cats on the streets sometimes . But the major problems are other cats and wildlife. If you let your cat outside, she will get into fights with other cats, who might have diseases. Or she will try to have sex with some cat with diseases. Fortunately you live in Scotland, so rabies, coyotes or wolves aren't a problem. But dogs or foxes might be.

It's pretty hard to let your cat not outside. They can make those adorable sounds that break your heart. But it's better for them. And if you can adopt the other cat, you don't have to leave Kismet home alone.

I lived in a very rural area as a kid and had several cats. Some of them got hit by cars or killed by foxes, badgers or just disappeared.
The risk is there, no noubt but I think it´s a risk worth taking. A cat is no animal for insides.

Why not? My cat is perfectly content staying indoors.

Do you think it´s as happy as if it would be if it was able to go outside?

Yes.

Absolutely. She can sleep in the sunlight, exercise, chase/play with things, scratch her scratching post, eat and drink, shit in her shitting area, and bug people to pet her, no different than if she was running around outside. The only things she's missing are killing things and fucking random cats; the former is unnecessary because she gets fed every day and she has toys to chase and play with, and she doesn't even think about the latter because she's spayed, like any cat not used for breeding should be. Outside or inside, as long as cats have food, water, a place to sleep, a place to do their business, and shit to do, they're golden.