neighbor kitty

addiebee

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Pulled up at my condo this morning to see a brown tabby and white cat standing in my driveway. For a split second my heart went into my throat b/c I thought it was Prowler and somehow he'd gotten out of the house.

Well - it's a neighbor's indoor/outdoor cat. Don't know which one yet. He ran and hid in some bushes... but was meowing quite loudly. Nice hiding, dude! I can HEAR YOOOOOUUUU!!


I crouched down and called kitty, kitty and he came running. What a sweet little boy!!! OMG!!! Chatty- rorw, ree-owwrrr... rrrr... triiillll...rub, rub rub ... I gave him some treats and he gave me his belly.! He was in very good shape, coat, skin, body weight. Obviously someone takes care of him.

He followed me to my front door and hung around a bit, much to Rex's upset- who of all the cats- stood in the window -ears flat back, skin and tail twitching. He was defending his home turf! LOL!!! Rex- whose favorite activity is lounging. LOL!

I will get some piccies to post.

Actually it is against condo assoc. rules to let cats roam... so honestly I am not sure if I should do anything about it like put a collar on him with a note to contact me. etc.
 

kailie

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I think the collar/note is a great idea personally! Then you'll know for sure if he does belong to someone, or if someone just feeds him. Can't wait for pics!
 

otto

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Originally Posted by Kailie

I think the collar/note is a great idea personally! Then you'll know for sure if he does belong to someone, or if someone just feeds him. Can't wait for pics!


It scares me, cats who are so friendly to strangers. Anyone, some creep, some sicko, could walk off with him. I just don't know what people are thinking.
 

c1atsite

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Glad it wasn't Prowler.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

much to Rex's upset- who of all the cats- stood in the window -ears flat back, skin and tail twitching. He was defending his home turf! LOL!!! Rex- whose favorite activity is lounging. LOL!
This part made me laugh. I love it when cats act like mini lions

Does your condo have its own website? The bldg I live in has its own website. Thankfully I've never seen a roaming pet here.
 
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addiebee

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Condo complex does NOT have a web site.

Oh he belongs to someone alright. My next door neighbor said his wife saw someone across the way - back behind us - let the cat out.

Yes it scares me too, because he is not afraid. I was able to pick him up and cuddle him, though he wanted DOWN after a couple of mins. There is another "complex" cat who runs if you try to approach or talk to it.

He came by tonight, too. I gave him a few more treats and sat on the stoop with him. He put his front paws on my knee, I leaned in and he rubbed my face and kissed my hand!


Again, the boys were NOT happy to have him there. Rex, at the door, ears back, rrrrr'ing, twitching. Little fella - what I call him.. hissed a couple of times and then sat on my door mat to clean himself! Cheeky!!


If he knows that he can get food from me, he will be back.

Both times he ate like he hadn't been fed in ages, but he's a good body weight so he hasn't missed meals. I think I will keep earning his trust and then put a breakaway collar on him... or try to catch the neighbor's wife and see if she can point to the condo she saw him come out of.

ETA: what I may do is call the mgt company and say I see cats roaming and I know it's against the rules. Perhaps the condo assoc. can send out a reminder to residents about the rules.
 

mystik spiral

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Let me tell you a story...

I saw a black kitty outside my condo building one day a couple years ago. He was SO friendly, and let me just come up and give him scritches. I didn't know who he belonged to, and I really wanted to take him in, but that was in my pre-cat-owning days... So I went up to my place and decided that if he was out there after I'd decompressed for a few minutes (after work) that I would take him in. I had all these thoughts... should I take him to a shelter? Should I run to PetCo and get the necessities so I can keep him?

Well, he wasn't out there when I went back down. I've since found out he belongs to my neighbors in the next building - they have a couple cats they let roam outside. It makes me nervous, because there is a big parking lot and a major street right outside my condo (and you know people, there is always the idiot who tears through the parking lot way too fast...
).

Anyway, short story long, it was that black boy that got me hankering to adopt a cat (especially a black one!). Two weeks later, Holland was with me in her forever home.
 

strange_wings

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My neighbors let their cats roam outside, two of which are declawed. I don't know if the third persian mix is, but he does have some of the worst crossed blue eyes I have every seen.
The two declawed seal points are very friendly and often if they're not home they're on my deck - especially Blue.
I'm not worried about other neighbors harming them, I actually do live in a fairly nice neighborhood with a lot of pet owners - for the most part cats are altered if I see them and dogs are kept up.
At least if they're hanging out in my yard I know the bigger one, Gizmo, isn't sleeping on top of anyone's vehicle (he has a bad habit of this), we don't get mad about it but some people might.

You could try the collar, or even making a temporary paper collar and tape it on him.
 
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addiebee

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BTW - at least this kitty is neutered! I would be much, much more upset if he was still intact.
 
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addiebee

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Found out the general area where the cat is coming from and got more info from a neighbor. Some ditzy lady and her teenage children... have or had a dog, too, that wasn't well taken care of and was out running around.

I think that cat is left out all day. It didn't look like anyone was home. I guess this woman and her kids violate the condo rules all the time ....

I am going to call the mgt company and express my concerns about this cat running loose.

He came by today. Tho' he is at a good body weight, he seems starving all the time, gobbled up some treats that I gave him, rubbed on me some more, gave kisses and snoozed a bit on my patio.

I have pics and will post them in pics and vids later.

I got the impression that this cat's owners don't understand that leaving the kitty out all day and maybe all night is neglect in the legal sense of the word.

I also set out a dish of water for him in one of the few shady spots on my porch.

He also tried to come in a few times. Can't have that. Don't know his health and vax status.
 

dave_ph

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"I am going to call the mgt company and express my concerns about this cat running loose"

That might not be good for the kitty.
 

mystik spiral

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Is there any chance you could talk to the owner? I agree with Dave that calling condo mgmt may not be the best thing for the poor little guy. I know that there is little likelihood that you will change someone's mind with one conversation - I just think there are a LOT of people who believe that cats are "hands-off" pets, that you can leave them alone and they're perfectly happy. My family doesn't understand why I refuse to leave Holland home alone for more than a couple days...


I hope things work out well for him, and I'm looking forward to seeing pictures!
 
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addiebee

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Ah, I already sent an email to the manager. I don't think me talking to these people will make a difference based on what the other neighbor said. They left the aforementioned dog out all day and night in all types of weather with no shelter from the heat, rain, etc and no food, water. Until the neighbor called animal control. Then they took the dog inside. It still gets away on occasion... totally untrained animal.

This is what I said in the email. Hope this guy gets it:

Lately I have been seeing a little brown striped and white cat around the area. I did some checking and I believe this cat belongs to people who live in XXXXXXXXXXXXX.

I know it is against condo assoc. rules to let him run loose. That is at a minimum. But my concerns go much deeper than that. I am an animal lover and volunteer with animal rescue. I am worried that this cat- who is very sweet and not afraid of people - will get hurt or killed roaming around. I have seen him in the morning and in the evening when I come and go. I suspect he is let out and out ALL DAY.

From an animal welfare standpoint, this is neglect. I am also concerned that he might start catching and killing birds (chipmunks are ok, ha, ha)!

I am also worried that someone less caring than me might get ahold of him. Even after just a few minutes I was able to pick him up. He followed me home and has tried several times to get in to my condo when I open the front door. Someone suggested he is looking for a better place to live.


If I call Animal Control and he goes to the county shelter, he will likely be put down they are so overcrowded.

Is there anything that can be done, such as talk to the owners of the cat or the owners of the condo, as I understand the unit is rented?


If you wish to speak with me, best to try my cell ......


I send a second email with this added:
Mr. Kelley - I forgot to add to my first email that I would be willing to work with these people to transition this cat to an indoor kitty. Some people think it's ok the let a cat roam outside. It is not. So first there is a mindset change. Then there are things that can be done to improve the situation.

Thank you.


Honestly - I am loathe to approach these people. Worse comes to worse, I will take the cat and rehome it. If he is on my property, comes inside my courtyard I would be within my rights.
 

mystik spiral

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I think your e-mail is great. I hope the manager is an animal lover too! That was very kind of you to offer to help the owner convert him to an indoor cat.


ETA - just saw the pics & video... what a handsome boy!!
 

dave_ph

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This is sort of how I adopted my first kittty. She's a really friendly Ragdoll I had seen in troducing herself to people at a garage sale and wandering about for a few days. Then I was outside cutting away some vegatation with a chainsaw. When I put it down she wandered over, put her paws up on my knee, meowed and started purring when I started to pet her.

It turned out a neighbor was letting her out because she didn't get along with another cat (she was planning to breed Raggies) and her husband didn't like Fay. I ended up adopting her from them and later found out that her next stop would have been the shelter. Maybe she knew that and was auditioning new servants.

I'm sure your kitty would adjust to a new playmate.
 
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addiebee

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Originally Posted by Dave_PH

Just saw the pics and video. Sweet cat. A find. I'm just sayin'
Oh he is sugar sweet. Gave me major headbumps, climbed into my lap and rubbed my face. I think he is lonely. He came over to me and was acting this way BEFORE I gave him treats. I could not keep him. I would have to rehome him. I have a house full and actually I am breaking condo rules by having more than one. But they are not running loose.

BTW - your story about Fay was very sweet!
 

d3sire86

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We have a cat like that on my street. A calico girl that I call 'Callie'. She is outside all day. Super friendly too! When she sees my car pull up she comes running and will lay down on the driveway, roll around and want her belly rubbed. I have seen her hanging out with some of the other neighbors as well. I am not sure which house she officially lives in but she is definitley well fed. I know that there are risks with letting your cat roam but I think it is a personal decision and 'Callie' appears happy enough.

I would put a collar on this kitty with your telephone number. I am sure that his humans will call at least out of curiosity. I would explain your concerns without sounding too judgmental. Maybe after being educated on the subject they might decide to keep him inside. If they still let him roam I would let it be.... since he is being fed and treated well (him being so friendly makes me think that he isn't being abused)... there are so many cats in shelters and in need of homes that it seems a bit unnecessary to re-home a cat that has a home, is being fed and taken care of, even if he is being let outdoors... Just my opinion of course... I just can't imagine how I would feel if one of mine got out and someone decided to keep them or re-home them thinking that they would be better off.
 
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addiebee

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Originally Posted by d3sire86

We have a cat like that on my street. A calico girl that I call 'Callie'. She is outside all day. Super friendly too! When she sees my car pull up she comes running and will lay down on the driveway, roll around and want her belly rubbed. I have seen her hanging out with some of the other neighbors as well. I am not sure which house she officially lives in but she is definitley well fed. I know that there are risks with letting your cat roam but I think it is a personal decision and 'Callie' appears happy enough.

I would put a collar on this kitty with your telephone number. I am sure that his humans will call at least out of curiosity. I would explain your concerns without sounding too judgmental. Maybe after being educated on the subject they might decide to keep him inside. If they still let him roam I would let it be.... since he is being fed and treated well (him being so friendly makes me think that he isn't being abused)... there are so many cats in shelters and in need of homes that it seems a bit unnecessary to re-home a cat that has a home, is being fed and taken care of, even if he is being let outdoors... Just my opinion of course... I just can't imagine how I would feel if one of mine got out and someone decided to keep them or re-home them thinking that they would be better off.
It is not a "personal" decision. It is against condo association rules to let companion animals roam like that. So, it isn't just the dangers posed to this cat. This kind of thing pisses people off. Some people may not look at it as benevolently as me. Get it? I want the condo manager to speak to the people first. If you read all the posts - you see where I offer to help them (cat's owners) convert him into an indoor-only cat.
 
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