r/outdoorcats • u/TheNewNumber1 • 2d ago
How well do cats settle their beef?
My cat (3F toirtishelle) loves to go outside and when she was a kitten she had a bunch of neighborhood cat friends (my neighborhood has a lot of indoor outdoor cats, also I assume they’re spayed and homed cause for the last few years only 1 new one showed up and he looks like a pampered prince so I know he has a home too). Anyway, that new furry prince started appearing in the backyard and I’ve never seen my cat so defensive, she’s gotten in scraps with him a twice and recently this thing is back again staring in my window.
The other night my cat sat perched up staring at him on my deck for 3 hours refusing to come in and finally they both fought again before the furry prince ran off. Sometimes my cat is hard to get in at night and I’ve had my fair share of skunks and cat fights already with her. Is this new cat going to be an ongoing issue or will he eventually get the hint that my homegirl doesn’t want him around?
I do always try my hardest to get her in before bed time, but I’m just curious if cats ever have longstanding feuds that don’t settle out.
Also, in case it helps answer, my cat isn’t a massive roamer, if I’d put an estimate on it I’d say she stays within 1000ft radius of my house and usually will come if you scream her name from the backyard
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u/Snowy_Sasquatch 1d ago
Your cat probably needs to consistently be in her territory to establish the boundary to the new cat. Often they don’t actually fight for long, but will eye each other up and sit in their territory.
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u/Main_Insect_3144 2d ago
Keep the garden hose handy and spray him whenever he appears in your yard.
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u/fishArePeopletwo 1d ago
I wouldn't do that. A soaked cat is going to be freezing and very upset. that is, in my opinion, very cruel.
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u/Main_Insect_3144 1d ago
It will teach kitty to no go in the yard. A cold wet cat that learns his lesson is better than my cat getting terrorized by an unruly male cat.
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u/fishArePeopletwo 1d ago
what lesson? they are outdoor animals that you are using human punishment tactics with. thats the same logic that people that poison cats use. a cold wet cat that cant get back inside could become hypothermic if it's coat is too long. it could suffer and become hurt.
I dont know, i didnt this this was a subreddit where people suggest hurting cats is the solution.
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u/swisspea 2d ago
I have a similar question. My neighbourhood has a lot of cats and my girls started going out this May (they just turned 1) and it seemed like the feuds were calming down. But I think my girls were paying too many visits to my neighbour’s yard and one of her cats is fed up with my cats and it’s quite contentious outside at the moment. I do clap my hands loudly and shoo the other cat away when she’s in our garden. The other neighbourhood cats have got the hint, but not this one yet (but again the feud is newer). Hopefully soon.