We are at the end of our tether.
Bear with me while I get this all down: it's a bit complicated!
Background is: We have had our cat for 11 years, since he was about 12 weeks old. He is a DSH/ Moggie.
He had been very bonded with my husband: would climb onto his shoulders and drape himself around his neck, quite happy to be carried about like this. Sleeps curled up right next to his head/ on his chest at night
We have 2 kids who were 3 and 6. when we got him. Never any issues with them being rough with him, and he would usually end up snuggled up with one of us at night. He is our only pet, and he has the run of the whole house, and can come and go through a chipped cat flap into the large rear gardens (we live in a terrace of 3, which back onto the rear gardens of the road behind us, so nice and safe from cars) No other cats get in the house. 2 cats live next door, but they all get on ok and he is frequently in their house.
Next door but one lived our old neighbour was cat mad, and she and her cleaner used to leave out food for the "fox" in her garden (essentially attracting all the cats in the neighbourhood). Cleaner would hand feed our cats fresh chicken so had established herself a source of top notch snacks. She was asked to stop as the vet had commented on how our cat was putting on too much weight, but she ignored our request. Old neighbour died, and the cleaner ( who lives a few doors down) continued to stick bowls of food under the side gate. We asked her to stop doing this, as it was encouraging all of our cats out onto the front onto the road. Crazy cleaner lady disregarded what we had all been asking her re sticking food under the side gate, so all three cats ( ours and 2 from next door) all start going out the front. New neighbours move in, and cleaner finally gives up sticking food down the side gate. Instead, she moved operations to the other side of the road by convincing the owners of the house opposite to allow her to leave food out for the local stray as well as leaving food outside in her garden.
Our fat greedy mog quickly learned of the new food source. He has pretty much taken up permanent residence in her front garden. We go and fetch him home and have tried giving him wet food/tuna/mackerel when he comes in, but he is constantly bleating to be let out. Last night was horrendous as he just roamed around all night shouting. This is causing huge upset in our family particularly with my husband and son with whom the cat had a particular bond.
Has anyone got any tips or success stories of luring their lovely cat back?
Thanks for reading to the end!