A neighbourhood cat seems to have chosen us as her new owners. She looks well cared for and is wearing a collar. A few weeks ago she started sitting at the bottom of the garden, which then progressed to sitting closer to the back door and staring in at us. Then last week she started sitting on the back doorstep and kitchen window and meowing to get in. We obviously didn't let her in but whenever we went out into the garden she followed us everywhere and we've petted her and made a fuss of her. Even with the kids running wild in the garden she still stayed put. Now she's here constantly. As soon as we all get up in the morning I go and check and she's in the garden, then she stays here all day and is still here when I go to bed around 12ish. I just don't know what to do as I don't know who owns her. I haven't been feeding her (as everyone is telling me that she'll never go home if I do that) but I have given her milk a few times a day as she's had nothing to drink in this awful heat lately. I just can't help worrying about her. Any advice would be much appreciated.
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One of dh's family cats adopted another family. We didn't realise this until we bought our first home and went to pick him up to come live with us and met his very sad second family. I don't blame the cat or the family, dh's parents didn't like cats much and so he wasn't allowed in their house very much (to be fair he loved to rip FIL's lovingly put up textured wallpaper and their new sofa too) and went off in search of love (and food, he was very keep on food 
).
food would always be a winner lol. Though I can definitely see where your FIL's coming from too . My dh isn't a great animal lover so he just doesn't understand why I'm so concerned, he just thinks she'll eventually go home and not come back but I just don't think she will.
A little bit off topic, but if the cat doesn’t drink water and you’re feeling kind, you can buy cat milk. Which is milk suitable for cats, not milk produced by cats it’s lactose free, as apparently it’s the lactose that cats can’t tolerate.
Thanks everyone for your messages. Sorry I'm only reading them now, I've had my hands full with work stuff and a sick ds these past couple of days. The cat is still here, from first thing in the morning until I last check before I head off to bed. We were out in the garden for a while earlier and she ran past us into the house and wouldn't come out so I ended up having to carry her back out. I'm convinced she does want to live here now! I've written a note for her owners to let them know where she is and popped it around her collar so hopefully I'll find out something by tomorrow. Failing that I'll take her to one of the local vets to see if she is microchipped. I phoned one of them earlier and they said they could lend me a cat carrier to bring her up. I've checked the local Facebook, Gumtree and a place called 7thheaven.org.uk which is local for us and there's no cat resembling this one so far. I'll try and put up posters in the local shop. Thanks for the tip about the cat milk cough that sounds brilliant though she did drink some water today, I just hope she is eating somewhere as I'm in two minds whether to feed her now.
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