Neighbour is trying to steal my cat!
Rio Fantastic
Posts: 820 Forum Member
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Hello,
So I have a two year old cat named Moses. Recently, I noticed that he had been going out more and more recently, but thought nothing of it. However, I started to panic yesterday when I hadn't seen him for two and a half days and he hadn't shown up and his food had been untouched. I drove all round my area for three hours and still Moses was nowhere to be found.
I was really getting frightened now, my heart was pounding and images of Moses run over by a car or attacked by a dog or tortured by youths were flashing through my mind. In my desperation I started going door to door round my area to ask if anyone had seen him. I had been doing this for around thirty minutes when I came to a house about two blocks away which belongs to a middle aged woman who lives alone who I've never spoken to before, although I have seen her many times.
I inquired about my cat, and she feigned innocence. However, who should I see walk through the living room behind her?? Moses!!! "Moses! There he is!!!" I said, and she apologised and said she assumed it was a stray. I noticed immediately when he was back in my arms where he belonged that his collar was gone. However, at the time I thought he might have just lost it somehow.
A couple of days later, it happened again. This time however, I knew where to look. I went back to Ms Marleybourne's house, and again she apologised and claimed that he just came through the window and she'd fed him. She also said he'd only been there an hour, which was clearly a lie as he'd been missing the best part of two days again. A little aggravated, I took Moses back and asked her to call me if it happened again.
Lo and behold, it did!!! Moses has "dissapeared" a total of SEVEN times now all in all, and every single damn time he's been there! She's even installed a cat flap for him!! The penultimate time, I had to bang on her door for thirty minutes, and she still wouldn't answer, so I waited a few minutes, then went back and shouted "Police! Open up!". Upon her answering promptly, I had to push past her and physically retrieve Moses, whilst she blathered on about how dare I enter her house, she's innocent yada yada yada. The last time, she refused to answer the door AT ALL, and it was only when I put my head through the cat flap and started calling Moses that he came to me (I know she was in as her car was there)
I'm at a loss at what to do. I tried calling 101 for the police but they said there was nothing they could do. The RSPCA said the same as she isn't actually hurting Moses. I can't believe someone can steal your cat and there's no recourse for you!! I'm fantasising of putting a brick through her window or something to show her I'm serious and make her leave my cat alone (note I probably won't do this, I'm just really exasperated and annoyed) I'm worried one day she's going to trap him in there or move house and take him with her, then I'll never see my best friend again!
Any advice would be so so appreciated!!! I'm at my wits end!
So I have a two year old cat named Moses. Recently, I noticed that he had been going out more and more recently, but thought nothing of it. However, I started to panic yesterday when I hadn't seen him for two and a half days and he hadn't shown up and his food had been untouched. I drove all round my area for three hours and still Moses was nowhere to be found.
I was really getting frightened now, my heart was pounding and images of Moses run over by a car or attacked by a dog or tortured by youths were flashing through my mind. In my desperation I started going door to door round my area to ask if anyone had seen him. I had been doing this for around thirty minutes when I came to a house about two blocks away which belongs to a middle aged woman who lives alone who I've never spoken to before, although I have seen her many times.
I inquired about my cat, and she feigned innocence. However, who should I see walk through the living room behind her?? Moses!!! "Moses! There he is!!!" I said, and she apologised and said she assumed it was a stray. I noticed immediately when he was back in my arms where he belonged that his collar was gone. However, at the time I thought he might have just lost it somehow.
A couple of days later, it happened again. This time however, I knew where to look. I went back to Ms Marleybourne's house, and again she apologised and claimed that he just came through the window and she'd fed him. She also said he'd only been there an hour, which was clearly a lie as he'd been missing the best part of two days again. A little aggravated, I took Moses back and asked her to call me if it happened again.
Lo and behold, it did!!! Moses has "dissapeared" a total of SEVEN times now all in all, and every single damn time he's been there! She's even installed a cat flap for him!! The penultimate time, I had to bang on her door for thirty minutes, and she still wouldn't answer, so I waited a few minutes, then went back and shouted "Police! Open up!". Upon her answering promptly, I had to push past her and physically retrieve Moses, whilst she blathered on about how dare I enter her house, she's innocent yada yada yada. The last time, she refused to answer the door AT ALL, and it was only when I put my head through the cat flap and started calling Moses that he came to me (I know she was in as her car was there)
I'm at a loss at what to do. I tried calling 101 for the police but they said there was nothing they could do. The RSPCA said the same as she isn't actually hurting Moses. I can't believe someone can steal your cat and there's no recourse for you!! I'm fantasising of putting a brick through her window or something to show her I'm serious and make her leave my cat alone (note I probably won't do this, I'm just really exasperated and annoyed) I'm worried one day she's going to trap him in there or move house and take him with her, then I'll never see my best friend again!
Any advice would be so so appreciated!!! I'm at my wits end!
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Comments
Is this some kind of joke? There is no damp or green lichen at my place. I keep my house immaculate, I clean for at least an hour a day. My house isn't in a state of disrepair and Moses knows that. I can't say the same for Ms Marleyborne's house. Either she was redecorating or something or she's a hoarder, based on the small amount of time I've spent there. There was boxes of random crap and dirty dishes all over the place.
Thanks for the advice, I've considered it but I don't know if I could do it to Moses, he loves going outside, exploring, jumping around, killing animals! I don't know if i could deprive him of that.
When I rescued Moses one of the times, i noticed the flap is one-way, it opens inwards but not outwards. This explained to me why Moses wasn't returning at his usual feeding time. I don't know if you read my post properly - the first time it happened I didn't jump to the conclusion of theft, but it has happenend now SEVEN times in total, and on no occasion has she contacted me. The last two times she has even refused to open the door to me at all even though she was in the house. Also, she doesn't even own a cat, but has very very recently (after Moses' "dissapearences") had a cat flap installed in her house.
Thanks for your idea about the GPS locator, but so far every time he's been missing he's been at her house. I have considered not letting him out, but as I stated above I don't know if I could inflict it on him. And I already feed him the most premium, expensive cat food I can find, when money is tight I eat value food to make sure Moses always has the best. I play with him and cuddle him literally all the time, when he isn't outside we're always together, hugging, playing, I have loads of toys for him like stuffed mice on a string and laser red dot sight and a fish mobile that he loves. I'm always holding him and playing with him and we have great conversations. I'm sure the old bat is either kidnapping him or coercing him in somehow and then not letting him back out since every time I've rescued him he's literally come sprinting over to me and jumped into my arms.
I mean really this bitch is out of order. It'd be different if she thought he was a stray and didn't know but she knows the score, what she's doing is wrong.
I have seen cat lead's about but this way your cat gets exercise and gets out and about and this bitch doesn't steal him.
For the record I have a cat and she's a house cat. I let her out when she wants which is very rare during Winter, happens more during Summer but she's happy indoors.
I think it may be because of her history-I got her from a sanctuary and her previous owner had died so she maybe feels more secure being indoors but she's happy and I let her out when she wants occasionally.
But definitely get a cat lead.
My friend has had two cats from the same litter for 13 years. They have lived quite happily all this time coming and going as they pleased but always returning to her house as 'home'
In the past few weeks one of them for no reason we can figure has decided to move in (uninvited) with neighbours up the road. They have a cat flap on account of having a cat of their own. Bo calmly lets himself in, eats their cat's food and makes himself at home. The neighbours keep bringing him back but each time he goes out he heads back up there.
I am afraid there isn't much you can do about a cat that chooses to go elsewhere except to try to make your home as appealing as possible and it sounds like you are already ticking those boxes. You could try one of these chemical 'smell' things that are supposed to make cats calm and contented. Bo's vet suggested this - hasn't worked so far.
Short of keeping Moses in, there's probably not a lot you can do.
I told her the cat has a diagnosed heart condition and needs to have regular medicine. I even put my cat in a "Do Not Feed" collar.
Worked a treat.
They should have got their own cat.
So aside from the other suggestions about keeping it in maybe try giving it a little more attention so it wants to be with you/come back to you.
That's a really good idea.
A cat I had when I was younger moved herself in with some neighbours. I was heartbroken. I don't understand how people can just take someone's pet.
Funnily enough, I have a cat that's trying to move in with me at the moment. It's a little dear, always runs over to say hello and loves a fuss. But I don't let it (him, I think) in. We have a glass door and I quite often see him sitting outside waiting patiently. I've given my bf strict instructions "don't feed him! And don't let him in!" I don't want to be that person who steals someone's cat.
Good luck with this OP. I really think the medicine bills/ regular medicines ideas are worth a go!
We had a cat who was very friendly and she was 'kidnapped' regularly by the child of one of the families in our road, who used to shut her in their house. Until the day she took a dump in their bath.... :kitty::D
What a horrible idea. Why should the cat be punished like that? You sound like a right card.