Expert: Dear Tabbi - 11/24/2008

Question
Hi - I am writing about my cat Fanta. I got Fanta, who is 5, from a rescue home and she settled in well. When the time came for her to go out she enjoyed going into the garden, via a catflap, a few times in daylight and for 1 -2 hours at night (returning to spend the night on the bed).

She has though been chased by several cats and at least 1 chased her into the house which makes me think whenever she meets other cats her body language will look meek and invite an attack thus making her more of a target. Now she doesn't like going out and used to sit by the catflap for ages before a v.short trip out to toilet and return.

On the advice of a friend I have locked the catflap and covered it in cardboard so she does not feel that another cat can come through. However, she does scratch things a few times in the night because she has a bit too much energy and I now have to empty the litter tray of solid matter. How can I get her confidence back?


Answer
Justin,

The kindest thing would be to go outside with her. She will feel safe and secure if you are out there with her. The other cats are claiming her area as their territory and to them she is the intruder.

If you want to spend a little money, there is a cat flap (at PetSmart/Petco/etc.) that has a sensor on it. The cat wears an infrared sensor on it's collar (like a garage door opener works) and the cat door will only open for that cat. It keeps other cats and wildlife out.

Here are a couple of articles to read also on bully cats:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into the address bar)

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/bullying.html

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20problems/cats/deterring%20invaders.html

Tabbi