neighbour nicking our cat EVERY BLOODY NIGHT, GRRRRR

[ernest]

We've had our lovely cat about 6 months. She's allowed to come and go at will during day, at night she's locked in. She's been coming home less and less recently, often not at all, or very late, after the 3 kids have gone to bed, so they basically rarely see her now

I am 100% sure she's going tot he neighbour's house 4 doors up. They have 2 kids and the 9 yr old girl loves playing with our cat. I'm sure they let her in, and now basically they have our cat & we get to see her for 5 minutes a day if we're lucky.

I asked the neighbour outright last week if our cat went to theirs (have seen cat lying on her doormat) and she said yes, and if they open the door the cat goes in and spends the evening there. I asked her if she wouldn't let the cat in as she was coming very little home now and our children rarely see their own cat. She said OK, but I've not noticed any difference. Today, her dd asked me for a lift home from school when I went to collect my ds, so on the way I asked her if our cat was going round and she said yes. SO again, I've asked her not to let the cat in.

Rant rant rant
Sorry, I know cats like to wander etc etc but I feel really pissed off that basically we went to the trouble of getting a pet for our kids and these people have basically all but stolen her & she only comes back for food. My kids never see their pet.

Is it really unreasonable of me to ask them not to let the cat in? I mean, there have been times eg rainy & she's come back very late & bone dry. So clearly she's been indoors, presumably their house, and if they didn't let her in she's come HOME.

So, am I being neurotic? I have asked outright, but doesn't seem to have made much difference. Any other suggestions? This is really pissing me off now.

I'm with Shimmy and Wannabe on this one. Cats go wherever they want and it sounds like your cat actively prefers your neighbours' household to yours. How old are your kids? Many cats don't like younger kids very much.

cover her with flea powder, then tell them! that might put them off.

this isn't so much about the fickle preferences of disloyal felines, but rather about the fact that our neighbour, despite being asked not to, has basically availed herself of free feline services at our expense. I don't want a caged animal - we've had guinea pigs and they were a smelly, labour-intensive nightmare and much less suitable than a cat. I don't expect a cat to lie there docile and passive for 10 hours a day, but an occasional 'hello' and her actually coming to our house once in a while and our neighbbour has ignored my direct request. She is basically stealing my kids' pet. If she didn't let her in or squirted her with water she would stop bloody going.

Yes, understand she is going blatantly against your wishes, i think you wil have to say it again. Plus use the worms excuse to back you up, worms and fleas in fact!!

The woman is not helping at all.

hope you get some results.

Is your cat neutered? If not she'll be having kittens in this womans house soon. She could keep a kitten and give the cat back to you.

If she is neutered and micro chipped, ask the woman to pay you for the privilege!!

Our cat just came to live with us after the family moved in 2 doors up. They had a dog and both the cats hated the dog so spent a week living under our conifer. Eventually they started to come in the patio doors. When we moved house, the lady said we could have her as she would prefer her to have a good home. The other cat went to live next door and they have since moved!

On Thurs another cat came into our house and sprayed everywhere. No matter what I do, I can still smell it. Our cat is going nuts and nearly threw herself out of the bathroom window (Gawd the Vet Bills!)

Go get that cat back! Is basically what I wanted to say!