Someone Else Feeding My Cat

[AbbyGally]

Hi,

I have a brother and sister. They don't get on - which I understand is common - and she's always been more out and about whereas he is more at home (and a wimp to boot).

I work FT, so I might not see her for a couple of days, which doesn't worry me. However, this week I got a bit worried as I realised I'd not seen her for quite a few. My lodger saw her Thursday, which was a relief, but I was out of the country for the day. Last night though, I was in and she came home and she has put on loads of weight.

I can only assume someone else is feeding her. I'm sure they must mean it for the best, but I want her home to be with me, not for her to adopt somebody else, although of course I want her to be happy.

Relevant facts:
They always have loads of nice, organic dry out, I don't keep or put down wet
She's super cuddly when home unless she's having hissy fits with bro
They have chips and don't wear collars (lose them)
I'm not a big one with cat treats though they get a lot of steak and fresh fish when I cook them (frequently)

Am I being unreasonable and what should I do? Can't help but feel it's a bit selfish feeding someone else's pet as there may be medical reasons why not to have certain foods anyway. She may of course be intruding, but it's very recent if so.

Thanks for any advice!

AB

[Nigglenaggle]

No YANBU :( This is unfortunately a very common problem and theres little you can do :( You could try a collar with a 'do not feed on special diet' but people will usually carry on trying to steal your cat erm feeding what they see as a starving stray. They wont share the bills when she gets diabetes due to obesity and will claim that she goes there because she's happier there, and not because they feed her smoked salmon til she pops. They will double talk themselves into the idea that they've done a really good thing, and ignore the problems they cause for the cat and your pain. Sorry I know Im bitter but its a pet hate.

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Neighbour started to feed our stressy cat last summer when ds2 was born. Puss was uncomfortable with the extra noise etc.

Asked neighbour not to feed puss or let him in their house. ( they had a bed for him in their conservatory)

They ignored. Cat now lives there. This puss we got as a kitten 11 years ago in Cyprus when dh was in te army. Got him quarantined etc to bring to uk. Well looked after with chips, collar, good food, regular vet check ups etc. much loved.

But at the end of the day he wasn't happy with our new edition and as he's the only pet in their house and they're elderly he gets doted on now and has a peace ful life.

Cats go where is best for them whether we like it or not. And unless you're prepared to go through a civil court with your neighbour there is nothing you can do as cats are free to roam.

If I were you, I'd collar up the puss and write on the collar"do not feed-ill"
If you know who it is, speak to them.
Extra cuddles and special food for puss.

But cats do what they want. Unfortunately. Good luck.

[Nigglenaggle]

I dispute the 'cats go where is best for them' - greedy cats want to be fed more but whats best for them isnt putting on a kilo. If people were encouraging your child to go over to theirs after school by feeding them ice cream it wouldnt be OK....

[Lizcat]

I would suggest paper collar, but put vet advice special diet. Not only does it put emphasis on the special diet, but also sounds expensive generally putting people off. I am a vet and when this happened to me I changed the evening meal to high value wet food and then kept my babies in. Now babies are all in house around at "tea time" and then sleep the night inside.

[neontetra]

Would second keeping cat in at night as a way of preventing this. Also if you can getting cat to wear a collar with a barrel, and put something about a medical condition and specialist diet. Worked for me when same thing was happening with one of mine.

[imawigglyworm]

we moved 10 doors up the road and one of my cats kept going back to our old house. They kept feeding him, we kept asking them to stop but they wouldnt. we kept bringing him home and keeping him in which he hated and always got back out.
He now lives there and never comes home, they have a cat tent thing outside for him, scratch post and food bowl outside.
It upsets my Ds's so much as we have to walk past him everyday on the school run and he doesnt even acknowledge us anymore

I know loads of people who feed other peoples cats and where theres food a cat will always return, they dont realise its doing more harm than good.

Im sure my neighbour feeds my other cats as they have got so fat lately so going to get a 'do not feed' collar for them too.

[BeatTheClock]

Would your cat wear a collar? You could have a disc engraved with 'DO NOT FEED - SPECIAL DIET' or words to that effect.

I love cats and have two of my own. Other cats are always trying to nip in to have a sniff at their bowls of food but I always chase them out and never encourage them. I'd never feed someone else's pet.

[bamboobutton]

I had a cat that was being fed somewhere else, he had gut problems so it was making him I'll.

What i did was cut up a milk carton, a plastic one, cut out a huuuuuuuuge circle and wrote "do not feed, special vet diet". It was so big it not possibly be missed and it did the trick.

[debsl75]

I agree BoysBoysBoysAnd Me. Cats will go where they want. My mum has a cat that goes in her house. He snuggles up with her cats and is very lovely but my mum puts him out at food time and never feeds him and she puts him out at night but he always comes back because he likes it there. He goes home to eat but thats it. Cats know where they are truely wanted. Tbh if you want to 'own' a cat then why would you let it wonder off into other peoples property? Do you let your kids wonder into other peoples gardens and do their business? Perhaps if you want to 'own' a cat perhaps you should keep them caged up or indoors like you would if it was a rabbit or other pet.