My friend does not have a cat at the moment, although she adores them. However she is consantly visited by a neighbour's cat.
This cat started coming over to her house from the moment she moved there, about five years ago. Trouble is he's really aggressive. He will rub up against her and purr madly, but will then attack her for no reason.
Yesterday she was walking back to the house and he was walking alongside her (he is desperate to come inside, but isn't allowed). She turned to him and said, quite gently "you know you're not allowed inside the house" and he immediately lunged for her ankle, biting her quite badly. She was hurt, but also stunned/amused as she felt it was obvious he knew what she was saying.
I'm wondering if the previous owners let him in, or whether he is just desperate to extend his territory. He looks well-nourished. My friend will not approach the owners as they are not very friendly.
She's unsure whether he is around at night, but he is there very early in the mornings and comes around a lot during the day.
Any ideas how to deal with this? My friend can only wear long, heavy pants outside now, and it's wearing a bit thin as summer approaches.
This cat started coming over to her house from the moment she moved there, about five years ago. Trouble is he's really aggressive. He will rub up against her and purr madly, but will then attack her for no reason.
Yesterday she was walking back to the house and he was walking alongside her (he is desperate to come inside, but isn't allowed). She turned to him and said, quite gently "you know you're not allowed inside the house" and he immediately lunged for her ankle, biting her quite badly. She was hurt, but also stunned/amused as she felt it was obvious he knew what she was saying.
I'm wondering if the previous owners let him in, or whether he is just desperate to extend his territory. He looks well-nourished. My friend will not approach the owners as they are not very friendly.
She's unsure whether he is around at night, but he is there very early in the mornings and comes around a lot during the day.
Any ideas how to deal with this? My friend can only wear long, heavy pants outside now, and it's wearing a bit thin as summer approaches.