Is this cruel and can I feed him?

[Chipscheesentomatosauce]

I heard the guy from the flat next door go out about 12.30 this morning. Shortly after i heard his cat crying to be let in, then it stopped. Just as I was dozing back off, i could hear a weird intermittent banging noise in the close. It woke me as I dozed off a couple of times and I looked though the peephole, couldn't see anything. 6.15 the crying and banging woke me again. It's his poor cat jumping at the door handle. The guys gone out and left it locked out all night.

When I heard him go out earlier, he didn't sound to be in a rush and was chatting quite normally to whoever he was with, so i'm assuming he's not gone out in some emergency. Obviously I could be wrong and hopefully this will be a one off.

I know cats are quite self sufficient, but he's only started letting this poor cat out in the last couple of months. Isn't this cruel, to go out and leave him locked out all night? Should I leave him a bowl of milk? Can they have semi skimmed? The noise has been doing my head and ruined my sleep, but mostly I feel so bloody sorry for it! I've not had a cat since I was little, but he seems quite distressed to me.

[RubbishMantra]

Lock the cat flap after her evening meal?

Is she neutered?

[Chipscheesentomatosauce]

So, the cat's alive. I know this because I heard him open his door and let it out. Now it's sitting at the bottom of the close meowing and the close door is shut, so he can't even go anywhere!

[Chipscheesentomatosauce]

And now he's back in

[Chipscheesentomatosauce]

Aaaaand... now he's back out. FFS.

[previously1474907171]

I have skimmed the thread, apologies if I repeat something. I re-joined MN because of a cat related thread.

Regarding leaving cats out at night and keeping them as house cats, it is no longer recommended to leave them out at night for various reasons, one being the M25 Cat Killer, previously known as the Croydon Cat Killer. SNARL, RSPCA and the Police are trying to catch the bastard. www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37978772

I keep mine as indoor only, as do a lot of other people, including those that have already lost a cat to the road, either by accident or by seeing it deliberately run over as seems to be a new form of amusement to certain people these days.

The killings are not only restricted to the Greater London area, that is just the highest risk area, they have been reported in many areas of the country. Google will tell you more. If you have a cat, please keep him or her inside at night, at least.

Don't forget deaths caused by anti-freeze at this time of year also.

[HeyOverHere]

Put out water, and maybe a bit of kibble, though be aware that that kibble might bring all the neighborhood cats.

If you feel like the cat's schedule and your neighbor's schedule aren't meshing, talk to him congenially about it. He may not realize how miserable his poor cat is after he's gone to work.

[SoupDragon]

Why put out kibble when there is no indication that the cat is not fed at home? It's a pet a few meters from its own front door, not a scrawny stray.

[Clandestino]

Spartacus, thank you, the story was so funny!
I asked my younger cat which houses she lives in but she only wriggled her butt so it better fits my neck and kept snoring.
The older cat now doesn't talk to me and ignores me because he is fed up with the antibiotic drops he is getting. His eye is looking much better though so I am ready to be given cold shoulder for a few more days instead of having to explain to him why he needs to have a surgery.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

I'm so glad that you liked it! And your cats sound gorgeous. All the best to the older one - hope he gets better soon (and at least he only has to have one dose of antibiotics, not six).

[Jaxhog]

Don't feed it yourself, unless you want a pet cat! Cats are mainly loyal to who feeds them (unless they get spoiled rotten with play, attention and cuddles etc.)

Either let your neighbour know about your concerns. Then, if you don't get a satisfactory response, call the local RSPCA.

[Clandestino]

And your cats sound gorgeous.

Won't tell them that. They have enough notions as it is. Rulers of the world and such.