Harden the Cote Before Anything Else
Start with the structure, because a cote that resists a determined cat removes most of the danger even while conversations continue. Inspect mesh for rust, loose staples and gaps at corners, and favour strong, small-gauge welded mesh that a paw cannot flex or reach through to hook a dove. Skirt mesh outward at ground level or bury its edge so a cat cannot dig or squeeze beneath, and confirm the door latch cannot be batted open, adding a second fastener if it is a simple lift latch. Remove external ledges, low branches and bins beside the cote that give a cat a launch perch level with the entrance, and position perches inside so resting doves are not sitting targets against the wire.
Reduce What Draws Doves Into Reach
Stalking turns into catching when doves spend time on the ground or on low surfaces near the cote. Sweep up spilled feed promptly, move ground feeding well away from cover a cat can hide behind, and give the doves a raised feeding area they can use under your eye. Check flight lines between the cote and favourite rooftops for new ambush points such as a fence a cat now uses after a garden change next door. Keep the area directly around the cote open and visible rather than shrub-hidden, since cats stalk best where they can approach unseen, and an open apron of ground makes the approach itself risky and often deters patient sitting.
Document the Pattern Calmly and Clearly
Before approaching your neighbour, gather a short, factual record: dates, times and what the cat actually did, with photos or doorbell camera clips if you have them. Note any feather evidence, injured dove or breach attempt factually without exaggeration, and record what you have already done to secure your own cote, because showing your own effort first changes the tone of what follows. Dawn and dusk clustering in your notes is especially useful, since it supports a focused request about those hours rather than a sweeping complaint about the cat ever being outdoors. Keep the record private and factual; its purpose is a solution, not a feud.
Talking to Your Neighbour About Their Cat
Choose a calm moment, lead with your cote hardening, and describe the specific pattern your notes show rather than accusing the cat or its owner in general terms. Practical agreements neighbours often accept include a quick-release collar with a bell, keeping the cat indoors at dawn and dusk when doves are most active, or the neighbour checking their garden before letting the cat out during a spell of incidents. Thank them for any step they take and report back when visits drop, which reinforces cooperation. If the first talk changes nothing, put a polite written note through the door restating the facts and your request, and check your local rules on roaming cats and wildlife or livestock protection so any further step you take is informed and lawful.
Watching Together Until the Pattern Breaks
For the following weeks, increase your own presence around the cote at the cat's usual visiting times, vary your routine slightly so the cat cannot simply shift to a predictable quiet hour, and repair any mesh the cat tests the same day. Ask other nearby bird keepers whether they are seeing the same cat, since a shared, friendly word carries more weight than one household's complaint. Do not use anything that could injure the cat, which is both wrong and likely to destroy neighbour relations permanently. Sharing the watch through KinsLe's Circle of Love connects you with local pet lovers who understand both sides and can help keep eyes on the cote at its riskiest hours.