Help! Neighbour trying to steal my cat!!

lowis

kimberley - your cats sound well-behaved

my mother's cats could often be found outside the village fish and chip shop begging for scraps! this was even though they were pampered and fed well and also rather excellent hunters - my mum used to joke that the village must think she was cruel and not feeding them properly

Kimberley

I'm not saying no more, i'm not going to get my posts picked on in this thread just because of my opinion and experience in having cats throughout my life. Some cats may take food from people and some not, i'm just going through my experience. Not all cats seek food elsewhere.

Frugalista

Kimberley, I can assure you my cat was not ill-treated and is most definately fed a good quality, breed specific food (Royal Canin Siamese). He is typical of his breed in that he is sleek, lean and muscular.

I don't think he went looking for extra food, more that this woman saw him around her house and then (by her own admission) spent the next 14 months enticing him in. He is not timid by any stretch of the imagination, but he can be quite aloof when outdoors - sort of a snooty "pleased to make your acquaintance, but I have friends already thank you" .

Kimberley

Frugalista wrote: »

Kimberley, I can assure you my cat was not ill-treated and is most definately fed a good quality, breed specific food (Royal Canin Siamese). He is typical of his breed in that he is sleek, lean and muscular.

I don't think he went looking for extra food, more that this woman saw him around her house and then (by her own admission) spent the next 14 months enticing him in. He is not timid by any stretch of the imagination, but he can be quite aloof when outdoors - sort of a snooty "pleased to make your acquaintance, but I have friends already thank you" .

I never said he was, I was refering to those who wander outside and get fed by other people, not like in your circumstances when someone goes out to steal him.

I'm not saying no more, people can't have opinions anymore sadly

missbargain

No, we respect yours and everyone else's opinion here.

if you look at your original post, the problem is that you have worded your opionion in the way that say "a cat wouldn't wonder off if they were fed before being let out". This sentence implied that you meant "any cat" wouldn't, which, in reality, is not correct, as some cats wouldn't, but some cats definitely would.

I think that this "a cat" statement has provoked these strong reactions.

Kimberley

missbargain wrote: »

No, we respect yours and everyone else's opinion here.

if you look at your original post, the problem is that you have worded your opionion in the way that say "a cat wouldn't wonder off if they were fed before being let out". This sentence implied that you meant "any cat" wouldn't, which, in reality, is not correct, as some cats wouldn't, but some cats definitely would.

I think that this "a cat" statement has provoked these strong reactions.

Fair enough but if someone had mentioned it to me in a PM or something i would have re worded it.

Frugalista

missbargain wrote: »

No, we respect yours and everyone else's opinion here.

if you look at your original post, the problem is that you have worded your opionion in the way that say "a cat wouldn't wonder off if they were fed before being let out". This sentence implied that you meant "any cat" wouldn't, which, in reality, is not correct, as some cats wouldn't, but some cats definitely would.

I think that this "a cat" statement has provoked these strong reactions.

Absolutely! And I appreciate everyones input and different takes on this subject - so please keep posting Kimberley.

missbargain

Yes, keep posting, please!!! You have lots of useful things to say, it would be a shame to stop because of one overlooked word. We, especially new pet owners like myself, need all the advice we can get, so don't stop, please!!!

I myself write quickly and often cringe when I re-read my own posts, as there are: missed articles, wrong spelling, missed words and/or letters, repeated words, not to mention wrongly used articles (you are guessing, english is not my first language )...all of this can sometimes change the meaning of what I was trying to say.


As for the topic, the offending lady definitely acted out of order for enticing the cat, and even worse - not cooperating with the owner. I think most people agree with it. The question now is what is to be done next, and this is a really hard one, regardless of whether the cat chose her, she chose the cat, cat got stolen, drugged, jinxed, imprisoned, hypnotised, whatever.....

Frugalista - any new developments? Have you sent the (brilliant) letter?

CelticStar

Kimberley wrote: »

It's not nonsense, maybe the cat you had was a piglet, but i've had cats all my life and none have taken food from other people.

Look, others have already explained that you gave your opinion as applying to every cat rather than some cats - which is why I posted that it was nonsense as, in that respect, it was.

My cat was obviously not a 'piglet' and I too have owned cats all my life, both feral and domestic, and as an experienced cat owner I know that all cats are different.

I welcome people expressing their opinions (which is what a forum is all about) but equally, you must understand that other people have differing opinions and will offer them if they see fit. If you're going to be assertive about an opinion then other people will be equally assertive if they disagree. There's nothing personal in it and no need to stop posting because of it.

OP, I am sure that it is absolutely no fault of yours that your cat is visiting this intensely annoying and unreasonable woman. If she continues to feed it it will continue to visit , particularly as cats are creatures of habit. Frankly, she has absolutely no business feeding it - if people want a cat then they should get their own and not just adopt someone else's cat because they take a shine to it. In a way it is a good thing she has used flea treatment on it because this is something you can use against her as it is a serious matter, your cat could have been badly hurt if you had unwittingly dosed it again. I would send her a very firm letter setting out in writing what has happened so far, outlining your title to the cat (ie you bought it, microchipped it etc) and setting out the potentially serious consequences of her having used flea treatment on the cat. Warn her that if she persists in trying to entice your cat onto her property you will approach a solicitor if needs be. I would then send the letter by recorded delivery so that she cannot pretend she hasn't received it. If she continues then I would approach a solicitor - no sane person is going to want to be sued over a cat. You have, rightly, tried the nice way and it got you nowhere, I would now take the more forceful route, otherwise you are going to lose your cat.

cupid_s

Kimberley wrote: »

I was saying that a cat wouldn't wander off seeking food from elsewhere if they were fed before being let out. A cat won't take food from a stranger for food if it was not hungry, I know mine wouldn't. My oldest Bengal will not allow anyone to pick him up other then who he knows in the home.

I wish mine didn't! A while ago someone from down the road walked past my house and asked how my cat was (I didn't even recognise them so wondered how they knew my cats name). She then informed me my cat was cheeky and always begging at their house for food. I was quite embarrassed and shocked that she let someone outside of the house close enough to read her name tag but it seems when food is involved she's not that fussy who gets near her. I feed her well but she is on a diet after I was informed by the vet she was 'a bit weighty'. Problem is she is greedy, she opens the cupboard and takes whatever she can get to so we have to put everything in cupboards that she can't possibly open.

I know very little about the law but whilst I know that there is nothing to stop the cat going there, this woman is locking the cat inside her house at night so he can't leave even if he wants to. Surely that is effectively catnapping?