Dear Critter Corner: There are a few stray cats in my neighborhood that seem friendly, but my cat has been standing at the sliding glass door hissing and growling at them. What should I do to help her?
It sounds like your cat might be getting a little territorial toward the other cats or just generally does not like them. It might be best to distract your cat away from the sliding door with toys or treats to limit her from seeing them. It can also be helpful to use blinds, curtains, or window coverings that cover only the bottom half of the window to block your cat’s visual of the other cats.
In terms of the stray cats wandering near your home, if they are friendly, you might be able to check if they have collars or tags on. If they do, and they allow you to get close enough, see if you’re able to determine their name and owner’s information. This way you can call or post online that you found their cat, in case it is an indoor cat that got outside accidentally. Check with your neighbors as well in case any of these cats might be theirs. If they are friendly enough, you can also put them in a crate and bring them to your local animal shelter to scan for a microchip so the cat’s owner can be contacted.
If the cats are not wearing any collars or tags and they are friendly enough for you to pick them up, then you might still be able to bring them to your local shelter to scan for a microchip. This will help determine if they belong to anyone and if they may have gotten lost. If the shelter determines that they do not belong to anyone, then they can be medically and behaviorally evaluated for adoption.
If the cats seem friendly but you are not able to handle them, you can rent a trap instead. Some shelters and rescues offer trap, test, vaccinate, alter, and return services. This helps by spaying/neutering the cats to reduce the number of stray or feral cats in the community population over time. It also helps keep the cats and the public safe through vaccinations. Once spayed/neutered, you would return the cat to where you found him. If possible, you can then care for these cats by providing food/water away from your sliding door in an area where they cannot see your cat. This will create a routine for the stray cats, lessen the likelihood that they will encounter your cat, and help your cat at the same time.
Mary-Ann Fernandes is a Trainer for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, please call 650-340-7022 or email behavior@phs-spca.org.