Cat in the dog door

How do I keep a neighbor's cat from coming in my house? It comes in through the dog door in the garage, then if it's hungry or curious, it enters through the other dog door in the kitchen. It's done this as recently as three nights ago - I was at the table doing homework, looked up and had a second-and-a-half staredown with little green eyes. The thing had one paw on my kitchen floor, and I swear it looked ticked off to see me. I yelled and it backed out of the door.

The obvious thing to do - block the pet doors - is my least favorite choice. My little Muffy, the Queen of Malta, is unfortunately older than dirt, and can't change her habits. If she finds the door blocked in the middle of the night, she'll come to our bedroom door and leave a Little Present on the carpet. Guaranteed, even if I put her outside right before bedtime.

The other obvious thing to do ... well, I couldn't. It would be cruel to the cat. Though I've heard they taste like chicken.

Update: The aluminum foil trick worked wonders. Lay a sheet of foil outside the door where the cat enters. Tape it down. For some reason, cats won't walk over it, but dogs don't seem to notice.

We also hit on another good (but not the most convenient) solution: a second dog. Last night that same silly orange cat was seen skulking around the backyard. A few minutes later, Daisy ran out to the garage, barking loud and long at the pet door. I bet anything that cat has now crossed our house off its list.

Comments

[Alicia]

Have you let your neighbors know the cat is visiting other houses? You might try putting tin foil down on the outside of the pet door. I don't know about dogs, but I know cats aren't supposed to like walking on it. Of course, I haven't tested that either. Good luck.

[pam]

Here's the helpful advice my neighbors gave when I told them their cat visits my kitchen. "Ohhh. You shouldn't let him into your house." No sense of personal responsibility. Cretins.

[Anthony]

I have a similar problem. My neighbor's immensely fat cat ocassionally comes up to my door and rubs itself against me and gives me that "I'm so hungry please feed me I'm a starving kitty" whine that would make Mother Theresa reach for the shotgun if it were at hand (and certainly pisses me off as well). I mean 1) this cat is so fat that it could be a stunt double for the Hindenberg; 2) it's so porky that if they make a "Babe III" it's sure to get a callback; and 3) I always yell at it "go away you freakin overweight parasite" real loud no matter how early/late it is. Needless to say, given that the cat's weight is exponentially larger than it's IQ, it merely continues to rub and whine, oblivious to the fact that I loathe it unreservedly.
Cats. God's first, biggest and most noxious mistake ever. And that includes Pauley Shore and Jessica Simpson!

[pam]

I'm going to try the foil trick, above. You should try wrapping your pant legs with foil. Report back.