Young cat coming into house for food

[Gottabesomethingbetterthanthis]

Few weeks ago, a young black cat (kitten) with a collar and bell on, came into our garden. Our older cat wasn't happy but decided "best to ignore it and it'll go away". However, a week or so ago, cat reappeared without collar and now comes into our house looking for food. Firstly back door is open because I always have my back door open, secondly food is available for my own cat.

I'm not sure why its collar is off.. it comes from one of the houses at the back of ours. Concerned that perhaps owners have decided they don't want it and not feeding it etc. or kitty has just decided it prefers our home. I don't want to encourage it as a) Primarily - it's not our cat, and b) if neighbours don't want it, we can't afford another cat! (Price of vet bills!!!)

I can close the back door but I don't want our own cat to feel it can't come in and out when it wants, for safety; I do lift food up if our cat doesn't eat it so kitty can't get to it. Kitty does seem to like being around our own cat despite our cat hissing and walloping it at times.

Any suggestions please? It's a lovely cat in excellent condition, but can't be doing with it coming in the house but awful to think that owners may not want it. If it's regularly fed by them, why's it coming to look for food in our house? (Was outside our back door first thing this morning (8am).

(It had the audacity recently to come into the house, pick up one of our cat's toys, long wire thing with feather on the end, and take it up and over the fence back to where it lives!)

They do want it-it’s just greedy and you are an easy target. Leto the door closed for a couple of weeks and it will find a new victim.

Make a paper collar with a note on to please ring you.

First post sums it up! My cat has adopted an older lady in the village and because she feeds him, fusses him and lets him in her home, he stays away for days! Really quite frustrating as he has a special diet 👎🏻

My cat used to do this in my neighbours house! He was well fed on expensive food but decided he liked their cheaper food which was always out. He has a lovely home and is adored by everyone, and is very affectionate with us and loves playing and cuddling up. BUT he is an opportunist who does what he likes! I didn't want him going there and asked my neighbours to try not to feed him, and they agreed but he still did it when he could.

Close the door and get a cat flap which only your cat can open. Cats can roam free and if you leave the door open there’s not a lot you can do.

And not a lot the owners can do?

You'll have to shut your door and let the car in and out when it asks for a bit.

Other than that there isn't anything else.

Cats roam - it’s just what they do. If you don’t want him in your house then you’ll either have to keep the doors closed or cat proof your garden to keep him out.

My cats don’t wear a collar as I think it’s too dangerous. You do nothing, it’s not your cat! If it comes in your house you put it back out again. Don’t go feeding it, it has a home and people that will miss it! Its never ok to steal a cat!

I've had 5 of my own cats over the years (one of which decided to live with an old lady just 2 doors up from us, many years ago.) - and none wore collars due to the potential risks of getting caught on things. But my question is, did you actually read my post? As I said, I am aware it has a home hence my post here for advice and I am not encouraging the cat - it does get hastily shooed out of the house if it comes in. And now that seems to do the trick. Honestly... 'steal a cat'.... smh.

The cat gods have chosen you. May aswell roll with it.