4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Aunty e]

Minnie has pretty much moved out I keep having to go and retrieve her from the other end of the road where she's always playing with this big tabby tom. When I bring her home she gives me the distinct impression that she thinks it's too crowded at home, which to be fair, it probably is as Saffy's kittens haven't gone yet (one going this afternoon, one next week and one still to be homed). I'm just worried that once they're gone, she still won't want to come home. She barely stays five minutes before she's off again.

 

She never looks hungry though, and she's never out at night when I go to look for her, which makes me think that someone (possibly the owner of said large tabby tom) is feeding her and letting her in. I've collared her with a tag, just to make sure "Ooops, word censored!"ody thinks she's a stray, but other than keeping her in, I don't know what to do. Keeping her in would mean that she'd have to be locked in a room or all of our cats would have to be in or out, as the cat flap can't lock certain cats in, it's all or nothing. I think that she'd most likely want to leave permanently if I locked her in a room. I tried to bribe her with sheba yesterday, which would normally make her very happy and she completely ignored it.

 

Just don't know what to do, and I don't want to lose my cat

[Ygerna]

Have you spoken to the owner of the other cat to see if she is feeding yours too. I'd try that first, explain that you are concerned your cat is going all that way (roads and cats are risky) and that she is feeding her when there is no need as she is not a stray. Give them your number and ask that they contact you if your cat turns up at theirs.

[The Dogmother]

I have a problem with the batty old boy next door feedign Biscuit, who is laready a big boy.

 

As Ygerna has said, I went round to have a chat - not easy as he's stone deaf! I explained that Biscuit 'has to have a special diet for his health'

 

I hope that you get it sorted 'E'

[Seagazer]

My MIL had this problem with one of her neighbours. He used to feed MIL's cat with prawns etc so of course she never wanted to come home and eat normal cat food. The poor cat always had an upset tummy. She tried talking to him about it but he just carried on anyway.

 

I hope you manage to sort this out.

[Space Chick]

I inherited my cat from a next door neighbour that was taken into care (long story).

 

I was feeding him whilst I was awaiting the family to find him a new home, however, he won our hearts and we kept him, this was about 3 years ago.

 

I found out about 2 months ago that another neighbour thought he had been left as a stray (despite the fact I got him a lovely new collar and tag ) and she has been feeding him too

 

I thought he had a small appetite for a cat, however, she has now stopped feeding him, and he's now eating me out of house and home

 

So, I am sure the intentions are good and you should have a word with your neighbour.

[Chucky Mama]

You can try fitting your cat with a 'Please Do Not Feed Me' collar. The words are stitched into the collar rather than on a tag.

[Seagazer]

You can try fitting your cat with a 'Please Do Not Feed Me' collar. The words are stitched into the collar rather than on a tag.

 

Thats a really good idea

[Olly]

I've had this too - the neighbours actually believed the cat had been left behind when the student population left the area, and they were astounded to learn that he had free access to my home via a cat-flap, and was fed regularly. He didn't get on with my other cat, and I had to accept - reluctantly - that he'd voted with his paws, and had found a loving home which he didn't have to share.

 

If you can find out who it is, then you may be able to ask them to stop feeding Minnie. Otherwise, I think locking her in is one possibility but it may only be a temporary answer - as soon as you let her out again she will probably go back. It might be worth doing it short-term until the kittens have been rehomed, as it may be that she just finds the place too crowded.

[The Dogmother]

My neighbours, who are not animals lovers have been adopted by a small black and white cat; they asked me yesterday whether it's a boy or girl and what to do. Told them that it is a girl c.6 months of age and probably preggers!

 

They are less than amused . It looks well cared for and fed, is very friendly too. I have suggested that they ask round the houses which back onto us as we often end up with their animals (rabbits, a dog and three ferrets so far!). Seems it doesn't belong to anyone along there, but they don't really want to keep her. Local rescue centre is full and their son (it turns out) has been sneaking food out to her which is probably why she's stayed with them

 

It could have been dumped when it got up the duff, but it looks too well cared for for that.

 

I have lent them my cat box to take her to the vet so that she can be scanned for a chip and checked to see if she is preggers.

[fluffyknickers]

Sorry this isnt helpful but it reminds me of the wonderful book Six dinner sid - if you havent got it and have children or grandchildren you HAVE to get it.

[Chucky Mama]

Sorry this isnt helpful but it reminds me of the wonderful book Six dinner sid - if you havent got it and have children or grandchildren you HAVE to get it.

A great book!

[Aunty e]

Well good and bad news. I've started locking her in at night, with some fish all to herself, and she hangs round for a bit in the morning, and has started coming into our garden again during the day. BUT somebody removed her collar. Luckily I had another one and another tag, but I'm a bit annoyed about it. I think I'm going to continue keeping her in at night and letting her go where she likes during the day, until we move anyway. Unhelpfully, the other cats are beginning to treat her like an intruder, which is not encouraging her to hang around. Am hoping that when the kittens are gone, Saffy will stop growling at Minnie. Ideally, we should just move ASAP but that would involve our solicitors/mortgage lenders/vendors and purchasers all getting off their collective botties and sorting it out

[Daphne]

Is there any chance she could have removed her own collar - we have one that does that?

 

I would go and see this other person - my parents were adopted by a cat many years ago. He lived until he was 20. It was only once the old boy died that the cat's original owners asked after it - they lived in a nearby road and had known all along that we had their cat.....but we had no idea.

[Ziggy]

We have a cat that keeps straying... on most days she comes back a few times, especially when she hears the car come into the drive (and she gives me heart attacks watching run across the road to see us), and she gets all cuddly on the drive side of the house, but on garden side she acts like a lunatic scared for her life.

We used to think this happened mostly after we got our other three cats, but now wonder if it's her own sister she's not keen on (whenever Shadow hangs around, Smokey doesn't).

Anyway, she now has taken to occupying one of the front rooms, and likes to eat and lie on top of the chest freezer. Thankfully there are old catflaps there that she can use, and we put a self-closing device on the door so she can't roam around the house when we are out and set off the burglar alarm (that side of the house has motion sensors in).

It is nice to have her in regularly again, but it is puzzling when they refuse to be in the rooms they once perfectly enjoyed. And of course, yes, the less she comes in, the more the other cats react when she does come in, which doesn't help.

In our case having her own lil room (which the other cats don't seem to know about somehow) has helped, but not everybody has a spare room with cat flaps ready for the fussy feline...

 

We also had mild trouble when we started feeding a cat whom we thought was a stray, the family it belonged to were not pleased... it turned out they had been away for two months though, and though the cat was being fed, there was no one home and he obviously liked the company of my kids... He had no collar, so didn't know he belonged to someone. I would have checked if he was microchipped before formally adopting him, but we found out who he was before that.

I had no problem not feeding him once I knew he wasn't a stray, but must admit I got a little irritated when the family required that we do not let him in our house. It was summer, all windows and conservatory doors were always opened, and the cat would just walk in and settle on a sofa and I didn't feel I should have to constantly chase him away, or keep my windows closed. I was happy to not encourage him in, and to not let him stay in when going out or at night, but felt a bit bothered being requested to make extra efforts to not let him in at all... He stopped coming after a while though, so it must have worked...

[Aunty e]

Well, when I went to collect her last night, she climbed out of their window and ran to me quite happily. I don't expect them to try and keep her out, just not to shut her in, so hopefully that's what will happen from now on. She's eating when she comes home now, so I assume that they've stopped feeding her.

 

She might have removed her collar, but it was new and fairly firmly attached. This one is leather and buckled nice and snugly, so we'll see how it goes. She spent a couple of hours in bed with me and Imogen this morning, so I'm hoping she's starting to get the idea that home is a nice place (with sneaky sheba when the other cats aren't looking). Another kitten is being collected tonight, and I should be taking the last one to my mum in a couple of days, and fingers crossed that their mother will stop being such a prize cow when they've gone She's such a simpering little thing normally as well, but this last couple of weeks she turned into a snappy little madam.

[Valkyrie]

My brother gets visited by a cat who lives up the road from him. He doesn't feed the cat, but he has his favourite chair to chill out on and when it's time for tea off he trots back home! I gather there are two cats in that family and the one that visits tends to go to most other neighbours too - like in a rotation - to get away from the other cat.

[Aunty e]

Minnie came home of her own accord twice yesterday and spent the evening asleep on the sofa next to the baby I hope this bribery thing is working! We're down to just my mum's kitten now, who will be going soon hopefully (dad is in hospital at the mo, so not a good time for new kitten to turn up).

[Daphne]

Glad this seems to be sorting itself out it must have been horrible for you.

[Olly]

Glad to hear it seems to be working - hope once the last kitten has gone, things will settle down. Sorry to hear your dad is unwell, and you're STILL waiting to move, my goodness! Are you expecting to be in before Christmas? I expect the change to a new house/garden, and moving away from these neighbours, will sort things out.

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Well, when I went to collect her last night, she climbed out of their window and ran to me quite happily. I don't expect them to try and keep her out, just not to shut her in, so hopefully that's what will happen from now on. She's eating when she comes home now, so I assume that they've stopped feeding her.

 

She might have removed her collar, but it was new and fairly firmly attached. This one is leather and buckled nice and snugly, so we'll see how it goes. She spent a couple of hours in bed with me and Imogen this morning, so I'm hoping she's starting to get the idea that home is a nice place (with sneaky sheba when the other cats aren't looking). Another kitten is being collected tonight, and I should be taking the last one to my mum in a couple of days, and fingers crossed that their mother will stop being such a prize cow when they've gone She's such a simpering little thing normally as well, but this last couple of weeks she turned into a snappy little madam.

 

Glad to here there's some improvement. Hope your move is quickly sorted to help you in this.

[Aunty e]

I win. Minnie is now back to her old self. I'm keeping her collared until we move (and for a week or two after of course), but she's in all the time and sleeping in our house, and never out overnight. She's reclaimed her old spots (on top of bookcase and wardrobe) and has even been found curled up asleep with Saffy and her kitten Take that naughty cat-feeders!

[bellekatz]

Great News!!!

[Ziggy]

That's lovely news

 

Must be a great relief for you... good luck with the move

[mags]

my brother's neighbours cat lives in his bathroom ,very nice cat but very odd likes to say hello while your doing what you have to do it in there

tried to sit on my knee !

 

mags