Urgent Cat Advice Needed

[benners]

I have a one year old cat and whilst I have been on holiday for the past two weeks, a cat sitter has been in to feed him each day. During this time I also had some work carried out to the flat, and when i returned there was no sign of my cat, but the workmen told me that a large black cat has been coming in every day and eating all his food.

My cat has clearly been scared off (either by the builders or the other cat, or both) and I wanted to know if anyone could offer me any advice as to how to get rid of the other cat and whether my cat will eventually come back (he has not been seen for a week now). Not sure what to do?

Thanks, Jo

[LuvPeckham]

Hi Jo

Maybe consider getting a cat flap fitted with a device that either works on a magnetic contact (worn around your cat's neck on the collar) or one that reads his/her chip so that it only opens for your cat

I saw one of the latter at Pets at home on the A3 last weekend but guess they should be commonplace

Luv

[benners]

Thanks for the advice. The cat flap is actually magnetic, but as he hated wearing the somewhat cumbersome tag around his neck, i stupidly took it off. I have not had any problems for the past year with intruder cats, but now this larger cat has started to come in I have lost my own.

If I get him back ever, then the tag will go on for sure. lesson learnt I guess, but thanks for the reply anyway.

Jo

[pepinot]

Oh no, sorry to hear your news Benners, let me know if you fancy a drink to chase away your cat blues sometime.....i live just around the corner to Bellenden and am a feline lover.

Good luck in the hunt for Leo

[SimonM]

I suspect your cat was put off by a combination of the workers in your flat and your own absence, rather than the unwelcome new visitor. A week is worrying but not that uncommon for a cat and he may yet just wander back in.

[bluntlaser]

Hi Jo

Sorry to hear about this - happens quite a lot with cat flaps and greedy cats coming in. Plus I'm sure the noise of the builders would scare him off as well. Too many unknowns in his territory.

I would suggest maybe moving the cat food away from the usual place to somewhere else in the house to discourage the black cat from coming in, hopefully if he can't see any food he'll go away. (As a cat sitter myself it's quite common to walk in and see some other moggy helping themselves to the food and often moving the food to somewhere else in the house can help - depends how cheeky the intruder is!) The magnet cat flaps are very helpful with this. Also I know there are cat flaps now that can read your cats chip if they are mircrochipped so that stops intruders too. These are especially good if they don't like wearing their collars.

In regards to Leo, it would be worth asking your neighbours if they've seen Leo and putting a picture up on here so people can look out for him. There is a chance he's discovered someone else's cat flap! Otherwise, just lots of calling out - hopefully if he's around and hears your voice he'll know he's safe to come home.

Best of luck with your search, so upsetting when they go missing.

Lucy x

[first mate]

I would clean the cat flap and door outside with biological washing powder. This will get rid of the scent of the new cat, which may be putting your cat off, in addition to everything else. Cats are very territorial so you wnat to get rid of any association with the big black puss.

[benners]

Hi Lucy - thanks so much for the encouraging words and advice. Helps to know this is a common thing. Am making some posters to drop through the neighbours doors tonight and have now stopped putting any food down, but actually found him waiting patiently in my kitchen this morning!!!

[Administrator]

Moved to the Lounge as it is not East Dulwich specific

[pepinot]

here is a photos of your missing cat, i took it last year.

[pepinot]

the photo, not the cat.