Tips from professionals: What to do if the cat prefers to live with the neighbor?

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Many Swiss people own one or more cats, so it’s no surprise that velvetpaws have long been the most popular pets in this country. If your pet is an outdoor animal and has room to run around, they can wander around and explore the area to their heart’s content. Normally, animals return to their homes at regular intervals. If the dog stays away for longer and longer periods of time, or you notice that it stays almost exclusively with a neighbor, the sneaky hunter may be looking for a new home.

“Actually, it is not in a cat’s nature to leave its home territory, that is, its house or apartment, for no reason. “This area is the be-all and end-all for velvet paws,” says Katrin Held (47), trained behavioral therapist and nutritionist for cats at “Katzentalk” in Rottenschwil AG.

This is why cats migrate

According to the expert, there can be many reasons why a cat decides to move. But in his experience, the age or sex of the animal does not play a role. Cats take a long time to migrate and each animal has its own motivation and character. According to Held, some dogs enjoy traveling and often visit other people’s homes or even stores.

In any case, it is important to analyze the situation to find out why the animal suddenly prefers a new home. The owner also needs to be willing to change something. “You have to look closely at what has changed in the cat’s life,” Held explains in an interview with Blick. This could be a new animal roommate, for example, but it could also be a neighbor’s cat competing for territory. “A small child or a new partner in the house can also cause animals to run away.”

According to the behavioral therapist, other common causes are traumatic experiences in the core area as well as lack of time or the absence of the pet owner. “I don’t see feeding off of others as a reason to give up one’s own home. In such cases, it is often seen that the cat only goes out to eat and otherwise comes home as usual,” adds the expert.

What should Büsi do if he doesn’t like his home anymore?

As Held knows, it is always very bad for pet owners when their own cat wants to abandon them: “Owners feel helpless in this situation. Some even develop anger towards the animal because they believe they have done everything for their beloved cat, but the cat still “He doesn’t want to return home. Many people are afraid that something will happen to the animal. And I understand every pet owner’s concern.” But locking the cat is counterproductive.

It is very important to talk to the neighbor with whom the cat often spends time. According to the expert, they need to be friendly and objective, as arguments will only escalate the situation. The cat can sense this, which ultimately leads to further discomfort and cord cutting. “If talking doesn’t help, you should get expert support.”

It is also recommended that you avoid allowing stranger cats into your own home. It may also be helpful to create rituals that go beyond the evening feeding ritual: “Nutrition is a basic need. In order for the animal to feel completely comfortable, it is very important to do a lot of observation and find out what your pet likes and build on that. Held recommends consulting an expert, as it is difficult to generalize how to proceed in individual cases.

Preventive measures for cat owners

The closer the relationship between the owner and the animal, the less likely the cat will be carried away. «It is often said that cats do not need people, they just want full bowls. This is not true. “Cats can form extremely strong bonds with their humans if they are willing,” Held says. Joint rituals that meet the animal’s needs can also be useful as a preventative measure.

The expert also has other tips: “Make your home exciting and diverse, just like your daily activities. Just because a cat has free time doesn’t mean it doesn’t want to do things with its human. Clicker training is great and promotes bonding. Cats are much more than just cuddle buddies for a cozy evening watching TV.

Source : Blick