[Anaesthesia]

So, we moved in the last few months to a new house. A couple of months after we moved in, while it was still nice enough to sit outside in the evening, we started to be visited by a very cute cat. We fed her a few BBQ scraps, and she was only an occasional visitor.

When it got a bit too cold for outside, she'd turn up at our back door about once a week or so, I actually bought some cat food for if she called again.

Recently she has been showing up every day wanting feeding, and literally tries to dive in through the back door the second I open it when I get in from work. This is annoying because I smoke, and usually want one once I'm home One day I left the very top half-window a fraction open as I wanted a cig but didn't feel like opening the door to her...she must have gone through an amazing series of leaps and bounds, but she got through it and landed in my kitchen sink!

How do I know if she is just greedy and does actually belong to someone? She wears no collar, and when I feed her, she seems absolutely ravenous. She's not fat, she's not skinny...

I'm asking really not just because it's annoying, and if I wanted the encumbrance of a pet, I'd get one, but because I'm going on holiday next week for 2 1/2 weeks and I'm fretting about whether she'll be ok if I'm not there to help her out if she needs it

Can someone that understands cats a little better than I help please?

[Jay.]

I'd put a collar on the cat with a little note saying 'Is this your cat, please call (your number)'

then you can talk to the owner, if they have one.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Jay.

I'd put a collar on the cat with a little note saying 'Is this your cat, please call (your number)'

then you can talk to the owner, if they have one.

That's so funny... I was just about to say that. I did this when I lived in London and a cat started visiting and eating my cats' food. I put a collar on him with a note stapled on (safely of course). I had a call from a lovely woman, turned out the cat was a very much loved family pet.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

So, we moved in the last few months to a new house. A couple of months after we moved in, while it was still nice enough to sit outside in the evening, we started to be visited by a very cute cat. We fed her a few BBQ scraps, and she was only an occasional visitor.

When it got a bit too cold for outside, she'd turn up at our back door about once a week or so, I actually bought some cat food for if she called again.

Recently she has been showing up every day wanting feeding, and literally tries to dive in through the back door the second I open it when I get in from work. This is annoying because I smoke, and usually want one once I'm home One day I left the very top half-window a fraction open as I wanted a cig but didn't feel like opening the door to her...she must have gone through an amazing series of leaps and bounds, but she got through it and landed in my kitchen sink!

How do I know if she is just greedy and does actually belong to someone? She wears no collar, and when I feed her, she seems absolutely ravenous. She's not fat, she's not skinny...

I'm asking really not just because it's annoying, and if I wanted the encumbrance of a pet, I'd get one, but because I'm going on holiday next week for 2 1/2 weeks and I'm fretting about whether she'll be ok if I'm not there to help her out if she needs it

Can someone that understands cats a little better than I help please?

Cats are very resolute and ingenious creatures - far more than dogs - and I'm sure that whether she does belong to someone and is just being greedy, or is genuinely a 'stray', that she will find somewhere else to get what she wants just as ingeniously as she has done from you, should you go away.

I honestly wouldn't worry too much Anaesthesia, look how determined she's been with you.

[Anaesthesia]

Bless all of you lovely people. I think I'll do the collar idea when I'm back, and Kirk, you are so right. If she can manipulate me, she can manipulate anyone else.

Thank you, love you

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Bless all of you lovely people. I think I'll do the collar idea when I'm back, and Kirk, you are so right. If she can manipulate me, she can manipulate anyone else.

Thank you, love you

I'm sure she will be fine. Cats can get food themselves.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Bless all of you lovely people. I think I'll do the collar idea when I'm back, and Kirk, you are so right. If she can manipulate me, she can manipulate anyone else.

Thank you, love you

No prob Anaesthesia - I know where to come now though for a freebie meal and a bit of petting from a 'softie'.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I'm sure she will be fine. Cats can get food themselves.

Pretty much this. I mean, she must have been getting fed from somewhere before she discovered you are willing to do it

[Ammi]

...(and wherever you're going on holiday..)..have a lovely time Anaesthesia....

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

No prob Anaesthesia - I know where to come now though for a freebie meal and a bit of petting from a 'softie'.

Pfft. I'm hard as nails. I am a bloody good cook though

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Pfft. I'm hard as nails. I am a bloody good cook though

AND you smoke - so I can tap a fag as well.

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...(and wherever you're going on holiday..)..have a lovely time Anaesthesia....

Love you Ammi...I'm off to Nicaragua!

[Vicky.]

I remember when I was a kid, one of our neighbors started spoiling our cat with chicken and such all of the time. Eventually the cat started going in her house rather than just wandering into the yard. And the neighbour from that day on kept it as a housecat I am nearly certain that was the plan all along.

I was about 10...I wanted to kill her.

My mum said cats aren't owned by anyone really, they chose where they live..so there wasn't realistically anything we could do about it. But she was quite literally kidnapped?! I never ever saw her outside from that day on but she was always in the window looking a bit sad

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I remember when I was a kid, one of our neighbors started spoiling our cat with chicken and such all of the time. Eventually the cat started going in her house rather than just wandering into the yard. And the neighbour from that day on kept it as a housecat I am nearly certain that was the plan all along.

I was about 10...I wanted to kill her.

My mum said cats aren't owned by anyone really, they chose where they live..so there wasn't realistically anything we could do about it. But she was quite literally kidnapped?! I never ever saw her outside from that day on but she was always in the window looking a bit sad

That's awful. The conniving bitch.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Love you Ammi...I'm off to Nicaragua!

...oh wow, somewhere pretty boring then....that sounds like a once in a lifetime, type trip..are you travelling while you're there or staying in one place...

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I remember when I was a kid, one of our neighbors started spoiling our cat with chicken and such all of the time. Eventually the cat started going in her house rather than just wandering into the yard. And the neighbour from that day on kept it as a housecat I am nearly certain that was the plan all along.

I was about 10...I wanted to kill her.

My mum said cats aren't owned by anyone really, they chose where they live..so there wasn't realistically anything we could do about it. But she was quite literally kidnapped?! I never ever saw her outside from that day on but she was always in the window looking a bit sad

Oh that's horrible! See, I don't want to be the person that does that.

[LeatherTrumpet]

lots of cats have 2 people who feed them, it is quite common, they are not daft.

cant you just be nice to it and give it food now and then, its not too much of a bother surely

I think you are lucky

[Vicky.]

Don't steal the cat and you should be ok

Nah but seriously, do not worry about the cat. Even if it has no owner it will be fine foodwise.

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...oh wow, somewhere pretty boring then....that sounds like a once in a lifetime, type trip..are you travelling while you're there or staying in one place...

Oh, we always travel Never ever done package holidays, the experience we get through kicking in with everyone is second to none. I am fluent in Spanish, so that's an advantage.

And one week to go, and we have booked only our first night in Managua! We will let it play how it plays

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

lots of cats have 2 people who feed them, it is quite common, they are not daft.

cant you just be nice to it and give it food now and then, its not too much of a bother surely

I think you are lucky

Yeah, we are feeding her. It's just when she barges in, and I was worrying about her not having food while we're away.

I think I'm lucky too, wherever I go, I pick up a cat apparently

[Vicky.]

I cannot hear/read the word Nicaragua without having Beavis high on coffee rambling on about teepee for his bunghole.. in my head.

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Don't steal the cat and you should be ok

Nah but seriously, do not worry about the cat. Even if it has no owner it will be fine foodwise.

Thank you <3

[Anaesthesia]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I cannot hear/read the word Nicaragua without having Beavis high on coffee rambling on about teepee for his bunghole.. in my head.

Oh damn you. Now you've made me remember that too

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Yeah, we are feeding her. It's just when she barges in, and I was worrying about her not having food while we're away.

I think I'm lucky too, wherever I go, I pick up a cat apparently

No it will have an owner and or another house who feeds it. Go on hols and dont worry. They catch food to eat too so they never starve

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Anaesthesia

Oh, we always travel Never ever done package holidays, the experience we get through kicking in with everyone is second to none. I am fluent in Spanish, so that's an advantage.

And one week to go, and we have booked only our first night in Managua! We will let it play how it plays

..ahhh, that must make the feeling so much more exciting for you, that you'll just see where it takes you when you get there..and a great way to absorb a country because you can take recommendations from local people and then off you go..and a perfect way to unwind just before the Christmas madness, so you'll be totally chilled and relaxed when you get back...I really hope that it fills all of your expectations and that you have an amazing visit..oh and we have a scenery thread in General Interest's section, so it would be lovely to see some photos when you get back, if you'd like to share them with us...

..you take care and most of all, enjoy every moment......