My cat is spending most of the time at another house/garden down the road, and it's pissing me off. What can I do about this?

[GorgeousSpringtime]

Putting this on 30 days only in case it goes south and I want it to disappear off here.

So, in October, we got a kitten - 2-3 months old at the time ... (Lenny.) We kept him indoors til February so he knew this was his home, and we had him spayed. He's about a year old now.

For the last 3-4 months he has been spending a lot of time at a house/garden around 7 doors down. The woman there who is in her 50s I would say, is in her garden a lot, (and seems to be at home a lot.) Lenny was originally attracted by the food she gives to the hedgehogs.

According to one of the neighbours who lives halfway between us, (who speaks to this woman a bit more than I do,) she welcomes Lenny and is happy for him to be there, My other neighbour suggested to her that she stops feeding the hedgehogs to try and stop the cat coming. She refused, saying she has never had this problem before, and that cats don't usually come for the hedgehog food as it's in a feeding station that cats cannot get into. Except my cat can as he's quite small!

He spends HOURS in her garden. Sometimes most of the day. And very little time in ours. Fair play, our garden is decked and has patios, and hers is large with plenty of wild areas... and trees and bushes. She has no cats but did have cats for about 30 years. Last one died 2 years ago and she chose to have no more. (My neighbour who lives close to her said she has told her this, she talks to her more than I do.) The woman joked that it's lovely having a cat around, have his company, and give him fuss and cuddles, without the commitment or the vet bills!

AIBU to think this is a massive cheek and an absolute nerve? She has said to this other neighbour she doesn't want another cat, so I don't think she is trying to steal him, but it's irking me that she has my cat at her house and in her garden more than I do, and he's my cat! I work 3 days a week (the days vary, but are usually Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday,) and DH works full time, but the Lenny's not on his own that much! He gets love and cuddles and fuss from us, and is a very friendly, affectionate cat. I can see why this woman likes him, but why is he at hers so much? Whilst she may not have deliberately set out to coax him there, she seems to be doing nothing to make him leave!

This is really pissing me off. What should I do, if anything?

😮
The original cat burglar eh ?

Poor Lenny. He’s just out having a nice time hanging out with the hedgehogs and ExCatLady, seven doors down. She’s made it very clear she doesn’t want another cat. I think you’re being unreasonable. Let Lenny live!

My mum has a local cat who absolutely adores her

We’ve had a few nights where we’ve had to call the owner because otherwise she’ll sit outside and yowl indignantly because we won’t let her in the house and I don’t know how long she would do that. I suspect she would go home eventually, but she’s done it on quite cold nights so that’s why we phoned.

They take it in good humour but there really isn’t anything else we can do. We do love having her around and we do pet her of course. We would never feed her. But this lady isn’t trying to feed her either.

I think you have to make your garden more appealing for your cat.

Does your neighbour work from home? If so and you and your DH are at work, even if only some days, I’m guessing that’s it. My neighbours cat, despite a lot of attempts to get him to go home when she was home, was always at mine as he was hugely sociable and he didn’t like the hours she wasn’t there. He favoured me as I wfh. She moved abroad and couldn’t take him and I acquired a cat! He just loved people. I’d spot him prancing around in other people’s gardens if they had a garden party as he loved the attention.

Lenny is a great name for a cat.
Lenny Katvitz 🐈‍⬛

operation Get Lenny Back commences. Maybe you need to get some Nepeta planted in yours. Get a hedgehog.

please can we see a photo of the lovely Lenny.

Argumentum ad lapidem.

Feel free to give me something to respond to if you have an actual question though.

Well she seems to be at home a lot, and I work 3 days a week and DH full time. So I am guessing Lenny is looking for company when we're out.

I think cats like having different places to be, it extends their territory. Your Lenny is just spending a few hours a day at his club.

At least it is all peaceable and lovely. My mad bastard cat took to spending time on a front wall about ten doors down. Did she like those neighbours? No, she had started a bitter feud with their (indoor) cat and was waiting to fly into a howling rage if it showed its face at the window. Bit embarrassing.

Good luck. Come on Lenny.

My neighbours cat likes to spend time in my garden too. It's overgrown so there's lots of places to hide and watch birds. He's been round more lately, i think he wants a bit of company and is a bit lonely at times. He likes to chat. I noticed he's been wearing a tracker 😂

@GirlsInGreen🤣🤣🤣

I would prefer not to put his actual pic up, for personal reasons, (sorry!) but he looks very much like this...