Neighbours cat has moved in...

[randdom]

I was wondering if anyone could help. My husband and I currently have four cats with a cat flap so that they can come and go as they please. Over the last two weeks we have been coming down in the morning and home after work to find a black and white cat asleep on our sofas. He isn't aggressive and our other cats aren't bothered by him. He has a collar but no tag. Whenever we see him we take him outside instantly but he keeps coming back.

We have a microchip catflap so don't know how he is getting in. Anyone have any suggestions?

[thecatneuterer]

I would assume that your microchip cat flap isn't working properly. Have you tested it by just pushing the flap to see if it opens when it's in lock mode?

Do you know who he belongs to? He might be lost. I would make some enquiries of your neighbours and perhaps even pop him into a vet for them to scan him for a chip (most do this for free).

Is he eating your cats' food too, or is he just looking for a warm bed for the night?

[randdom]

The cat flap appears to be working as it keeps the big ginger tom out and doesn't move when we push it.

He is eating the food too.

We don't have a clue where he is from. I am planning to ties a piece of paper on to his collar when I see him next with my number on it

[thecatneuterer]

That's a very good idea. If no response then try for a chip.

And perhaps set up a motion sensor camera trained on the cat flap to see how he's doing it

[cozietoesie]

Have you done a close perimeter check of the house to check accesses he could have learned ? (Dodgy windows, open vents in the cellar, that sort of thing.) I'd also have assumed that the flap was faulty but if it's consistently stopping another cat, then I would go round the rest of the premises with a fine tooth comb.

Thank goodness your other cats aren't bothered. Does he look like a possible lost cat despite the collar?

[cozietoesie]

PS - and if he's got his wits about him, he'll also be able to climb and access an upper storey if motivated. Check for habitually open windows on the top floor if you have one.

[teenagetantrums]

Maybe he is just coming in with one of your cats?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Maybe he's been abandoned and made friends with your cats?

[cozietoesie]

May be.

Would you keep him if so?

[randdom]

We will look into other entrance points when it is daylight.

I hope he is not lost and just from the local area. Will try the paper first and if not the microchip. I did wonder if he was following one of my cats in.

While in an ideal world we would keep him I he was a lost cat and we couldn't find his owners we have four already and are expecting our first baby so it wouldn't really be an option :(

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd quite like mine to make a friend and bring him/her home.

I would call them Georgie.

5 and a baby's wouldn't be easy.

[thecatneuterer]

However Fluffy, would there really be that much difference between five cats and a baby and four cats and a baby?

(I do realise though that that sort of thinking can be a bit of a slippery slope and is at least in part responsible for the ridiculous amount of felines currently calling my house home.)

[Fluffycloudland77]

Remind us again how many cats you have?

[randdom]

Just a quick update. I got a text from the owner of the cat yesterday so he does have someone looking after him. We are therefor removing him from our house whenever we find him

[cozietoesie]

That's good that he has a home and someone looking for him.

Did you ever find out how he was getting in ?

[randdom]

He was waiting until one of my cats went in running and catching the catflap before it shut!!!

[cozietoesie]

That's one bright cat!

[VenusDeWillendorf]

He sounds lovely, very smart [:D]
Glad you have found his owners though.
And good luck with your baby.