My neighbours are stealing my cat!

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Penguinboots

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Hey, sorry, this post is obviously not about dogs! Just need some advice...be prepared, this might be quite long!

Ok, so my cat's two years old, had him since he was a kitten. He's always been the outdoorsy type and used to go for days (and sometimes weeks!) without coming home, apparnetly he used to spend a lot of time in the neighbours garden. Now...in the past few months he has very rarely come home of his own accord, whenever we are worried about him we call our neighbours and they usually have seen him and they drop him back over. But recenty they've been letting him in thier house (they use the excuse that the weather was so bad etc), which I am not happy about at all, they also say he has stayed overnight. AND, I came home from university the other day and my mum said she hadn't seen him for a while, so I knocked on the nieghbours door and they said they'd let him in....he was curled up on thier sofa surrounded by cat toys....THEY DON'T HAVE A CAT! He's also looking incredibally healthy for a cat that comes home on averae once a month (and he really isn't much of a hunter) It's really not fair on Ollie (the cat), as he doesn't know where he lives anymore, I really don't want to loose him as he means a lot to me (and on a more selfish note..he's been involved in two accidents and is worth nearly £1000 in vets bills), but I also don't want to be rude to the neighbours, as I think they do mean well...I also don't want to fall out with them in case he goes to thier house and they're more reluctent to return him. Sorry for the really long post...I hope it makes sense! any suggestions will be welcomed...I'm at the end of my tether with them!!
 
Tell them to get lost!

It's your cat lol

Also is he neutered? That can stop the roaming instinct.

Get him microchipped so that you can prove he's yours in case there is a future argument looming!
 
Personally I think cats are very diferent to dogs, they have little loyalty and go where they think they should live. Growing up we had cats and we also had several cats that chose to come and live with us - nothing could disuade a pure persian cat from the neighbourhood that this was not her home and in the end everyone accepted that she lived with us and she did till the end of her days.

I do not have cats but my mother would have been worried stupid if any of our cats (and several were intrepid hunters) were not seen at some point during the day. Without wanting to be rude, I think the cat might have found a new gaff where he is getting a little more attention...sorry
 
I'm afraid they're not stealing your cat but your cat has chosen to go and live with them. One of our cats quite obviously has another home, she turns up here for breakfast and tea but she's got long hair and never has any tangles and often smells of perfume!

Not much you can do really - apart from be pleased to see him when he turns up and be grateful that he has chosen a new home close to yours - rather than disappearing as some cats do.
 
Trying feeding your cat salmon and nice fresh meat, this might entice him back,

You could ask them politely not to let the cat in, he would soon return home if he was stuck out in the rain!

Agree with Molly definately get him microchipped, just in case!!
 
Hi everyone, thanks for you're responces! I understand what some of you have said about him moving in with the neighbours instead of the other way around, but I know if they didn't let him in, he would come home! Yes he is microchipped and netured. RLF...might have to try the salmon/fresh meat option, it seems that the way to a cats heart is food! Thanks again guys!
 
I would maybe keep him inside for a week or so to try and convince him THIS is his home.
Ask the neighbours not to let him in. He is your cat, but I think it sounds like they are ancouraging him. Why not suggest they go to a shelter?
Feed him lots of nice food!
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Be a kindly neighbour and buy them a kitten for Christmas.
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Seriously though - cats always choose where they want to live - that's just the way it is.
 
I think your neighbours have been a little selfish in letting him in, feeding him and buying toys, unfortunately they obviously love him and could'nt help themselves.

As the previous posts say, cats choose where they want to be and its hard to compete with your neighbours when he is obviously getting very spoilt.

It's a difficult one, what do you do, get him back and shut him in? He'll only be round there again like a shot.

If it was my cat, I would feel the same, but you cant do much about cats and their habits. I dont think it's worth having words with your neighbours and causing upset, you could just mention that you would like him home and if they could pop him back it would be appreciated.

I dont really know what else you can do.
 
My dear departed cat Murphy was what I called a 'community cat' too. In other words he would go wherever there was a warm bed and a nice meal and had no loyalty to me at all. I used to go calling for him and look up and see him asleep on peoples bedroom windowsills and neighbours used to phone and let me know that he was asleep infront of the TV so I didn't worry. I don't think you can ever break them of this behaviour but at least you know he's safe, warm and happy. Cats are such free spirits and we have to accept that we can't control them in the same way as dogs
 
My Dad over the years has never bought a cat but had cats that have moved in or been dropped off on him. He has also found that some cats stay a while and then move on somewhere else. The only cat you are really slightly guarannteed to keep is a housecat and even then they can decide to move on.

Cats are quite heartless if someone else is offering them more than what they currently get then they will go for that. And that more might just be attention.

We have recently had cats turn up on our doorstep and demand to be let in, not because we have given tme anything but because they have checked us out and decided thats the home for us. But because we know what cats are like we have ignored them and eventually they try someone else.

You have said you are away at uni and your mum didn't seem to bothered that she hadn't seen the cat for ages so perhaps it is just looking for company. Perhaps accept that the cat has moved and visit it at its new home...

Emma
 
Agree with microchipping

BRIBERY!!!

Feed cat salmon and expensive food on regular basis - buy two-way locking cat flap (lock cat in with litter tray for a few days) sounds mean but give it loads of attention! Buy toys etc.
Cat will then love u to bits and hate neighbours. Get photo of neighbors and stick on scratching post??

Only half joking there!
 
eeee cheek of them!! my neighbors hate my cats and throw stuff in our graden trying to poison her
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tell your neighbor how you feel or just odn't let your cat out!
your cat with soon get used t being a indoor cat
my cat is and she still gets enough excercise
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haha! Used to have a house rabbit...but she chewed EVERYTHING! But anyway...thanks for everyone's relpies! I know that I probably should accept the fact that he's moved out, but I love him!! (and I know that's selfish!) But once he's at home, he seems really happy...I'll try and keep in in for a couple of days, and I really like that scratching post idea!! And like some of you said, at least I know he's safe and happy. Thanks everyone!
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It's really not fair on Ollie (the cat), as he doesn't know where he lives anymore

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Oh he does - with your neighbour I'm afraid.

I have three and a half cats!!!! Three are mine, the half is the neighbours - who spends more time in my house than hers.

One of my other cats also used to belong to a neighbour - and is the brother of one of mine. He moved in when it became apparent that neither the kids or the dogs were going to give it a peacful life!!

Cats have a mind of their own - and will go where they feel most happy.
 
I would be gutted if my cat moved to my neighbours! But I don't think they'd have him because all he eats is chicken! 3 fillets a day, but he has no teeth so gets away with being incredibly fussy! I suppose its whats best for the cat, but I don't think I would give up without a fight, and I would resort to bribery lol
 
I would talk to the neighbours and say that whilst you appreciate them letting him in out of the rain etc., you think he is becoming confused because he never comes home anymore, and if he wants to get in at night the cat flap is always open for him.
Probably they dont realise how little you get to see of him now, and are just enjoying his company, and by raising it to them in a non-confrontational way they will probably re-think their actions. I doubt they are genuinely trying to take him away from you so much as being ignorant as to the fact that it has an impact on you as well.
We used to sometimes "borrow" local cats for a couple of hours at my dad's old house, but they rarely came inside and keeping them overnight would definitely have been crossing a line.
 
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