I know this is a little strange to post, but I've given this at least a few weeks now, and no kidding, we have a real cat stalker in our neighborhood.

It's really beginning to drive me batty. I was just moments ago shifting from surprise to hilarous laughter while reading the Alphabet Game thread and how I messed up and completely for the Y & Z, when again my two cats begin to fight, hiss and cry, screech and bat at the glass. And, there gettings just so agitated by this (cat from apparently nowhere) showing up at our glass kitchen door and front window. It's just another night of weeks of this in succession.

One night the stalker cat actually dove up off our front porch rocking chair at a small window above it while they fought and threatened each other through the window. Each time it's scaring the be'geeze's out of me.

Our male cat won't even go rest nights like typical, instead it waits and watches and waits for the freaky cat to show up. One night it tried to run in our front door. Another night it fought terribly outside with our cat, when ours had snuck out. It looks very similiar to our except very heavy with a big puffed out face.

Why all this being said, well, tonight I'm already in a state of high anxiety. I feel like I'm racing or speeding or something. Wired! And, not comfortable with it. And, down on myself a bit bc of it. So tonight I'm just a bit fed up with this big pain in the butt neighboring cat.

I don't know how to stop it from coming around. Does anyone know anything about cats. I know very little. Does anyone have any suggestions at all that will keep this cat away? Never ever see him day's ....only at night, and though I suppose I should put up more curtains, realistically I know that I won't be able to find the time to do so for too long of a time.

I started writing this as a bit of a laugh, bc I'm not use to addressing small issues like these, but now I'm realizing how big this small issue is becoming and how much it is affecting me.

ps. as for the alphabet game, I truly didn't mean to forget the X & the Y, but after having done so, and finding when I did, I had myself a huge laugh, bc I think I may have done it once before. Gee' I think I'm going to have to fill in the gaps in my learning while watching my kids do their homework. ... ... ... ! I'll make sure if it were to happen again, it won't be me that does it. Sorry.

Hope

Yikes, that sounds really aggravating, not to mention triggering! Is there a local humane society in your town? If so, you could call them and see if they'll come get the cat next time it's at your house. That would be the best thing for the cat as well as your household. If it does belong to someone, they'll probably get told that it's really best to keep cats inside. If not, well, they should take him or her in. I know this is a potentially controversial issue, but inside cats really are healthier and they live longer. Our oldest lived to about 17.

Good luck!

It will help the startle reflex in time and stop triggering you. You get better at it. It is one of those things. The doorbell and the dog are not as hard as they used to be on me as it happens a lot now and my dog is on "high alert" getting used to a neighborhood. Cats out of the blue still make me hit the ceiling but it is not nightly and I can calm from it. You will get used to it if it is nightly, just annoying after that. Can't stop your pets from acting like animals.

Want a chuckle? If you think cats are annoying... When I had my farm I almost had a loose mule come in my front door. I am not kidding. And another day my little girl was asleep in her carseat and I did not want to wake her (she really needed the nap) so I sat in the car with her in my drive with my window down while I read a book. I damn loose horse stuck its head in the window like "what are you doing in here?" I almost shit my pants as I did not see it until the head popped in my window. So it can always be worse!

This is a good question, and I believe so though I've never before dealt with them. It can't hurt to call and ask them a bunch of questions. See if they could suggest anything or do anything. Personally I wouldn't go anywhere's near that cat. It's crazy. My cat's are generally really good, but even let them see that cat and they lose it and even turn on one another.

Good view and point, I hadn't thought about it this way. It is happening nightly now and so, it seems to make sense that after a while, I'd get use to it. But again the cat fighting noise is awful. Just out of curiosity, something as awful to me like the Loud noises and fits my cats make and have in the house while it's outside, could I really get use to something so horrible. This is a serious question, as I really want to know, if it's possible for anyone of us to become accustomed to and desensitized to something we view as horrible, and could that be good for us? Wo' I'm slowing down before I get to deep.

Veiled the other 3 statements and things you've shared has me cracking up laughing....(lol) . Too funny ! I'm sure it wasn't at all funny for you then. Maybe the mule was a bit funny to you then, maybe?

Now I have some ideas, and perhaps the humane society or animal shelter can give me some too. Thinking more about it though now, I want that cat away from this house for good. For crying out loud, I'm scared to step outside night now bc of it.

Thx, hodge and veiled

Maybe you could put some of your cats' litter (urine) out in the yard to mark it? That might help (but I don't know much). We have a cat stalker in my neighborhood, too--it even jumps on the roof of the house! It took me many scared nights to figure that one out.

Ask the Humane Society about a live trap. That way the cat can be caught without causing harm and with as little stress as possible. Also, if you have one in your area a ferral cat rescue might be able to provide one.

If the Humane Society will catch the cat and it comes out this is a feral or otherwise non-adoptable, the cat will be put to sleep. I worked in the shelter for a year, and every day the burner in the cremotory fual literaly FULL with unwanted animals.
I think the best is to find if there is a Volunteer Service for Animals in your town, and talk to them, asking if they can catch the cat, fix it, and take away from your area without killing it. This is, of course, if you want to act in an interest of this cat. If no, simply call the animal control, and the cat will never show up in your neighborhood again. Which does not mean he is alive.

Linda, got it. You made a very clear, strong point. Thank you. And, thank you kers and Jet for your ideas/suggest. as well. That's what I needed was thoughts and ideas, on this and that's what I got so thx again.

Hope

Hope, Live traps are usually available for rent at a very inexpensive cost from the SPCA, The local humane society and local animal control. Put food in side, set he trap and BINGO. One trapped cat by the next morning. But you need to be careful. This animal could be a bigger type cat: one other than felix the house cat ya know! But the live traps are fantastic. I help out my apartment complex by trapping the possums, racoons and stray cats that seem to over run us every spring. We live next to a park and the locals think that dropping off their unwanted house pets around here is some how the appropiate thing to do, so we are always over run with critters. Good uck, but be careful, that "kitty" could be more than you think it is. Besides a well, cat, even a feral cat normally would not act like this one is acting
Take care and hope this info helped HERC