My Neighbour's Cat Comes into My Backyard and Provokes My Dog

Lhazelnut09 on 27/02/2022 - 22:22

About 6 months ago, my neighbour's cat started jumping the fence and coming into my backyard. The cat will always sit in front of the sliding glass door of my backyard and stare at my dog. My dog was very upset that the cat had come into the backyard and started to bark at it. The cat would start hitting the glass door with his paw- aiming at my dog's face. This now occurs on a daily basis (sometimes more than once a day). If my dog doesn't notice the cat, the cat will start hitting the glass door to get the dog's attention. I try and shoo the cat away but it doesn't budge until I open the door.

My dog is quite timid and shy. She has never had any issues with other animals- including cats. However, now she does not like cats and is quite protective of our house. My dog now sits at the sliding glass door waiting for the cat to come into the backyard. We don't have a dog door so she doesn't have her own access to the backyard.

I've put obstacles in front of the glass door so that the cat wouldn't come close to the door… but it somehow manages to find a way between the obstacles. I would approach my neighbour and have a chat with her but she is 80+ years old and lives with her 100 year old mum.

Is there a way that I can ensure the cat doesn't come into my backyard?

Pets

Comments

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 27/02/2022 - 22:31
    +1

    Put a shallow tray of water in front of the door, where the cat sits.

  • jjjaar on 27/02/2022 - 22:36
    +1

    Scatter citrus around as much as you can. Encourage your dog to wee all over the backyard.

  • Gervais fanboy on 27/02/2022 - 22:48

    Hire a witch to cast a spell on the cat.

  • pegaxs on 27/02/2022 - 23:06
    +1

    Trap the cat if it is on your property and hand it into the local council pound. They will notify the owner that the cat was caught on someone else's property and possibly fine them for the cat's stay at Vista De La Council.

    Eventually the owner will get sick if picking their cat up from Club Council and keep it in their own yard or inside.

    • orangetrain on 27/02/2022 - 23:34
      +6

      Best to contact council first. They may even give a free trap.

      • pegaxs on 28/02/2022 - 07:36
        +1

        Yep, my council does. You just explain to them that you have an issues with unwanted cats in your yard and they will issue you with a trap and a you pay a bond for the trap that is refunded on return of the trap.

    • MorriJ on 27/02/2022 - 23:36
      +8

      Oh you are mean!

      but she is 80+ years old and lives with her 100 year old mum.

      That's so going to be a one-way trip to the local council pound.

      I'd just spray the cat with water whenever it's outside there. Cat won't like a hosing when it comes on by.

      • pegaxs on 28/02/2022 - 07:59
        +7

        How is it “mean”? Box trapping is humane and doesn’t hurt the cat. A lot of the time, the council ranger will come by and pick it up. A few fines and annoying trips to the pound for the owner usually inconveniences them enough to make them re-evaluate pet ownership and/or their pet’s habits.

        It’s only a one way trip if the cat owner a: doesn’t go and pick the cat up, b: doesn’t have the cat registered with council, c: doesn’t have the cat microchipped. These are owner caused issues, not the councils or mine.

        Cats are one of the most destructive introduced animals to this country. They destroy countless amounts of native wildlife. If an owner doesn’t have enough respect to keep their cat on their own property just on this point alone, then maybe they don’t deserve to own a cat.

        And squirting a cat with water just moves the cat onto being someone else’s issue, that is if you can ever squirt the cat without it taking off as soon as you open the door.

        • MorriJ on 28/02/2022 - 09:54
          +6

          How is it “mean”?

          The OP seems to suggest that due to the neighbors age (being 80) and the fact the neighbor lives with their 100 year old parent that a discussion would be difficult. Your suggestion appears to be to effectively trap the cat and surrender it to the local pound which I reiterate sounds like it would be a one way trip.

          I get it's within someone's rights to do that. I also am well aware of the damage cats have on our local fauna - doesn't make it any less mean.

          I live on a semi-rural property and have livestock. It means I am allowed to shoot their neighbors dog when it enters our property. Doesn't make me any less mean when I grab the '22 and walk outside and shoot it dead.

          • pegaxs on 28/02/2022 - 11:18
            +2

            @MorriJ: Anything else that we should let people get away with based on their old age?

            Maybe at their age, if they are unable to keep their cat confined to their own property, they might be better off giving the cat to someone who can give it the proper care and control it needs. Maybe what is “mean” here is a cat that is owned by someone who cannot sufficiently take care of it’s needs.

            Again, it would only be a one way trip if the cat was unidentifiable, unregistered, not microchipped or if the owner was unable collect the cat AND the pound had no rehoming policy. Almost all of these reasons are “owner” created issues.

            And I didn’t make any mention of destroying or culling of animals, so that last point you made is pointless (false equivalence fallacy). I was talking about box trapping and that is a recommended capture method from both councils and animal welfare groups as it is considered humane.

            • MorriJ on 28/02/2022 - 11:40
              +3

              @pegaxs: I just think it's mean to trap an 80 year old's cat and effectively send it on a one way trip to the pound. I get it's legal and you would be well within your rights to do so.

              Grabbing the '22 and shooting Midnight, our neighbours staffy when I find her chasing our sheep around the paddock is also perfectly legal. Picking up her cold, lifeless body and dumping it over the ageing neighbors fence would be an inherently cruel way of dealing with the situation - but one certainly open to me - I get it, wouldn't make me less of a mean spirited person though.

              • orangetrain on 28/02/2022 - 13:09

                @MorriJ: Why is it mean when the owner was already old when they got a <18 year old cat?

                You're making the 80 year old look frail and unable to pick up a cat from pound. Who's mean here?

    • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 10:23
      +5

      TBH I'm an avid cat hater. I think they are the worst because of the damage they do to local wildlife and the like, and the owners that let them roam the streets are even worse.

      Having said that, whilst my first reaction was to agree with you, given that the owner of the cat is 80+ years old, I think some compassion and common sense is warranted.

      The other suggestions around spraying the cat and making it not enjoy coming over are what I'd go for, at least initially. If it does keep it up, then eventually yes, trap it and take it to council. But to do that from the get go just puts undue stress on what is probably a frail old lady.

      • pegaxs on 28/02/2022 - 11:26

        given that the owner of the cat is 80+ years old, I think some compassion and common sense is warranted.

        Granted, I probably skipped the "compassionate" part (common sense is anything but…), but I was aiming my reply as a general answer to anyone else reading this thread who may be having similar issues who have neighbors who are not in their 80's+

        The other way I look at it, is, what is the cat's welfare like having an 80+yo owner? Is it fair on the cat to have an owner that just lets their cat wander the neighborhood? Maybe the cat would be better off with someone more willing and able to look after the cats needs. It starts with "responsible pet ownership", and it may be fair to suggest that someone in their 80's is unable to give the care required for owning a cat.

        Also, why do we just accept cats from anywhere coming onto our property, but if it were a dog that just wandered from house to house all night, people would be way more pissed off compared to a cat doing it? I don't let dogs randomly enter my property, so cats get the same treatment as any stray dog would. Trapped/caught and surrendered to council.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 12:21
          +1

          Also, why do we just accept cats from anywhere coming onto our property

          Agreed. I don't accept this at all, but the added information we have of the neighbour being elderly changes how you react to it.

          don't let dogs randomly enter my property, so cats get the same treatment as any stray dog would

          Well yeah, You're right, but in this particular scenario the OP knows that the neighbour is elderly so they can choose to react with that information differently.

          If it was just a random cat and you knew nothing more, definitely trap it and go through that process.

          other way I look at it, is, what is the cat's welfare like having an 80+yo owner?

          A fair point. At the same time, cats are pretty self maintaining if they're fed and given water. A pet can sometimes be the thing that keeps a person hanging on in old age, so it's not right to just take that away - assuming the cat is otherwise fine.

  • Benoffie on 27/02/2022 - 23:57
    +6

    If the cat wants to play, let the dog out

  • Yummy on 28/02/2022 - 00:47

    The cat will always sit in front of the sliding glass door of my backyard and stare at my dog. The cat would start hitting the glass door with his paw- aiming at my dog's face.

    Bikie "throat-slit" cat!

    I like this cat already. :D

  • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 01:11
    +1

    Does the cat hiss when it paws the glass door? If it's not hissing then it just wants to play and be friends.
    It's quite unlikely for a cat to seek out a dog and provoke and confront it.
    Could it be just pawing its own reflection?
    It seems like a lonely cat looking for company.
    Have you tried to approach it slowly or maybe put the dog away in the bedroom when the cat comes and see how the cat reacts? Then go out and give it some snuggles? Then slowly everyone can be friends after a careful step by step introduction. :D

    • AustriaBargain on 28/02/2022 - 04:09

      Cats love to provoke dogs, what are you talking about. Just sitting out of reach and licking their paws provokes dogs and cats are smart enough to know it.

      • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 10:27

        Austriabargain-I'm talking about what most berry's will tell you and what experience has taught me after Spending years helping thousands of cats and dogs while volunteering at rspca and awlq and never seen a cat "actively seek" confrontation and provoke unknown dogs. Yes they may bully dogs they live with already or those that chase them but they don't go seeking confrontation with unknown dogs.

        Just because the presence of a cat annoys some dogs doesn't mean the cat is actively provoking them. People can have different opinions no point getting annoyed about it and negging them. Cheers

    • hazelnut09 on 28/02/2022 - 06:36

      It is hissing and smacking the glass door multiple times. The cat is actually quite scary. I've tried to approach the cat on my own and it runs away.

      • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 10:16
        +1

        Oh a grumpy one! Then just speak with the old ladies about it politely. They might not be able to care for it anymore and might agree for rspca to rescue and put it up for adoption. It'll get a better life. Does it look healthy? You could wet the floor where it sits or put double sides tape on the door it scratches to discourage it in the meantime. Cheers

        • hazelnut09 on 28/02/2022 - 17:36

          Unfortunately it's difficult to chat to the neighbours since COVID. They don't answer their door.
          I'd hate for their cat to be taken away. The last time they had visitors was when the mother turned 100 (2 years ago) and I know that the cat gives them the company they need. The cat looks healthy and happy.
          It's just confusing. If the cat is hissing and angry… why does it come back every single day…? Cats are confusing!

          • mapax on 28/02/2022 - 17:41

            @hazelnut09: Are you sure they’re ok in there if one of them is 102 and no one ever answers the door?

            • hazelnut09 on 28/02/2022 - 17:48

              @mapax: I can see them moving through their windows! The cat will also sit at the window and have a nap.

              • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 18:01

                @hazelnut09: Maybe leave a note that you're a neighbour and would be great to catch up for chit chat or over the phone Usually old ladies love to talk :s :p
                On a serious note if they don't answer the door then just leave a polite note to call you with your number listed under your name. If nothing then just put up some sprinklers or a sensor water misting spray.
                Really odd for the cat to be hissing and still returning often. I still wonder if it's doing it at it's own reflection that little weirdo.
                We used to live close to the wildlife reserve some years ago and a curlew used to stand outside the back door looking in 24/7 for weeks. I never realised it was staring at its own reflection until our sparkie told me! Apparently a few animals do such strange things :s :p

    • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 12:24

      Have you tried to approach it slowly or maybe put the dog away in the bedroom when the cat comes and see how the cat reacts? Then go out and give it some snuggles? Then slowly everyone can be friends after a careful step by step introduction. :D

      Why would you want to give a random cat "snuggles" (gross word btw). This cat is going onto their property and antagonising their dog. To hell with it.

      OP has said that the owner is elderly so that changes how you can/should react to the situation, but the idea of befriending it is hilarious. Would you do the same if it was a dog?

      It's quite unlikely for a cat to seek out a dog and provoke and confront it.

      yeah, nah. Cats can be absolute assholes. I hate them and what they do to native birds. If they are left to roam the streets then they should be trapped and sent to the pound.

      • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 14:55

        Gosh easy on all the hate mate. A bit of kindness toward animals wouldn't hurt. Don't hate the cats, blame the irresponsible owners who leave them out. Your hate towards cats is very sad and concerning.
        Even if it were a dog my reaction would be the same because it has been the same in the past and I always treated them with kindness. Like I said I've rescued a lot of animals including rough looking stray dogs on the motorway.

  • morse on 28/02/2022 - 05:00

    If you see the cat in your yard, spray towards it with a water pistol or spray bottle. It should get a negative association and hopefully stop coming.

  • WreckTangle on 28/02/2022 - 06:27
    -3

    Unless you dog is barking i don’t see the problem, its something for your dog to do…it beats the monotonous boredom of the yard

  • mapax on 28/02/2022 - 06:38
    +1

    Mount a bluetooth irrigation system in the and turn it on whenever you see the cat. You could also trigger the irrigation with a motion detection sensor or even buy one of those motion detection pest sprinklers and set it up along the fence line where the cat accessed your property.

    What happens if you let the dog outside when the cat is there?

    • hazelnut09 on 28/02/2022 - 06:41

      There have been days where the dog has gone out to pee and we have opened the backyard door without knowing the cat was there. The dog will run for the cat and the cat will jump up onto the fence and look at the dog. The dog barks and gets very angry.

      Didn't know a bluetooth system exists. I'll look into this.

      • mapax on 28/02/2022 - 07:36

        If you go for a Bluetooth controller see if you can find one that has an instant on function so you don’t have to program it each time you see the cat. Programming doesn’t take long but it’s an added hassle.

    • Quantumcat on 28/02/2022 - 09:34

      Was going to suggest motion activated sprinkler system also

      • Settero on 28/02/2022 - 10:56

        I laughed just thinking about how they would market a motion activated sprinkler.

        Just googled them , the adds are no where near as funny as I imagined, slightly disappointed.

  • JIMB0 on 28/02/2022 - 07:20
    +3

    Is there a way that I can ensure the cat doesn't come into my backyard

    Leave the dog in the backyard.

  • Sawtell on 28/02/2022 - 07:22
    +2

    First thing is to talk to your neighbour about it.

    If you give them a chance to fix the problem and they don't my advice is to buy a cat trap and trap the cat. Take it to the animal shelter/council/RSPCA.

    If the cat is chipped they will get it back minus a few dollars and maybe take better care of it. If it's not chipped then it will be rehomed or destroyed. Either way problem solved.

  • shaybisc on 28/02/2022 - 08:11
    +3

    The cat is saying to the dog, what a house bound (profanity) you are.

  • GordonD on 28/02/2022 - 08:50

    The cat almost certainly doesn't have the evil motives the OP attributes to it. As Traveller107 suggests above, it is much more likely that it just wants to come inside and play with the dog. But that doesn't solve the problem, because that is the hysterical response of the dog and its owner. Unfortunately the only effective response to that is to chase the cat away with some sort of remote-operated water spray, perhaps with something in the water that cats don't like.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 12:25
      +1

      because that is the hysterical response of the dog and its owner

      I'd be pretty pissed at a neighbours cat coming onto my property and antagonising me and my pets. Not really "hysterical". More like "normal reaction".

      Hint. Replace "cat" with "dog" and how do you react?

    • hazelnut09 on 28/02/2022 - 17:29

      Cat is hissing and pawing at my door. I wouldn't call the cat evil but it certainly isn't friendly.
      Not sure why my response would be considered hysterical. I just want to ensure that my dog's barking doesn't cause issues for the neighbourhood and that my dog feels relaxed when she is at home.

  • jv on 28/02/2022 - 08:51
    +6

    My Neighbour's Cat Comes into My Backyard and Provokes My Dog

    Is the cat's name Putin Boots ?

    • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 14:57

      Omg that was hilarious :p good one jv

        • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 15:05

          Omg!! This is so funny!! Is it ok with you if I share your putin boots joke along with this image with a few friends in brissy who are having a rather rough and sad day?
          Cheers

          • jv on 28/02/2022 - 15:28

            @Traveller107: Sure, but don't you think you should get Vladimir's permission first?

            • Traveller107 on 28/02/2022 - 16:05

              @jv: Don't know about Putin but But I'm certain the kitty in the pic would give its permission :P so I'll run with that :p cheers!

  • Crow K on 28/02/2022 - 09:01
    +3

    Get a cartoon mouse and a frying pan. The ecosystem will rebalance.

  • iNeed2Pee on 28/02/2022 - 09:31

    I suggest you go to their house and paw at the glass pane. 🤣

  • RandomNinja on 28/02/2022 - 10:16

    Plant some catnip near the shared fence with your neighbour. Hopefully the cat becomes too busy with that to bother the dog!

    Although there is chance it makes the cat more aggro…

  • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 10:26

    This cat sounds hilarious!

  • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 10:27
    +1

    Cucumbers ….. cats apparently hate them so just place a few near the sliding door. Heck, start growing cucumbers in the backyard to discourage the cat from entering your property at all.

    • trilby on 28/02/2022 - 10:44

      Or balloons - cats really hate them!

  • juzza87 on 28/02/2022 - 11:42
    +1

    My cat keeps getting out despite everything I've tried, the kids keep leaving the door open or not noticing. Northern suburbs of Melbourne, he's a small white cat named Leo with a tag, collar, registration and he's deaf. This is the longest he's been away from home and I'm worried sick to my stomach about what could have happened (people like to speed down my road).

    As annoying as unwanted cats can be please don't harm it, it's someones pet, companion and not the cat's fault it's out and about instead of being safe at home with its owners.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/02/2022 - 12:26

      You are the 1% of cat owners TBH. Most just let them roam freely.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 28/02/2022 - 12:11

    Have a spray bottle with water in it near the door ffs

  • Drakesy on 28/02/2022 - 12:25
    +1

    I know there are some councils in WA that have brought in laws that actively fine people for having cats on other people's property.

    Tbh if you have a cat, YOU are the one in control of the cat, it doesn't become your next door neighbour's cat or Jill from down the road's cat.

    They kill lizards, birds, frogs, native wildlife etc. If you can't keep it on your property then you should have to wear the consequences.
    If my dog gets out and ends up in the pound then that's fair enough i'll pay the fee.
    Same goes for cats.

    • popsiee on 28/02/2022 - 17:42

      You forgot rats the next door neighbours naughty Siamese cat killed 2 on my property .
      And of course it would not consume them , not up for is its standards .

  • the Unforgiven on 28/02/2022 - 14:47

    Why don't you do what my neighbour across the road did.
    My 10 month old kitten was across thr oad there, so he shood her off & she went back over to my side of the road. That wasn't good enough for him so he threw a rock at her, hitting her at at base of the spine where the tail meets; she was in pain till the day she died.
    46 hours later I get a call from a 'cop'who said that if I retaliate, he will come down & put handcuffs on me & drag me down to the station.
    26 hours later, a pretty lass knocked at my door. She took a step back & to one side to show my little Bonnie girl dead. She bought her up from the road. Upon leaving, she showed me the spot where Bonnie died.
    I checked out that spot the next day and you can see the skid marks. The driver tried to miss her. It looks like she was on the other side of the road & they must of waited for heaps of traffic to scare her across the road; she was new to the road, even thou we live on that road.
    Everytime I ask those 2 blokes why did they stone my little girl or why did they kill my little girl, they would just get out their mobile phones and video an old broken down man in his misery; they did this dozens of times.
    Once I was on the spot where Bonnie was stoned which is a metre from where she was killed and those 2 were filming me again. I told them to stop it and I do not give them permission to video me. They thought it was a great joke and they laughed like anything. The one with the video said come on, come on. And I had a brain snap and I went across the road. He started to prance around his 4WD, I can't catch him as my back is stuffed. He stops & points over my head. His bum chum had a big piece of wood a metre long and as thick as my arm. He swings as hard as he could just above my knee trying to break my leg. It just bounces off, I used to walk my shepherds all the time when I had them so my legs are like tree trunks. He winds up again, I just grab him and we fall to the ground with him on top of me. I try and get him off, then someone comes past and breaks us up.
    I go home and ring the cops. 20 minutes later the cops come to their place! They are a business and the cops go there all the time. 20 minutes later they come to my place, but I have my mobile recording audio in my pocket and the 1st thing I said to the cops was I wanted that mobile taken as evidence for the court trial. the cop said, "it is being taken care of".
    I get a legal aid lady as I have been on disabilty support pension for 23 years and she said we can win easy with what I have said and all the things I gave here and the bruises match with what I said. Everytime it came to trial they never showed up and the magistrate was getting pissed. Them 2 took out a restaining order out on me! Some more non court appearances and the magistrate said that is it, the next time they don't show, I am wiping the charge. The next court case was first thing Monday morning. I get a call from my legal aid lady who was in a very different mood, she wanted me to change my plea to guilty. She was very insistant on in; actually, she sort of got aggressive on the phone towards me to change my plea. She said she saw a CCTV footage of me running around the car! What has that got to with the assult? If I had the footage, I could speed it up or slow it down too; were there any cars going past doing the speed limit or super fast? What about the footage from the mobile, that would have been the best, she did not even have a go at the cops about that! She asked me if I was hit in the chin after I grabbed him, I said I don't remember anything between grabbing him and being on the ground. I was still stuffed in the head from something which I did not figure out until a few days later; I could not think for the first 7 months of 2021 bar 5 minutes, it was that bad. I had to rely on people to do the right thing. She asked me if I had been to jail? That does not sound good, she never explains herself this one. She said I would just a suspended sentance or good behavour bond, I can't remember, my memory is shot now because of what someone did 2 decades ago. I don't know where the paperwork is, I think it lasts only 7 or 9 months, just like the other thing they took out on me. She never told me that I would get a criminal record! I never had one before, at 63 I start my crime spree?

    • popsiee on 28/02/2022 - 15:50
      +2

      What ?

      • jv on 28/02/2022 - 15:56

        I will not forgive them for that…

    • outlander on 28/02/2022 - 18:03

      Dude! That is brutal.

      • the Unforgiven on 28/02/2022 - 19:07

        It is still better than the last place I lived.
        People used to take turns in taking shots at me &/or my kids(shepherds).
        If I did nothing, they keep going, if I call the corrupt cops, I get charged, usually with 'threat to kill', then the next one had his turn. This went on for 2 decades.
        I did the Ombudsman route, but it took me years to get past this bitch there who kept writing back, "what else is new". She didn't give a shit about the other stuff as it was not new!
        I got rid of some of the local cops here. I even have evidence that the OPI is corrupt. When I finally got hold of the Ombudsman, he said that needs to go higher than me, write to the Victorian Inspectorate, which I did. He wrote back saying that cops are allowed to be corrupt! WTF

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