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!

Not yet no I haven't made any phone calls. I've got two DCs down with D&V and it's triggered DS' asthma so it's a bit of a nightmare atm. Like I said earlier, I'm going to be a bit useless for a few days while I try and juggle everything as it is. I've had 2 hours sleep a night for the past two nights, I'm honestly wrung out. Off to bed in a min, but will aim to come back and hatch a plan of action in the morning. I'm sorry I can't be more proactive TCN, I will do what I can when I can.

Shadows, you've already done more than most would do! Sort yourself out first, then do what you can with the cats :)

Don't worry Shadows you have already done a great deal for these cats...I think we are all willing you on, as I for one am desperate for a happy ending for these two poor beasties!

If it's a lot for you to take on at the mo maybe share the problem with CPL and see if they have any suggestions?

There is every likelihood that NDN will leave the cats behind anyway, if they care so little for them.

bringmejoy that's what happened to me a couple of days ago! Spent hours reading the thread from beginning to end (hadn't noticed it was 26pgs long at the time). It's a real page turner, isn't it I think I want a cat too!

Shadows you've done so much for the neighbour's cats and it was lovely to read that you went on to get 2 of your own, who are gorgeous.

I went on Gumtree recently (big mistake) not for cats but drifted into doing a search and was horrified to see a) the price for pedigree cats (do people really spend £500+ on a cat when there are so many lovely ones in rescue? and b) the number of cats being given away free or for £20-30!

Some people obviously had no choice and it was personal circumstances etc, but the most stupid one was "have to get rid of cat, now 5 months old, with 4 kids can't afford the jabs etc" WTF didn't she think of that before she got the cat?!

Sorry for rant, looking forward to updates on the story.

Can I just add, that although I know the circumstances were very different for the OP, one of my cats is an oscar winner in creating the impression she is homeless, uncared for and not fed. So much so, that one of my neighbours decided they would provide a loving home for her.

I was most put out when she started staying out overnight 6/7 nights of the week, having previously always been kept in at night, and she would eventually turn up smelling of perfume . The fact that she is a sleek Burmese seemed to be lost on her new prospective owners.

We put a tracking device on her collar, and it seems to have freaked the neighbours out sufficiently, as she has been inside every night since we got it .

Shadows I am really pleased that the cats are adding so much to your life - I couldn't be without mine, they add such a constant energy to the house, constantly having a look to see what you are up to.

Shadows, this is an incredible thread - I have just found it, and I have laughed and cried and gone soppy of all four. I just wanted to wish you luck, hope the kids are feeling better soon. I was just wondering where you are, given the joy you've given us, if you're anywhere near me I will gladly do some taxiing for you to get the boys to and from the vets.

Hope you're all feeling better shadows

Did the cats rip your fence apart or the neighbours?

Have you spoken to the ndn just to say hello or whatever?

You are lovely

Hello everyone. Sorry for the disappearance. DD went from poorly with a bug to breathing problems poorly and has been in hospital. I had a huge palarva with OOH doctor telling me she was fine and had to make a bit of fuss in A&E before someone took a look at her and realised she was actually very sick. She was on oxygen and had me really quite worried for a while but thankfully we are now home and she's on the mend.

Having been at the hospital and only having someone to pop in and feed the kittens the litter tray situ was a bit grim when we got home this morning, so I made a spur of the moment decision and let the cats out. Well I tried to. I'd taken them both out with me for an hour while I did chooks at one point last week and Buttons was terrified. She hid under a patio table and did this wide eyed panicky look all around her before bolting back inside. Pumpkin turned into a prancing idiot, doing this weird trot round and round the garden and jumping a foot in the air every time a bird flew past
So, this morning. Pumpkin was out there. Gone. Buttons wouldn't go out. I've left the cat flap propped open and the window open and she's sat and looked out but chosen to stay in. I'm relieved actually. It's pumpkin that charges about knocking vases over, ripping my curtains down as he tried to climb them and tripping everyone up. He needs the stimulation. Buttons is really small for her age, she's quieter and happy to sit in the bath playing with the drippy tap all day. I'd be worried about her out there with all the great big toms in the area. Pumpkin is huge for his age, he's the same size as the boys next door now who are coming up to a year. Pumpkin isn't much over 6months!!

Obv not having been here I don't know how the boys are, haven't seen them yet. Will be interesting to see what they do when they see my window open and what happens when they meet pumpkin on neutral territory (ish)

Hello to all the newcomers to this saga as well to answer questions! I'm in Cambs, it was the neighbours who ripped the fence, no cat could break willow screen, they just climb up it. Well that's a lie, a small lion or leopard could prob break it, but I don't think we've got any of those round here. Although that's also a lie as a big cat escaped from Hamerton zoo years ago and it's regularly spotted up near March as is it's poo and scratch marks so it's not beyond the realms of possibility ...

And yes I have seen the neighbours. He often comes round sheepishly apologising, to collect all the parcels that she orders and then is never in to take delivery of. From his comments I get the feeling that he is not too happy about her catalogue shopping habits !!

Oh wow! You are never going to believe what's happened this afternoon!!

Pumpkin and Merlin met at the fence. Merlin was going to do his usual jump over into my garden and across to the garden behind but half way over the fence he clocked Pumpkin. Now Pumpkin is a bit dippy, he'd waltz right up to a hungry dragon and say hello! I also noticed with them right next to each other that he is slightly bigger than Merlin and much sturdier so maybe that's also something to do with it. But anyway, he just sauntered past Merlin who had gone all hunched down, huge eyed and starey. Pumpkin jumped up on the fence next to Merlin and then down into next doors garden! Off he went exploring and Merlin followed. I was having kittens worrying because he was in their garden and what if he went in their house and what if this and what if that but just left them to it because well, there's nowt you can do once you let them out is there, they don't have recall like dogs unfortunately!

Anyway, an hour ago pumpkin bounded back in for his lunch and was pottering round the living room when a face appeared at the open window ... It was Merlin Pumpkin wandered over and they blinked hello to each other while Buttons sat there looking bemused and Merlin came in and sat on the inner window sill. Then DS came thundering in and Merlin ran off, Pumpkin bounded after and they're out the back playing

So ....

Don't plot.

That way heartache / seriously pissed off neighbours lies.

Glad they are getting on though.

Glad to hear your DD is feeling better. Lucky you stuck to your guns and got some proper treatment in the end - OOH docs are so useless (in my experience anyway).

Thanks for the update, I'm now imagining Pumpkin doing his "trot" around the garden!

Beryl 'twas said in jest! I don't plot.
I can now get them used to me again, get their collars off and get a good look at them - they may have fleas, be thin etc. all of which I can remedy from my garden if necessary. I know what's happened with your cat has been awful but these are very different circumstances. These boys have been neglected from the off. I think the fact that Pumpkin looks so much bigger and stockier than them is literally just down to the fact that he's been fed properly ever since I've had him and the boys have not. Not the right nutritional balance or calorie content for kittens in scavenged scraps.

Yes Bagel I'm beginning to form that opinion about OOH doctors too!

Bahahaha x posts TCN

Ok so I shall plot a wee bit, then everyone's happy

You've really looked out for these little cats Shadows.

I remember reading at the beginning about your neighbours letting un-neutered young kittens out to roam unsupervised, and being shocked. God, then they locked them in without food didn't they? Why did they even want cats if they can't be arsed to look after them?

I also like the image of Pumpkin dancing and prancing round the garden. MKitten does the same thing. And he enjoys arching his back to do the sideways, on the spot shimmy. Then springing into the air, making strange noises.

Thought you might like some recent photos of said trotting boy. He's is nicknamed Doofus in this house ... It's what we call him when he starts trying to climb the curtains or jumps in the bath only to find it's full of water!!

I've given up on the curtains until he stops. I was getting through a packet of curtain hooks a week as he snaps them clean in half with his weight!

Bloody hell - your poor curtains

Very cute but very mischievous!

Morning all! So good news all round today!
DD has turned a corner this morning, eating and drinking, no temp and I'm not having to carry her to the loo! Hurrah!

Pumpkin is having a whale of a time outside again. When I went to let him out first thing Merlin and a big old boy cat that I've not seen before were waiting for him in the garden! Then Tortie came along and they've all been climbing trees. Is it normal for loads of male cats to hang around together? I've only ever seen cats out on their own before?

ASBO cat had friends at the old house, a black farm cat and a ginger boy. If ASBO was late going out the black cat would miaow outside for him.

It was lovely to see him follow the others around & playing.

Before we moved MCat used to have a couple of cat friends. A female tortie, who broke his heart and a Bengal, who would stick his head through the window and miaow loudly for him to come and play outside.