This is NOT my cat

[Hurr1cane]

But he keeps coming in stealing all the very expensive cat food!

What an adorably cheeky face!

(A microchip cat flap is needed.)

My cats won't wear collars though

I might not even mind if the ate the food nicely, but he spreads it all over the kitchen floor! I was wondering why my lot were suddenly being so messy but now I know the truth!

Microchips aren't on collars, they are in the cat's scruff.

Oh do they work on their actual microchips? How does that work? I haven't heard of them, my cats are all chipped

He's very lovely.

Sureflap is the one used by most posters, Hurr1cane. Apologies for the busyness of their website but have a read all the same. (Shop around if you want to buy one though.)

He is lovely, and also the spitting image of one of my girls, which is why he's been getting away with it for so long, I wondered why tabby girl was always bolting through the cat flap terrified when I came downstairs, then once she legged it through the cat flap, while lying on the stairs at the same time, then the penny dropped

Thanks! I'll have a look now.

Remember - he may not be the only one who's availing themselves of your hospitality. You could be the neighbourhood Cat Party Central for all you know!

Ah no, see. That's where you are mistaken. He is your cat until he decides otherwise.

I second the Sureflap recommendation. Have used one for 5 years, changed the batteries once, and we never have other cats in the house. I like it so much that when DH's parents move in to our house this fall and we move one street over to a slightly larger version, we're going to get the glazier who installed it to swap the glass where it's embedded from the door in this house to the door in the new house. DFIL and DMIL have an enormous dog, they won't need it

Most cats are scared of my massive ragdoll boy, he's very protective of his territory, but I think he's too stupid to realise that this one isn't his sister

Does it work on more than 2 cats? I may have 4....

32 cats as far as I know.

IIRC the microcip flaps can accept up to 12 cats, or some such crazy number.

Thanks. Definitely something to save up for!

Yes - unfortunately, they're not cheap although you can often achieve a better deal on some of the big websites. I suspect that for some owners, the security issue is well worth it though - you're just having food eaten but there are plenty of people also with traumatised cats and having to treat walls which have been sprayed on.

This is not MY cat... on my sofa having a nap and a cuddle with DS2 :D
Dukewhoisnotmycat comes in regularly. Cats are cheeky sods!

But what if he is a stray and your food is keeping him alive? what then?.

There's a thing - although I have my doubts that a stray would play with their food and not eat it.

That pic is brilliant medusa look how relaxed he is. What do your other cats think?

Obie loves him... (he is also buddies with another boy down the road!) Ophie sniffs at him suspiciously and sometimes chases him out, and Portia just looks at him with a 'oh God not another one' and ignores him!

He's bold as brass and much cuddlier than any of mine! His owners are the ones who go off every weekend leaving them alone, so we can't help but let him in :D

He looks silver tabby in that photo. Maybe a bit moggy too because I dont think st are meant to have white bits.

I agree with the Sureflap. We have the big 'pet door' model which has a timer mode so I can keep my kitty in and all safe.