My cat is being 'adopted', what should I do?

[Coffeethrowtrampbitch]

I've just had the SSPCA drop off our youngest cat, a spayed female who lives with us and her mum and brother.

She apologised for taking her, but her microchip did not scan until she was back in the Centre so she appeared unregistered.
She warned me that the person who had called them lived less than 100 yards away, had told them the cat was homeless for months and they had pulled her from the mouth of a fox (SSPCA lady said this couldn't be true as cat was uninjured/unscarred), and could they just keep her? They said they did not own a cat, but they had cat food, bowls, bed and toys. She tried to explain that the cat was well looked after and they roam by nature, but they said they and other neighbours text her whereabouts to each other and are sure she is outside too much.

She advised me to put a collar on her to try and stop this getting any worse. Does anyone have any advice for a (polite) phrase indicating she has a home and is well looked after, or anything else I can do to show that she belongs at home?
I don't want to keep her in because she would hate that and might leave, it would also be difficult for the other two cats. But at the same time she was born on my sofa, in front of me, and is dd's favourite, we love her very much and don't want to lose her.

[PuppyMonkey]

Why did they ring SSPCA, they could have just kidnapped her?

Put a big sign on collar - I live with Coffee and my mum and brother at no 65, please do not feed me.

[Flowerfae]

Is she chipped? If she isn't then I'd get her chipped and registered to your address. Your cat is probably enjoying getting fed twice :D

[dementedpixie]

OP already said the cat was chipped but it did not read properly at first

[RNBrie]

Definitely a very brightly coloured collar. Get a tag printed that says "best friend of 6 year old Molly" or something impossible to ignore and you phone number. I hate people that steal cats (and I don't even like cats!)

[StraffeHendrik]

I suspected someone was 'adopting' my cat so I kept him under house arrest for a week. He hated it but it did seem to remind him that he lives here - he comes home every evening for a cuddle now.

I don't know about yours but my cat seems to get into a pattern of behaviour and repeat it until you do something to 'reset' him - I think he had got in the habit of going to another house.

[MsMims]

Cat proofing your garden is the only way to guarantee she’s safe. Sounds like the rescue woman was warning you quite strongly, so they’ll probably be persistent enough to carry on otherwise.

[Coffeethrowtrampbitch]

Thank you everyone. I liked the 'belongs to cute child' suggestion for her tag, it's not aggressive but makes clear she has a home.
I wish they'd spoken more to the SSPCA officer, they have lots of cats that need a loving home more than mine needs two meals!

[Billben]

Since the person who called them lives less than 100 yards from you, personally I’d be knocking on all of the neighbours’ doors and reminding them that the cat is yours. Some of them will think you are nuts, but just tell them the story of the crazy cat person who thinks they can just adopt smebody else’s cat. I’m sure once you get to the right neighbours house you’ll know it’s them who want your cat. I don’t think I could live with not knowing who it is because I don’t think they’ll give up. They already have the cat bed, food and the rest.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Could she be a housecat?.

What is it with these people who try to steal well cared for cats when the rescues are full of cats needing homes?.

[PSNah]

Could you put a few posters up saying 'please do not feed/ take in this cat. She is not homeless and her 9yo owner feels very sad when she diesnt come home'