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The litter tray

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Neighbours kittens

767 replies

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 01/08/2014 09:38

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!

OP posts:
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angelopal · 04/08/2014 20:12

Did they come back?

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/08/2014 09:18

Ops not there until Friday now.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 11/08/2014 19:08

I'm back with a new problem. Next door have been away since Saturday 9am. They've shut the cats in. No one has come over to feed them but they may have food in there, I don't know. What I do know is that they can't get out and have been at the kitchen window mewing all day. The window is only pushed shut, if I pulled it it'd open. Do I go and get them? I'm worried, given neighbours previous form for not feeding them enough, that they are hungry in there and trapped. But equally, they may be fine and I don't want to risk "rescuing" them when they don't need to be rescued. Thoughts?

While I was away neighbour fed then daily and they came in as soon as I got back from holiday. That night there was a storm and neighbour came and got them back and then went on hol next day so haven't seen them since, apart from at the window this morning.

OP posts:
OnlyLovers · 11/08/2014 19:18

That's appalling to shut them in if they're used to going out! I hope they've got a litter tray indoors (as well as food, of course).

I'd be tempted to open the window, if you can do it as you describe without breaking in. Then they can choose to go out if they want to.

Do you think you need to have a conversation with your neighbour about whether or not you're 'officially' taking them over? ATM it seems a bit woolly as to who's responsible for them.

Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2014 19:23

Do you think you'd get away with opening the window and getting them? There's no CCTV?

Fubsy · 11/08/2014 19:43

Def get some sort of written agreement if you take them on and get them neutered - just in case neighbours suddenly change their minds after you've paid for the ops!

BelleOfTheBorstal · 11/08/2014 19:46

If you can get the window open, without damage, then do this thing!

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 11/08/2014 19:57

There's no CCTV. As the windows aren't locked, just pushed too, I could probably claim that they turned up on my doorstep and upon investigation had probably pushed the window open. They're just frantic at the window mewing their heads off and scrabbling at the glass. I think neighbours think they aren't doing anything wrong, they're just a bit useless.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2014 20:30

I think you know what to do.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 11/08/2014 21:40

I've go them. Neighbours had put bins out before leaving and collection is Thursday. I think they're on a week holiday! There was a wall of stench hit me when I opened the window, I couldn't see a litter tray but the smell indicates theres a very full one. e They were locked in the kitchen, couldn't get in the rest of the house and were in my house like a shot. I've never seen animals move so fast. They've both eaten a pouch of food and drunk water. I'm actually really cross I didn't go and get them sooner. Poor things. I'm going to keep them in at night and let then out in the mornings. Haven't thought ahead to when neighbours get back as I'm too cross.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2014 21:47

What about the dog? Well done for being brave and getting them.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 11/08/2014 22:12

Dog wasn't there, I assume they took it with them. They're literally clamouring up me for cuddles. Apparently my jeans are a ladder!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2014 22:25

Well at least the dog is ok.

They must have thought no one was coming to get them Sad.

You shouldn't have to do these things.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 11/08/2014 22:45

They are ridiculously clingy. I've just had to wee with one on my lap! They must have felt abandoned. I just can't believe anyone would think it ok to leave two kittens shut in a kitchen with a bowl of pellets and a small litter tray for a week.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 11/08/2014 22:52

Cats are much more sensitive than people think. They like human company.

Loads of people would think its fine to put a dish of dry food and water down for a week.

WitchWay · 12/08/2014 00:20

Poor little things - I'm glad you've got them

MinkyWinky · 12/08/2014 09:56

I'm so glad you rescued them. It sounds like they are very happy you did.

Don't the RSPCA have a rule that cats can't be left unchecked for more than 24 hours? Might be worth mentioning to them when they get back.

crazynanna · 12/08/2014 10:01

Well done OP Thanks
I am so Angry that they were left alone
And if that is the case, then I'm sorry I would have to report as they really don't give a shit... Even "useless" people know to feed a kitten

BBQsAreSooooOverrated · 12/08/2014 10:09

Poor kittens. Good job you're looking out for them.

BelleOfTheBorstal · 12/08/2014 10:34

So glad that you got them!
Poor wee babies, horrific dreadful neighbour people!

OnlyLovers · 12/08/2014 10:38

Poor little buggers. They just needed some attention and company. Sad

You're a good one, OP. I hope you get to take them off their 'owners' officially and permanently; they'll be much happier with you.

I feel sorry for the dog. Although maybe them taking it on holiday means they care about it more than they do about the cats.

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 12/08/2014 10:44

They had a lovely night curled up on the end of my bed and then woke DD up at 6am bombing up and down the stairs and chasing each other on the landing! DD understands they may not be staying forever but has said that while they are here she wants to give them names. So she's chosen Tortie for the boy and Sheba for the girl. Quite impressed with the catness of the names given she is 3.5!

We've set some rules. The kitchen is a cat free zone because I just can't police bins, food cupboards, mealtimes with 2 kittens and 2 toddlers. I've put the kittens food bowls and litter in the hall instead. Our lounge runs the length of the house and has two doors; one to the rest of the house and one to the kitchen so the DCs are being really good at remembering to keep the lounge to kitchen door shut and go the long way round for drinks etc. the cats have found several hidey holes they like sleeping in and DD has put some blankets down for them which they seem to like curling up in.

What I need to figure out now is what I do when neighbours get home. I've hinted before that they are a wee bit confrontational and I'm a bit wary of challenging them because I think I will very swiftly be on the receiving end of unpleasantness and as a single parent, I don't want to feel vulnerable in my own home. I'm also wary about reporting to he RSPCA as they may tell them I'm trying to steal their cats, and I did effectively take the cats from their home which doesn't look good. From what I've seen so far they only call the cats in at night when there is a storm or bad weather. Otherwise they just leave the window open. I don think they actually notice where the cats are. They both seem to be out during the day a lot and he works odd hours. Even when there was a storm and they called the cats, they didn't actually go home, she peered over my fence, spotted one in the window and came to get them. I'm kind of thinking I just let them chose. If they haven't gone next door by 10pm when I go to bed then I will shut them in.

If they go over there during the day that's fine, if she starts feeding them properly and gets her act together that's great and I will encourage them to go over there. But if they continue to not be fed enough, not given enough attention and keep doing everything they can to get here (last week neighbour who came in to feed them said he watched them climb out of an upstairs window, scale some trellis and walk along the roof to get to my window) then I will keep feeding them, letting them in and treating them as mine.

I just can't sit back and watch them be neglected and not do anything. Even if that constitutes theft. Although vet cousin did suggest that cats are covered in a wild animal act or something? And as such you can't actually claim theft of a cat because you can't actually own them? Or something? I just don't want to actually say to neighbours "I'm taking them on because you aren't looking after them" in case I open myself up to legal action. I think they are around so little and so blasé that they won't realise the cats have moved in here. I think if they see them occasionally they'll assume they are roaming.

It's just what to do when they get back from hols to find all windows closed as they left them but no cats. Maybe I should pretend I'm not in when they knock!

OP posts:
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 12/08/2014 10:47

Although there is a small window left open. Cats would have to jump to get to it but it's possible they could have got out there. It's that or tonight I go back and pull the kitchen window open again so it looks like they got out there. I'm just wary of leaving a window open incase they get burgled.

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OnlyLovers · 12/08/2014 10:48

Maybe contact the RSPCA first and see what they say. They might know about the legal stuff –the wild animal status and all that.

If you explain that they'd been left, shut in for a week, with a bit of food and water, then even if the 'official' word is that you acted wrongly, surely they will still understand that you're concerned for their welfare. I don't think they'll come down heavily on you.

Maybe the RSPCA would back you up in suggesting to the neighbours that you take them on?

MarchEliza · 12/08/2014 10:55

How sad that people treat their animals like this! I'm so happy that you are able to look after them and give them the love and attention they need. Keep us updated as to what happens - I'm hoping for a happy ending when they officially become your pets! :)