am i overeacting

[rainbowbrite]

this on is for all animal owners.

so here's the senario, i've got 2 cats, my oldest one has been through thick and thin with me and we've been put in some horrible situations. about a year ago he was shot in the shoulder, he managed to make it all the way home before collapsing, nearly died then nearly lost his front leg but 6 grand and 3 months later he was fine and dandy and back out exploring the world. since then starting keeping him in a night since it was at night he was shot and i started getting really paranoid.

then i got another kitten and he doesn't like it too much and spends nearly all his time outside and now it's summer it's getting later and later that he comes home. but the thing i need advice on is; he keeps getting fed by loads of our neighbours (a lot of them elderly) and he spends a lot of time in other people's houses, problem is when he hurt his leg he put loads of weight on due to inactivity and now he's really fat, should i try and stop people from feeding him and also can i stop him from going in peoples houses, i know they mean well but he's my cat!! and now i'm due to go away for a few days and i'm terrified i'll come home and he'll be living somewhere else

so, am i overacting??

sorry for all cat haters but i needed advice

[carlseawolf]

the old saying is very fitting here,

Dog's have owners , cats have slaves !

I understand your feeling on this on as we have got 5 cats and they do the rounds for scraps but always come home.
If your cat is content and sleeping where it normally does and is pleased to see you when you come home then it's content and is going to stay , but if you start changing it's life pattern by locking it in then it may choose to move to another house and then you will have lost it for good.
The other point to consider is these small visits to the other houses may be a major thing these elderly people look forward in there daily life , and a cat is doing what it would in the wild by patroling it's territory and finding food and water sources to live.
If the cat's content and coming home then leave it be or you may end up loosing it to another home.

[Mikey]

My parents cat was a stray, and now she won't rely on just one home. She uses at least 4, my parents have no problem with her visiting others, but have asked all of the other home owners, not to feed her as she needs medication with her food. This is tosh, but it works a treat at ensuring the neighbours don't feed tessie scraps.

[Headfry]

Morning Rainbowbrite, Mikeywills Idea is a fab one and a really nice way of putting it, even though maybe a tiny white lie might be involved. It's tough love with cats....they WILL do their own thing!
I have to say that the green mist descends a little even when one of mine makes a fuss of someone else ( naughty headfry)
As others rightly say, if your cat comes back home to its fave place to sleep and is happy to see you, Then your cat is just doing its cat thing! and is a happy cat.
Go for Mikeywills idea, see how that goes!

Please keep us posted.

Good luck, hope all things settle down for you, you love your cats to bits, as I do mine!

[Polly Fouracre]

You could put a tag on her collar saying "Food allergies--do not feed"

[moggssue]

My cat came to me as a 3-yr old (we think) stray and is now around 16. She 'adopted' an elderly gent living next door and also a lady on the other side of me when I moved area a couple of years ago. She always comes home to me eventually, the elderly gent (now sadly passed away) loved her company for an hour or two, and the lady next door is happy to look after Moggs when I'm away on holiday so we all get the best of both worlds.

I'd say if you can, live with the status quo, knowing your cat is happy and content and the other people she visits are happy to see her, but that she knows her home, love and main food source are with you. Moggs certainly knows where she's best off and gets best looked after!

I agree with Mikeys suggestion too, we did something similar with the lady next door who insisted on feeding Moggs human food rather than catfood, saying she needs a special diet in her old age - it works a treat!

Good luck - let us know how you get on.

[Shortie]

Like Carlseawolf says, you're cat's still coming home so he's obviously still happy being with you (i.e. not completely put out by the kitten), but form what gather you're worried about the weight.

Can you speak to your neighbours and just explain that while it's really kind of them to care fot your cat, you're worried about his weight etc. And the only way to control it is to know he's not being fed outside of your house? I'm sure if they really care for your cat (which it sounds like they do) that they'll understand

[kirsty b]

My tom cat Puss, has about 3 homes we think!! One day a neighbour of our saw us giving him a fuss and came over and had a general chat. She was quite surprised to find out he was our cat as he had been coming to hers for grub AND letting her call him Precious!!
Reminds me of the kids book Six Dinner Sid.
Amazon.com: Six-Dinner Sid: Inga Moore: Books

[Waffler]

My tom cat Puss, has about 3 homes we think!! One day a neighbour of our saw us giving him a fuss and came over and had a general chat. She was quite surprised to find out he was our cat as he had been coming to hers for grub AND letting her call him Precious!!
Reminds me of the kids book Six Dinner Sid.
Amazon.com: Six-Dinner Sid: Inga Moore: Books

Six Dinner Sid also immediately sprang to mind for me! A great story!

I'd feel really miffed if mine were going elsewhere; I'm pretty sure they don't as they're far too scared of other people - even family and friends who they see fairly regularly.
I think the 'medication fib' is a great idea. Try it and see what happens.

We feed a local cat who we believe to be a stray (or rather he feeds himself as he lets himself in and helps himself to the food that's down for our 3!) We know that one of our neighbours also feeds him. We're fairly sure he's a stray as he's not neutered or chipped (neighbour wrestled him to the vets!) and doesn't seem to get treated for worms or fleas. Also, sometimes his coat doesn't look in great condition. We and our neighbour allow the cat to sleep in our respective houses, but she also gives him occasional flea and worm treatements and is considering getting him neutered. We laughed about it, saying if the cat does actually belong to someone, one day he'll go out in the morning and come back later minus certain body parts!!

[lynda66]

i have a what i thought was a stray come home with my cat at least twice a day, and eat and sleep, i thought he was a stray too, till i put a collar on him with a note, and my phone number ....and his irate owner rung up, cos he hadn't been coming home at night ...... once i explained, he just let himself in, she was fine, and i try to keep him out as much as possible now ....... he also visits at least 4 of the neighbours ....... they all thought he was mine as he always follows my cat round.

i think putting a collar on with a note is a good idea .... and the medication thing sounds like it will work

Lynda xx

[rainbowbrite]

thanks for all the fab advice, cats are a pain when they want to be and certainly know how to get what they want!!!

i'm defo gunna out a collar on him with the medication fib, that's a genius idea, thank you so much.

but to update you all, i went away this weekend and just had a friend come round and feed both the cats, baring in mind he is rarely home ordinarily, whilst we were away he never went out, he does love us after all. on saying that though as soon as we came home he went out again(weirdo).

also, as well as the great advice it's great to see so many cat lovers

[Shortie]

on saying that though as soon as we came home he went out again(weirdo).

Ah yes, beut he no longer has to look after theh ouse now you're back.. and he's secure in the knowledg you're back to feed him again. That's what I recon anyway

[Geo]

Ah yes, beut he no longer has to look after theh ouse now you're back.. and he's secure in the knowledg you're back to feed him again. That's what I recon anyway

Been on the pop..have we?

Geo..

[Shortie]

Lol! No, keyboard and dogs on my lap and not reading over what I typed..

Oops