unwanted visitor

[Jaybird19]

i have new neighbours and today looked up to see their cat coming into my sitting room through balcony door. It had walked out of their open window onto sill and walked along and jumped the gap onto my balcony handrail . Only first floor but south facing and I have to open that door when it is warm so what do i do ?

I will add that a parasite caught from a cat infected my eye some years ago and began blinding me . Had to have my retina lasered around the lesion in hope of killing the parasite there so I do not like cats . this can also attack heart and brain and encysts until immunity is lowered . So beware of toxoplasmosis .Blood tests showed a reaction to this organism and antibody and globulin levels showed the likely time of infection ! I was given some fruit in greece at the time that had been picked up off the ground and had not been washed. there were lots of cats and kittens around found this out minutes later but forgot about it until more than 6 months later when my vision was impaired . it took over three months to diagnose and had been told it could be cancer and might lose my eye t until someone took more time to think about it and asked for blood tests.

So I now avoid cats. Any cat. Every cat.

be aware the problem gets worse As I said. It can encyst and revive when immunity levels drop for any reason. I have to go for a heart scan next week . Fingers crossed

[Karenanne61]

I can understand your dislike of cats after that! I saw a shadow out of the corner of my eye this morning and our foxy visitor had come right up to the open french doors! I hope somebody has ideas to keep that cat out for you.

[Jaybird19 in reply to Karenanne61]

i feel sorry fort he wild animals in this drought, but cats are just cats and well fed and whatever. they just have to explore ! but not in my house ! a friend is appalled as her husband is severely allergic to cats . that's so much worse.

I hope your fox doesn't try again.

[Karenanne61 in reply to Jaybird19]

I certainly don't want the fox in the house! I also wouldn't want strange cats either so I hope there is an easy way to keep yours out.

[Threecats]

Hi Jaybird,I’m sorry to hear about your experience with toxoplasmosis, that sounds horrific. You want to make clear to your ‘visitor’ that he isn’t welcome, so I would suggest getting a cheap spray bottle of the type used for misting houseplants etc , fill it with water and give him a squirt as soon as he rocks up on your balcony. You might need to do it a couple of times but he should soon get the message! If you hiss at him as well that will help to reinforce the message.

I completely understand your desire not to have a cat in your home at all but be assured that the parasite is only found in cat faeces, it’s not carried on the animals fur. Hopefully the spray will do the trick - it certainly works with my lot when they try and scratch my carpet!!

[Ergendl in reply to Threecats]

The water gun trick works a treat. We used to have a cheeky cat that picked on our old moggy Tinker, and also attacked me once. We bought a pump action water pistol from the Works, and sprayed the cat with it whenever it came near. The pump action meant we could direct the spray from a distance and be quite accurate. It gave up after about a month.

[Threecats in reply to Ergendl]

That reminds me of a story about a ginger cat of my acquaintance- I’ll put a post up about it sometime 😊

[strongmouse in reply to Ergendl]

Yes, water works. I sometimes get a neighbour's cat in our garden. I am allergic to cats plus as we have lots of birds in the garden I don't want him there. I have sprayed the water hose near him and he has shot off. Now if he sees me I simply wave my hands and he scoots off. The 'visits' are less frequent.

Apparently there are some plants they don't like the smell of. Perhaps you could put one in a pot on your balcony? Lemon thyme, lavender and penny royal, plus citrus peel smell puts them off.

[madonbrew]

Dear Jaybird, that sounds like a traumatic experience! No wonder you didn’t like cats! Threecats made some good suggestions! I hope you manage to keep your home cat free again!

[corriena]

Try putting citrus oil on your balcony wear the cat comes over. orange peal garland ect. cats dont like it so may deter them. Garden centers often have cat deterants to keep them out of the garden si may be worth a look

[B0xermad]

Get a sonic deterrent to keep cat away from your window may help as your health is at risk

[Izb1]

No wonder you dont like cats with a reaction like this. Cats dont like water so make sure it gets wet when ever it comes onto your property and maybe have a look for one of those pretend cats that keep them out of the gardens. I wonder if they do a recording of ferocious cats that would keep it away, worth investigating x

[earthnymph]

You can get automatic things that spray water when motion sensor goes off, also things that emit a sound we can’t hear but they can. Sorry I don’t know what they are called. Maybe search Google for repellents? I understand your fear, I’ve never had a cat with toxoplasmosis and I’ve taken in lots of strays and ferals. Cats make wonderful companions but when you’ve had such a scary experience it’s very hard to get past it.

[Jaybird19 in reply to earthnymph]

how would you know if the cat had toxo ?, Many cats do . usually infection only results in a flu type illness in humans and is not diagnosed but I was just unlucky. the scar is still there on my retina and the opticians are always interested in seeing it when I have eye tests . when active it produced many white blood cells ( pus) that always reduced my vision. Strangely when I had catacts removed and some of these pus cells disappeared along with the cataract... In France it was recognised as being associated with undercooked lamb and as it also can attack the foetus and they have to be tested for this when getting a marriage certificate . That was applicable when I caught it 35 years ago and might not be the case now . There have been science programmes on tv about the effects of toxo on mice making them more likely to take risks and so get caught more easily, but there is not much known aboutthat generally . Toxocaris in dogs has more publicity especially in children's play grounds. that is also a similar parasite caught in the similar way when ingesting from contaminated unwashed hands.

[watergazer]

I can see why you don’t want this visitor though as three cats said the disease is in the faeces x

[Jaybird19 in reply to watergazer]

the orgainsm is complicated and there is no drug to combat it . I got an eye infection through eating unwashed fruit and its effect there could be seen under the microscope. / iti is transmitted by eggs which then hatch in the tissue and move though the tissues to heart lung brain and eyes. i got one which went to my eye but what about all the other eggs. there were bound to be more. they can encyst and they revive when immunity levels drop . this has been my life for many years and cats are now simply a symbol of that . not fearful of fresh infection but that which is probably in my tissues already, waiting for a drop In immunity. i don't know how long they can exist encysted. The cat is a symbol, a reminder, of that .

[Patk1 in reply to Jaybird19]

You've had a tough time with it Jaybird19.I appreciate u highlighting it,having footy playing grandsons.sounds an awful disease xxx

[Mavary]

Hi. I found if you sprinkle bio washing powder where they can get in they don’t like that. I had a Tom cat coming in the garden making everything stink because he wasn’t neutered. I put the powder down and he hasn’t come back. When I lived in another place my neighbours cat kept coming in my garden, hiding under the lavender and jumping out catching the birds. I sprinkled powder all around the garden and he didn’t come back . I’ve tried and tested it so I know it works. You will only probably have to do it once. I am an animal lover. The cat catching the birds I know was fed well and I didn’t want to see birds being caught. I know it’s their nature. I’ve got a cat of my own. The bio powder will not hurt them. You don’t need to put a lot. Just a sprinkling. I hope it works for you.:

[watergazer in reply to Mavary]

I’ll give it a go too 👍

[HollyBoyd]

That's certainly a problem for you Jaybird. Hopefully some of the helpful suggestions will work and the unwanted visitor stops coming. Keeping fingers crossed. xxx 😊

[Pipswhips]

I had them problem with one of my nextdoor neighbours cat they got 4 cats 2 dogs and a snake. When I leave my door open the cat just walks in and have to chase it out quite a few times even when sitting another neighbours dog whilst she's at work it comes to stay and just let it when it wants to even the cat ignores the dog but finally it got the message it's not welcome in my house I do like cats but not in my house.

[Alberta56]

Thanks for the info. I hope you can find a way to keep the pesky cat out. I stick holly sprigs in newly dug ground (we have loads of holly. ) I don't know if tying bits to the top of the balcony would do any good.

[Alberta56]

PS I think 3Cats' water pistol is the best idea- I've tried it- itworks.