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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to report neighbours about cat?

26 replies

mn12 · 20/08/2019 14:42

Neighbours have gone on holiday to their home country, not sure how long for but they go every summer usually for 2-3 weeks.

They have had a lovely friendly cat for 3 years now, when they first had him they went abroad, leaving cat (kitten at the time) locked in their house for just over 2 weeks with no-one popping in the house during that time to check him. I reported them to rspca on this instance but it was too late for them to take any action as they arrived home the next day, so had a warning.

So, they have gone away a few days ago, i only know as I saw them packing their car (they arent very neighbourly or chatty) cat has been left to his own devices, they have left kitchen window at the back of the house wide open for him to come and go as he pleases. And from what i have seen it appears they have someone going to check on him every 3/4 days. The cat is howling at my back door constantly, i cant leave door open without him darting into my house to go through my bins he is clearly hungry and its really not nice to see, my dc are upset and have left a bowl of milk out for him. We dont have pets and i am not a cat person at all. But this is neglect right?

Should i report them? I could go and get him some food from the shop but wouldnt want him to keep coming back to be fed, but guess dc have done that leaving milk for him. Or is this normal cat behaviour should i just ignore?

Sorry for the long post any advice appreciated.

OP posts:

Confusedbeetle · 20/08/2019 14:47

They are irresponsible and the cat should be fed and checked daily. If you feed him he will move in to yours so think before you feed unless you would like him. Make another call to RSPCA but not sure how much they would do if he gets out. Please dont feed milk, most cats are lactose intolerant and will give him diarrhoea. If you have the courage ask the neighbours if they really want a cat and they are not seeing to his needs. It is normal behaviour for a cat to try and get fed! He is hungry. The neglect is not right

Butternutsquashy · 20/08/2019 14:47

Personally I wouldn't. Unless your constantly watching their house you can't prove someone is only checking every 3-4 days. Lots of cats are very independent and don't need constant supervision.
Also most cats are lactose intolerant so please stop giving him milk- it's likely to make him quite ill.

scaryteacher · 20/08/2019 14:48

I would buy some cat food and feed the poor animal. Mine can clear their food bowls overnight if they get the munchies, so 3-4 days without food is too long.

I would be wary of reporting to the RSPCA, as they are not known for their humane policies, but you could talk to the Cats Protection league. I would also try to catch whoever is coming round to check on the cat and explain your concerns. This is how I ended up with one of mine.

aprilanne · 20/08/2019 14:48

Sorry but the rspca won't care I had a stray come round my back 5 years ago and they said chase him away cats will look after themselves very unhelpful and very uncaring
But ginger is now a well fed well loved pet and I was not a cat person either until he came a calling .maybe phone cats protection

PancakeAndKeith · 20/08/2019 14:52

Cats Protection are a better bet than the RSPCA. Poor thing.
Like others have said, don’t leave out milk but cat food or tuna in water (rather than brine or oil) would be good.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 20/08/2019 14:54

Are you sure they dont have any automated feeder system in their house for the cat?

TrainspottingWelsh · 20/08/2019 14:55

I echo the advice of contacting cats Protection or any other local charity. It’s only the rspca that have any powers, but ime you could have video footage of it being locked in a cupboard for a month without food and they still wouldn’t act. But another charity might be able to advise you on getting rspca to act or give the owners advice.

BluebellsareBlue · 20/08/2019 14:57

Aw that's so so sad. Cats and dogs are lactose intolerant so shouldn't really have milk. Good luck op

Thesuzle · 20/08/2019 14:58

Pls don’t give cows milk to cats. They lack an enzyme to digest it

bobstersmum · 20/08/2019 15:03

I am very surprised that the rspca won't be interested. Dh's ex had them turn up at her house as the neighbours had reported her cat was looking scruffy and left out a lot. They made her sort it out and came back after a month to check, we had actually taken the cat off her at this point and they called us to check she wasn't lying! This is over 10 years ago though.

Owlypants · 20/08/2019 15:08

Feed the cat and call cats protection. Stop giving him milk though, my dp gives our cat milk as a treat. The cat absolutely loves it and in very small doses it's not too bad but while it's a treat for the cat it's certainly not a treat for me to clean out the litter tray from hell then chase a shit covered cat round the house with a towel.

Original poster

mn12 · 20/08/2019 15:11

Had no idea about milk, dc had already done this whilst i was upstairs will tell them this thank you. The automated cat feeder could be a possibility i wondered that myself but he only bothers outside my door when they have left him for long periods, its getting quite frustrating chasing him out of my house and remembering to keep back door shut. he also climbs through window if thats left open to rummage through the bin

OP posts:

HappyHammy · 20/08/2019 15:13

he sounds hungry, I would call C.P for their advice. Do you have a shed or garage he could stay in at the moment, I would feed him and give him a bowl of water. Their leaving the back window open is a big security risk anyway. Poor cat.

Laiste · 20/08/2019 15:17

I was going to suggest is there a garage or out-house or even a bin shed you could leave some dry cat food down for him and a dish of water?

The dry food is easier to deal with (doesn't attract so many flies and doesn't go 'off') and if you feed it away from your actual house he wont necessarily associate the food with you and your house.

MadeleineMaxwell · 20/08/2019 15:29

I wouldn't leave cat food out anywhere 'public', you'll have all the neighbourhood kitties round fighting over it and coming back to check if there's more for ages (ask me how I know!).

If you want to feed the poor thing, then do so in your house but you run the risk of adopting him by proxy (which I would love but you might not).

Otherwise I agree with PPs - call Cats Protection. We've left our various mogs by themselves for weeks, but always have a neighbour come in at least once daily to feed and water them.

raspberryk · 20/08/2019 15:45

Yabu, cats are fine alone, they will have left enough dry food or have an automated feeder.
Unless you are conducting 24hr surveillance you have no idea if someone is going in or not.
You're encouraging the cat to your house and giving it things it shouldn't have, no wonder it's hanging round.

Sorrysorrysosorry · 20/08/2019 15:51

left a bowl of milk out for him

A lot of cats are lactose intolerant which is why a pp has to chase a shit covered cat around the house. They do cat milk in the pet food section because normal milk causes such an upset tummy.

Can you get to the back of the house to leave a bowl of food on the windowsill being as the window is open?

CSIblonde · 20/08/2019 15:56

@raspberryk if he's resorting to going thru the bins he's obviously hungry. I've taken in stray, once they're fed regularly they don't bother with the bin. They have form for neglect with the kitten & you can't assume they've got a system in place. The saying 'Assume & you make an ass out of you & me' is so true. I've seen cats end up skin & bone where I live as people moved & left them & everyone I asked 'assumed' someone kind was feeding them.

IAskTooManyQuestions · 20/08/2019 15:57

Cats are self sufficient. It wont starve, it knows you're a soft touch. This comes from me who feeds a Six Dinner Sid because he turns up and looks pathetic - I don't know how the hell he jumps fences, all the neighbours feed him too.

I have read instances of the CP stealing taking cats that are perfectly well looked after and chipped. Purely because a neighbour didn't like them catching birds/shitting in the garden

SuzieSunshine · 20/08/2019 16:39

If the cat only bothers you when they have left it then - yes it's obviously hungry. Please call the Cats Protection League (I have found that the RSPCA are useless) and report it. These people should not be allowed to have pets. Poor thing.

indisposed38 · 20/08/2019 16:41

How do you know what provision has been made. You are assuming a great deal. We have an automated cat feeder and use it from time to time.

DareDevil223 · 20/08/2019 16:43

All these people saying essentially that you can just neglect cats and they'll be fine. They need attention and affection like any other living creature. I'd never leave Dcat on his own like that. People who do shouldn't be allowed to have a cat

ScreamingValenta · 20/08/2019 16:46

they have left kitchen window at the back of the house wide open for him to come and go as he pleases.

It all sounds very odd. Are you absolutely sure there is no one in the house? Surely no one would leave a window wide open in a house that was going to be unoccupied for two weeks - it's almost asking to be burgled.

HeyYouWhatToDo · 20/08/2019 16:46

We have a neighbour watch our cat and feed her while we're away. She's let in on an evening and fed and let out in the morning.
She will however go and sit at neighbours doors up and down the road looking all sorry for herself, it's not that she's hungry, I think she's lonely without the dog to play with so goes begging a fuss.

Original poster

mn12 · 20/08/2019 17:03

I havn't made any assumptions ive said as ive seen. They have neglected him before and as ive said his behaviour changes when they leave him for longer periods, wether its just attention he wants or feeding he clearly isnt happy or he wouldnt be crying at my door. thanks for all the advice, rspca were great when i called them last time they were out within the hour and were concerned about his welfare, followed up with a visit the next day to the neighbours.
I dont want a new lodger and have no outside shelter but i can actually access their garden from mine so can leave food by their back door. They did the same thing last year leaving kitchen window open and their cat wouldnt go near because a local cat had got into the kitchen and wouldnt let him in.
we also live in a rough area, they are mad leaving windows open.

OP posts:

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