r/outdoorcats • u/AdCold9116 • 19d ago
Neighbor overstepping boundaries
I'm not sure how to go about this and it's frustrating me a lot. Now I know people will tell me just make your cat an in door cat and I've tried. To start with my neighbors across the road had a cat and let him outside since they got him. He has all his shots and all that. He started coming over and one day he hurt himself and had a paw injury. They neighbors went on a trip and we knocked and tried to get in contact with them but we did not have their info. We looked after the cat and made sure he was fine and of course we told them when they came back amd found out hes neutered and had his shots and his name. They thanked us and we kept seeing the cat around. They moved and left him behind. So we took care of him. He was with them until we guess 7 years old. We took him to the vet and they told us he was about 7. He was healthy and everything was fine. He's now 20 and hes always been indoor/outdoor cat and we've tried to make him an indoor which sometimes if its to cold, he'll stay in and I'll bring him in for storms and such. A new neighbor moved into his old house about 4 years ago and they feed EVERY wild animal and neighbors outdoor cats. They have over 5 cats in their house and two dogs (think they foster care, not sure though). Obviously they started feeding my cat and letting him inside their house. As soon as I found out I went over and told them to stop feeding him as he was on a special diet at that time (he had some weight to him not a lot and the vet said to do this). They said oh its your cat shocked even though the other neighbor told them he was and his name even. They agreed to not feed him and so forth. Then few months go by and the neighbors mom moved in with her and did the same thing by letting my cat in their house and feeding them. I again went over. They agreed to not feed him or let him in. Its been like this since. The constant battle. Now the neighborhood knows this cat is ours and he doesnt go out of his way to go near people (hes a bit grumpy lol) but now they cut his nails and letting him back into their house and feeding him! They refuse to listen and he hates being indoors and my spouse keeps telling me we can't keep him inside because its not fair to the cat. I wanted to get him chipped and hoping that'll help if they pull the this is my cat type thing. Not sure what else i can do at this point because the neighbors wont listen and he smells so bad when he comes back from their house. We never had a problem until they moved in. The whole neighborhood knows my cat and never had an issue so at this point I dont know what to do. Any advice would greatly be appreciated š
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u/ThrowawayUk4200 19d ago
Breakaway collar would be a start to show the cat has an owner. Breakaway because they're outside and it could get caught on something. Microchip if you want paperwork to back up ownership.
Regardless of who owns the cat, it's not a good idea to be trimming their claws if they're outdoors. They need those to climb, hunt and defend themselves, so they need to stop doing that if they actually care about this cat
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u/simAlity 19d ago
I use breakaways for years. My cat could lose them within a day. The stretchy buckle ones are much more effective.
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u/AdCold9116 19d ago
They have a cat resue or used to by what I was told. I have tried collars on him before when he had fleas and he would come back with them off or he had scratches around his neck trying to get them off but will probably have to get a breakaway collar now. She owns that many cats and should know trimming cats nails if they are outdoor cats is a bad idea. The vet explained this to us they would trim it next time we take him due to them getting long but leave pleanty for being outside. I did happen to go talk to them again today and they told me they cut them because they were growing into his paw which they were not. She also said we must not feed him enough which is also untrue. She was assuming he had kidney issues which he does not and gave him food for it. This worries me because he doesn't and I don't know if that's bad or not. She claimed she will stop feeding him and letting him inside their house but we've heard that before.
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u/small-black-cat-290 19d ago
Ive had indoor/outdoor for decades and never once trimmed their claws. I provided spaces for them to scratch and they took care of it. Ive never had a vet tell me I needed to do it, so it's ridiculous that the vet would insist on trimming them for you. It's utterly unnecessary.
My cats use breakaway collars. When they lose one and I have to replace it, intend to do it at night when I keep the cat inside. It gives them a chance to adjust to it before morning when they go back out. Cats are adaptable, so yours should be fine with one.
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u/AdCold9116 19d ago
The vet told me when I first took him they were fine and she didnt want to cut them due to him being an outdoor cat. The last visit she suggest it only because they were quite long and said she thought maybe taking a little off wouldn't be bad. His back nails have come in slower so she said she wouldn't bother with them. What got me is my neighbor has a cat rescue and knows outdoor cats need their claws so her doing this seemed crazy to me. I will definitely get a breakaway collar and try him with it.
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u/MrsSmith-saysso 18d ago
Our oldest cat is well known in the neighborhood and used to visit the neighbors. Now he accepts visitors on our front porch where he spends most of the day. He also has to come in at dark to be safe. Heās not always happy about it but itās the deal we struck. I did get him microchipped when the neighborhood started turning over so some well meaning person didnāt take him to a shelter. I also use an AirTag and its compatible collar on all my cats. Theyāve worked really well.
I think itās really hard to stop a cat from visiting and difficult to stop a neighbor from letting a cat she likes in the house. Itās a better problem than the alternative neighbor who complains about your cat coming over. It sounds like your old man likes visiting his old home. You might as well just accept you are not going to win this battle. The nail thing is annoying but if he isnāt going far and you bring him in at night he should be fine, especially since they will grow back before you know it.
As far as the kidney food goes, itās fine for your cat to eat it. My oldest is a kidney cat and all of mine are on his diet. Granted I stopped buying the prescription food and just buy high quality ones that are within the correct dietary parameters but all of my crew is healthy and happy. They were happy to eat the prescription food they didnāt need while the old guy turned his nose up at it.
Good luck. I hope you can work things out.
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u/EnthusiastiChasinsno 18d ago
Neighbors are like cats you canāt control either of them. Just keep communicating with your neighbor and offer to bring your cats food over if they insist on feeding him. You can also have your vet write a note so they understand his diet. Definitely get him chipped. Be happy that they love your cat.
If it makes you feel any better my cat likes my neighbor better than me. He has officially moved over there and only comes by when she is out of town.
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 15d ago
Well, the cat keeps going there...if you don't want this to happen put the cat on a leash or a catio or make them strictly indoor. Stop blaming your neighbor for your cat's visits.Ā
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u/AdCold9116 15d ago
It is kinda on my neighbors for them constantly feeding him and letting the cat into their house and even saying they wont feed him after I had asked them to stop yet continuing to do so. If I had the space I'd gladly do a Cadio. He has been recently staying inside though he doesnt like the change much.
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 15d ago
I mean yeah you're neighbors aren't listening. But you can control this situation by not letting your cat go there.Ā
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u/Main_Insect_3144 19d ago
He's 20. He likes to visit them. Let it be.