How to Keep a Neighbor's Cat From Using Your Cat Door
No matter how hard you try to make your cat an indoor cat, some cats just want to go outside sometimes, too. Your cat can use a cat door and come and go as he pleases.
But what happens when the neighbor's cats also discover your cat door, and begin using the new access to your home? Neighborhood cats can pose potential health risks to your cat and family, not to mention the fact that they can eat your cat's food. You can keep them out, however, using a few simple strategies.
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Things You'll Need
- Locking cat door
- Squirt bottle or noise maker
- Controlled-access cat door and collar (optional)
Instructions
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When you see the neighbor's cat in or around your home and yard, tell him to go home. Do this consistently so that the cat knows he is not welcome in your home and yard. Do not hit or otherwise harm the cat, simply tell him (using a sharp tone) to go home.
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Keep your cat door locked when you are not at home to prevent the cat from entering when you are unavailable to correct the situation.
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When you are at home, keep a watchful eye on your cat door. If the cat tries to enter, surprise him by making a loud noise (clapping, shake a can with some pennies in it) or by squirting him with water from a squirt bottle. Again, do not harm the cat, only surprise him to discourage him from entering your home.
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Consider exchanging your cat door for one that allows only your cat access to your home by means of a collar that unlocks the door.
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If the situation becomes too much to handle, kindly and respectfully mention it to your neighbor. This is best left as a last resort, as you do not want to create unnecessary conflict with your neighbor. Simply inform them of the problem and try to find a solution that works for you both.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure not to touch or otherwise pay attention to neighborhood or strange cats, as this encourages them to spend time with you.
Be consistent when deterring the strange cat from using your cat door, as immediate action is the only way to truly discourage unwanted feline behavior.
Never use physical violence to deter a cat; a sharp warning and a surprise is enough to do the trick.
Be careful if using a cat door which unlocks via a specialized collar, as these collars are not break-away (safety) cat collars. Also, if your cat loses the collar, he will also lose access to your home.
