Neighbour's Cats

[MrsLadyBug]

Help! I am falling out with my son over his two unneutered tom cats. I live very near him with no other neighbours around for some distance.
I have three cats of my own, an elderly female, a young female kitten (as yet not neutered) and an adopted 3yr old neuterd tom. My problem is how do I stop the other cats coming into the house on a regular basis looking for food and bullying the tom. I have a catflap and my cats are happy to use it and I don't like the idea of locking it to stopunwanted visitors.
I have tried to talk with my son about getting his cats neuterd but he doesn't want to as he thinks they are better hunters. I have always had neutered cats and they still managed to bring home presents!
He seems to think that if I put orange skins out it will stop his cats coming in.
Does anybody have any reasonable suggestions , Please.
I would be grateful for any advice.
Thanks

[woofgang]

waterpistol?

[goodgoalie]

What does your son want his cats to be better hunters of? Could you maybe say you'll contribute to the cost of the neutering?

[tonyav]

How about something like this.
No magnet equals no entry.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cat-Mate-Large-4-Way-Cat-or-Small-Dogs-Door-Flap-with-Magnet-Lock/263083415615?hash=item3d40fe583f:g:bCAAAOSwWdZZZNv5

[dunnitall]

IMO domesticated cats shouldn't be hunting for food, he should do what you suggest for the animals welfare...they won't want to fight as much either. I know cats are natural hunters which you will never stop, but to actually want them be 'good' hunters, is in my opinion not a caring attitude, for the cats or the wild life out there.

[MrsLadyBug]

thought about the waterpistol or even a potato gun like I had as a kid but he runs as soon as he hears me coming.. One is worse than the other.
Cost of neutering is not in question. Son just is set in his mind about the whole thing.
His cats are not left in to their house at all and are totally outside , independant cats.

[MrsLadyBug]

Have a cat flap but not one of those that need the cat to wear a special collar. As we live in the country and there are a lot of trees and bushes for them to investigate I would be nervous about them getting caught in brambles or thicket.
Could lock the catflap to allow exit only, but that would mean they would have to wait for me to be there to let them in again.
This has been one of my options.
My neutered tom has onlky been with me for a short while and am still trying to gain hisa confidence, so would hate for him to feel locked out and unwanted again.

[Quizproquo]

Cats hate citrus so orange peel might work but what about your own cats? They hate it too. That's an unreasonable thing for him to suggest.
His attitude isn't great, but short of keeping them on a leash, they are going to wander. I doubt neutering would stop the behaviour now it's established to be honest.
I think the catflap hotel is going to have to close down and become sheltered housing, with a doorman.

[sapelesam]

Great, status cats, makes a change from status dogs. Another person who doesn't give a damn for animal welfare.

[MrsLadyBug]

I think you are probably right Q , Thought that about the orange peel alright.
Will have to revert to the old days when catflaps hadn't been invented!
Just wondering also if it may get better when I get the kitten neutered.
I shall just have to wait and see.

Thanks to everybody for your thoughts.
Felt it was probably something with no practical solution.

[ladybirder]

Your son won't get his cats neutered. He won't let them in his house. He doesn't feed them. How can he say they are his cats when he doesn't shelter them, feed them, or neuter them? Presumably he doesn't worm them or de-flea them either? Does he give them their annual jabs, have they ever been to a vet? The cats are not the problem, your son is. I'd be falling out with him too if he were my son.

[sapelesam]

Great one ladybirder.

[ladybirder]

Thank you Sam. x

[sapelesam]

Ladybirder, see my post at 23.21.

[ladybirder]

Yes I had noted it Sam and was glad you posted it. Poor cats. No doubt there'll be lots of unwanted kittens at some point as well if they are left wandering around not neutered. Totally and utterly irresponsible behaviour and it's the animals that will suffer. Grrh off to bed now in a bad mood!

[woofgang]

as lb said....how can he say they are his cats? and seeing as how they aren't his cats, what's to stop "anybody" trapping these feral cats and taking them to be neutered....either neutered and released or neutered and rehomed.

[Fitzer]

There are cat flaps which read the microchip in their necks to allow entry, the Sureflap is one, not cheap but we haven't had an incursion since we fitted one Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[ladybirder]

Fitzer I had one outhouse for my cats and they are very good. One of those would certainly suit MrsLB but leave her son's cats in dire straits without access to shelter and food.
And MrsLB I'm not sure you could cope with that? I hope you can talk some sense into him or find somebody else who can. I know what I'd do if he was mine.

[ladybirder]

Tut! One of those not an outhouse. Sigh.

Woofy at 09.52. Good idea. Perhaps MrsLB could do that?

[Messalina]

We've got a microchip cat flap. It's great. Smoke gets in and out but no one else does. Although if I'm in he does just rattle it until I open the door.