My cat is screaming all the time. Help

[Pixus]

I have a serious problem with my cat and need advice.

We live in a housing complex and he has been annoying the one neighbour - so she wrote a letter to the trustees and we have to keep him in our garden or get rid of him. She's the only person in the complex that doesnt love him and he goes straight to her house - its like she has catnip on her roof. We put up a palisade fence (5cm gaps and 2m high) and he climbs it.


So we are making a plan to try fix it - but he screams. ALL THE TIME. I'm going mad. My mom suggested an animal behaviourist, I dont know anyone who's used one before and it's a lot of money (as my fiance says: to spend on something with no guarantee of results). So I was hoping someone could tell me if this is a problem that can be solved with a behaviourist - we are running out of other options. Also, we just bought this house, so we can't move because that would be my first choice.

He was neutered when he was 6 months old, he's 7 now. He's a rescue cat so he has a bit of a difficult personality. He's been wearing a pheromone collar for two months - it does nothing. We have two litter boxes, he HATES using them but he also wont go in the garden with anyone watching. He has access to valerian and he has a huge climbing castle/scratching post. He gets along fine with my other cat and boston terrier.

Last night he started screaming at 10:30 and only stopped at 1am and then started again at 4am. I cant do this anymore. I work from home, and I havent been able to sleep or concentrate in more than 3 weeks. I'm taking him to the vet this afternoon to see what he suggest - but like I say, we are running out of options. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Karen]

Are there by any chance any feral cats in the area that he is trying to defend "his" property from? Any signs of spraying near the fence or around the yard? Is this new behavior?

[Pixus]

Are there by any chance any feral cats in the area that he is trying to defend "his" property from? Any signs of spraying near the fence or around the yard? Is this new behavior?

There is one big awful cat that terrorises them, but the neighbour lady has a cat and I think Teddy goes there to terrorise her. He's never shown any signs of fighting with other cats, ive always known him to run away.

Also, the vet put him on Clomicalm today.

[Karen]

Does that "big awful cat" belong to someone? Or is it a stray? Sounds like that could definitely be the cause of the screaming!

[Pixus]

He looks like he belongs to someone. But I think the screaming is because of him not being allowed out. He spent his whole life as an outside cat and now suddenly he is confined. Not sure how to calm him down

[Karen]

Oh, okay! Play time! Figure out what kind of games and or toys he likes - whether it is fetch games, batting around toys that make noise, "fishing pole" type toys - it may take some persistence and experimentation, but you should be able to find something! Then play, play, play before your bedtime, a worn out kitty is a quiet kitty! Have you tried taking him out for walks on a harness and leash? Any physical and mental exercise will help!