Neighbours asking me to “cat sit”

[Fire9636]

Neighbours a few doors down have asked me to feed their cat whilst they’re away. Not really put out by this happy to help although don’t have any pets of my own. Anyway they’ve gone for a week and it transpired last night when they came to drop the food off that the cat will be outside the whole week and they want me to feed it outside? They don’t have a cat flap and the cat has no access to the house.

I was to shocked to say anything last night but went looking for the cat when this awful weather started and found it crying at the door of its home to be let in. I’ve managed to coax it to mine.

is this reportable or am I out of touch and this is fine for cats?

Ahh bless you OP ❤️

If sounds like they didn’t want anyone in their home.
Hopefully they have a shelter for it, if not it’s beyond cruel.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot the RSPCA can do.

Oh sweet lord couldn't deal with them, i wouldn't be sending cat back at all. 2 cats here ( one is 16 years old other is 10 and a real hunter) currently lying on the bed fast asleep. The younger one does go out a bit but will always come to window or back door meowing to be let in and will dry himself by rubbing against me . Other one goes out for 2 mins and runs back. In previous house we had a electronic cat flap that if went away mother in law checked food but they could go in and out when wanted and had living room to sleep in, also cat flap was on app so we knew when in house or not. Now in rented house so no cat flap so we send them to the cattery. No way could i do what your neighbors did. As others say congrats on your new cat

It is shitty. Overnight when you can't get the little buggers to come inside is ok but not a full week. Especially with the weather forecast. Plenty of cats do live outside or in barns etc but this one is presumably a domestic cat used to having a cosy home.
Is it because they don't have litter trays I wonder? Or don't want the smell of the toilet in their house?

The RSPCA don't seem to give a shit about cats in my experience so I wouldn't report. Not when my neighbours dog attacked and killed my girl at least.

What shitty owners. Clearly they just want to come home to a pristine house
The very least they could have done is provide it with a good shelter.

You are lovely, OP

It's not ok at all but the RSPCA won't give a flying fuck.

You are doing the right thing by taking the cat in. What they have done is cruel and they shouldn't have pets if they can treat them like this

Shitty owners.
If the cat lived outside all the time when they are there then that would be ok because the cat is used to it but not a cat who normally lives indoors.
Well done for taking it in. I'd just keep it with you all week now until they get back.
I'd also be telling them exactly why I took the cat in when they eventually return...

Where'd the bastards go? Somewhere warm and sunny I bet, while their poor little cat is left outside in October with rain and wind warnings

I had the exact same thing happen to me a few years ago. Not only was the poor cat stuck outside, the amount of food they told me to give it wouldn’t have kept a fieldmouse alive.

I couldn’t bring it into my house because I have dogs and cats of my own, so it stayed in the garden.

Our cats are descended from desert cats. Think Sphinxes/tombs in Egypt and all that. Mummified cats.

They need warmth. Your neighbours are cruel to have left the poor thing without telling you the circumstances.

Well gone you for being so kind to take it in. Poor wee thing. 💐

A cat is perfectly capable of finding snacks. They hunt.
They're also good at finding accessible catflaps to jump through.
And they're also good at acting poor little moggie to get innocent neighbours to feed and shelter them.
and the bastards will still shit in your garden

When people say they have outdoor cats, do they mean outdoors all the time? I always assumed it meant that the cat is allowed out as opposed to always being out. I thought it was to distinguish between those cats which do go out and cats which never go out.

Poor wee cat though🙁

Try and feed it under a bush or somewhere sheltered in your garden or near/at your neighbours home. If you’ve got something to keep rain off the area and perhaps an old cushion, you could fashion a shelter for it. Cats are very resourceful and it will sniff out a warm place to snuggle - under decking or something. Agree it will be a shock to it if it’s used to being pampered indoors but it will survive - not ideal owners though

The cat will piss up the wall as soon as they get home (& then move back in at yours).

Your neighbours are shitbags and don’t deserve a lovely cat. They’d be in for a right good tongue lashing from me. 😡

it could easily be the case that it wouldn't come in when they left and they don't have a spare key to give OP.

Highly unlikely. The op says there is no cat flap, and the op was asked to feed the cat outside. This was planned

Did they leave contact details? If so I would message them about the awful weather and that the cat was distressed.

I refuse to feed anyone's cat unless they have a cat flap which allows the cat free access in and out. I got caught with former neigbours who had four cats and a cat flap which would let them out but not back in.
I was in and out the house about 75 times a day because the cats learned where I lived and would sit on my doorstep and miaow whenever they wanted to be let back inside. I was so glad when those neighbours eventually moved.

This. My cat insisted on going out this morning and I feel bad because I’m not at home to let him in but at least it’s mild and dry at the moment.

Very cruel of your neighbours IMO

Awful, awful, awful. Sounds like they didn't want you to have keys to their house but this is so cruel to the poor cat. So glad she's got a nice warm spot with you now.

That's disgusting. I would tell them how shocked you were that the cat would be outside. And that you wouldn't be minding it again. I'm so glad you've taken it in!
You are a person after my own heart 💐

Poor cat.

Some cats are very well adapted and will find shelter, food, water etc.

Some cats are not at all well adapted and will just sit and get sodden and cold and hungry.

OP you're a kind person to invite this cat in, it may well be your cat now though!

2 things:

• It's not that the RSPCA don't care - we (I'm a long time volunteer) most certainly do. But they simply do not have the resources to tackle all animal abuse and need to focus on the most serious cases.
• Locking a cat out of the house and leaving them to it is abuse, especially at this time of the year.
• If said cat indicates that they'd rather live with you - you may consider this as a serious proposal. - Chances are you'll have a friend for life!

If the cat CHOOSES to stay outside, fine.

But to lock out a cat that is used to going into the house - that's fucking cruel and I'd be telling them that loud and clear.

Nonsense! this is an indoor cat, its outside crying and the OP has taken the poor thing in.

Are you the original owner? you certainly sound exactly like them.