Any tips on how to persuade Cat2 not to leave home?

[Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed]

We moved to a new neighbourhood 3 months back. Two houses on an angle mean my neighbours' front door is about 6 feet from the corner of our house.

Cat2 took to visiting my neighbour and pulling his very finest 'starving, unloved poor kitty' act on her. She gave him chicken and started posting on a local fb page trying to locate the negligent owners of this poor, starving cat with no shelter or warm place to go.

I've made contact and assured her he has a home, is very loved, well fed (rather plump in fact), never ever shut out in the cold.

He now spends every spare minute of the day shouting at her through her French windows, demanding more chicken. He's very loud and persistent.

I've started keeping him in as much as I can (but tbh he's always been an inside / outside cat and I like him being able to adventure. We chose this house for its location far from roads and backing onto bushland for him).

I've started giving him chicken at home so he might want to live here with us.

I've started feeding him before he's allowed out so he's got a full belly.

I've asked my neighbour not to feed him again and she agreed she wouldn't.

I'm anxious though because he's already got into her house twice and stolen food. He's a very greedy cat and can be aggressive about food. He will bite and scratch. He's pushy and loud and grumpy. She has two small children. I forsee him becoming an absolute pain in the arse to her. He's a pain in the arse at home tbh, but we put up with it because we love him and he's our cat. My neighbour has no idea what she's opening herself up to by being nice to him (although I have told her, but she laughs and says he's a sweetie).

Any thoughts?

Is cat proofing your garden an option? At least he could go out but couldn't get to the neighbour's house.

Almost impossible. Tall trees, various sheds, build on a hill, and he's a good climber. Nope, not an option.

I'm anxious though because he's already got into her house twice and stolen food. He's a very greedy cat and can be aggressive about food. He will bite and scratch. He's pushy and loud and grumpy. She has two small children. I forsee him becoming an absolute pain in the arse to her. He's a pain in the arse at home tbh, but we put up with it because we love him and he's our cat. My neighbour has no idea what she's opening herself up to by being nice to him (although I have told her, but she laughs and says he's a sweetie)

What a naughty boy! I bet he's playing up to her and only showing his angelic side. He's certainly got you where he wants you hasn't he? What a smart way to make sure he gets fed chicken...

Of course, we can't really judge without a photo. :)

I don't think you can do more than you already have, though. You've warned her and he's promised not to feed him and if he becomes a nuisance to her she needs to be the one to shoosh him away.

They say that cats choose their owners!

I don't think you can do much else. Ask her not to feed him, make sure he's fed well at home and tell her she can squirt him with the hose/a water pistol if he gets in or whatever.

Cats are very good at pitiful yowling!