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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour weird about my cat

140 replies

BeingGemma1979 · 07/06/2023 23:00

So a neighbour (from the next street over, houses back and across one) came to introduce herself, husband and daughter one Saturday afternoon to explain that our cat. (I live with husband and 3 kids under 10 + cat) Sometimes visited their house, and was often there during the day when we are all out. They stayed on the doorstep way too long for people randomly introducing themselves and asked so many questions about our cat and lives (her breed, whether she has a cat flap) but thought that they were maybe looking for friends for their daughter. When they left I thought it a bit odd but I was genuinely planning to invite them over/thinking of playdates. I did feel a bit weird about the cat being there but what was the harm, she works from home, we're out? Then we started to see less and less and less of our cat, she started going missing for days at a time and my daughters are getting more and more upset everyday.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeingGemma1979 · 07/06/2023 23:46

The police officer was so nice and told me not to worry but that I shouldn't contact her again. She also said she would be specifically giving her police advice not to have my cat in her house at all and to put her outside and wait for her to go away. I'm just really at a loss now of what to do - no longer enjoy our pet and get home to a stressful situation every day. Pretty sure they are still taking out cat in.

OP posts:
Wexone · 07/06/2023 23:46

has she got your cat since Easter? my cat is hard to keep indoors but he has a tracking device (app on my phone)which when you press the button gives my name and phone number. also name tagged and microchips has a cat flap (which also os an app that tells me when he goes in and out ) he is well fed too. always comes back in eve has a set routine what I call his patrol of the neighbour hood. there is no way anyway will be taking him

Original poster
BeingGemma1979 · 07/06/2023 23:48

Wish I could have a sense of humour about it! Some days my cat is held in their house some days she isn't. Thursday nights she's missing entirely.

OP posts:
Original poster
BeingGemma1979 · 07/06/2023 23:49

What tracking device do you use?

OP posts:
RebelliousStarrChild · 07/06/2023 23:50

Why don't you just keep the cat in your house?

Original poster
BeingGemma1979 · 07/06/2023 23:51

This really is less about the cat than my kids tbh. If it was just me I'd give the cat away. I mean I like the cat....

OP posts:
fancreek · 07/06/2023 23:51

To be honest I'm not sure what else you want her to do?

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 07/06/2023 23:52

This seems so wrong and selfish but Sad
I feel like she has really manipulated this situation.

RichardsGear · 07/06/2023 23:52

I think you would be better off having a face to face conversation, being blunt and saying please do not take the cat in again as s/he already has a loving home and you don't want her being encouraged into other houses.

Theunamedcat · 07/06/2023 23:52

Ring the police she has stolen your property

wildinthecountry · 07/06/2023 23:53

Don't some cats just decide to move out anyway, they are semi wild and choose where to live ?

Underminer · 07/06/2023 23:53

Get a load of frozen mice from a supplier of snake food and defrost them one at a time.
Under cover of darkness, use a tennis racket to launch said defrosted mice over the fences into their garden.
They will assume the cat is bringing them in and might not be so partial to Gertrude any more. job done.

RichardsGear · 07/06/2023 23:53

I see things have moved on!

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 07/06/2023 23:53

@fancreek ... just don't let the cat in.

It really isn't that difficult to keep a cat out.

RichardsGear · 07/06/2023 23:56

Well not if you've got bifold doors open in warm weather!

fancreek · 07/06/2023 23:57

IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls · 07/06/2023 23:53

@fancreek ... just don't let the cat in.

It really isn't that difficult to keep a cat out.

So this family can never have a window open all summer?

Ylvamoon · 08/06/2023 00:00

The OP should have a pet budgie instead.

powershowerforanhour · 08/06/2023 00:00

"Get a load of frozen mice from a supplier of snake food and defrost them one at a time.
Under cover of darkness, use a tennis racket to launch said defrosted mice over the fences into their garden.
They will assume the cat is bringing them in and might not be so partial to Gertrude any more. job done."

If you've got a really good aim, you could probably get 'em through the bifold doors. But if they've got CCTV you will look like an absolute mentaller and substantiate the harassment claims. It's a tough one.

Original poster
BeingGemma1979 · 08/06/2023 00:01

It's not really fair on the cat.

OP posts:
HadEnoughSoTired · 08/06/2023 00:01

Go get your cat.

Lock cat inside your house.

Kerfuffler · 08/06/2023 00:02

Get your kids to wander into the house with the cat and stay put until they're all returned.

Yellowdays · 08/06/2023 00:03

I bet she's fluffy and gorgeous. My stolen cat was. The woman who took it was similarly full of bullshit. I'd never get another pedigree-someone is always after them, pretending they think it's not fed/wants to come in/abandoned- or similar guff. Get a tatty ex stray next time. Same people will be blind to them.

HadEnoughSoTired · 08/06/2023 00:03

Underminer · 07/06/2023 23:53

Get a load of frozen mice from a supplier of snake food and defrost them one at a time.
Under cover of darkness, use a tennis racket to launch said defrosted mice over the fences into their garden.
They will assume the cat is bringing them in and might not be so partial to Gertrude any more. job done.

As much as I think this is gross I do kinda admire your thinking, its incredibly devious

Cherchezlafemme77 · 08/06/2023 00:04

Underminer · 07/06/2023 23:53

Get a load of frozen mice from a supplier of snake food and defrost them one at a time.
Under cover of darkness, use a tennis racket to launch said defrosted mice over the fences into their garden.
They will assume the cat is bringing them in and might not be so partial to Gertrude any more. job done.

It's GWYNETH!!! And I hope you're planning on getting consent from the mice.

Underminer · 08/06/2023 00:04

powershowerforanhour · 08/06/2023 00:00

"Get a load of frozen mice from a supplier of snake food and defrost them one at a time.
Under cover of darkness, use a tennis racket to launch said defrosted mice over the fences into their garden.
They will assume the cat is bringing them in and might not be so partial to Gertrude any more. job done."

If you've got a really good aim, you could probably get 'em through the bifold doors. But if they've got CCTV you will look like an absolute mentaller and substantiate the harassment claims. It's a tough one.

What it OP dresses as a giant owl whilst using the tennis racket? Would their cctv pick up that across the gardens?
I would’ve suggested she dress as a cat but the neighbour might cat nap her.