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Original poster

My cat won't leave our local corner shop alone

23 replies

tess1234 · 21/03/2023 12:55

So my cat goes out during the day and is always home at night.
Our local corner shop is about a 2 minute walk it's literally in front of the row of houses opposite our house. My cat roams around the shop and is the friendliest cat ever, but the shop owner and staff is wanting me to keep her away from the shop and I'd happily do that, if my cat weren't being fed at the shop. They said she's not being fed there but we are a very small community, I have had people who have sent me photos of her being fed outside the shop or even texted to say she's being fed. They said they were going to contact animal welfare about it if my cat was still at the shop tomorrow and I really don't know what to do. Cats are going to go where they are being fed.
I've contacted animal welfare myself for advice and they assured me they don't seize cats for roaming freely all they'll do is a welfare check which is just a visit of her and her home which I'm fine with. I just don't like feeling like I can't let her out because of this

OP posts:
GoodChat · 21/03/2023 13:10

Other than keeping her in the house there's nothing you can do, and that would be mean if she's an outdoorsy type.

Do you leave food outside for her when she's roaming?

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 21/03/2023 13:16

Provide shop with evidence she's being fed.
Put up a sign in their window saying don't feed the cat.

Original poster
tess1234 · 21/03/2023 13:17

ComeTheFckOnBridget · 21/03/2023 13:16

Provide shop with evidence she's being fed.
Put up a sign in their window saying don't feed the cat.

I have sent the staff the pictures, but the owner is adamant she isn't and doesn't want to see the pictures. A sign is up already as well.

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 21/03/2023 13:18

Who is doing the feeding?

Original poster
tess1234 · 21/03/2023 13:19

SparklingLime · 21/03/2023 13:18

Who is doing the feeding?

The customers are buying the food and giving it to her

OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 21/03/2023 13:20

They probably have mice. Not much you can do about her attraction to mice. Tell the shop to get pest control in.

SoosanCarter · 21/03/2023 13:20

Get a cat collar with Do Not Feed on it

Original poster
tess1234 · 21/03/2023 13:21

SoosanCarter · 21/03/2023 13:20

Get a cat collar with Do Not Feed on it

When this first happened it was the first thing I did

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 21/03/2023 13:26

Can you talk to the customers directly, and put up your own poster explaining the problems that the feeding is causing?

AmandaHoldensLips · 21/03/2023 18:00

@tess1234 I think we all need to see a photograph of your shop-obsessed cat please.

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 18:03

My cat has 2 favoured hang outs - both where he gets fed and a lot of human attention.

The shop may want your cat to go but clearly their customers do not.

Animal welfare will likely laugh at the shop and point out the efforts you have made and they have not.

Ponderingwindow · 21/03/2023 18:12

you could take some responsibility as a pet owner and find a way to contain your cat. It isn’t impossible.

2bazookas · 21/03/2023 18:47

Copy the photos and send them to the shop with an anonymous letter:

"A number of people are watching your staff do this.

and collecting evidence. This is your very last warning. The next people to see the evidence of you encouraging animals into a food shop, will be Environmental Health. "

Schmutter · 21/03/2023 18:52

I would print off a photo of the cat and add in large letters, ‘Please do not feed this cat. It has a home and is on a special diet’ (or some such)

And ask the shop to display it for the feckless customers.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 21/03/2023 18:54

Can you provide a sign with a photo of the cat and a polite request not to feed to the shop and ask them to put it in the window? My local library had a cat that went in and there was a sign asking people not to feed him as he was on a medical diet.

GoodChat · 21/03/2023 19:06

Ponderingwindow · 21/03/2023 18:12

you could take some responsibility as a pet owner and find a way to contain your cat. It isn’t impossible.

No it's not impossible to restrain the cat but it's unfair and unkind. The cats not doing any harm.

Schmutter · 21/03/2023 19:17

The OP said it’s not staff but customers who are feeding the cat.

OnaBegonia · 21/03/2023 19:32

How mean, some shop visiting cats even have their own FB pages, this could be a good advertising ploy
for the shop.

weetee0102 · 21/03/2023 19:35

Its only a bloody cat, atleast she wont need to worry about rats. Seriously though there's not much you can do over what you have already, shop owner sounds very unreasonable

daretodenim · 21/03/2023 19:41

OnaBegonia · 21/03/2023 19:32

How mean, some shop visiting cats even have their own FB pages, this could be a good advertising ploy
for the shop.

That's what I thought! The shop is missing a trick!

Anawilliam850 · 23/03/2023 19:14

It is understandable that you want your cat to have the freedom to roam outside, but it is also important to respect the wishes of the shop owner and staff. If they are asking you to keep your cat away from the shop, it may be best to do so in order to maintain a good relationship with them.It is also important to consider the welfare of your cat. While it is great that she is being fed by the shop, it is important to ensure that she is getting a balanced diet and is not relying solely on the food from the shop. You may want to consider providing her with food and water at home to supplement what she gets from the shop.As for the concerns about animal welfare, it is good that you have reached out for advice. A welfare check is a routine visit that is conducted to ensure that the cat is in good health and is being properly cared for. If you have nothing to hide, there is no need to be concerned about a welfare check.In summary, it may be best to keep your cat away from the shop to maintain a good relationship with the owners and staff, while also ensuring that she is getting a balanced diet and is being properly cared for.

SparklingLime · 23/03/2023 21:01

What are you talking about, @Anawilliam850? The OP has said that it is very much not great that the cat is being fed at the shop. She has put a 'do not feed' collar on her cat and asked them to make sure the cat is not fed at the shop. Of course she feeds her cat at home. Have you actually read the posts before all this waffling 'advice'?

RandomMess · 23/03/2023 21:11

What are the shop opening hours?

Can cat go out when shop is shut?

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