neighbours cat has adopted me, it lives outside, what shall i do?
By graceandowen
@graceandowen (1637)
April 20, 2008 2:28pm CST
hi all, last night my neighbours cat came in thru my open window, he is absolutly lovely and my daughter has fallen in love with him. He really made himself at home, i fed him and we gave him lots of cuddles, it was hard but i had to turn him out as he belongs to my neigbour, even tho she prob wouldnt notice he was gone as he sleeps in the garage and hardly oes in the house.
My daughter is in a right state she wants to keep him, i would love to but at the end of the day he isnt ours.
what would you do???
3 people like this
11 responses
@kezabelle (2974)
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20 Apr 08
Aww poor Grace id do what you did and turn him out again huni even though it would upset my two aswell you could be really cheeky and your neighbour if he can live with you now as grace has fallen in love with him, thats super cheeky though and im not sure id have enough courage hehe
1 person likes this
@graceandowen (1637)
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20 Apr 08
i no hunni, im gonna tell her when i see her next that he has been coming in a lot and that i have been giving him some food and that i hope she doesnt mind, you never know she may give him to me lol
1 person likes this
@MichaelJay (1100)
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21 Apr 08
Why not talk to the neighbour and explain the situation? If they really don't care about the cat, they wouldn't mind, it might be a problem off their mind.
All cats are different. My cat Percy, despite being about 13 years old, loves to go out and wouldn't stay in if we tried to kep him in, even in winter bad weather.
Folks seeing him out and about might think we don't care, but really, it's his chopice.
They say you don't 'own' a cat, it chooses to live with you.
Many cats divide their time and attention between several 'homes' so maybe that's a solution too?
@plumwish07 (4057)
• Indonesia
21 Apr 08
in my opinion, you should go to your neighbor and asked about this cat. tell your neighbor about their cat and the treatment that you gave to this cat so far. telling them too about your daughter wishing that she wants to keep this cat. i believe when you talk with your neighbor very well, they will understand and perhaps will give this cat for your daughter's pet
@graceandowen (1637)
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21 Apr 08
thanks for your reply, i am going to have a chat with my neighbour and if she is up for letting us have the cat then that is great, if not he is always welcome over for a visit and pleanty of cuddles and treats.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Awwwwwwww poor guy. He just wants to be in the house and get lots of attention. That's what he's craving is the attention that he's not getting at your neighbor's house. I dunno, might just keep him if he kept coming over and wanting in the house. Definately say something to the neighbor about their cat coming over and that you guys really want him. Neighbor might just give him to you.
@shizuoka (352)
• United States
21 Apr 08
You know, cats are prone to adopt their people. My cat Boo lived happily with me for 14 years, but he wasn't originally mine. He belonged to a neighbor of mine in an apartment building. Every evening when I came home from work he would meet me on the stairs, rub against my ankles until I picked him up, and purr and purr when I did.
He was a little, all-black ball of fur and I loved him! I told my neighbor one day that I loved his cat and wished I had one like him. The neighbor made some kind of not-so-sure, non-commital noises and went on his way.
One night, not too long afterward, the same neighbor brought the cat to my door late in the evening. He said, "Here's the cat if you want him. If you don't I'm taking him to the pound in the morning." Well, I took him quick! I left him with my brother while I went to the store for supplies and he was my best friend for the rest of his life.
If your daughter has been chosen by this cat, ask your neighbor if she could possibly part with him. If he sleeps in the garage, I'd say there's a good chance she'll agree.
@graceandowen (1637)
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21 Apr 08
ah thanks for sharing your lovely story, that is similar to our situation at the moment, he comes and sits on the windowsill and the first sign of an open window or door and he is in.
im gonna have a word with the neighbour and hope for the best, if not then she cant really stop him from coming to visit so we will just pamper him when he is here.
It breaks my heart to turn him out at night.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
21 Apr 08
well, i think you still have to return the cat to your neighbour no matter how much your children love it... otherwise, your neighbour will be very upset when he/she finds out that the cat is missing... also, i try to put myself in your neighbour's position and i wouldn't want anybody to take something that they know it belongs to me... i want them to return to me when somebody find my property...
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
21 Apr 08
Hi there. If I was a cat lover and my daughter cared that much for this animal, I would go and ask the neighbor if we could keep him, especially if the thing is sleeping in the garage, he probably comes over for the attention and affection hes getting from yous. Have a great day...
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
21 Apr 08
Well I guess there is the option of buying your kid a cat of her own, true? I mean that is if you are really unable to have the cat that has made them self at home with you sometimes. It can be hard but that is why they say don't feed other people's cats. They only come back for more. Perhaps that is the solution to just not give it anything and have your own cat?
@cinderella2007 (2662)
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20 Apr 08
My mum has a new neighbour who has two kittens, my mum has acat herself. One of the kittens (called frank) loves my mums house and makes himself at home. He will come in and eat my mums cats food, sleep in the spare bedroom (which was my old room)! Since my mum has a cat flap, there isnt much she can. She doesnt mind him coming in and has told the neighbour that he comes in her house.
If I was you I would explain to the neighbour that their cat occasionally comes into your house, and had lots of cuddles of your daughter. You never know, the neighbour may tell you that you can keep the cat!!??
@graceandowen (1637)
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21 Apr 08
thanks for your reply, i am going to tell my neighbour when i see her next that he is a frequent visitor lol and keep my fingers crossed.
@cheryl1012 (8)
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21 Apr 08
Hi
well I know that cats like to come and go as they please and I don't really approve of keeping cats in the house all the time but I can never understand people such as your neighbour. They have an animal and barely have anything to do with it. Despite their independance they still need love and affection and a sofa to lie on sometimes. If I were you I'd perhaps drop the situation with the cat into the conversation with your neighbour and see what their reaction is. At worst they will want to keep the cat, in which case he can still come to your house for warmth and affection. At best they will be glad for you to take him off their hands. Like you said they probably wouldn't miss him anyway.
Good Luck !!
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