Catgate

[SirSugar]

This rumbles on and on, so far have done the following;

asked nicely
got cross
written letters
telephoned
offered to get them a cat (they don't want one)
kept cat indoors, except for 15 mins in morning

but they are STILL feeding mine who is greedy and if I'm not on the ball during his 15 min morning run will be let into their house and not let out until I telephone to ask them to let him out.

Apparently, they used to keep a cat and for sentimental reasons they keep his bowls and 'put a little food down' which my cat nibbles on YET they have done everything they reasonably can NOT to feed my cat

[now absolutely fucking furious emoticon]

[fergoose]

It certainly sounds like it could have sent her round the bend - poor woman

I wonder if a quiet word from the police is all this man will listen to.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Time for the police, I agree. Maybe get someone independant to witness them deliberately letting the cat into their house.

[NoOnesGoingToEatYourMincePies]

Can you apply to appear on Strictly Come Dancing?

I work with a woman who is feeding a cat she doesn't own. She's bonkers too. We've tried to discourage her from feeding it and letting it in but she still keeps turning up at work with photo's of 'her' cat, asleep on the sofa or spread out on the carpet. There's a picture of it in her wedding album (she married last month).

She replies with "Well if they looked after it properly it wouldn't want to come to us..."

If your bonkers couple are like my bonkers colleague and her even more bonkers husband you are banging your head against a brick wall OP.

[PopcornMouse]

Bloody hell, what nutters! Do let us know what the CPO says.

Surely this could be construed as some sort of antisocial behaviour as well as theft?? (Slap em with an asbo! :o )

[FruitShootsSantaandLeaves]

Cover cat in something obnoxious like Jeremy Clarkson pictures
Or buy a tiger

[ViviPrudolf]

@ NoOnes bonkers colleague

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

FruitShoots - I want a tiger cub, but dh says I can't have one.

[SirSugar]

had to resist the urge this morning to ask man if his terrible toupee hair was actually remains of his dearly departed cat

[hiddenhome]

I really feel for you I have two cats and I'd be mad if anyone was trying to entice them away from home.

I'd be really nasty rude in a situation like this , but that's just me

[SnapesMistressofMerriment]

Can you show film to RSPCA?

[hiddenhome]

Push for an ASBO or whatever they're doling out these days. A woman in Whitby ended up with one for feeding the birds in her garden. I know that's a bit daft, but they are in effect, stealing your property.

[babyicebean]

They sound seriously weird,

would he listen to you if you went round in full strictly gear - fake tan,sequins,dress and heels. all else fails you could batter him with the shoes.

[TandB]

Send them a very formal (ideally solicitor's) letter setting out the history of the situation and stating that your cat is under the care of the vet who has instructed that a limited diet should be followed for the cat's health. Since you have evidence in film format of their deliberate attempts to thwart the diet process you will be presenting them with a bill for any further vet's bills in relation to this issue should they not desist immediately.

If they don't stop, invoice them for the next bill and when they refuse to pay it send them something called a letter before claim informing them that if they do not settle the claim you will be taking them to the small claims court.

[SantasStrapon]

Did you say he locks his wife in whilst he goes to work? Can she get out? Could you use this as a basis to get the Police involved (no idea if this is possible) - along the lines of 'there is this completely mad bloke in our street who locks his wife in the house whilst he is at work and is stealing my cat, and I have it on film'.

If not, I have some lovely dresses you can borrow when you go round for your drinks and 'polite society' talk.

Or a naice poster of ballroom dancers with 'this man is a cat thief' written on it and nailed to his gate?

[pictish]

What a pair of nutters! OMG.

No advice - they are mad. Don't know what to say. Bonkers.

[Fuzzled]

Oh dear. We used to be one of those neighbours - our neighbours cat decided to become ours... suspect because next door man took up smoking

However, we spoke to them about it and came to an agreement about food/water and looking after her - i.e. we wouldn't feed her, although she did have a water bowl, she was to be back there at night, but we'd look after her in their house when they were away. Very amicable and a great way to make friends.

We then moved - I still miss the fluffy ball in my lap snoring

[olgaga]

I agree that if you call the police, they'll laugh at you.

Honestly, I don't think you can do anything about this other than recognise the fact that your cat gets food at their place - so give your cat less food! What's the problem?

Perhaps there are other cats these people feed and the owners are quite happy with the arrangement. Think of it from their point of view. "Here she comes again moaning - why doesn't she just keep her bloody cat in if she doesn't like it?"

Cats aren't dolls, they're animals. Part of being a cat is hunting/scrounging food. That's their fun! You can't control where they go or what they do unless you build a pen for them.

[FantasticVoyage]

' who the hell do you think you are? You are not someone off Strictly Come Dancing'

WTF???

[FantasticVoyage]

@SantasStrapon

Could you use this as a basis to get the Police involved (no idea if this is possible) - along the lines of 'there is this completely mad bloke in our street who locks his wife in the house whilst he is at work and is stealing my cat, and I have it on film'.

This nearly made me spray tea all over my laptop.

[RachelHRD]

Could you put up some cat fencing on your joint boundary so your cat couldn't get to their property or you could try this invisible fencing which restricts your cat to within your boundary?

[limitedperiodonly]

Oh God, loony cat people.

kungfu's advice is brilliant. I really hope it works for you.

I had an seemingly normal friend who used to do this with a neighbour's cat. She also used the line that they weren't looking after it properly which was nonsense. Her boyfriend begged her not to do it because it would upset the neighbours. The neighbours eventually came round for a screaming match and she hid inside letting her boyfriend take it all. They're not together any more

A mad woman used to put out food for cats in my garden. I nicely asked her not to and she called me a cat-hater and jabbed the fork at my face. I told the police and they knew exactly who I was talking about. They had a word and she didn't come round again but used to hiss at me in the street. I think she might be dead now or locked up.

[DitaVonCheese]

Surely the only reasonable response to "Who the hell do you think you are? You are not someone off Strictly Come Dancing!" is "Woof to you, lady"?

Fight mad with mad!

[SantasStrapon]

I think she might be dead now or locked up

I still think the Police are a good idea, I know it's luck of the draw who you get, but they are incredibly helpful round here.

[limitedperiodonly]

I suppose the police got involved because of the threatening behaviour not the cat food. Could anything they've done be classed as threatening or intimidating, even a little bit? I've always found the police community officers really helpful.

[limitedperiodonly]

'Woof to you lady' is an excellent response and will make them think you're dangerously unhinged and not to be crossed. Also try: 'willy, willy, willy'.