Cat has just come home with a collar on!

[kirinm]

My cat has just come in with a collar on. She doesn't have a collar. I feel like someone is trying to claim her. What are we meant to do to signal that she has a home?

Yes, I have had in the past three cats who had outdoor access, and none of three of them ever killed birds! In fact our last boy was so little of a threat that the birds ignored him when congregating the garden and availing of the feeding stations!

Vet insurance is a real pain.
The premiums are high, but I worry in case of accidents ( I have a dog)

Dogs attacking is a real worry as so many idiots can’t or won’t train their dogs.

Vets fees have risen massively over 20 years in U.K. partly due to massive chains buying up the little independent practices and creating a cartel.

Cats having the right to roam doesn't preclude people from taking cats without collars to a shelter, and if those cats are not microchipped, they will be rehomed. If you believe a cat is a stray, you can hand it in to a rescue organisation. Personally, if I see cats entering my garden, I just go outside and push them off the fence or throw a bucket of water over them.

get one of those collars where you unscrew and slip in paper. Then write this is my cat leave it alone. I used to slip message into some cats collar

Please tell me how it is responsible to have pet insurance, but not responsible to actually pay the vet fees from your own money - you idiot!

Name calling is not allowed on MN but as your lack of understanding of why one would take out insurance is indicative of your intellect I Will let it go.

The purpose of insurance is to safeguard your pet in the event the owner doesn’t have enough money to pay necessary bills. All responsible pet owners should have insurance. You had it when you needed it. However less than 10% of pet owners have insurance in the UK, hence your earlier post about the cost of cat insurance is irrelevant.

Horrible! I love when random cats visit my garden!!

Collars can be really dangerous. https://www.london-inner-city-kitties.org/post/why-collars-can-be-dangerous-for-cats

In your situation, I would put a paper collar on the cat with a message for the people interfering with your cat.

I can't stand cat haters!

You sound lovely.

Hateful!

In this bit of Alberta cats must be leashed if outside, otherwise they are considered “at large” and can be impounded. Mind you, with wolves and coyotes and lynx about, they aren’t top predator here.

I know someone who keeps a pile of stones to throw at visiting cats. Either cat owners don’t care because out of sight is out of mind or they are actually insane to let them roam.

Okay - you still can't say for sure that the things they are showing you are all they're killing unless you watch them or have a camera mounted on them. It's not unthinkable that a neighbour may have seen them preying on birds (maybe unsucessfully) and thought they needed a bell to protect the wildlife.

Then, if your acquaintance is UK based, they will face prosecution for animal cruelty if they deliberately injure a cat.

Are you USA?

I cannot believe there are so many cat haters and cat owner haters on the litter tray!

As for someone claiming dog owners are more caring?! Many dogs are poorly bred (look at pugs!) and live miserable lives of limited stimulation and exercise.

I am neutral on the outdoor/indoor cat debate, I've had both in different circumstances and both were happy. I do only let my current cat out during daylight hours and that is recommended for reducing the risk of death on the roads and harm to wildlife.

Also can't believe the people claiming to not know the difference between a stray and a friendly cat/Six Dinner Sid.

OP someone is trying to steal your cat. You have my sympathies and I would recommend a paper collar.

Nonsense. It's not kind to deny a outdoor access.

My next door neighbour whose garden is seperated from mine with a 4 foot fence has a cat who considers my garden to be part of his domain, he is very small and feeble and is usually attacked by invading cats, so I have to dispatch them swiftly when I see them to stop him being bullied. If he wasn't a factor I think I would still do it however, cats weeing and pooing in my garden isn't pleasant, if their owners just put a trellis up on their fence they could keep all of that joy for themselves.

They are in the UK. And they have done this for many, many, many years to their (presumably) neighbour’s cats. They have asked neighbour’s to keep their cats in their own garden but neighbours believe in their right to roam. Presume their aim isn’t as good these days as they are quite old now. Never been prosecuted.

Fit her up with a Go Pro and get evidence!

If they were my neighbours I'd be reporting them to the police.

Cats bring their catches home.

If the police and CPS were wasting time investigating and prosecuting cats having pebbles thrown at them, presumably mostly hitting the ground around them to startle them into leaving, I would hope there would be public outcry. Cats have the right to roam, I have the right to deter them in any way which doesn't constitute cruelty. Throwing gravel is probably not deterrent enough, which is why I prefer the bucket of water, or trench whistle, which I keep by my back door.

My wee cat cant keep a collar on. His instinct is to go out hunting at night. It’s just in his nature. He’s so adorable apart from that.

I agree.

Not gravel though, bigger stones. Thrown to hit the animal. Had tried many times to talk to neighbour about keeping them
in but neighbour refused.

Personally I’d prefer (and have) borrowed a cat carrier and taken to a shelter.