Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Catgate

419 replies

SirSugar · 07/12/2011 09:58

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]

OP posts:
Riversidegirl · 19/05/2012 17:46

She shudda bought a panther or a cheeta and sent that round for dinner LOL Great thread

CeliaFate · 19/05/2012 17:56

This is completely bizarre but compelling.
What happened next?

Dropdeadfred · 19/05/2012 18:02

Update???

ragged · 19/05/2012 18:16

I was thinking OP should teach her cat to selective spray whilst at the neighbours (if only it were that easy!)

claudedebussy · 19/05/2012 18:19

i have read whole thread.

enthralled.

i think you should shove cute kitten outside her back door in box with soft blanket and a big sign 'please will you be my mummy?'.

end of problem.

oooohhhhyes · 19/05/2012 22:42

Any update? This is gripping!

I had similar with neighbour and cat who was on poncy diet for tummy condition; I had to get letter from vet confirming he couldn't eat anything except special diet. It didn't work though and it was a very stressfull and infuriating situation.

NicNocJnr · 20/05/2012 03:58

What on earth?

I've heard some humdingers in my time in practice but I've never heard of anyone with such dedication to asshattery!!

Not that it should come down to it but because they are obviously so far past sanity they couldn't poke it with a long pole is there any way you can focus on your cat? Time and prcticality wise it may well be a right pita but it has worked on 2 occassions that I know of for sure after I advised it...not when the cats were this into the habit though. And it only works if you can reach over/through a fence.

Nudge up your morning routine, let the cat out, when cat goes to neighbours step/door immediately squirt with water. Repeat until cat removes self from step. Generally advised starting on a weekend/holiday day so could keep half an eye and get cat everytime they went to the place. Then ensure you repeat it every morning o the cat gets the hint. I know one client set up a sprinkler head which impressed me with it's inventiveness but I don't know if you are technically allowed...I don't think so. Also start food aversion with the things they might feed it - so hide foul tasting stuff in chicken and ham or leave chicken/ham/other out and squirt cat when he goes for it. Not very fair but obesity, diabetes, urinary and kidney problems and of course the fact he is actually yours may mean short term unfairness is better.

it's really not ideal as a solution and again lays the work at your door but he just sounds such a piece of work to get involved with I'm actually concerned on your behalf. He locks his poor wife in the house and is a pompous, unpleasant and rude man. God knows what obstructiveness he'll get it in to his head to try and throw at you. I hope it's all resolved now though Hmm

Original poster
SirSugar · 20/05/2012 09:33

At my wits end.

Police called on them a few weeks ago, they said they would no longer feed cat which is all bollocks as last night I had to ring them to put cat out so I could get it in and go to bed. When it came in it vommed a huge amount of chopped chicken all over the house.

These people are just fucking amazing. If I ring up now to ask them to let out cat ( which I have to do regularly) if he answers he says 'who are you?'.

I've spoken to my solicitor about legal route to stop these unreasonable people, VV expensive.

I've stopped letting cat out in morning as they keep it in until after I've gone to work so I can't get it back in, so I let it out in evening after feeding it then they go and feed it again.

I HATE THEM, I HATE THEM

OP posts:
Maryz · 20/05/2012 09:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SirSugar · 20/05/2012 09:42

I thought about posting the vom through their letter box last night with a note attached - heres your chicken back

OP posts:
IvanaHumpalot · 20/05/2012 09:50

Could your vet advise/send a letter to your neighbour? Especially as your puss is gaining weight. My overweight mog has stretched 2 tendons (she's 'plump' and prob jumped and landed badly) which means she limps and will proberbly will have ongoing mobility problems and arthritis. Could your vet cc in your local RSPCA officer?

I'm afraid as much as you don't want to build a run, I think realistically this is your only option. Legal fees soon mount up and who's to say they would pay any attention to a solicitor's letter. You may get a judgement in your favour but how would it be enforced if they were to break it? If they were to break it, you would have to start the ball rolling again - £££.

Try the vet, it's cheaper than a solicitor. Does yours weigh when you do your annual jabs etc... Is there a record of significant weight gain, other health issues. I think the most you could hope for is to petition for contributions to vet fees if weight/health related.

Maryz · 20/05/2012 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Debeez · 20/05/2012 09:58

Thank you for the update SirSugar, yes we're a nosy lot but we do think of you and how you're getting on. :o

We used the RSPCA for the old bat across the road who kept posting chicken through the door. (May have mentioned this earlier.) And they threatened her with animal cruelty (she was making our cat ill.).

I understand the woman has MH issues but the man doesn't, makes me so cross as he should know better. I think you've been more than fair and nice about the whole thing and I'm sorry this is still going on for you. :(

Dropdeadfred · 20/05/2012 10:04

I would put my cat on a lead and walk it past their house!!! And yes I would build a cat run too sadly as these people are not going to change

oooohhhhyes · 20/05/2012 10:17

The aversion therapy suggested up post sounds good - intense but possibly effective?

oooohhhhyes · 20/05/2012 10:21

but yes, cat run is probably the way to go. We had one when we had mad neighbour in London who claimed our cat was haunting her and the only way to stop him constantly being in her flat (she was like magnet for him because she didn't like him!!) was to build a run on our terrace. The cats were fine with it although after a year or so we took it down and the cat seemed to have forgotten loopy lou down the way and left her alone. It broke the habit for the cat.

flynn80 · 20/05/2012 10:26

Ive not read this whole thread in a while so dont know if its been suggested but my friend paid to have cat nets put on her walls, its equivalent to a cat run except they are just nets that are on the top of the walls or fences to stop cats jumping up on them. she has 4 and lives on a busy main road and it has certainly worked for her.

Swatchdog · 20/05/2012 10:40

Given that the police said it could go further if they ignore warnings why don't you call them and say that their words have gone unneeded, citing the examples you have here. Its not a trivial matter as its clearly causing you distress so they need to take it seriously. And also maybe get the RSPCA involved.

GateGipsy · 20/05/2012 10:46

startail - can I ask does your sil feed the cat meat at all? I ask because cats aren't like dogs - they are obligatory meat eaters. Without meat in their diet they do get ill, and they won't live as long. They need some of the enzymes you can only get in meat for their own digestive system.

Original poster
SirSugar · 20/05/2012 13:14

Cat has been over there this morning again, his fur stinks of a fry up. they have chucked him out as they go out on sundays. maybe should use the time to spray their property with cat repellant - what is best brand?

OP posts:
oooohhhhyes · 20/05/2012 13:42

don't know but wishing you luck! Also the cat proof netting sounds good?

MrsMangoBiscuit · 20/05/2012 13:52

Perhaps you could observe polite society and give them a nice potted plant as a peace offering?

They sound truly barmy. I hope you managed to get it sorted out.

PurpleRayne · 20/05/2012 14:08

Invest a fraction of the money that a solicitor would cost you in a super duper cat run. It's the only way to keep your cat safe. You cannot reason with such people. They are not amenable to rational or helpful discussion. Legal or police intervention won't faze them. This situation will escalate until something disastrous happens.

lashingsofbingeinghere · 20/05/2012 16:54

I agree with PurpleRayne. OP, you are never going to make these people see sense. I doubt they will even respond to legal threats - they don't seem to be bothered that the police have visited them, and they probably are convinced in their own minds that you are wrong and they are right. In a perverse way they may even be enjoying the drama.

The only answer is to get a cat run. It will save your sanity and your precious time. And surely worth it just to know you have thwarted their evil cat-feeding ways.

NicNocJnr · 21/05/2012 06:41

Agree about cat run if aversion is just not practical.

Thing is of the really successful cat repellant sprays you would probably find yourself in trouble using them on someone else's property - he sounds just the sort to make a big thing of it too.

What an utter bastard. People can be so totally baffling. Although she's currently being as bad as him I can't help feeling sorry for his wife.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with such bumholes and agree hw prbably is enjoying all the attention as it's giving him plenty of opportunity to wax lyrical about his views.