Neighbor's cat keeps coming in my yard and fighting with my cat

[Anonymous]

I live in a community where it's accepted that some people let their cats out to roam freely. My cat goes out in our fenced-in backyard, and stays there (he can't get out). Another cat from the neighborhood comes by multiple times a day and fights with my cat through the fence, which is mostly chain-link so they can reach their paws through. It is a really aggressive cat and comes right back even after we spray it with water. It recently figured out how to jump over the fence (which is pretty high) and come into our backyard. What are my options here? I don't want to make my cat stay inside, and don't feel like I can ask the neighbor to keep theirs inside either. I don't want to get into an ethical discussion of if cats should be allowed to go outside - just hoping for some ideas to keep my cat safe.

[Anonymous]

What does your cat do when the aggressor starts to paw through the fence or jumps over? My cats will just ask to be let back in if there's a pushy cat outside with them, but usually they just ignore other cats. I guess I wouldn't do anything unless your cat is getting hurt or stressed, and even then, the only thing you can do is keep your cat inside when the other cat is outside.

[Anonymous]

You can get an outdoor cat run. It would at least prevent the other cat from getting in to your cat.

[Anonymous]

Fight fire with fire. Get a small dog with a high prey drive. Give it 24/7 access to a dog door.

[Anonymous]

Keep your cat inside. Outdoor cats kill millions of songbirds each year.

[Anonymous]

This is the consequence of a community that lets their cats roam free. I don't know what else you would expect?

[Anonymous]

Sign your cat up for Catfu lessons with emphasis on Kata.

[Anonymous]

Frustrating that your cat can’t use your own fenced backyard. Sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Be super vigilant and get high powered water guns. Add food coloring so their owner is alerted the cat was somewhere they shouldn’t be.

[Anonymous]

I've had similar issues. Keep a spray bottle of water available. When the cat comes around spray it. Use the bottles that spray 10+ feet. They are cheap. Zips brand is a few dollars. The cat will stop coming around.

[Anonymous]

Hose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keep your cat inside. Outdoor cats kill millions of songbirds each year.

+1

Anonymous wrote:This is the consequence of a community that lets their cats roam free. I don't know what else you would expect?

This. Cats are not native predators and should not be permitted to roam.