Neighbour weird about my cat

[BeingGemma1979]

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.

She’s either trying to steal your cat to keep as her own, or - and this isn’t as uncommon as you’d think - she’s a spiteful cow who is ‘teaching you a lesson’ because she ‘knows best’ and you’re not looking after your cat properly (in her opinion). People who think like that don’t necessarily want what they take - they’re trying to prove a point.

I would put a stop to this PDQ. Get a solicitor’s letter telling her she’s not to let the cat in and if the cat enters her house she’s to put it outside immediately. Hint you’ll be making a claim for emotional distress.

In the meantime, keep you cat in. I couldn’t see where you answered whether you had a cat flap or not. If not, you must get one.

What she’s saying is crap. We once had a tiny cottage and had the kitchen window open most days. Cats came in and one in particular came in most days. As soon as we saw it, we shooed it out by walking towards it purposely, shouting and waving our hands. It went straight back out the window. She’s clearly not doing that - either to steal your cat or to teach you a lesson.

Don’t let her win!

Wow. This has got a bit overwhelming. Very sad to hear of similar stories and thanks for all tje supportive messages and ideas - even the crazy ones. What I really want to thank people for is the objective and even angry viewpoints from my neighbour's point of view. I've found it hard to be objective about this as it is so personal and immediate - so that has really helped me try to understand. Loads of great advice form pet owners too. Good luck all closing this now.

Why should the neighbour have the responsibility of keeping the cat out? What if they want to leave a downstairs window open without checking constantly for a cat? Maybe the cat really likes the neighbour's house. I used to have a stray cat visit my house, I was happy to let him in. He would dash in the moment there was any open window/door, until he decided he preferred the house across the road.

Your pet is your responsibility. If you want to control where it goes then keep it inside, or cat proof the garden, build a catio, teach it to walk on a lead. Otherwise they can decide to go elsewhere, or they might get runover.

I don't hate cats at all, I've made friends with a couple of cats over the years. I just think the way they're left to roam around freely in the UK is ridiculous.

This all sounds a bit off to me. Just keep the cat inside. It’s not rocket science.

I get that you might not want to keep the cat inside, but it's either that or accept that he may well be stolen by this lady. There's no other reliable way to stop him going to her house

OP: "The cat is a member of our family"

Also OP "I mean I'd just give the cat away."

We have a catio and also use a harness and 5m lead so he can get around the garden but not out of it. This works for us

Going against the grain but I feel sorry for the neighbor!

We’re in a similar situation with a cat that won’t stop coming into our house. It follows us home if it sees us walking up the road and unless we keep all the windows shut it comes in. For months we would lift it outside (which it didn’t like) but I am so fed up of it that now we just ignore it until it goes away.

I don’t like cats. I don’t want a cat. But this bloody cat won’t go away!

I've read all your messages on this thread and what you have put is rather strange.

I feel for the OP and I hope they get this sorted. The neighbour is literally stealing their cat.

It sounds to me like this woman tried to steal your cat, tried to convince you it was best for the cat and her family, then got scared when she was called out/the police were involved and then genuinely tried to get the cat to leave.. and now the cat isn’t happy about leaving she’s trying to play the victim!

sounds like a manipulative nut case to me

Just keep the cat inside? Mine have always been house cats, it was never safe to let them roam (very busy road) they’ve always been entertained and have always had everything they need.

I find it hard to believe catnapper isn’t feeding your cat. Not all cats want to be indoor cats. Mine didn’t and would climb the windows to get out.

This happened to my brothers cat and she’s now gone. Made me so angry.

Put the cat into a cattery for a fortnite and refuse to engage with messages from the unstable neighbour.

I would invest in a solicitors letter as she sounds devoid of boundaries and keen on involving law enforcement

Build a catio. Cat has the benefit of an outdoor space but can’t be catnapped. Happened to one of my mum’s cats. She visited the neighbour and eventually moved in. Mine are all indoor cats (apart from an occasional escapologist).

lmao we keep ours indoors for this reason (if she'd wanted to go out we'd have built a catio but she doesn't)..