could adopting cat work?

[3duracellbunnies]

Our next door neighbours have 2 cats (brothers), about 2yrs old. One is short haired and loves them dearly, curls up on their laps etc. The other one is long haired, triggers health problems in them and doesn't like them much, comes in for food, then disappears, usually to me. He comes and rubs up against my legs when I put out the washing, loves me stroking him, will come inside for a short while each evening, but is a little scared of the children (will let older dd stoke him).

We don't have any pets because we go away for some weekends in the summer, and for holidays etc. Couldn't put a cat flap in as back door is conservatory. Neighbours said they would be happy to look after their cat when we are away (their DM pops in to their house if they were away too). It is at the moment mainly an outside cat, so all that would change is where it is fed and sleeps (sleeps outside in summer anyway). Would they have to come in here to feed him if we were away or is there a way of making him go there when we are away. I have no massive desire to feed him, so I guess we could leave his food there but have him inside after he has eaten. Apparently he can use a litter tray. Assuuming can talk dh round!

[issey6cats]

im sorry but you dont want him sleeping in your house, you dont want to feed him in the house, hes scared of your children, how is this adopting a cat.

[3duracellbunnies]

No, you have misread my post. I'm quite happy for him to sleep in our house and he is less scared of my children than the neighbours children, I don't mind feeding him but we don't have pets because of the commitment when we go away, The structure of our house is such that we couldn't leave cat flap + food so he would have to be fed by current owners in his current house when we are away. I just don't know whether it is better to keep him being fed there, but give him shelter/litter tray etc, or if he would cope with eating at our house when we are here, but there when we aren't. Hopefully someone will be along with some more constructive advice.

[3duracellbunnies]

My dc are very gentle with cats, but the neighbour's dd scared him when he was a kitten which is why he is understandably cautious of my dc.

[CatKitson]

Why can't he stay with his current owners? Does he need rehoming?

[mollymole]

Do his owners want him to move to you ??
If you really want a pet cat you CAN get catflap cut into a glass conservatory - I know because I have had this done.
If you had a cat would your neighbour call in when you were away to feed it.
If you only go away for 2 nights or so you can feed the cat before you go and then leave a big bowl of dry food and plenty of water out, it will cope fine for an over night or even 2 nights.
There is NO WAY you can MAKE a cat go anywhere to be fed or otherwise, they do as they please.

[mrsconfuseddotcom]

We had a cat flap put in a glass door - no problem.

We also go away a fair bit. Our cat stays at home and someone comes in to feed him once a day. He has a rather lovely life!

If you're going to adopt him then you need to do it properly (i.e. eats and sleeps in your house). Cats like to know what they're doing - a bit like people!

[3duracellbunnies]

The long hair triggers a reaction in the mother and they are concerned that it may be exacerbating the dd's asthma. And yes in an ideal world they would like not to have him indoors. I really can't see dh agreeing to a catflap in the glass doors, it wouldn't happen! I wouldn't buy a cat living in our house/circumstances, but he is a nice cat, he chooses to come into our house, although we never feed him, and most of the time it would be fine having him in at night here as he uses a litter tray and I am late to bed and up early, it is when we are away that it would be more of an issue. He is used to living outside, but it is on the wet, cold nights that I feel sorry for him. ( they do have him in when it is really cold but it is hard if it makes them ill).

[lljkk]

I think it could work fine, OP. It's worth a trial if your neighbours are finding it difficult to keep the cats. The long-haired one likes you & your house. It might take the cats a fair while to figure out which home is theirs, though.

How long do you go away for on holidays? Whilst on hols could your neighbours let the long-haired one out for the days and call him back in evenings, if he doesn't like the house, let him stay in the conservatory overnight (if it's not too extreme in temps)?

[3duracellbunnies]

It is mainly in the summer that we go away, though that is often for 3 weeks, which is why we don't have pets as it is quite a commitment. In the winter it is generally just for a few nights here and there when we visit friends/relatives, Christmas, etc. I think that they would keep the short haired one as that doesn't trigger the allergy, then the cats would be together all day. And we would probably leave him out on summer nights, as that is the life he is used to though dd1 would probably love him to share her bed will discuss with dh and neighbours and see if we can make it work, cat rehoming places near here are full, wouldn't like him to be pts.

[lljkk]

It sounds like a good compromise, especially since he prefers sleeping out in summer, anyway. But could lead to source of friction with the neighbours if they were of a certain mindset. I hope it all works out, whatever you do. :)