WHY do people insist on feeding OTHER PEOPLE'S cats? I have a beautiful 13-year-old tuxedo kitty who has been with me for 11 years. He was an outdoor cat before I got him, and I was never able to convince him to give up the great outdoors... and with 3 children running in and out of the house all day, I have by now given up trying; that choice is entirely up to him. He is also amazing at being able to get rid of his collar... I've spent a small fortune on collars and tags for this boy over the years, so of course I keep his microchip information up to date and have it scanned every time we go to the vet to make sure it's still scannable and hasn't become dislodged.
Anyway.
Every so often, despite the fact that he is clearly well-cared-for, some... well-meaning person (not what I wanted to say, LOL!)... around the neighborhood will start feeding him. It's usually someone who just moved in, because everyone else in a 4-block radius knows that's my cat. Cats are fickle. Frankly, Sol is very bright for a cat but if someone else offers him food, and it's different food from what he normally has at home, odds are he'll take it. He's especially a sucker for fish and ham. So then these compulsive cat-feeders apparently go, "Oh, look, he's hungry!" and they keep on feeding him, and pretty soon he's coming around for more treats and letting them pet him, and then they move it up to the next step... luring him into their house, and keeping him overnight.
THIS, my friends, really pisses me off. Who does this? Just because he's WILLING to eat your food and spend the night does NOT make him a homeless cat! And then I have to track them down, either by knocking on doors or by putting up posters, until they let MY cat (who is healthy and microchipped!) out of their house so he can come home.
THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.
One time he was missing for a week and my daughters were beside themselves with worry, and cried themselves to sleep every night until he came home. When he finally did (sans collar, sigh) I put a brand-new collar on him, with a tag that said "stop stealing my cat" and I got a phone call the next day from someone who claimed they thought he was "homeless". Yeah, right. Every neighbor around knows him, he's plump, sleek, and glossy, and he comes right up for pets and then leaves. Just like a stray cat, right?
One time he came home with a strange collar and a note taped on it that said "does this cat have a home? If not I'd like to help him find one, call 555-1212".
Ummmm... NO. I do not feel the need to telephone strangers to inform them that they cannot have my cat. I HAVE GIVEN HIM A PERFECTLY SUITABLE HOME FOR 11 YEARS. They are freaks who feed other people's cats. I don't want to talk to them! I put a new collar on him, once again, with a tag. (I keep extras on hand, because he is SO good at getting out of them!) You would think it would end there, but I got a call from the lady who had been feeding him, trying to insinuate that, because he liked her food, I must not be taking adequate care of him.
I had to go to her house (with my daughters!) and pick him up in person. She was... um... pretty interesting. Sigh.
Completely unhello.
He's getting on in age and I need to be careful about what he eats so he can stay healthy. LORD only knows what they're feeding him, what with their horribly misguided notions. Probably canned tuna. I feel like anyone who really knows cats and has experience with them would not mistake a well-fed indoor/outdoor cat for a stray or start feeding someone else's cat, so I am concerned about how much these people know... and what if someone shuts him up inside and then moves away with him? I wish I could just keep him in! I've tried many times, but the longer I keep him inside the more determined he becomes to get out... I know, for that reason, that he'll always come home to me, as long as nobody takes him out of the neighborhood.
Sorry for the long vent, this is just freaking me out! I've been in this neighborhood for six years, and the last time he went missing I put up posters and got supportive calls from a lot of neighbors saying they know him well and would keep their eye out for him. He is gone again and I am pretty sure the same lady, two blocks away, has him. I am SO dreading going to pick him up and dealing with her again!
Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on how to discourage it? I don't think it would be a problem if I could only keep him from losing his collar, or keep him inside entirely, but... so far... those seem to be impossible dreams!
Anyway.
Every so often, despite the fact that he is clearly well-cared-for, some... well-meaning person (not what I wanted to say, LOL!)... around the neighborhood will start feeding him. It's usually someone who just moved in, because everyone else in a 4-block radius knows that's my cat. Cats are fickle. Frankly, Sol is very bright for a cat but if someone else offers him food, and it's different food from what he normally has at home, odds are he'll take it. He's especially a sucker for fish and ham. So then these compulsive cat-feeders apparently go, "Oh, look, he's hungry!" and they keep on feeding him, and pretty soon he's coming around for more treats and letting them pet him, and then they move it up to the next step... luring him into their house, and keeping him overnight.
THIS, my friends, really pisses me off. Who does this? Just because he's WILLING to eat your food and spend the night does NOT make him a homeless cat! And then I have to track them down, either by knocking on doors or by putting up posters, until they let MY cat (who is healthy and microchipped!) out of their house so he can come home.
THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.
One time he was missing for a week and my daughters were beside themselves with worry, and cried themselves to sleep every night until he came home. When he finally did (sans collar, sigh) I put a brand-new collar on him, with a tag that said "stop stealing my cat" and I got a phone call the next day from someone who claimed they thought he was "homeless". Yeah, right. Every neighbor around knows him, he's plump, sleek, and glossy, and he comes right up for pets and then leaves. Just like a stray cat, right?
One time he came home with a strange collar and a note taped on it that said "does this cat have a home? If not I'd like to help him find one, call 555-1212".
Ummmm... NO. I do not feel the need to telephone strangers to inform them that they cannot have my cat. I HAVE GIVEN HIM A PERFECTLY SUITABLE HOME FOR 11 YEARS. They are freaks who feed other people's cats. I don't want to talk to them! I put a new collar on him, once again, with a tag. (I keep extras on hand, because he is SO good at getting out of them!) You would think it would end there, but I got a call from the lady who had been feeding him, trying to insinuate that, because he liked her food, I must not be taking adequate care of him.
Completely unhello.
He's getting on in age and I need to be careful about what he eats so he can stay healthy. LORD only knows what they're feeding him, what with their horribly misguided notions. Probably canned tuna. I feel like anyone who really knows cats and has experience with them would not mistake a well-fed indoor/outdoor cat for a stray or start feeding someone else's cat, so I am concerned about how much these people know... and what if someone shuts him up inside and then moves away with him? I wish I could just keep him in! I've tried many times, but the longer I keep him inside the more determined he becomes to get out... I know, for that reason, that he'll always come home to me, as long as nobody takes him out of the neighborhood.
Sorry for the long vent, this is just freaking me out! I've been in this neighborhood for six years, and the last time he went missing I put up posters and got supportive calls from a lot of neighbors saying they know him well and would keep their eye out for him. He is gone again and I am pretty sure the same lady, two blocks away, has him. I am SO dreading going to pick him up and dealing with her again!
Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on how to discourage it? I don't think it would be a problem if I could only keep him from losing his collar, or keep him inside entirely, but... so far... those seem to be impossible dreams!
