Conference misery::feline_v1

    Is Cashew altered? 
    

    Yes, Cashew (female) was altered as a kitten.  She is 4 now.
    

    Do you know your neighbor well enough to ask that the male be neutered.
    That would probably solve most of the problem.  It does take about
    a month for the hormone level in the male to drop so don't expect
    immediate results.
      Nancy DC
    

    I have (almost) the same problem.  The neighbor's
    tom keeps marking my house and surrounding area.
    All my guys are neutered, so no attraction that 
    I can think of.  
    I'm waiting for the chance to try the "hose method".
    Have a spray bottle full of water handy, or the hose,
    and let him have it a few times. 
    That should cool him off! :-)
    
    Unfortunately, my neighbor takes no constructive critism (sp)
    even from someone known well.

    I've thought of approaching the neighbor directly about the problem
    but was hoping to avoid it.  I don't know them well at all, and
    live in a townhouse - the neighbor is 2 doors down in an attached
    building.  Don't want to make enemies by complaining, thus was hoping 
    there is something I can spray to discourage him from coming around. 
    Has anyone heard of anything on the market?
    
    Thanks again...

    Karen  and  Cashew
    

    Karen, you can approach the neighbor in a nice way.  I live in a
    townhouse, and recently had to do it with a woman down the street,
    who's unneutered male was coming around our units spraying up a
    storm.  I approached her as diplomatically as possible, but had
    to bite my tongue when she said the reason he isn't neutered yet
    is because she has a female at home that she wants to have a litter.
    She has never had cats before, and didn't even know that a male
    cat sprays! (he never does it in the house she tells me).  I haven't
    seen him around since my phone call; don't know if she's keeping
    him in or not, but if I find him around again, unfixed, she will
    receive another phone call from me.  If that doesn't work, a letter
    to the management company is in order.  Besides his spraying, he
    wakes up the neighborhood with his piercing whole tom cries.
    
    What I keep telling myself, and also the neighbors who have
    complained about the cat, is that it is not the cat's fault he is
    spraying and disturbing the peace, and he shouldn't suffer for it.
    His owner needs to be educated about the benefits of neutering,
    and responsible cat ownership.
    
    I honestly feel a polite chat with your neighbor is in order.  My
    neighbor only got huffy when I aksed her for a timeframe for his
    neutering.  She said as soon as the breeding took, he would be
    neutered.  I pushed for a target date, and that is when she got
    snarky.
    
    
    --Roberta
    
    

    I know how you feel Roberta.  This morning I found cat sh*t by my
    car - now I know what has been upsetting the ENTIRE household these
    last few weeks.  I've seen 2 black cats, and one blue and white.
    I don't have any idea who owns any of them, but I sure wish they
    would keep them in or at home.  They seem like nice kitties, but
    I'd like them a lot more if they weren't in my yard leaving 
    presents by my porch!!
    
    E.T.

    
    Here's a coupld of wacky suggestions.  You could pour lots of 
    Tobassco sauce around the house.  (My cats hate that!)  Also, I 
    heard once that cats are supposed to hate lemon oil too.  (However, 
    my 2 like it!  But they like salads too!)  
    Another wacky idea is hide behind your kitty and hiss at the male. 
    Maybe the male will think your kitty doesn't like him anymore.  
    
    Rachael, Pretty & Spike
    

    I don't remember if this has been suggested, but I would douse the
    cat with a spray bottle of water the next time you found him clinging
    to your screen.
    
    Jo

    RE .8
    
    Hide behind your kitty and hiss at him. 
    
    That is soooooooo funny.
    
    Flo & Oliver