I appear to have been adopted

[PlectrumElectrum]

Moved to new home, and local cat yammed loudly the minute we turned up with keys. My DM 'helpfully' fed it a tin of tuna at my front door unbeknownst to me, and now I can't get rid! Backstory is it lives round corner & doesn't like the 2 large dogs in its home so whole row I'm on feed it/water it/give it respite. Given how 'at home' it is in my new house use I suspect previous owner let it in a lot.

It's very cute, slight in build and seems nice enough. I'm allergic so having cat in house isn't ideal but it did stay last night ----

It nips in door as soon as it's opened, knows where the fridge is and hides when it suspects eviction is imminent. I'm loathe to encourage it but as I said, it is cute and through my puffed up streaming eyes I can see the appeal. I'm just wary of being lumbered with responsibility for someone's pet they don't care for properly and haven't a clue how to deal.

Any advice from the litter tray?

[WORKWORKWORKWORKWORKWORK]

My cat does this OP!

In fact, we were walking home the other day and saw our cat lounging on someone's windowsill inside their house. I'd have thought this was my cat if you hadn't mentioned dogs.
Some cats love attention & extra food.

My cat even sits outside the door of the Chinese takeaway begging I do actually feed her!!!

[PlectrumElectrum]

Thanks for all the replies.

I really don't want a cat & have no intention of stealing this one. My rental agreement doesn't allow pets so I can't keep this even if I was looking to do that. The feeding of the cat was my mum, not me, and I didn't know she did it til it was all gone & had a go at her for it - I knew feeding it would be a slippery slope & id struggle to discourage her from expecting food.

DD made up a wee shelter for cat in garden out of cardboard boxes left over from move, put in a bloody expensive throw for comfort, her best mug with water & then draped it with another bloody expensive her waterproof jacket to try and stop the rain from ruining it. We're in Scotland so that didn't work for long. DM has now brought round an old cat carrier she doesn't use, with an old knitted blanket & water dish to keep under bench in back garden so cat can get shelter, respite & water if needed, but I'm not feeding it. DD had managed to use up all my chicken slices which were specifically for my lunch at work this week keeping the cat fed so I've put a stop to that so it's not going to end up thinking it can move in permanently.

She is a lovely wee cat though & I am ok with her visiting if she really does need the respite. I think a wee spot in the back garden is an acceptable compromise & one that's offered to the cat for her convenience & not being enticed to live here when she has a home elsewhere. Hope that sounds reasonable?

I'll be making enquiries about her as we get to know more people - im not 100% certain of the back story but it fits with things I've heard about a cat following people home & even my ex recognised it as the same cat that followed him when he was picking up DD.

I appreciate all the advice, if she does keep coming back & it's more than just visiting I'll find the owner & find out what the situation is. One neighbour said the cat had stayed at her house overnight & pooed in her bath. She says she told the woman who owns the cat so she knew where she'd been that night & the owner apparently asked if she wanted to have the cats litter tray. How accurate that story is I'm not sure but the general impression is the cat is a bit of an afterthought & as she stays away so much because of the large dogs she is a bit neglected, but not scrawny because other people around here have been feeding her too.

If things change I'll no doubt be back for more advice.

[Fluffycloudland77]

There's a difference between purposefully tempting a cat away or stopping it from going home & providing shelter to an animal who doesn't want to go home.

My cat used to come home smelling of ladies perfume & I caught him chatting the Avon lady up on Tuesday but he still comes home.

He's a big aggressive Bengal but terrified of dogs no matter what size.

[happy2bhomely]

We have acquired a cat like this. At least on a part time basis. We don't feed him but we do give him water. He is meowing at the back door at 7 every morning and comes and sleeps on my landing for the day. Then he goes out at dinner time then comes back and sleeps on our armchair until we put him out at bedtime.

I assume he has owners but I have no idea who they are. I did attach a note to a collar with my number on, but when he came back he wasn't wearing it and no one has called.

To be quite honest, if his owners don't want us letting him in then they should stop him from coming into our garden and waking us up! The kids love it when he turns up and make a huge fuss of him. We've given him a name and he has turned one of my flower beds into his own private toilet, so if I want to spend the evening stroking him, I will.

I think as long as you don't feed it then it's fine.

[Haffdonga]

Read this thread for example before happily telling Op to keep this cat.

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2376598-Neighbours-have-stolen-my-cat-WWYD

[LizB62A]

A friend of mine is allergic to cats, but has cats
She reckons it takes her about 2 weeks to stop reacting every time she gets a new cat, so you might find your symptoms settle down over time.

Having said that - don't feed the cat if the owners don't want you too. And please don't give it milk (someone was giving one of my cats milk and it just doesn't suit most cats - it can give them the runs....)

[kali110]

Some cats do get on with dogs, especially if they're bought up together.
If you feed a cat though they'll keep coming back.
The owner could be really upset.

[Haffdonga]

And dogs are not necessarily a reason for a cat to be unhappy. We have both and cat will routinely snuggle up to dog, no fear or distress at all.

[summertimegirl2017]

I wouldn't get a dog at the risk that my boys might move home - I'd say you have yourself a cat OP. They choose where they want to live - I don't think you'll have much luck evicting him now...

[Haffdonga]

There have been umpteen threads here where cat owners are devastated and furious that neighbours keep feeding and taking in their much loved pet and effectively stealing them, despite the fact that the cat is well looked after and much loved in its own home.

OP if you want to adopt this cat then you need to talk to its owners to find out if they agree to give it to you. Then you will have to take on its vets bills, flea and worming treatment etc etc

[Fluffycloudland77]

True, but if you're that bothered about your cat you don't get two big dogs.

A colleague got a puppy & one of her cats left home, she wasn't bothered at all.

If we got a dog I don't think mine would come home at all

[Haffdonga]

This is a cat that belongs to someone else. It is not a stray. it does not need a home. You absolutely should not feed it unless you speak to its owners and they say they want you to or you will be potentially stealing it.

[Fluffycloudland77]

We acquired a cat this way, he had a dog bite wound on his leg so we took him in.

When they moved they tried to catch him but he ran off & hid till they had left.

Two big dogs when your a small cat must be bloody terrifying, ours is scared of fogs smaller than him.

[Silvercatowner]

Antihistamines might help with the allergy, otherwise I'd say you have got yourself a cat!