Cat NOT dog repellant

[peachybabe]

A neighbours cat has taken to coming into my home through the dog flap. It's never been a problem in the past as my two Cairn terriers wouldn't even let him in the garden! But since losing the eldest dog back in March, the youngest one (now 14yrs) has become blind, and if the cat comes into the house the dog gets confused and disorientated, a real problem as I'm at work all day, and he needs the dog flap left unlocked. The last straw was yesterday when I got home to find that the cat had tried to get to my budgie, and had also got up on the counter top and eaten the dogs dinner that I had left out to defrost! I have also had to lock the flap of a night to stop him coming in. I'm getting really fed up with it (even though I have had two cats of my own in the past!)
Does anyone know of a CAT ONLY repellant that actually works?

[albaqwerty]

Couldn't you get one of the flaps which operates by remote from the dog collar ?
I can't think of the exact name but only your pet can use it.

[peachybabe]

Problem is that I don't like leaving him alone with a collar on. Being newly blind and still very unsure of his surroundings, I'm concerned that he might catch it on something and get caught up.

[albaqwerty]

Understandable. The poor wee soul.

Now you've my brain-cell attempting to work, is it Pepper that cats avoid??

[gordyagusta]

you can buy a collar with a snap lock type catch, signed to pop open if it becomes snagged on anything, that along with the magnetic tag that operates the flap could be an option, I think, ironically enough you might find such a collar in the Cats section of Pets at Home....

[peachybabe]

Thanks all! I'll try all your suggestions, but please keep them coming!

[andy-hughes]

You could try putting mothballs around the flap. i know cats don;t like them,but of course, it may upset your dog as well. have a try, and see if he reacts. If he doesn't mind, that may solve your problem.

[Old_Geezer]

Appeciate I have little experience of dogs, but is it ok to leave a blind dog alone, basically without company or stimulation, all day? Maybe the answer is to drop it off at a dog minder in the morning, and then lock up the dog flap?

[Wak]

I would be inclined to wait until the weekend when you are at home and then wait near the dog flap until the cat tries to enter. As soon as he touches the flap I would then spray the slightest opening with a jet of water.
I think it may take a few sprays to dissuade the intruder but it will get fed up with it eventually.
If water doesn't work try a spray of vinegar??
You sometimes have to be cruel to be kind!

[wolf63]

Have a look at this

http://www.microchipcatflaps.co.uk/

[notasyoungasiwas]

I think Old_Geezer has a very good point.

[RATTER15]

I dont like to think of any dog alone all day, especially at that age, I don't think the blindness would be a problem if you stop the cat. I would suggest that you bu a cat trap and put the dog food in it, keep the dog away until after you have caught the cat, the trauma of being caught in the trap will deter the cat from ever setting paw on your property again.

It works!!

[Ratty2E]

A cat trap? I want one! There's a few round here that can't seem to take the hint any other way. I've tried explaining with water, hissing, letting the dogs out etc. Still my ponds are irresistable and garden in general too good a feline public convenience for them to clear off.

[RATTER15]

http://www.foxtrap.co...ARRIAGE-pound750.html

[lankeela]

At his age I would say he probably sleeps all the time you are out and it would be far more traumatic for him to have to get used to somewhere else.
Only thing I can think of is for someone to call at around lunchtime to let him out for a while if the collar doesn't work.