any idea how I can gets my cats to come home?

[ditavonteesed]

when we first got our cats my neighbour used to feed them, one cat decided he would live with her, she now still feeds him but locks her cat flap at night and he doesnt come home, no idea where he goes, I see him about once a month and then I have to catch and groom him as he is a ragdoll so making him want to come home even less.
The other cat was fine and while she got fed she would still come home. she has now taken to coming home after we go to bed and going out again before we get up.
now coming up to bonfire night I would like them in and safe. I have tried offering the nicest food I can find, salmon, tuna, leaving them to themselves when they come in.
we have 2 dogs, ut when we got the dogs I made sure the cats have most of the house and the dogs never go upstairs so they are safe from pestering (although the dogs are fine with them) and they get ed in the lounge on the other side of the baby gate from the dogs, the puppy is in a crate whenever we are not in or when we are in bed so no way has he chased them.
The problem is the neighbours house is a lot more appealing, she lives alone, no kids (the cats have always avoided the kids) and has under floor heating.
I have asked neighbournot to feed them, but she leaves food down all day (changing it every couple of hours) and has an open cta flap so not very likely.
I wondered about trying to get them in and then shutting them in for a few weeks like when we dirst got them, do you think this would help, obviously this would be a bit of a pain but not a problem.
Both cats are chunky so being fed plenty, but not being groomed as much as they should and I dont get to check them over very often. I also worry that the longer this goes on the less people oriented they will become, boy cat was shot before we got him so was already quite shy but had come round to us.

[ditavonteesed]

I have managed to get one cat in, have locked the cat flap, have turned the upstairs into cat paradise and moved the dog gate so I can air lock when we go outside. Now neighbour has said she will bring me cat 2 as soon as she sees him.
I spent aes with her, groomed her which she loves, showed her where her food is now, made the dogs sit perfectly while she wlazed past them, how long do you think I should keep them in for?
she is currently under our bed not in her usual spot on it so obviously not happy.
neighbour has been great, she could see I was getting upset about it this morning and has promised to return them whenever they are in her house.
Is there anything else I can do?
Obviously training on puppy starts the second he sees either cat and he will never be allowed to chase them again.

[ditavonteesed]

cool got cat 2 as well now, he is just trying to get out of the cat flap, seems quite calm though.

[lubeybooby]

I'd say keep them in for a while no going out at all and spoil them with nice food. For about 3 weeks. Then start letting them out again

[ditavonteesed]

bought tons of varieties of yummy food from pets at home this morning, as well s a new stractching post, a new litter tray and many catnip toys. feel a huge sense of relief having them home.

[oopslateagain]

Cats do choose their owners, unfortunately for us.

Sounds like you are doing everything you can to make your house more appealing. I think you do need to act like you do when you move house - keep them in, make lots of fuss of them, so when you do let them out they really want to come back home.

Good luck!

[ColdSancerre]

Try some feliway plug in diffusers in the area they'll be spending most time in? I think you're doing the right thing. I do wish neighbours wouldn't feed cats when they know they already have a home.

[chickydoo]

We have one cat who won't leave the house, or us....follows me around like a dog. Her sister is a nightmare to get in, she vanishes for days, I find it really stressful! Cat no 2 has been found shut in a garage, on a building site, in someone else's airing cupboard. She limped home with a broken leg a while ago,and more recently came back with bites from a cat fight. She still brings us a lovely gift each time she comes back, mice, birds, squirils all sorts of things.
A law unto herself, I think she has used up 10 of her 9 lives!

[MangoMonster]

Unfortunately, cats tend to always go for the more appealing. Your dogs might be making your neighbours house a quieter spot. If you want them safe during fireworks, you might have to lock them in

[ditavonteesed]

am definatly keeping them locked in at least until after bonfire night. they both seem quite happy this morning, now to work on cat 2's dreadlocks, could take me three weeks and I may lose eyes.

[ditavonteesed]

chickydoo- omg she sounds lively. glad she made it home ith the broken leg though, wonder what she has done.
I had wondered about feliway, I use dap for the dogs which I guess is the same sort of thing, they will be mostly upstairs so easy enough to do it in one room.