Neighbour’s cat living in my garden - what to do?

[AchillesLastStand]

I’m not a cat owner and never owned a cat. I have a problem that’s been going on for over two years now. A neighbour’s cat that lives across the road from me started visiting my garden, As time went on her visits got more frequent and longer. We petted her but didn’t feed her at all.

It’s now got to the point where she is living full time in my garden. Last winter she was living under the canopy by my kitchen door, where she’d get cold and wet. I found it very distressing seeing her everyday and on a few really cold nights I let her spend the night in my kitchen.

I have been over to the neighbours numerous times and told them where she was. I gave them my number, but they didn’t seem that concerned. They have been over to get her about three times in the last two years. In September I put a note through their door giving them permission to come down the side of my house to get the cat from the kitchen door and gave them my number again (they’ve never contacted me). I’ve heard them come over twice to the side of my house, but now they’re not bothering at all. They never came looking for her bonfire week when we had three nights of fireworks. I let the cat in my kitchen.

I can’t go through another winter with her in my garden with no shelter so I’ve set up an insulated cat kennel for her which is keeping her dry and hopefully warmer. I’ve also started giving her food because she was living off a neighbour’s bird table and was very thin.

She’s an extremely nervous little cat. In winter she loses all the fur on her rear end and belly. This year, so far, she’s kept all her fur maybe because she’s less stressed because she’s now full time in our garden with shelter and she gets fed at regular times now. It’s been freezing this week and I’ve been so worried about her.

I don’t know what the long term solution is. The cat’s owners have two male cats which she doesn’t get on with, they also have two dogs that visit. They’ve also made it to clear to me that she’s their cat. A photo of kitty’s set up in my garden. Any advice gratefully received.

@AchillesLastStand
Congratulations on becoming a cat mum 👏
I'd just keep letting her in and out if as she wants.
I wouldn't bother contacting your neighbours again.
Your kindness to the poor cat has warmed my cockles on a chilly day ❤️

I had an experience like this 13 years ago. At the time I wasn’t particularly keen on cats, but this neighbourhood cat just took up residence in and around my front porch. I’d come home from work and she’d be miaowing to get in. One day it was very cold so I let her in. Next day the same. Then I had to get her some food. I asked all around whose she was and neighbours said she belonged to the people over the road who went away for long periods to their holiday home.

I didn’t have a cat flap and left early for work, when she’d be asleep. I didn’t want to disturb her and put her out so then I got a litter tray. My mum would come and put her outside a few hours later but she’d always be waiting when I got home.

This only came to an end because I moved house. I wanted to take the cat with me as by that point she was to all intents and purposes, my cat. But colleagues told me that would be not ok, so I didn’t. I still think of that lovely little cat now, although I expect she will have died after such a long time.

I’ve got my own cat now!

Exactly
So whilst it might be cold and rainy and people think your cat unhappy - in fact they’re happy to be out in any and all weather

Does the neighbour have a Cat flap?

I'm really strongly against 'adopting' another person's cat.

But in this case, you'd be rescuing a mistreated cat, so do what you've got to do.

In the meantime, while she's living outside, fill her bed with hay. Blankets in this weather attract moisture and freeze, hay is frost proof and will keep her warm. (Straw is good but flattens and loses insulation properties).

I'd also get a heated cushion for pets and microwave it before putting her to bed every night. Until you bring the poor thing indoors of course!

You've been very kind.

It's cold outside! let her in and give her some grub

Treat her as your cat and when it comes to the vets, just pay the bills if they let you. If not they'll go to the owners and then it's up to them, they might at that point give her up.

We’re in a similar situation, but from the other side. Our much- loved family cat appears to have moved into our neighbour’s house a couple of months ago. He’d been happily living with us for the last seven years.Was annoyed when we got a dog in 2021, but still had his own space in our home and slept curled up with my youngest son every night.
We’ve now been dumped because our neighbour has a conservatory with a view of their bird table.

The difference is, we’ve tried to coax him back and are in touch with our neighbours about this.

As a previous poster said - it’s the cat distribution system.

My sister was adopted by a cat who used to come to her back door and mew pitifully. My niece would beg my sister to let her feed the cat, and eventually after a few saucers of water, and then tins of tuna, and finally stocking up on cat food, it was decided the cat lived with them now. My sister was unloading the car one day and an older lady crossed the street and said 'are you the lady that Suzie now lives with?' My sister said that a cat did seem attached to them now, and the poor lady said 'I sometimes see her in the street and I call "Suzie, Suzie, pspsps", but she just gives me a dirty look and goes into your garden.'

Yes the owner treated her after I went over there and told her that her cat had fleas but she waited two weeks to do it. There’s been no sign of flea treatments on her neck since then,

No they wouldn’t agree to that. I don’t think they’re that fussed that their cat has moved out, it’s more that their pride has been hurt.

My neighbours cat was exactly the same. My neighbours loved her but she kept wanting in my house and lived in my garden. I did let her in, and she would eat my cats food. She died, and I was heartbroken. She was such a sensitive soul. But well looked after by my neighbours so I dont know why she just sat at my door.
My mom has a ginger cat, who started begging at the local corner shop like a stray. We put a collar on him, it was removed, we chipped him. Now we have accepted he lives there! We are moving house and have spoke to shop keeper who is happy to have him
My own main coon was disappearing days at a time had me worried. Till I got a text from neighbours few doors down saying they didn't want to let him out because it was new years eve and there was fire works. He's now loved by my whole street.

What I've learnt is cats aren't loyal. Id just let the cat in and feed it and not tell them. It clearly wants a new home, and even the most loved cats, move on. They don't even seem bothered. It will go home if it wants to. Trust me all cats have another home somewhere

I don’t think you need to ask , you are already looking after it. They don’t seem bothered about it.

Just take her!!! Please!!! Its more cruel to leave her outside and she has clearly chosen you as her new owner 🥺🥺🥺

THEY DONT CARE!!!! take her in please!

It's so cold outside and you and the cat are obviously fond of each other.
You are giving her the love she is so obviously not getting at home.
I would install a litter tray, and cat bed inside, while letting her come and go during the day as she pleases.
I really don't think it''ll be long before she happily stays inside at night.
And your neighbours will be none the wiser.

Looks like you’ve been adopted. Thank you for looking out for her.

I can’t believe you just left your cat because of what your colleagues said, did you even take her to a shelter or try and track down the previous owners or did you just leave her to her own devices? You said yourself by all intents and purposes she was your cat and she was abandoned, she must have been so confused and distressed, poor thing.

Fuck them and what they want, if they want her then they know where she is. Bring the poor thing inside for the winter

I didn’t just leave her. Her owners were back in their house by then. She just chose to come back to my house all the time. You can’t just move house and take someone else’s cat you know. That’s called theft.

And I and my colleagues are lawyers. Being accused and found guilty of theft gets you struck off and ends your career

Just a kind warning that blankets for outdoor animals are not recommended as they can stay wet and freeze - making kitty colder and potentially cause hypothermia. Plenty of hay and straw in the cat house are what's recommended.

Do you know if they are feeding her or if someone else is?
I would also contact a local rescue for advice. She doesn't seem to be taken care of properly by the owners.

Thank you for all your responses. Kitty is currently asleep on a blanket on my sofa. I work from home so she can come in as she wants over the winter.

Did you ask if you could take her?

I've just arranged for some neighbours to rehome a cat that had decided to move out of his home. He'd been straying for a while - I did manage to scan him and track down his owner, but we couldn't catch him and he hadn't been home in 12 months!

When he turned up again and the neighbour started feeding him and said they'd be willing to adopt him. I contacted the owner and let her know and she gave permission for them to take him in as she was only concerned about him being warm and loved.

Thanks for the advice about the blankets. I’ll take them out and get some hay or straw.

No, she’s not getting any food from across the road. I think it’s been several weeks or a couple of months since she was last over there that’s why I started feeding her. I don’t think she goes to any others neighbours houses but I could be wrong. She goes off to do her business and she’s usually back within half an hour.