Neighbours kittens

[ShadowsShadowsEverywhere]

We've recently had new neighbours move in next door. Towards the end of last week two kittens appeared in their garden, I'm not sure whether they'd just got them or had been keeping them inside for a few days.
One of the kittens kept popping its head over our fence and watching DCs playing.

Yesterday when I went to take the bins out the same kitten was sat on my path mewing. As soon as she saw the open door she was in the house. I ushered her out the back door, but she spent the rest of yesterday coming back in, or playing with the DCs toys in the garden. Every time something made her jump she ran to me and hid under my long skirt! By about 6.30 she was clearly hungry, had jumped up and eaten some scraps in my kitchen and drank DSs milk, so I shooed her back out the front door where I'd found her as she just didn't seem to want to go over the fence back to her own garden.

She was v v thin and seemed confused about where home was. Yesterday she was coming in the windows from the garden and mewing a lot. What do I do if she comes back today? It's obviously more interesting here as neighbours are out most of the day and we are home from lunchtime onwards most days and have a garden full of toys and balls etc which she spent hours playing with yesterday. I'm worried about how thin she looked but don't know a lot about cats or kittens so don't know how normal that is. Any advice would be v much appreciated!

I think if it genuinely came down to it, I'd take them on rather than taking them to be rehomed. They are lovely and obviously like me/the house. The boy has started jumping onto my shoulder and sitting there purring when I'm sat down! I could afford them, I could afford insurance and neutering etc. I'm away on holiday for 4 nights from Monday so I hope they will be ok. I might leave some dry food and water out. I have a cat flap and can't lock it so it may be that they come in while I'm away anyway in which case I think I'd feel happier if I knew they had access to water etc. just incase.

X posts only. I do have a fair bit on my plate yes, but I cope with life better that way. I've actually really enjoyed having them around this week. They're a soothing, distracting, funny, and loving duo which counters the stroppy toddler duo I have that shout at me and refuse to give me cuddles. These cats seem to always want cuddles and that's really nice when sometimes I've had a whole week where no ones given me a hug. I was going to get a dog a few months back but it emerged DS has an allergy to dogs so that fell through. So I already know that budget wise I could afford them. Tbh it seems like they will end up here - if neighbours are out lots, happy for me to feed them, I can see then just sort of transitioning to mine. I bet neighbour will "forget" to bring some food round etc. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

Aw, they sound adorable!

Well, the sentimental side of me was screaming 'Take them in!' but I was trying to be sensible about it.

But if you can afford them and would like them then, yes, maybe let them decide to just move out of the neighbour's and in with you ...

As long as your DS doesn't have a cat allergy as well?

And I'd be tempted to have words with the neighbour about thinking properly before taking on pets. God help any they take on in the future, and what about their dog?

You Have Been Chosen!

What are you going to call them... they are terribly sweet by the sounds of things.

They are gorgeous! They follow me about like shadows and chase flies. They play fight and hide under my bed. They take it in turns to sit on me. Every time i get home they are either already in the house or sitting outside mewing. The girl still bolts under my skirt when she's scared and she gets stuck up my tree several times a day. She sits there mewing until I come and stand underneath and then she jumps down onto my shoulder. I will keep feeding them and letting them in and if they chose to transition here then so be it

You sound smitten.

I'd take them to the vets now to be checked over. I bet they need worming - first booking in visit to vet is usually free and then you can book the neutering op. Or do It through pdsa? Have you got kitty litter etc?

Yes I now have cat supplies as added some to online shop yesterday. So they have access to kitten food, water, litter at mine and they liked hiding under my lamp table to sleep so I've put a basket with blanket under there and the girl seemed to like that and was snoozing there yesterday. I'm just worried about being away this week. I think ill do as I said upthread - leave the cat flap open (can't lock it anyway) and leave dry food, water, litter etc by that door so they don't go without if neighbour doesn't feed them enough. Im away Monday to Friday so only four nights. Then I think if they still come round when I'm back I will give my cousin a ring as she is a vet and can come and look at them for me.

They've both come in for all their meals today and neighbour hasn't been round to collect them or see where they are. The neighbour who's coming in to feed other animals while I'm away is going to feed them for me. So now I shall see if they go home tonight or not as I usual take them home around now.

Yes as I said upthread I have a cousin who is a vet, she will be able to collect them, take them in and check them over and will hopefully be able to book neutering from there.

It's a good job you are willing to take them on, or I don't fancy their chances.

I feel lucky tbh, they are utterly gorgeous. They're both sat watching the hamster at the mo. They seem more scared of the hamster than she of them!

I am having to learn on my feet a bit though. Apparently they can hear a food packet rustle from the bottom of the garden. They also smell milk from miles off and chase me when I take DS his bottle. They're doing a lovely job of catching flies for me though so that's good

They have their uses. Very few spiders survive long enough to be caught and put outside in this house.

Ooh will they catch spiders? I hate spiders! They are hunting moths in the garden ATM. No sign of them wanting to go home. They're coming in and out the window quite happily and there's the cat flap. I'll update in the morning as to whether they stayed the night or not. I feel that this is the big test as to whether they're mine or not!

Tbh, I just get them in anyway. If they are going to get eaten or run over it happens more at night than in the day.

I doubt the neighbours care if the cats go "home" or not.

Oh bollocks. They went out the cat flap half hour ago and haven't come back. All day they've been in my garden and not gone any further but I've been out and checked just now and there's no sign of them. Think they've gone home. So maybe not my cats after all.

Is your neighbour home?
they sound totally unsuited to being owned by cats

Yes they've got the tv blaring. I'm going to leave a few windows open incase they've just gone exploring.

Still, they spent all day here. Came here for all meals and used the litter tray. They'd been in most of the evening chasing the Hoover and stalking the hamster, that's the longest they've ever been here. Neighbours windows are open so if they have gone there they can get out. My other neighbour was round today to pick up keys for when I'm away and he was taking about their dog and how they never seem to walk it. He had thought the cats were mine as they are always here. He's going to pop in 3 times a day to leave food so at least if they still don't bother to feed then they will have enough food while I'm away.

Make sure you put flea stuff on themif they coming on your house, we have had an awful time trying to get rid of fleas.

Poor little things, it doesn't sound as if the neighbours care much for them, they are lucky to have you. I hope they do come back, they are so little to be outside at night . Gorgeous photo of the little girl cat.

Yes I'm a bit worried tbh. Hopefully they are either playing somewhere and will come back soon or are curled up asleep next door. They may have gone back out of habit, I have been returning them every night until today.