Passers-by stroking your cat

[Jan49]

If your cat goes into the front garden or street and is on the pavement or wall, do you mind if passers-by stroke it? I've always assumed it was OK to stroke a cat if it was happy to be stroked. I've never done anything else like feeding it or taking it into my home, just stroking it where it is if it's in the street.

There are 2 cats in our street who are often on the pavement and we stop and stroke them, maybe once or twice a week as do other people. However the owner of one cat told my (adult) son the cat is having medical treatment and should not be stroked and this will apply for a year. I frequently see it being stroked by passers-by and it wears no collar or information. The owner of the other cat (a near neighbour) seems friendly but recently the cat followed me to my front door. The owner came out of her house, said in a friendly tone "I'd prefer people not to pick him up" then carried him back home. I feel stupid now for not having explained that he'd just followed me but I was waiting for her to add something to what she said and instead she just left.

So I'm wondering. Are we doing something wrong if we stroke a cat we see in the street?

No. But your neighbours are being a bit weird about their cats.

If she doesn't want people touching it she should keep it indoors or in the back garden . How ridiculous , perhaps a vet will come along in a minute and tell us what illness cats get that means they can't be stroked!

If cats are let out sufficiently to poo in others gardens then the least the owners can do is let you stroke them too. They are being weird. If they don't want their cat to be stroked then they shouldn't let them out.

No you are doing nothing wrong, but one of my cats would encourage primary school children to stroke him and then steal their ice cream. We are on the route for 3 primary schools . It was very embarrassing. He is too old now thank heavens.

Sounds as if they're actually a bit jealous that their cats might be presenting themselves for a stroke - most cats won't allow strangers near them unless they like the look of that stranger.

Do you know if the cats in question have ever gone AWOL ? That might explain the neighbours' sensitivity, however ineptly expressed.

The cat 3 doors down, Penny squashed-face, will run after you, get in front of you, and drop on the floor rolling around seducing you to stroke the tart darling thing

It's almost the law. Any cat that greets you DEMANDS a stroke. I love it when people chat to mine

What they don't realise though is that he will then trot keenly after them for a long way

I like penny thing.

I've never heard of this. I always stop and stroke cars as goes my oldest dd. they sound a bit weird tbh. If the cat can't be stroked it shouldn't be out. I've never once thought that someone would mind their cat being shown affection. After all cats are free to Walk away or not come to you in the first place if its unwanted attention

Penny squashed-face.

She has really short legs,too. Unusual looking moggy. But vair cute. And a tart. Will even approach funeral-goers at the church across the road and roll around with heavy eyelids.

Cats not cars

I am at this mysterious illness that means the cat can't be stroked. Do ask her when you see her what it is! However, if that really is the case then they are being irresponsible letting the cat out. How are people supposed to know? Cats are (generally) keen to be fussed - it's their fault for letting it happen. I feel a bit sorry for their cats though tbh.

Thank you for all the replies! I was beginning to wonder if we'd committed some dreadful social faux pas.

I'd love it if my cats were strokeable.

Evil cat looks so fluffy and approachable but any stranger who dared stroke her would end up missing a limb. Except a relative who is the most dodgy, racist, thieving, arse-wipe. She liked him A LOT. She's odd.

Ginger Moron is just petrified of non-family members.

Noooo, she's a weird cat lady!!

Maybe they're all on alert because you've got an underground reputation as a catnapper? .

I wouldn't pay much heed tbh - don't stroke the cats you've been asked not to stroke and carry on stroking the cats you haven't.

There are conditions which mean stroking is not a good plan but tbh in many of the cases it is the treatment you want to avoid coming into contact with, particularly if you have children touching the cats or are pregnant. Yes the cats should be inside and if on chemotherapy that will have been advised but people may not think to for dermatological conditions. Also their cats might be head cases if confined and they cba to deal with that aggro.

4 th post into a cat thread in The Litter Tray topic mentioning cat poo in the garden.

Sparkling Cat won't let strangers near her but I wouldn't mind.

I always stroke cats ...if they're interested that is! there are loads around here and if one greets me...or just looks cute, I stop and have a stroke and a chat. It's fine!

I say it's mostly the treatment but I suppose it really depends how much you trust your neighbours to use appropriate prophylactic treatment.

Nothing like a nice flea infestation or lice or mites coming home with you.

Leave it to a cat to find birds or rodents. And there is a lovely bundle of mank you don't want to rub your hands in.
Watching a flea regiment march around a cat's face like ants, as he sat atop a wall asking for a fuss was the longest my dc had stood still in concentrated silence for a while!

I always stop to stroke cats but it is very embarrassing when they then follow you up the road and you start to panic that they might end up getting lost or squashed or something.

I used to live near a school and Charlie would deliberately be within petting distance of any child passing.

I think I must live in Madsville.

Today I stroked the neighbour's cat whose owner said she didn't like people picking him up. He had been meowing for attention (or to be let in) for ages on the pavement outside his house (opposite mine) and practically ambushed a elderly couple who walked past on walking frames and didn't stop to fuss over him! When I went over, he curled up at my feet rubbing his head against my shoes and purring. (It's the first time I've gone near him since he came into my front garden and got taken back by the owner). Immediately the owner came out and called him in without saying hello to me. I think I'm officially seen as "the cat stealer". The cat didn't respond to her call but I felt obliged to walk away.

Yesterday my ds was walking past the other cat (the one that can't be stroked) and stopped to chat to it. The family tends to sit in the front garden (not a usual thing here) and I think my ds has made the mistake of going to stroke the cat when they are out there so maybe it seems like he's interrupting their private family time? Anyway they told him the vet says the cat is distressed by so many people walking past and stroking him so they'd rather he didn't. It's an incredibly affectionate cat that follows my ds up the road in the rain for more attention and has crossed the road to get to me when I have walked passed.

Poor poor cats. If they were children, I'd be ringing the SS.

Quite. They're jealous. Jealous, I tell you.

Very much weirdsville

I physically launch myself like a woman possessed at next doors cat, but we have history and the neighbours approve

If a cat was distressed by being stroked, it wouldn't be sitting on the wall begging for strokes! There are some fab friendly cats on my way to work and I always like to stop and say hello.