Page 4 | To be hacked off with my neighbour ‘stealing’ my cat!

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 21/02/2022 16:30

There was a legal case about this a few years ago…perhaps print off the story and show it to them?

SpaghettiNotCourgetti · 21/02/2022 16:31

Justanotherobserver

I knew someone with two cats that didn't get on and they were, in her words, 'trying to shit each other out of existence'. There was cat shit absolutely everywhere, inside and out, it was disgusting. In the end she had to re-home both of them as she couldn't cope with the amount of shit.

I don't know whether it's delirium from whatever manky illness I'm currently suffering from or pregnancy hormones or what but this is just one of the funniest things I've ever read 😂

Our NDN's cat is a friendly little thing who likes to come into our house to sleep on the sofas or sit in a box somewhere. He does it less now we have a toddler but before then it seemed that he just liked company that would let him get on with sleeping unmolested. We didn't feed him but it didn't make a difference to him. He just liked the ambience, clearly. His owners knew that he did it, and they seem to run some sort of cat dosshouse where all the neighbourhood cats pop in and out to steal their cat's food and sleep on their sofas. Communal cat living.

Crunchymum · 21/02/2022 16:32

@HugAHoodie

The cat is fine with the DC but isn’t a fan of our other cat. So I think that’s why he buggers off. That said, he’s always been a free-spirit type even before cat 2 came along.

I don’t think they’re feeding - he hasn’t gained weight and still eats at ours. The other day they “dropped him back” (!) as he had been in for so long and thought he might be hungry !

How do I cat proof my garden?

Sadly I think he is showing you just how much cat 2 bothers him.

There is another thread running about someone who has had to rehome her second cat due to "cat ww3" as it was described but the consensus is cats are solitary or need to be homes with litter mates.

He doesn't like his new cat sibling and keeping him in, is unlikely to improve this.

Crunchymum · 21/02/2022 16:33

homed*

Hopikins · 21/02/2022 16:33

I am not a cat person, I have a beloved dog, however I think you should be grateful you have kind neighbours who are happy for your cat to visit.
I have had to turn away local cats especially the younger ones when they visit my garden and stare through my patio windows imploring me to let them in when the weather is inclement etc. If I didn't have my dog, I would be very tempted to allow it. As it is I feel cruel denying them shelter etc. Perhaps your neighbours feel the same.

lemmein · 21/02/2022 16:35

I would panic if a cat let itself into my house, they massively freak me out! 😖

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/02/2022 16:35

I have this issue op. We weren't seeing him for days at a time over Xmas when it was really cold. We got him a tracker and pay a monthly subscription for it. We found out he goes to loads of houses! He came back with 2 separate notes on his collar saying they didn't realise he had a home (they must have missed the reflective collar he had before ) He was being fed as well as he started turning his nose up at Felix.

We set the beeper off now when we want him in so wherever he is, he normally gets turfed out as it's really loud and annoying!

My other 2 cats are very home loving.

lechatnoir · 21/02/2022 16:36

Whilst I agree that cats are independent, I think it's really bloody cheeky to knowingly let a neighbours cat in to your house especially when they've asked you not to.

I'd go round and say DC has spotted your cat in their house and is really upset thinking you'd either given it away or they'd stolen it. Add a tinkly little laugh and say of course we know that neither are true but could they please make a concerted effort not to let the cat in to their house and if he deal sneak in, send him out asap.

IntermittentParps · 21/02/2022 16:36

I dunno. We had a visiting cat for a while, a few years ago, who belonged to a neighbour a few doors down (I didn't know them but a mutual neighbour knew them and the cat).
It'd turn up regular as clockwork in the morning, I'd let it in and it would select a chair/sofa/bed, snooze all day while I worked (I never fed it), then present itself at my office door around 4pm and 'ask' to be let back out, and off it would trot back home.
Yes, I was letting it in, but not otherwise encouraging it. It sounds like your neighbours are doing the same and in your case your cat is just choosing to spend his time at theirs.
HOWEVER, they are being cheeky seeing as you've asked them not to let him in. If my neighbours had done this I would have complied gorgeous as the cat was

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/02/2022 16:37

I wouldn't be able to cat proof this garden and my cat would do his but trying to escape. He's roamed his whole life. I don't think he'd like being trapped in our garden!

SecretKeeper1 · 21/02/2022 16:37

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams

Tell them he regularly has worms/fleas from eating rodents...

I came to say this too!

“Really sorry if Bob has taken fleas into your house, he’s got infested again, just can’t get rid of the damn things”

Mybestyear · 21/02/2022 16:39

Tell them you’ve spotted some fleas in cats basket so just warning them just in case cat tries to get in their house.

Mybestyear · 21/02/2022 16:40

Cross post with @SecretKeeper1

WiddlinDiddlin · 21/02/2022 16:43

It looks like the issue is your cat isn't actually relaxed and happy in your house.

Rather than berating them for letting him in or seeking ways to stop him escaping, might it be sensible to look at ways of reducing his stress at your house and making him feel happier there?

I'd suggest as a starting point, a Feliway diffuser possibly several.

Extra litter trays if either cat uses them.

Extra feeding stations and water bowls so that neither cat has to eat within the eye-line of the other cat.

Possibly provide more beds or high-rise sleeping platforms and if there is anywhere one cat can trap another, try to eliminate that.

Cocomelonearworm · 21/02/2022 16:49

My parents do this with their neighbours' cat and it absolutely infuriates me. They usher him in if they see him, leave their cat flap open for him (their last cat died a few years ago) and of course feed him. My DM even gives him flea treatments. They seem to see him as some sort of "neglected" cat even though they know exactly which house he lives in and he is in good condition with a collar. I really have to bite my tongue when DM sends me yet another photo of him cosily curled up in bed with her. When I've voiced my opinions I get bossily dismissed (on this and all things, really).

I know cats vote with their feet/paws but to me it is theft and very unfair to try and steal someone else's pet by degrees.

So no advice but I hope you can get through to them OP.

godmum56 · 21/02/2022 16:53

I don't mind cats but don't own one. I don't want them in my garden and my dog certainly doesn't. When non cat owning folk come on here and complain about cats shitting in their garden/killing birds and so on the cat owners come on and say "oh cats will go where they like, you can't stop them roaming" ......

kittykarate · 21/02/2022 16:54

My next door neighbours cat would 'pop in' when I was regularly working from home. He'd wait in ambush outside the front door and dash in when my husband went out to work. We used to turf him out, which was a chase round the house and could involve him hiding under the bed but in the end it was easier just to ignore him. He'd curl up on a cushion and snore the day away. He'd hear his owner come home from work and then ask to be let out so he could go home for his tea.

MarchXX · 21/02/2022 16:56

@HugAHoodie

Yes I know that cats are independent, will go where they want to go, have no loyalties etc

But a family local to me let my cat into their home every day. I can see him through their windows.

I understand how in warmer months this is difficult to avoid. But they are obviously letting him in.

I’ve spoken to them - at least 3 times - on the last occasion I specifically asked them (politely) to not open the door to him. My DC are upset as cat has basically buggered off and has to be lured into ours with food! The neighbours have said they’re not feeding him.

AIBU to feel pissed off about this and should I go round (again) to ask them to ignore my cat? Or am I being precious (and at least they’re kind to him)

I think you are being a bit unreasonable, OP. I do sympathise though, as a mum of several cats over nearly 40 years, two of them were gregarious, sociable types who visited neighbours, making themselves at home. They were such gentle, friendly cats that their presence was welcomed and I accepted it. They were still my precious boys always though, and always came home in the end.

Justanotherobserver · 21/02/2022 16:57

@SpaghettiNotCourgetti

Justanotherobserver

I knew someone with two cats that didn't get on and they were, in her words, 'trying to shit each other out of existence'. There was cat shit absolutely everywhere, inside and out, it was disgusting. In the end she had to re-home both of them as she couldn't cope with the amount of shit.

I don't know whether it's delirium from whatever manky illness I'm currently suffering from or pregnancy hormones or what but this is just one of the funniest things I've ever read 😂

Our NDN's cat is a friendly little thing who likes to come into our house to sleep on the sofas or sit in a box somewhere. He does it less now we have a toddler but before then it seemed that he just liked company that would let him get on with sleeping unmolested. We didn't feed him but it didn't make a difference to him. He just liked the ambience, clearly. His owners knew that he did it, and they seem to run some sort of cat dosshouse where all the neighbourhood cats pop in and out to steal their cat's food and sleep on their sofas. Communal cat living.

Glad I gave you a laugh, SpaghettiNotCourgetti, and hope you feel better soon!

lemmein · 21/02/2022 16:58

We set the beeper off now when we want him in so wherever he is, he normally gets turfed out as it's really loud and annoying!

I didn't know such things existed - excellent idea! I could've done with something like that when my DC were teens.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/02/2022 17:01

@godmum56

I don't mind cats but don't own one. I don't want them in my garden and my dog certainly doesn't. When non cat owning folk come on here and complain about cats shitting in their garden/killing birds and so on the cat owners come on and say "oh cats will go where they like, you can't stop them roaming" ......

You can't stop them. But you can stop them getting into your house when someone has asked you not to let them in.

I am fine with it now he has a tracker on so I know who has him.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 21/02/2022 17:04

@lemmein

We set the beeper off now when we want him in so wherever he is, he normally gets turfed out as it's really loud and annoying!

I didn't know such things existed - excellent idea! I could've done with something like that when my DC were teens.

🤣 I didn't think of it for the DC! But yes! Good idea.

It wasn't cheap, but I am a worrier so it is worth it. It lasts 3 days and nights without needing to charge it as well as long as you aren't constantly trying to track them

TravellingFrom · 21/02/2022 17:05

What would the NDN say if you told them:

Well dear cat has clearly chosen you so now you are their owner - including vet bills, food etc?

I’m wondering if the ‘of we can’t leave him outside’ is because they get to chose which bits of ‘having a cat’ they like rather than the whole experience iyswim.
But if they were out in the spot, they wouldn’t be so keen on opening the door like this (esp to an outside cat!)

JudgeJ · 21/02/2022 17:11

Six Dinner Syd is a good read!

anne2650 · 21/02/2022 17:14

My neighbour did this with my cat a few years ago. She'd let her in for cuddles and then text me late at night to tell me she'd put her back outside. It got bloody annoying and I had to tell her clearly in the end not to keep letting her in. She got a bit narky about it as she said my cat was helping with her anxiety and she would now have to get her own cat - which she did.