Help! Neighbour trying to steal my cat!!

MrsE_2

Kimberley wrote: »

I'm sorry if you were upset by my comments but I'm entitled to my opininon, if your cat didn't come home because someone had taken him/her in or had an accident then it's not your fault, that is not what I was saying. 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.

Yours won't & I know Ted wouldn't have, but maybe some cats are greedier than most
I fed Ted Royal Canin Feline & he would eat NOTHING else (except rich ice-cream, yogurts & rice pudding:o ), but if someone offered him whiskers or go-cat he wouldn't be interested.

Also when strangers came in the house, he was on them, like a dog:o But I think he was just brave because we were there.
Because I've watched him on the drive & if people talked to him as he sat there (because he was very striking & handsome) then he just ignored them or go up & walked away.

But her cat must be different....

Kimberley

Maybe some cats do, my mums moggie also doesn't though but sensible people with common sense should know better then to feed someone elses cat.

missbargain

Cats really are so different. My Zebs will let anyone on the street approach him and pat him, he often does belly rolls for unknown people on the street, he is too friendly and trusting for his own good. And no, he won't refuse extra food, he is a bit greedy, but he will refuse Whiskas or Go Cat, which luckily most people tend to buy to feed strays. So, I hope that I am safe in this way, as I feed him premium foods that he loves, so he won't be too tempted by supermarket food. That's why I suggested to the OP to try to find food that her Siamese adores, it may keep him a bit closer.

And yes, people should not feed someone else's cat, I agree. But lots of people, who know nothing about cats, have this instinct to feed cats if they meaow or pretend to be hungry, not knowing that they will have the cat reappearing forever if they do this.
Why this lady is wrong is that she admited that she spent 14 months trying to tame him, so she knew what she was doing, without going to check for a microchip.

lowis

my two Siamese will eat anything - they even sit and beg at my feet when i am eating vegetable soup...yeah, they would LOVE that! silly little things

at the end of the day our beautiful little pet cats are predators and they are motivated to find or react to food sources, hungry or not. if an old lady down the road keeps offering a cat some food, that cat will remember that particular food source next time it is out and about and hungry.

some cats with feral backgrounds (and some rescue moggies) who perhaps have experienced long periods of time without food, will gorge themselves even if they are not hungry as they don't know where the next meal is coming from - they can become food-fixated. i found some feral kittens in a rubbish tip years ago and rehomed them, keeping one for myself - and she had the strangest habit of eating non-stop - she would eat her food and then try to eat my mother's other 4 cat's food as well. she was tiny as too! (and no, she didn't have worms)

Fourcandles_3

I have two young children and we often talk to cats in the street. Some will allow you to pet them and some will not. Some as a result of petting follow you home looking for an extra meal.

I don't feed other people's cats, but quite a few cats try it on.

BridgetJones_2

Please don't keep the cats in, it would be extremely unfair and confusing.

Could you cat proof your garden so they stay within the garden?

knowsleyroader

CharlotteandEden wrote: »

Seriously I would speak to the police and ask them to visit her and explain the situation. quote]

Apart from the fact it's a civil matter not a legal one, it's the cat's desire to keep going back! You really can't reason with a cat. I know, I've got them.

knowsleyroader

BridgetJones wrote: »

Please don't keep the cats in, it would be extremely unfair and confusing.

Could you cat proof your garden so they stay within the garden?

I looked into this a while back and there is some netting you can buy to keep cats in the garden. Seems very popular in the USA.

CelticStar

Kimberley wrote: »

I'm sorry if you were upset by my comments but I'm entitled to my opininon, if your cat didn't come home because someone had taken him/her in or had an accident then it's not your fault, that is not what I was saying. 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.

This is absolute nonsense. I used to have a cat who would have eaten until she exploded if she was allowed to - and would take food from whoever would give it to her. There was no medical reason for this, she was just a very greedy cat who had been a feral cat before being caught and tamed so felt that she had to eat whenever she could regardless of whether she was actually hungry or not.

Kimberley

CelticStar wrote: »

This is absolute nonsense. I used to have a cat who would have eaten until she exploded if she was allowed to - and would take food from whoever would give it to her. There was no medical reason for this, she was just a very greedy cat who had been a feral cat before being caught and tamed so felt that she had to eat whenever she could regardless of whether she was actually hungry or not.

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.