Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hi, about 2 months ago, we moved to an area with lots of parkland, which we thought would be ideal for our cat to roam. Turns out, this is hotly contested territory with several other neighbouring cats who seem to be at peace with each other.

Our cat hisses at all other cats, but has a history of losing even staring contests. At the moment she is coming home at least once a week badly scratched, bitten, limping, bleeding - we've been to the vet a couple of times. She is really stressed and guards the cat door against an intrusive kitten a lot of the time. I don't want to make her an indoor cat just yet, so I have a couple of questions:

1. How long does it take for territory fights to settle down?
2. Although our cat is aggressive, she is clearly not dominant. - Will she stop fighting and run away once she is established as "bottom cat"?
3. Can you tell by the places where she's been scratched if she has likely lost or won? (Some lore says if they have scratches on the butt, they lost.)

I am getting a bit worried about all this. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Aww that's sad. Hope you get some advice

My first question in any situation like this would be are all cats involved neutered / spayed as that definitely will be a huge factor

How big is your garden, could you cat proof it so that she has access to that and can't go further and other cats can't get in?

I was wonder the same as Meriad, or at least can you set up a catflap that will only let her in so she doesn't start to feel insecure in her own home?

Thanks for your kind comments!

Unfortunately, we don't have gardens, but live right on the park. The ninja kitten (who seems to be the main problem) is neutered but so pushy that apparently even the owner's little family dog is scared of him. I sprayed him with water a few times and he just looks at me and then comes again. Our cat just sees him and runs. Magnetic cat doors cost several hundred dollars in Australia.

Since her last fight on the weekend, our cat doesn't leave the house anymore. I went out with her today and she pottered around the front door a bit, but the slightest noise sent her back indoors where she hid under the couch.

I was wondering if I should ask the owners of ninja kitten if we could let our cats out on different days. They seem friendly, but we're new to the area and I don't want to start off by making demands. *sigh*

That's a really good idea, in my last house a neighbour moved in with a yappy dog and all my lot got scared to go out as the back door was right by the fence. We agreed to a morning and afternoon arrangement, where she had mornings and I had afternoons and it worked very well, and actually helped forge a better relationship between us. Good luck.

Thanks, Crewella! I am glad to hear it's not a total alien idea to argue for a schedule.

Also, in more hopefuly news, today is the first day that our cat is venturing out again. I was cleaning the frontyard, so she probably felt a bit safer. Ninja kitten came over and chased her into the house (he got a good scolding from me), but then she came out again. His territory is big enough to be elsewhere sometimes, so now she is staying near the house and seems quite relaxed again.

Fingers crossed, with a few more ups and downs they'll sort it out somehow. As long as they don't fight and she is not constantly stressed, it's okay.

It might also help if you back her up. Many years ago we used to have a bully Burmese that started beating up my cats in their own garden until I started chasing him out (I hissed at him and sometimes sprayed him with water). That, I think, put an edge of wariness into his swagger, enough that my tiny little Spook (half his size and smallest of my gang at the time, but a very determined little tortie) suddenly took it upon herself to take him on and chase him out by herself - there was an almighty battle which knocked over a concrete bird bath, but both survived relatively unscathed and he never came back!

Crewella, that sounds like one determined cat! Good on ya!

I also back up my cat when I catch anything going on. However, Ninja kitten is sort of missing the fear gene: I have sprayed him with water a number of times. He retreats 3 steps and then comes straight back. My boyfriend recently pelted him with with almonds at close range (the first thing he had at hand). I would believe that was a bit painful. Ninja kitten looked surprised, then picked up an almond and carried it off for further inspection. 5 minutes later he was back. He's a handful ...

However, so far, things are looking better for our cat. She comes running indoors whenever she sees another cat, but is also out of the door again the next moment and seems to be her normal self again. For now, that's a good development. Perhaps, when they get used to each other over the next year or so, they won't chase her so much anymore.

That sounds much better, I'm glad she's got some of her confidence back.

No wonder you called him 'Ninja kitten', he does sound a little tyke!