Intruder Cat

[JuniperEccles]

A female cat has discovered my tabby's cat-flap and is now coming in and out like a fiddler's elbow. She just goes straight upstairs and sleeps on the spare bed morning, noon and usually through the night. My cat, being a neutered tom, just ignores her! She's no problem really but it's beginning to irritate me. I can't shut off the cat-flap or my boy won't be able to use it. Even if I find her "owner" I'm not sure there's anything they could do about it. Any ideas, please/

[Gizmonster]

Get a magnetic one.
You'll need to fit a magnet to your cat's collar (everything you need is included in the pack), but the cat flap will not open for the other cat, unless it too has a magnet on its collar.

[boxtops]

You could get a new catflap that only responds to your cat's microchip - well worth it if other cats come in. I wouldn't collar any of my cats again after near-misses in the past with collars

Why does it irritate you? personally, I find it quite flattering that other cats like our house - and if your cat's not bothered, I wouldn't mind at all.

[Prudie]

But you have been chosen! if she doesn't mess, pinch food or bother your cat what irritates you? Think what a lovely comfy place you're giving her, obviously nicer than her own home.

[Mosaic]

I have a catflap that can be locked off, or set so that once they come in they can't get out.
Thought I'd locked it shut after a few vinos at weekend. heard a commotion in the night and found I'd caught me a fine male Siamese cat. Anyone lost one?

[JuniperEccles]

Thanks for your ideas. Perhaps I'll just settle for being a 2-cat house and see how it goes !!

[corylus]

Take her in and look after her

[boxtops]

It's happened to me several times. A few doors up had a kitten and five small children - the kitten often came to our house for sanctuary, so when they upped and moved and left her behind, we took her on. A few years later, a boy kitten from the other end of the road started to drop in - I was going to adopt him officially, but he found the three big cats too much competition, and took himself off to a new home. Our Black Spot used to live next door, and Rover's a stray who turned up in the garden a good ten years ago.... No. 1 Son's the only cat I actually chose from a litter!

[Peaspeculiars]

Just be mindful not to feed her if she already looks well fed - One of mine disappeared for a week and after desperately searching for her the neighbours a few doors down had let her in, as she kept being fed ice-cream there (The neighbour had an ice-cream van business) so of course she was quite happy there. - Luckily I found it funny, and politely asked then to cease providing 99's to my cat (especially as she had a collar and tag on!) :-)

[rockyracoon]

I think it's quite flattering that an animal that doesn't know you feels comfortable enough to squat in your house.

[ELVIS68]

I'd love a cat to wander into my house, nice treat for the dog!

[rockyracoon]

Aw Elvis! Though to be fair my dog would eat it too. :)

[Gizmonster]

We've got 2 Yorkies that use the cat flap to come and go as they please. Strangely enough, we never have cats in our garden and I dread to think what would happen if one popped its head through the cat flap .........

[murraymints]

I'd love a visiting cat...can't have flap though as I have no back door only sliding glass from lounge which can't be adapted...have tried to entice passing moggies in to no avail.. :-(

[JuniperEccles]

Hi, Murraymints, I saw a house on TV that had a catflap built into the wall so just remove a few bricks from your living-room wall and see what comes in !!!

[boxtops]

That's what my friend did in her old house - the tunnel was about 10 inches long through the wall!