While we all love our own feline friends, some cats are meant to stay outside. Namely, I am referring to neighbour’s cats and other cats who are not part of your family.
If you own a feline friend, then you know what I mean when I refer to ‘unwelcomed cats’. We love, snuggle, pet and adore our own animals. However, the neighbor’s cats down the street that seems to be a bit overwhelming from time to time are a different story. There are a few options we have in this respect though.
The first option that comes to any pet owners mind is a microchip cat flap. This is a door that is installed in your own homes door that allows your cat’s unlimited access to the outdoors as well as back inside with no intervention from yourselves. The great idea behind this is the fact that the cat flap senses your cat’s pre-existing microchip and only opens for your cats. This eliminates the entry of any other cat into your home. Basically, it is your cat’s magic house key.
If you are not enthused with placing a hole in your door then there are other options available for you. A more manual approach is a small water gun. Whenever an unwelcomed cat comes around and tries to make the dive in the door be prepared to squirt them with one squirt of water from the squirt gun and a stern ‘No’. They will leave as quickly as they came.
You can always rely on Grandma’s theory of using a tin can with some rocks inside. It is advisable to keep this next to the door and readily available. When you have a cat making an approach on your property or nearing your door shake the can loudly enough to scare the cat off. Remember that your own feline counterpart will probably hear it as well and be scared too. So immediately after shaking the can pick up your kitty and love on them to show them it was not intended for them but for the other cat.
There are also some sprays available on the market these days; there are huge concerns with these, however. If you are using any type of spray there may be an adverse reaction to your very own cats. Your own animals could be allergic and there is always the possibility of it not deterring the unwelcomed cat but your cat themselves. I personally do not suggest using a spray with chemicals in it I cannot pronounce. Think of it this way. The average cat’s nose is approximately 9 inches off the ground. That is very close to breathing in a chemical sprayed on the ground. Especially when you really do not know 100% what it is they are inhaling.
When making the decision to become a pet owner, you must consider every avenue and circumstance. There is teaching, training, health, and hygiene that are vital to the health and well being of your animal. The reason it is so important to keep unwelcomed cats out of your own cat’s area is simple, you may very well care for your animals properly but do you know about the other cat? No one wants to take that chance with a family pet, because after all, they are only pets for so long before they become family.