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Original poster

To leave neighbour who stole my cat a note

256 replies

MrsHoodwink · 09/09/2018 00:35

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 Angry 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 Blush

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 Hmm They also called my other cat “skinny” but she’s perfect weight Blush

OP posts:
AuFinch · 09/09/2018 14:07

Donkeys years ago I used to have a Ginger cat that used to sleep in various houses around my estate. He had a cat-flap and went off at dusk on his merry way and I would be walking down the street in the morning and someone would come to me and ask if I had a big ginger cat? he was in my bed this morning, he was on my sofa etc

I did not mind so much as it seems the people didnt feed him as he always came home to eat his food and spent plenty of time at home every day, he just liked to have his little "sleep overs" as I called them about twice a week! He was an extremely affectionate cat who wanted love 24/7.

I would advise you get the cat microchipped because in case of any dispute in the future you have proof your cat is yours and not anyone elses. Also its a good idea to have a tag done with DONT FEED on it - pets at home do engraving service on tags, that way if anyone else new takes a liking to your cat they can see the owner doesnt want it fed.

I would pop a note through door, just to ask not to feed the cat when it comes over to their home. I am sure if he is not being fed he wont actually "move in".

Do a note something like this

"To whom it may concern, it has been noticed recently that our cat has been going inside your property. We ask politely that you do not encourage this, or feed our cat any food, for obvious reasons we like to monitor the amount of food he eats and this is made impossible when others are feeding him and may have adverse effects on any future medication we need to give him during his lifetime that you would be unware of. Our cat is well looked after, is microchipped and already has a home, kind regards, the owner of ??????

londonrach · 09/09/2018 14:11

Just cat proof your garden. Cant understand why people let their cats roam where their at risk from being hit by cars and stolen.

eddiemairswife · 09/09/2018 14:15

I had a cat that would go missing for a couple of days every so often. I mentioned it in passing to my neighbour, and she said he would go to see her elderly aunt, who lived at the end of the road, and she bought chicken specially for him.

LyndorCake · 09/09/2018 14:20

Can I ask a daft question? How do you cat proof a garden? I've only ever had 1 cat when I was a kid and he was scared of grass so was obvs a house cat.
That being said, I've seen cats easily climb a 6ft fence, or chill on a garage roof. I literally have no idea how you stop this? Can you even build fences that high?
I really want a cat but all the fences round here are knee height

ProudThrilledHappy · 09/09/2018 14:21

Hi Neighbour, DH tells me you have adopted our cat. I just wanted to let you know her vet is Mr Petman at Random Street. Her new prescription of Life-maintaining medication X needs to be paid for on September 20, you will need £95 to cover it.
Enjoy your new pet! cheery wave

DameDoom · 09/09/2018 14:24

Our elderly NDN used to do this with all the neighbourhood cats - she was a lovely, eccentric old lady who was a bit lonely. Our cats have a Hill's prescription diet and she was stuffing them full of Whiskers. I spoke to her about it and even showed the diet care plan from the vets but it didn't stop. I had a chat with her daughter who would visit a few times a week and she took NDN to the RSPCA and adopted an older cat which solved the problem.
If she had continued to feed ours the outcome could have been catastrophic.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 09/09/2018 14:41

Mr Petman at Random Street

I read that as 'Ransom Street" :)

I've been adopted before. It's embarrassing. I keep threatening to put 'cat magnet' on my CV.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 09/09/2018 14:51

One of our cats was ‘borrowed’ by someone who lived in a nearby road. It took me ages to find out what was going on, because she would go missing and then come back. She was getting on a bit and we thought she got confused. Eventually she was missing altogether until one day I saw her in the street and picked her up and took her home. She wouldn’t stay though and I did a bit of detective work and discovered that she was living nearby.

In the end, the woman kept her, but then asked us to pay the vet’s bill when she was unwell. That didn’t happen!

Pondering1 · 09/09/2018 15:02

This would absolutely give me the rage OP - well done getting them told!
To the posters saying cat proof your garden - cats can easily climb/jump a 7 foot fence. Also, what's a cat run, like a rabbit run? If so, isn't that a bit cruel if he is an outdoor cat by his own nature?

We have the opposite problem, an over friendly cat wanting to live here - every time I open the window for some fresh air she is in making herself comfortable. Must be the same with all the neighbours as she now wears a collar with a tag that says please don't feed me. Maybe an idea OP?

ToadOfSadness · 09/09/2018 15:06

You can make a run with aviary panels. I have one which we built when someone was trying to take our cat. Started with a few and then enlarged it a bit at a time. Built it around the back door with the catflap so he could go in and out, he was kept in at night for his own safety anyway.

This might be of interest (Pet Forums) www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cat-runs-cat-proofed-gardens.211361/

Original poster
MrsHoodwink · 09/09/2018 15:27

Thank you everyone, after I had knocked they left their house about 15mins later Blush So were hard of hearing or hiding!

Going to give one more knock when I know they’ve come back but if they don’t answer the notes going in!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsHoodwink · 09/09/2018 15:28

I think to cat proof I’d need a whole new set of fences as they’re knee-height but been looking into the aviary-style cat runs thank you for the link Smile

OP posts:
cheesefield · 09/09/2018 15:32

If you actually think they've locked your car in their house can you call the local police for advice?

I certainly would.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 09/09/2018 15:37

I had a chat with her daughter who would visit a few times a week and she took NDN to the RSPCA and adopted an older cat which solved the problem.

This is the obvious solution.

Do these people think that a cat is a difficult or expensive animal to obtain?

Twice, we have been looking for a cat as a pet - we just mentioned it casually conversation and strange kitten owners we had never met were practically arriving on the doorstep with the post.

The first time we got two kittens from different lies (and then a third a couple of years afters that, because - why not?), the second time we got two brothers (The Twins os Evil) from a single litter.

Cats are often "free to good home" (poor things) and kittens are usually available for a nominal cost. Why pinch someone else's when you know the animal is loved and cared for?

Crackers.

SneakyGremlins · 09/09/2018 15:38

Grin at car in the house

Mine's a roof cat only but I've microchipped him anyway.

SneakyGremlins · 09/09/2018 15:41

Schadenfreude My neighbour got a kitten from a friend and then knocked on my door, handed me a kitten from the same litter, then went back into his flat without saying a word! Grin

Our cats are brothers although I ended up with the runt of the litter who has expensive health issues But I wasn't even actively after one! So true when you say it really isn't hard to find a kitten.

MissionItsPossible · 09/09/2018 15:58

I am ashamed to say I have done this before. I was in love with my neighbours cat and wanted to call it my own and lured it into my garden and tried to keep it.

I was only seven years old at the time, however and didn't know any better! Couldn't dream of an adult knowingly doing something so spiteful Shock

Original poster
MrsHoodwink · 09/09/2018 16:09

I’m going to suggest a rescue but from what she’d said to my ex... they really just love my cat

If they try to say this to me I’ll be asking if they really liked someone’s dog, would they pick it up and carry it into their house Blush

OP posts:
DameDoom · 09/09/2018 16:09

Schadenfreude and SneakyGremlins I completely agree - there are so many kittens and older cats crying out for loving home. There is no need to try and pinch other people's much-loved pets.
So many cats have health problems that need to be carefully managed by prescription diets. Mine would die in agony after a few weeks on Whiskers and Dreamies.

DameDoom · 09/09/2018 16:11

Hope you manage to get this sorted MrsHoodwink. They need to understand that pet pilfering is not okay.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 09/09/2018 16:16

Our cats are brothers

This could work in your favour Gremlins As a (now) close relative of that man, you have a claim on his estate if he predeceases you. (Make sure your own will is up to date, though)

SneakyGremlins · 09/09/2018 16:18
Grin

If I didn't live in a top floor flat I'd have another one, but would 100% get it from a rescue.

LyndorCake · 09/09/2018 16:21

Have you been round yet?

seventhgonickname · 09/09/2018 16:22

Next doors kitten keeps trying to move in to my house.I have 2 cats and one of them plays with the kitten.It was very difficult this summer as he kept sneaking in.We cannot leave any good out for our cats who are disgruntled with the new eat now or it goes routine but we haven't a choice.
Our neighbours know and also know that we aren't catnapped.

Dollymixture22 · 09/09/2018 16:45

Microchip cat flap will keep the kitten out! Is he old enough to be out alone?

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