Neighbour stole cat :(

[Fressia123]

Our neighbour has been feeding the cat even though we've told him repeatedly we didn't want him to. Now our cat will come and say hello but she won't stay (nor come inside). Is there anything we can do??

I’d be blunt and say you keep feeding it so I’m having to keep it in the house for a while. Cheeky bastard. You shouldn’t feed other people’s cats, you have the choice not to. My cat spends 90% of her time in the house which is quite safe (and nice for me). If someone started feeding her it would spoil all that.

We haven't replied yet as we still trying to decide what to say. DP just wants to say that she's happy and safe. I want to make a snarky comment.

Just reply and say that your cat is home safe and sound and will be staying that way.

Tell them Your cat is at home with its owners. they should get their own cat. Are they going to pay the vet bills? are they going to find a cat kennel if they go on holiday?
It's your cat, on expensive medicine & if they keep feeding it they can also pay for the medication.
Your child loves her cat, they are basically enticing it by food, she is now overweight, are they going to pay vet bills if she gets health problems?
You have asked them to leave your cat to eat at home. Why are they continuing to feed it?

Cheeky fucker. Tell them the cat is at home and to buy himself a cat if he wants one. Your cat isn't available.

Cat being happy at home. Her name is Periwinkle :)

She's been with the dog for almost two years now. I really think the culprit is the 12mo tbh

Have you got some high spaces for her to go to get out of the way of the 12mo? Maybe her blanket on top of a bookshelf might make her feel more secure.

@Fressia123

The neighbour has messaged to ask about the whereabouts of the cat....

You clearly love your cat, how cheeky of the neighbour. I’d be concerned with what they’re feeding her too.

Message back....”she’s home, safe, sound and happy that she’s back with her family”

Keep her in and tell your neighbour to poke it. Or send them links to a local cat rehoming place.

Our neighbour's cat moved in with us by stealth over a period of months. We never fed him, and didn't even make a fuss of him, as we had our own cat and didn't want neighbour cat taking over his territory. But he just seemed to want to be with us.

It never occurred to me that our neighbour might think we were stealing him. The two cats just seemed to be friends. And yes, neighbour had a newish baby.

When the neighbours moved, the guy saw my husband out by the car and asked if we'd like to keep the cat, as he seemed to prefer our house, and they didn't want to force it to come with them. They even offered to pay for his food and vet bills, which of course we didn't accept. So yep, he lived with us for 18 months until he died. We let his old owners know and they were very sweet, and again tried to pay the vet bill (without success)

People who choose top let their cat out expose the animal to risks like:
-being hit by a car
-getting stuck somewhere
-poisoned
-attacked by larger mammal or predator
-lifted to be used as bait by scum humans
-tortured by scum humans
-decimate native species
-shot/kicked/etc. by people who don’t want it on their property
or any number of other possibilities. You’re releasing your animal to the whims of nature, the general public, weather, and vehicles. Why bother having a cat if you (general ‘you’) care so little about it? Keep them inside to enjoy whatever it is you all like about them, and it’s the bare minimum level of basic care.

Keep them inside to enjoy whatever it is you all like about them

What about what they like? Cats are independent creatures. There as close as we get to a wild animal pet. They love to be out. They want to hunt. Keeping them indoors is cruel.

Yes, there are some environments that aren't safe for cats. If I lived on a main road or in a really dodgy area, I'd not have a cat, rather than imprison one in my house so I could 'enjoy' it.

Of reply "she's home, I'm keeping her in because someone has cruelly been feeding her cheese so she has become ill, the vet said she's being killed with kindness, if this is you stop feeding my cat! "

We said she was safe and happy. He obviously didn't reply back.