Our cat has adopted a second home - anything we can do?
- Thread starter stoofa
- Start date
Was going to be my answer
In all seriousness not a lot, cats will goto who ever feeds them, one of the reasons I never get cat people.
KaHn
This!
On another note, we had a cat break in to our house a while ago, 3 times in one night! - I made a thread about it on here infact. The cat had no collar, and kept coming back each day and night, my sister made the mistake of feeding her (we were ignorant and my sister is a massive animal person and didn't realise this shouldn't be done).
We put flyers up, ad in the local paper, put new collars on her (which kept coming off) - The cat had not been chipped either (took her to get her scanned)
Long and short of it we weren't sure what to do after exhausting everything, asking on here, cat kept coming back and we thought maybe the owner had moved and therefore kept coming to us for food! - In the end someone FINALLY replied to the ads we had put in the paper, turned out the cat lived 5 houses down the road, carried her down there and they were delighted and we still see her every now and again (she pops over the fence) - we made sure she didn't get any food off of us, and now only ever comes back during the day on here patrols I guess.
You could always try beating the people with a stick everytime they feed her, I imagine they'll stop shortly afterwards.
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Jun 2010
- Posts
- 3,251
You could try http://www.feliway.com Its not specifically for wandering cats but it might help to create a stronger 'good' association with your home.
The other strategy would be one of food reinforcment. Firstly, write a letter to the other house and be explicitly clear with them. Explain that by feeding your cat, they are making it more likely the cat will go round theirs for food. Does the cat have to cross any roads or other dangers to get there? Just be open and honest, emotional and factual.
Secondly, whenever your cat comes home, immediately give him some food or a treat. In the market place a trader may play two stores against each other for the highest price. Spoil your cat to reassure it this is its true home.
The other strategy would be one of food reinforcment. Firstly, write a letter to the other house and be explicitly clear with them. Explain that by feeding your cat, they are making it more likely the cat will go round theirs for food. Does the cat have to cross any roads or other dangers to get there? Just be open and honest, emotional and factual.
Secondly, whenever your cat comes home, immediately give him some food or a treat. In the market place a trader may play two stores against each other for the highest price. Spoil your cat to reassure it this is its true home.
We have almost the opposite problem at the minute....
The cat that lives 4 doors down from us has kind of adopted us, it gets into our house any way it can, it hides under our beds etc.
The kids love it, personally im not a cat man and kick it out as soon as i can, but im pretty certain the Mrs and Kids have fed it on more than one occasion while i am at work which really annoys me.
Is the solution to buy a dog?
The cat that lives 4 doors down from us has kind of adopted us, it gets into our house any way it can, it hides under our beds etc.
The kids love it, personally im not a cat man and kick it out as soon as i can, but im pretty certain the Mrs and Kids have fed it on more than one occasion while i am at work which really annoys me.
Is the solution to buy a dog?
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 5,020
- Location
- Midlands
if you go out and leave it alone and show it no affection then it will go elsewhere to look for it. that said the woman feeding it wont be helping.
He obviously likes the champagne, caviar and company he’s getting. Time to get him some pussy.
Yup, a puppy will try and play with the cat and may get used to it, most cats will run at the sight of any dog
KaHn
Yup, a puppy will try and play with the cat and may get used to it, most cats will run at the sight of any dog
KaHn
My cat takes a half a mile walk with us and the dog when we take the dog out for a stroll
And before you ask, no the cat is not on a lead.
Thanks for all the sensible ideas
Just to mention, there is no way our cat is unloved.
As all cat owners know, some cats are indoor cats, others like to get out and about.
When we got our's at 6 months old he'd never been outside and was so desperate to get out there.
When he's in our house he gets all the attention and fuss he wants - he's a year old now but still very playful.
The only reason he's visiting home number two is because he can get more food.
We give him plenty, he certainly isn't a starving cat and he's also hunted a few times - I know he's had rats, mice and blackbirds.
It's all down to this woman first letting him in and then feeding him - he'll leave our house in a morning after a good feed, of course he won't turn down even more food if someone is going to give it to him!
I may well try the "Our cat is on a special diet - do you want the death of this cat on your hands?" conversation if this carries on.
Oh and I've got upmost respsect for you dog people.
I would have one if I could.
However me and the wife working - sending a cat out on his own for most of the day is not (usually) a problem.
They have a territory to patrol and they will find plenty to do.
It simply wouldn't be fair for us to have a dog and expect him to be on his own for most days - not fair at all.
Just to mention, there is no way our cat is unloved.
As all cat owners know, some cats are indoor cats, others like to get out and about.
When we got our's at 6 months old he'd never been outside and was so desperate to get out there.
When he's in our house he gets all the attention and fuss he wants - he's a year old now but still very playful.
The only reason he's visiting home number two is because he can get more food.
We give him plenty, he certainly isn't a starving cat and he's also hunted a few times - I know he's had rats, mice and blackbirds.
It's all down to this woman first letting him in and then feeding him - he'll leave our house in a morning after a good feed, of course he won't turn down even more food if someone is going to give it to him!
I may well try the "Our cat is on a special diet - do you want the death of this cat on your hands?" conversation if this carries on.
Oh and I've got upmost respsect for you dog people.
I would have one if I could.
However me and the wife working - sending a cat out on his own for most of the day is not (usually) a problem.
They have a territory to patrol and they will find plenty to do.
It simply wouldn't be fair for us to have a dog and expect him to be on his own for most days - not fair at all.
Damn right there isn't.
For those saying cats aren't loyal, that's a large generalisation, my cat is ridiculously loyal, it's just the way he is. Not all cats are the same, and it seems that the people who hate cats and think they're not loyal probably have no experience of actually owning a cat anyway. You may as well say no dogs bite because you know some who has a dog that doesn't bite.