neighbours feeding cats

carolina · Mar 4, 2010

Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

thanks.. i knew i would get these responces, and as i might of said before keeping them indoors isnt an option, i tried this.. they wasnt very happy.

I am sorry to annoy you... But can I ask you for how long you tried?
I used to take both Bugsy and Lucky outside, to the garden, supervised, and for different reasons I decided not to anymore... For a while they were unhappy... Scratching the door, whining, meowing at the door for a long time several times a day... Bolting through the door every time I came in/out... They did this for a while, I would say well over a month... But I just ignored the behavior, and gave them things to do - put a cat wall on, window sills, and so on.
With time, sure enough, they stopped doing that, and today they are completely happy being 100% inside cats. The thing is, I didn't give in. There were times it was extremely annoying... They whined like they were suffering!

IMO, they will be unhappy at first, but they will get used to it, and will be happy inside. I am pretty sure of it. I have a little stray/feral, and two that I used to take outside everyday - they do not miss it at all. They complained a lot and sure they made me know they were unhappy - but now I KNOW for a FACT they are completely happy inside and as safe as they can possibly be...
Anyway, just a thought.

rosiemac · Mar 5, 2010

Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

i'm alot more lonely than my neighbour could ever be.. thanks though, i can see where your all coming from

Originally Posted by strange_wings

You don't know that for sure

I have to agree. If she lives on her own with no pets or family around her, the cats could be the ones that make her day, because as you've just said your cats are the ones that keep you going. I still wouldn't say anything to her either because i'd hate to upset an elderly person who obviously gets pleasure in feeding stray cats

The cats won't be happy being indoors, but you have to have patience and ride the storm with them.

yayi · Mar 5, 2010

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

If keeping your cats inside is not an option, I would talk very nicely to the neighbor (no notes or letters) and explain your reasons. I'd bring a catnip plant or some dried catnip and ask her to give this to your kitties instead of food, or ask her to give them fresh cold water when they come to her.

I've seen some cats with "do not feed me" on their collars; maybe something like that would also be a good idea.

I would focus on the fact that she is a neighbor who likes your kitties and is nice to them when they come around; not all neighbors are like that. Please don't call the authorities on someone who is being kind to your kitties - they are going to her after all.

This is great (and IMO the best) advise!

farleyv · Mar 5, 2010

I feel bad for the elderly lady. She has a good heart and now the ferals may get no food. Unless your cat has a specific food requirement, I don't see a problem here. She has every right to feed the ferals. It is not her fault your cats go over there. I don't feel it is fair of you to dictate this. If she came to your house and fed your cats, that is different.

This is a myth about outside cats not "being happy" indoors. I have ferals who have become excellent inside cats. There are days they don't even feel the need to go out in the outside enclosure.

Please revisit your decision to "talk" to this lady. If you don't want her to feed your cats, then keep them in. After all, they are on her property. You are fortunate that she is kind, there are many people who would do them harm because they are "using their garden for a potty" or killing birds.

I would feel kind of weird to ask someone not to feed my cats even though my cats are on her property. She could have been a nasty person and told you to keep your cats on your own property.

I hope this sweet woman isn't too hurt by this.

rosiemac · Mar 5, 2010

Originally Posted by farleyv

This is a myth about outside cats not "being happy" indoors.

If someone wants to see the "other" side to me, telling me that is one way to find out because it makes me sound as if i'm an irresponsible owner

Like most people with indoor cats i make sure i spend some quality playtime with them so they don't get bored. I sat last night watching the t.v. while they chased the laserpen around, and it wasn't even an effort to do it?!

GoldyCat · Mar 5, 2010

I can understand that you're upset about your neighbor feeding your cats, but I wonder if it's really such a huge problem. Are they on a special diet? Are they eating too much and getting fat? Is she taking them indoors and keeping them? In any case, it is your responsibility to control your cats' eating habits, not hers. You could just thank her for saving you some money.

I have two cats who used to do the door dash every time I opened the door, even though they had been indoor only cats all their lives. It terrified me when they got out because people don't slow down to the residential speed limit on the street in front of my house, and there are coyotes in the wash on the the other side.

I had my back patio screened in and installed a cat door into the main house so they can go out any time they want. They love to go out and watch birds or just sleep in the sun.

The best surprise was the immediate change in their behavior. They very rarely try the door dash at the front door any more, and the few times they have gotten out they just go around to the back and ask to be let in to the patio.

If you have the space to do some kind of enclosure I think that might be the best compromise for you and your kitties.

xlaydeextaniax · Mar 5, 2010

the old lady has family/neighbours over on a very regular basis.

thanks everyone, all the information you've given me has come very useful.

wellingtoncats · Mar 5, 2010

I'm an indoor/outdoor cat owner so I thought I'd chip in to the discussion too.

I live with my Mum still and we live in a 7 bedroom house with boarders - we love having the space for the cats but unfortunately cannot afford to live here with just us two. We have two senior cats who are both fixed and they are indoor/outdoor cats. Unfortunately because Mum & I both own them - she decides that they are indoor/outdoor. I know that they would both be happy being indoor though so when I get my own place, that's what they will be. I've lost 2 cats to the road and it's not a nice experience. Of course my breeding cats are all indoors and I try and argue with my Mum that if we can keep those two inside - surely we can keep two more inside?

She's one of those "but, but cats need fresh air and sun, grass" and TCS has really changed my opinion and I can see now that cats are happy indoors!

I'm so sorry about your girl

xlaydeextaniax · Mar 5, 2010

ah i forgot the other thing to mention was, this neighbour knows they are not strays so therefore has no right/need to feed them.

again thanks everybody

carolina · Mar 5, 2010

Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

ah i forgot the other thing to mention was, this neighbour knows they are not strays so therefore has no right/need to feed them.

again thanks everybody

Tania, sorry, but it is her property, she has the right to do as she wishes. Feeding cats is a nice gesture, and not a cruelty act. As many others said, if you don't want your cats to be fed, do not let them go into her property, by keeping them inside.
IMO you will have a very hard time fighting this one.

GoldyCat · Mar 5, 2010

Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

ah i forgot the other thing to mention was, this neighbour knows they are not strays so therefore has no right/need to feed them.

again thanks everybody

Maybe she thinks you are neglecting your cats or don't care about them because you leave them outside. Or she might simply like the company of the cats and feeding them is a way to keep them near her.

going nova · Mar 5, 2010

Do you have a yard, or some place where you can put an enclosure for your cats? I agree that your neighbor is in her rights to feed cats that wander onto her property.

I keep my cats indoors because when I was growing up, we had very nasty neighbors. One neighbor beat one of my cats to death, and a different neighbor (in a different location) shot one of my cats. I couldn't do anything about it, because I didn't know who did it (also, because I was a kid and didn't know what I could do about it). I get so angry when I remember what happened to them. I think, "if only we had kept them indoors..." but there's nothing I can do to fix what happened to my poor cats.

Indoors is safer, and there's a lot you can do to make it fun for them. We have a cat tree, and a window perch, a drinking fountain, scratching posts, a kitty bed, a kitty tent, a toy box, cat grass, and other pets that they like to look at.

yayi · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by GoldyCat

Maybe she thinks you are neglecting your cats or don't care about them because you leave them outside.

As an owner of indoor/outdoor cats, I find this thinking unfair and arrogant. I believe this lady is just being kind to animals. That is all.

esrgirl · Mar 6, 2010

plus, as others have mentioned- it's her property! You could try talking with her.. I like the catnip plant idea. If she's nice enough to feed neighborhood cats she probably isn't some mean old woman.

GoldyCat · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by yayi

As an owner of indoor/outdoor cats, I find this thinking unfair and arrogant. I believe this lady is just being kind to animals. That is all.

I did not say that I think this way, only suggested it as another possible reason that the neighbor might be feeding the cats. Without actually talking to her there is no way to know her reasons.

ruthyb · Mar 6, 2010

No matter what she definetely should not be feeding your cat though if you ask her not to and this is from RSPCA advice, as I said my friend had this problem with her neighbour who is an interfearing old biddy and only fed my friends cat and she told my friend she wanted her cat and she was going t continue to feed him until he finally came to live with her, that's when my friend contacted the RSPCA for advice. They went and had a word with the lady and told her to cease feeding the cat and any other cats that she knew were peoples pets as they might have allergies and really whether people choose to have their cats indoor or outdoor, that is their perrogative and their personal choice and nobody should be condemned for this. The only reason that half of cats in this country are probably indoor is because it just is not as safe as it used to be for them outdoors.x

xlaydeextaniax · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by GoldyCat

I did not say that I think this way, only suggested it as another possible reason that the neighbor might be feeding the cats. Without actually talking to her there is no way to know her reasons.

sorry i shouldn't of put this thread on here of all places!

1 - i am still not myself due to princess dying

2 - i have spoken to her, she doesnt care that they are other peoples cats, she will feed them regardless.

3 - i am not fighting anything - so theres nothing to win

4 - again thanks all, now can this thread be closed please.

oh and 5 - sorry i dont mean to sound horrible i generally am not meaning it, i am going through a tough time in my life, not just princess dying other stuff to. i appreciate all your thoughts and comments. again thankyou.

xlaydeextaniax · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

No matter what she definetely should not be feeding your cat though if you ask her not to and this is from RSPCA advice, as I said my friend had this problem with her neighbour who is an interfearing old biddy and only fed my friends cat and she told my friend she wanted her cat and she was going t continue to feed him until he finally came to live with her, that's when my friend contacted the RSPCA for advice. They went and had a word with the lady and told her to cease feeding the cat and any other cats that she knew were peoples pets as they might have allergies and really whether people choose to have their cats indoor or outdoor, that is their perrogative and their personal choice and nobody should be condemned for this. The only reason that half of cats in this country are probably indoor is because it just is not as safe as it used to be for them outdoors.x

thankyou so much! you are the only person that has agreed with me on this subject. she is exactly that, i spoke to her she automatically knew Sparkle, Glamorous and Princess were mine. she said i feed them all anyway.

thankyou =]

ruthyb · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

thankyou so much! you are the only person that has agreed with me on this subject. she is exactly that, i spoke to her she automatically knew Sparkle, Glamorous and Princess were mine. she said i feed them all anyway.

thankyou =]

Your welcome hun, I still stick by my words and I say contact the RSPCA, people think that automatically because its an old lady she is lonely/sad/wants to help. Well I can tell you when the RSPCA approached my friend 84 year old neighbour she told them to %$^$ off and she would keep on feeding peoples cats if she wanted to. The RSPCA lady kindly informed her then that if she wanted to do this carry on and that it is people like her that do this then end up adopting goodness how manycats as they stay with the feeder, then it gets too much to cope with, or the person passes away and then unfortunately the cats are often put in shelters and even more unfortunately euthanised.The RSPCA lady told her if she were to get another report about her then action would be taken.Aftr screaming abuse at my friend the elderly lady now doesn't feed cats anymore....and has got a little dog for company!! This is a big problem over here and I think alot more cats in the UK are indoor/outdoor, yes we still have many risks over here for outdoor cats but not as many as some other countries. Nobody should be told off for having an outdoor cat, we all on here love our cats just the same as the next person, thats why we are members in here.Everybody has different views on every matter. xx

xlaydeextaniax · Mar 6, 2010

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

Your welcome hun, I still stick by my words and I say contact the RSPCA, people think that automatically because its an old lady she is lonely/sad/wants to help. Well I can tell you when the RSPCA approached my friend 84 year old neighbour she told them to %$^$ off and she would keep on feeding peoples cats if she wanted to. The RSPCA lady kindly informed her then that if she wanted to do this carry on and that it is people like her that do this then end up adopting goodness how manycats as they stay with the feeder, then it gets too much to cope with, or the person passes away and then unfortunately the cats are often put in shelters and even more unfortunately euthanised.The RSPCA lady told her if she were to get another report about her then action would be taken.Aftr screaming abuse at my friend the elderly lady now doesn't feed cats anymore....and has got a little dog for company!! This is a big problem over here and I think alot more cats in the UK are indoor/outdoor, yes we still have many risks over here for outdoor cats but not as many as some other countries. Nobody should be told off for having an outdoor cat, we all on here love our cats just the same as the next person, thats why we are members in here.Everybody has different views on every matter. xx

yeah i was beginning to think i was a bad owner. i know, there are loads of people i know that have cats and they are indoor/outdoor. i love my angels with all my heart, and my reason for not having an outdoor enclosure is because i dont have the room. i will speak to the RSPCA then, that certainly gives me peace of mind knowing that i can stop her doing it. and what you said about people assuming that just because shes an old lady shes nice. yeah she may well look like she is because she is feeding them, but when she knows they have owners who feed and love them very much, she shouldnt do, and yet said she will regardless, she even feeds the neighbours kitty next to me.

and she invites them onto her property, not they go onto hers. they only do now because she kept on inviting them in the first place, and having them sleep on her bed which i got really upset over.

thankyou again hun =]

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