I called our neighbor and didn't get to speak to him but spoke to a member of the household and I'm feeling much better.
This neighbor, like myself, used to live way out in the country with wild animals, and he loves them as much as I do. Furthermore he was the first person to live in this former cow pasture and used to let his put bulls run free, but he fenced in his entire back yard when other people started moving in so they wouldn't harm anyone or anyone else's pets.
He seems like a pretty nice guy.
There are stray cats around here, and there's nothing I can do about them. I have two older cats, but neither he nor I think they're ever over there. That just leaves the one little fella whom we know goes over there and causes trouble. I have to find a way to keep him from damaging my neighbor's property.
He doesn't have a garage to put his car in or he would do so. He lives in a double wide and the best he can do is a portable carport, which has been fine until this little fellow started going over there and causing mischief.
The person I talked to said the neighbor would appreciate the fact that we're trying to solve this problem; that he has absolutely nothing against us or animals. He's simply worried (quite justly) about a very rare car he owns.
The little dickens is inside tonight, and that's good. However, it's going to be very hard to keep him in 24 hours a day, especially when the other cats go out because they don't cause trouble. I have been unable to reach the former vet I mentioned earlier, but will call our current vet tomorrow and ask for advice from that angle.
Our neighbor has no wish or intention to harm the cat. he just wants his car left alone. And I want his car left alone also.
I told this particular member of the household that if he catches that cat on their property at any time of the night or day he has my permission to scare the blazes out of him and make it so unpleasant that he never wishes to go there again. And they put live traps out at night, so that angle is covered as well.
We're doing what we can (which isn't much tonight other than just keeping him in) but I am determined to solve this problem somehow.
He seems like a reasonable fellow and a good neighbor (even by simply speaking to another member of the household who was very polite and understanding).
I have a problem to solve. But I like to think that at least now I will be able to get some sleep tonight.
My apologies for disturbing the forum. I'm simply not used to dealing with people. Wild raccoons yes; people no.