To leave neighbour who stole my cat a note

[MrsHoodwink]

Ok “stole” is a strong word but they are trying to coax my boy to live with them and were just caught by my ex picking the cat up and taking it in their house

It’s a very friendly cat but is like that with everyone that walks past, they told my ex he even has a food bowl in their house He said they started calling of him as soon as they got out their car

Now I know cats chose their homes but I don’t think you should take them on purpose

I wanted to knock but it’s past midnight, aibu to post a note saying he has food allergies and to please leave him alone? They were concerned about him being out at night but I have a catflap he’s just hunting/wandering They also called my other cat “skinny” but she’s perfect weight

Had several cats over a few years and mover had a cat flap. Cats didn't wander from gardens. One even only "escorted" kids four houses down the road when they were going to school. (School quite nearby so they walked back and forth). Come home time cat wanted out and would sit on footpath waiting on kids coming home. Didn't need a litter tray once trained as cat was allowed out at certain times to just wander in garden. Cats don't need to be out day and night supposedly hunting. Dogs are from wolves who hunt and they aren't allowed to roam. Would be livid at anyone taking my cat as would the children have been. It's basically stealing. You need to speak to neighbour and tell them not to feed or encourage your cat to visit.

A cat is treated as a possession in law so that is theft, the same as if they took your car, xx

My boy cat is a regular visitor to my neighbor since we got our new puppy.

They are happy to have him in, he plays with thier cat. They don't feed him at all. I know he has another safe space to chill when it get's too much for him with the puppy.

Win. Win. And I've very grateful.

Knock and tell them he has allergies and kidney problems and your vet bill each month is very expensive..... That'll put them off.

Maybe change tactics op.
Hi neighbour, I realise you are attached to my dcat, just checking he hasn't been up to his naughty tricks again?

Oh he has thing where he likes to shit on the sofa......

I would go around and ask for £400 to cover the imagionary vet bill for said cat, caused by being fed non prescription food by them.

When they respond/look shocked/argue or whatever. Tell them that YOUR insurance covered it this time but if it happens again you will be taking them to court for costs. They must never feed your cat food or treats.

Once they stop feeding your cat, he will come home again.

A women down the road did this with my cat. She is very small and has a skin condition that makes her look a bit ratty but she is well cared for. Now there's a sentence that would sound better with a comma

I've not read all replies so not sure if someone has suggested this anyway we had same problem years ago neighbours would keep cat in house they lived across road they would come home let cat in and close front door anyway I got a collar with tag on that said "please do not feed on a special diet". I remember once knocking on door and asking for my cat back he clearly been asleep and it annoyed me so much.

Any news @MrsHoodwink ?

@Mummyontherocks is right. A cat is a possession and legally your property.
It might be a little far fetched to suggest calling the police but it is an option.

Give him something to give diarrhoea and then send him round to their to shit everywhere.she will soon change her mind silly cow..! Good luck!

GPS cat collars are quite cheap and will help you keep track.

Give him something to give diarrhoea and then send him round to their to shit everywhere.she will soon change her mind silly cow..! Good luck!

What the actual fuck? Abuse your cat to get revenge? For fucks sakes

This has just popped up on my Facebook feed....maybe invest in a collar tag like this 😂

Come back op and tell us if they're still cat napping your puss

Quick update for you all, there has been no reply from my neighbours and I haven’t even seen them about however HoodCat has been home every night since (whereas he used to be missing quite a lot the past fortnight)

I’ve been setting the cat flap to lock behind him in the evenings and he’s spent every night on mine or DD’s bed I absolutely believe he has previously been locked inside the neighbours house with no way home

Thank you for everyone’s advice to keep them in at night it’s something I’ll definitely be doing from now on!

I think or hope anyway, that I’ve scared the neighbours off but I will still be having a polite word when I spot them. Firstly so there’s no hard feelings and secondly so that my point is made very clear.

Just to add though... HoodCat visits quite a few of our neighbours for cuddles especially next door when their DGC visit and I think it’s beautiful, he’s a very friendly cat and I love the joy he brings to people. The issue I had with these specific neighbours is that he didn’t go there by choice, they were caught calling of him and physically picking him up from in front of my drive and carrying him in their home. (He will let anyone pick him up because he’s daft)

My ex says HoodCat ran back to my house when he was placed on the floor after the neighbour was confronted with “erm why are you taking that cat?” and as a previous poster said all their excuses were: “Oh we just love him so much”, “He’s so lovely and soft and friendly”, “he loves a cuddle and is so cute” which aren’t valid at all and only excusable if HoodCat has snuck in of his own accord because he liked them more than home Which doesn’t seem to be the case.. more that they just wanted him! They also said they heard him “crying all night to get in” but HoodCat is in and I can hear the same yowling outside myself from a completely different cat who is a tabby tom from over the road (starting fights on the toms over here sat in their windows) so they’ve genuinely been making excuses up to themselves to feel better about what they were doing

If they are caught doing it again I have decided to (when they are outside) pretend to walk off with one of their plant pots and exclaim “oh sorry I just really love it!” (disclaimer I would obviously not break the law or genuinely take it)

Also sorry to say but some of the people on this thread really need to stop convincing themselves they are rescusing other people’s pets or that they just “couldn’t” deny a cat begging for food. I promise you it’s very rare they’re genuinely starving, just great actors

Thanks for the update. Glad things are doing better. I love that cat tag 😻

Thanks for the update. I do hope they’ve now got the message but please update us with their response if you have to resort to “taking” their plant pot!

I'd just like to counter the opinion that a starving cat is very rare; it's actually quite common where I live! Stray and lost cats aren't that unusual.

The diifference is that the cat looks thin and usually unkempt compared to a much loved pet, but if anyone has doubts then a paper collar asking the owner to contact you or checking for a chip is worth doing. We ignored a cat for ages assuming it was a pet, it was actually homeless and hanging about; the poor thing ended up in a right state and I wish we'd acted sooner. (now living happily with us for many years after no owner found.)

I'm not condoning dragging in any cat off the street, but sometimes there are genuine welfare issues and I'd hate people not to be proactive in getting help for the stray/lost/abandoned cats.

Good to know the puss is with you, OP. Your ex did the right thing to challenge them. Taking a cat and feeding them to wean them off their owner is not on.

I was in a position of your neighbour once, when the neighbour's cat came into my flat through the open window, I petted her and she kept coming. I never fed her, only gave her water and left a note to the neighbour saying the cat comes to my flat, I don't feed her or try to steal her, and hope she doesn't mind, and that if the cat is not at home she is likely to be next door, with me. She was good natured enough not to mind, and we became friends. I looked after her 2 cats when she was away and helped with vet bills. You see, sometimes a cat just adopts a person, and food is not the reason. Maybe this one wanted a space to herself and not to share affection with her sibling. She even came back when the owner moved few streets away.
I think being honest is best, rather than sneakily trying to steal a pet. And if you have someone nearby who can look after the cat when you are away (rather than pay for the cattery), it is a bonus.

fenneltea Excellent point! Would definitely agree with putting a collar and note to check, glad you said something

I also agree that honesty is best, and I think the neighbour acting as if my cats were abused is what upset me the most

Especially as I seem like a stereotypical “council house mum” from the outside

If they had came up to me and exclaimed how much they loved him and would it be alright if he visited them (by choice) then I would be more than happy to accommodate especially as then we could talk civilly about when he had been fleaed/wormed/fed etc. And I would feel like I could knock to ask for him. But unfortunately they’re still hiding from me

@AshenFaced that's perfect - and is genuinely what happens to my tabby girl if she's fed biscuits! Nothing like the threat of cat piss to put pilfering neighbours back in their boxes...