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

Re. Visiting cat?

202 replies

EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 00:35

A young cat started appearing in our garden during the summer, really friendly boy, loved a bit of fuss - we figured he was a neighbour's cat.

Recently he's started showing up again - he has got really fluffy - at both the front and back doors, meowing pitifully like he's never been fed in his life. I am well aware he may be playing us here! Grin

We've let him in a couple of times and he's guzzled away on our cats' food, again like he's never been fed in his life.

We really don't want to steal somebody's cat - but we are feeling really sorry for him! I work shifts and have got home at 4am in the last couple of weeks when it's been freezing outside and he's been out there meowing to come in.

He's not microchipped - I've got a scanner.

Last night I popped a collar on him with a message and my phone number - then he turned up again in the afternoon, collar had gone but nobody has called.

If he belongs to anyone I suspect our next door neighbours - not sure if anyone remembers but I posted a thread about their old cat that got stuck in our roof after being run over - they didn't even have a vet for her! They had another cat too that moved in with the lady over the road.

AIBU to keep letting him in for cuddles? Should we keep sticking collars on him with our details in case he somehow wiggled out of the last one?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
DorothyZbornak · 05/02/2019 00:39

That's how I got a cat ..... Grin

Original poster
EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 00:40

This is him, on DH's knee.

Re. Visiting cat?
OP posts:
DorothyZbornak · 05/02/2019 00:40

I've just clocked your name! Well it's OBVIOUSLY meant to be! Grin

Weezol · 05/02/2019 00:43

Oh I say, he's a splendid chap. It would appear you now have a cat. Congratulations!

ReaganSomerset · 05/02/2019 00:45

He looks quite well cared for. I doubt he's a stray and he may well have removed the collar you put on him before he got home.

Original poster
EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 00:47

Dorothy We already have quite a few cats! The existing ones seem to like our visitor too which has never happened before without very careful introductions

OP posts:
MsPavlichenko · 05/02/2019 00:48

Hmm. He's a Ginger. Notorious for visiting.

I have one. Super sooky. Loves us all. Wanders and visits all around , and I know is fed by others despite there being no need.

Another Ginger here has a collar and name with info not to feed/ encourage. She still visits lots of folk. Just saying.

RamblinRosie · 05/02/2019 00:49

Oh dear, I think you just got adopted. Unless you don’t want another cat.

Is he neutered?

Original poster
EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 00:56

I'm not sure if he's neutered as he's very fluffy so hard to look down there. He was VERY interested in our youngest girl last week, and she came into heat not long after. She's going in to be speyed this month but we're making sure they don't meet each other in the meantime.

OP posts:
Weezol · 05/02/2019 00:56

He looks quite scholarly. I suspect he is either a Classics or Eng Lit professor.

Decormad38 · 05/02/2019 00:59

Owners dont choose cats. Cats choose owners. He’s chosen you.

ReaganSomerset · 05/02/2019 01:03

@Decormad38

Or he might just be a six-dinner Sid. My cat got run over while visiting a neighbour a few years back. I was rather annoyed that they'd encouraged her to do so.

Original poster
EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 01:11

He's a little bit scabby around his mouth, and had dreadlocks under his armpits so.I gave him a brush, I'd love to take him to our vets for a check up but there is also a bloody good chance he's a six dinner sid. Grin

I think we'll try putting another collar on him with my number.

OP posts:
ReaganSomerset · 05/02/2019 01:20

Failing that, 'Is this your cat?' posters. Some cats are adept at getting collars off. My last one had a branch she used to use for the purpose. 🤷‍♀️

CircleofWillis · 05/02/2019 01:31

That cat does not look unowned or unfed. Please do not feed someone else’s cat until you know for certain it has been abandoned.

Original poster
EleanorAbernathy · 05/02/2019 02:18

That's what I'm worried about, CircleofWillis !
But look at his little face, he keeps turning up outside looking like this! Grin

Re. Visiting cat?
OP posts:
OwlBeThere · 05/02/2019 02:28

please don't put collars on him. i don't put a collar on my cat for a reason, and i'd be really annoyed if the neighbours started doing so. Mine likes a bit of a wander, though he mostly goes to eat spiders and worms rather than to other peoples houses.

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 05/02/2019 02:34

He’s claimed you, you are his owners now, you must feed and groom him, plus tickle itchy spots. You belong to him now, good luck

User383673 · 05/02/2019 06:34

I would put up signs around your area asking who he belongs to, in case you’re accidentally nicking someone’s beloved pet!

abbsisspartacus · 05/02/2019 06:37

Owls people recommend paper collars as a way of communicating with owners that the cat is wandering and begging to food

Pinkprincess1978 · 05/02/2019 06:41

Yeah put up signs. Some cats like to wander. My brothers cat kept disappearing then just went and he was devastated. About two years later he turned up round the corner at their new house. Clearly well fed and looked after. They kept him in for 6 months then he got out never to be seen again.

It's really unfair to claim someone else's cat just because he turns up at your house without doing your utmost to ensure he doesn't have a home.

Do you have any local Facebook pages? Maybe post his picture asking if anyone claims him etc.

Fancyacuppaluv · 05/02/2019 06:43

What a beauty!
My friends cat was a bit of a tart and would happily visit a number of neighbours for dinner, they all separately thought he was abandoned etc. One of these put posters up as a PP suggested here and it became clear very quickly that he was just trying his luck and being fed/loved by half a dozen people!

freezingmyproverbialsoff · 05/02/2019 06:49

Have you got a local Facebook group you can post a pic on and ask if anyone owns it?

Angie169 · 05/02/2019 06:50

You need to find out if he is missed by his owners but i would not put posters up or open post of FB as some bastards will claim him and use him as bait in dog fights.
When some one claims that he belongs to them as to see photos of him with them / in their house ( not just on the street )

IMO anyone that does not get their pets chipped does not care that much about them .

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/02/2019 07:11

My cat came to us from my DM who has moved into residential accommodation, and he was previously a Cats Protection stray. After he arrived he befriended at least 4 neighbours making out he was starved and unloved, and two of them were going to adopt him, until he was rumbled one sunny Saturday afternoon...

We also have a local cat who looks just like your furry pal. He’s everybody’s best mate and bestows his presence generously around the neighbourhood.