A neighbor’s cat comes to your house because you are friendly to it, or to look for shelter, food, and attention. You can discourage the habit by:
- Talking to your neighbor and asking them to keep their cats indoors
- Using scent deterrents
- Erect physical barriers
- Avoid feeding the cat
Sometimes your neighbor’s cat might choose your house as its favorite lounging place. What can you do if the neighbors’ cat just won’t go home? Read more, to find out what you can do if you have an annoying unexpected member of your family.
Perhaps it just wants attention from you, or it is hungry. But it can quickly turn into a big issue if the cat will invite other cats into your compound and start fighting or stealing food.
The personalities of cats differ, just like in humans. Some cats are social and enjoy being around people. It could be because you are friendly towards it, the presence of other cats in your home, cooking scents in your house, or a combination of these factors.
Whatever the reason, here are a few guidelines on how to stop the neighbor’s cat from making regular visits to your home and not want to leave.
Here are possible reasons why your neighbor’s cat won’t go home, and how to amicably fix the situation.
1.Your Neighbor’s Cat Finds Lots of Open Entry Points in the House
Suggestions:
Secure the entry points used by the cat.
Your neighbor’s cat probably uses a cat flap or an open window as an entry point to your house.
If your cat uses the cat flap, ensure it is secured with a microchip that will only open for your cat. Other cats will not be able to pass through.
Even if you don’t have a secure microchip cat flap, clear the area and make it uninviting. Avoid placing food near the cat flap.
2. Your Neighbor’s Cat Is Looking for Attention
There is a misconception that cats are snobs, and they only care about food. Cats have often gained the reputation of being nonchalant. However, studies have proved otherwise.
Research from Oregon State University’s Human-Animal Interaction showed that cats prefer human attention to food and toys.
It could be that your neighbor is never at home, and the cat gets bored.
What you can do:
Ignore the cat each time it visits
The most obvious reason why the neighbor’s cat likes to come to your house is that it is not getting attention from its owner. If you want to discourage the habit, try as much as possible to ignore the cat once it comes over.
Do not play with the cat, as this would encourage it to hang around more in your house. One bothered neighbor says that she takes back the cat to its owner, and gives it treats in that home.
That way, the cat knows there is a reward when it stays at its place.
Don’t be affectionate to the cat, no matter how friendly it is. If a cat feels welcomed in a home it will come back.
3. Your Neighbor Is Unaware Where Their Cat Spends Most of Its Time
Roaming the neighborhood is a trait common in cats, especially the tomcats. Your neighbor might not be able to know where his/her cat goes to.
Solution:
Tell the owner to stop their cat from coming to your place
You can politely talk to your neighbor, and ask them to prevent their cat from entering your property. If the cat is male and you have a female cat, it could be that it smells your female cat in heat.
A male cat can smell a female in heat more than a mile away. You can tell the owner to consider getting him neutered.
It would also be nice if you politely approached your neighbor and asked them to keep their cats indoors.
4. The cat comes for food
The different cooking scents in your house might be too tempting for a kitty to resist.
Suggestion:
Don’t feed the cat
It might be tempting to occasionally give the visiting cat a few treats, but doing so would only encourage it to stay in your house. Felines usually follow a routine. The neighbor’s cat might regularly follow the feeding routine.
Furthermore, it could be that the cat is following a strict diet and might grow unwell if you feed it anything else.
Some cats are greedy and would enjoy being fed in several homes.
Other Practical Suggestions to Keep off the Neighbor’s Cat From Your Property
Use physical Barriers
Chicken wire on top of your garden soil can be a barrier if you want to keep the neighbor’s cat from digging up your garden. The bristly material will deter the neighbor’s cat from walking in your garden.
You can also erect a low-voltage electric fence. Remember the whole idea is to keep your neighbor’s cat at bay, but not harm it, which is also against the law.
Put clear signs to alert others of the electric fence so that they don’t get hurt.
Use a water sprinkler
Most domestic cats hate water. When a cat’s fur coat is drenched, it makes it uncomfortable and will take a long time to dry. Since cats spend a lot of time grooming, it can be difficult for them to maintain their routine when it is wet.
With that in mind, use a sprinkler to splash on to the cat each time it visits. Your neighbor’s cat will soon get that it is not wanted there.
Motion-activated sprinklers in your garden will detect any movement in your compound and sprinkle water to the intruding cat to scare it off.
Use scent deterrents
Cats do not like the smell of citrus, vinegar, or coffee. Try placing lemon peels where the neighbor’s cat will normally pass to discourage it from coming to your residence.
You might also spray some lemon juice near areas where the cat would visit, such as on your garden and doorways.
It Is Not Right to Feed a Cat That’s Not Yours
Feeding it Causes Unnecessary Stress
Feeding the neighbor’s cat might make the cat eat less at its home. The owner might be worried about this loss of appetite, and probably take it to a vet. This might cause unnecessary stress both to the cat and its owner, and cause a financial burden.
The cat could become obese
Perhaps you are dealing with a gluttonous cat that enjoys being fed in two homes. If the owner has already fed it, and you continue to serve its food, the cat could easily gain weight.
An obese cat develops an increased risk of health complications such as diabetes, urinary bladder stones, and arthritis.
The neighbor’s cat could risk its life while coming to your house
If the cat is used to being fed in your house, it might be that it crosses roads when coming over, something that increases the risk of it being run over.
You don’t want to be blamed if such an unfortunate incident ever happened.
You might interrupt the cat’s special diet routine
Since it is not your cat, you may not be aware of its special diet. Perhaps the cat has a health condition that is being controlled with a special diet. The cat will not resist what you are feeding it, especially if it’s tastier.
However, it might not be good for the cat in the long run. The specific diet the cat has been put in helps it to avoid further health problems.
Sources
https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2228957/cat-wont-go-home-and-wants-to-move-in-scenario
https://www.tuxedo-cat.co.uk/neighbours-cat-keeps-coming-into-house/
https://www.cuteness.com/article/scents-cats-hate
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/obesity-in-cats
https://www.livescience.com/58438-cats-like-people-more-than-food.html