Cat Dillema....

Mouldy Bob · Post by **Mouldy Bob** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:21 pm 0

....recently been semi adopted by a long haired black & white cat (We've dubbed it Beryl for no apparent reason - the name just seemed to fit) which turns up on the doorstep about 2-3 times/week. Made the mistake?!?! of feeding it tuna & the bugger won't go away! It's not a stray (collar & healthy looking) & so is obviously someone elses pet. Is it wrong/unethical/whatever to carry on feeding it??? It's so damn cute though & is a real talker, in other words, hard to ignore! Don't want to steal it or anything, just nice to see it every now & then...

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:30 pm 0

It's pretty much a given that cats have multiple adopted homes, they're the greedy, ungrateful, disloyal whores of the pet kingdom.

If you're feeling like a Good Citizen you could see if there's an address on the collar, contact the owner and see if they mind. When I had a cat I was glad to see the back of the moody little fucker for a few days, you do worry when they've been missing for a while though of course.

stealthbanana · Post by **stealthbanana** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:33 pm 0

spray it with water when it comes, cats hate that.

zip accident · Post by **zip accident** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:35 pm 0

Mouldy Bob wrote:

Is it wrong/unethical/whatever to carry on feeding it???

Think how the owners will see matters. They would say you are attempting to steal it by feeding it. If you had a cat, and someone else started feeding that, how would you feel?

There are plenty of available cats in the cat refuges, if you really have the space to keep a cat.

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:35 pm 0

stealthbanana wrote:spray it with water when it comes, cats hate that.

Yes this would be a great opportunity to test some feline tolerance levels. Once you've made him accustomed to water, see if you can dye his hair

Gorecki · Post by **Gorecki** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:37 pm 0

I wouldn't worry, you just have a Real cat.

This book will explain it for you:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0752 ... &s=gateway

TheGoodbyeGirl · Post by **TheGoodbyeGirl** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:39 pm 0

I have the same problem, cat came to me, wasnt in that great a condition but had/has a collar.

I feed him and he goes back and forth between about 4 other houses as far as i know. Was considering putting a note to his collar saying, Hi your cat seems to have adopted me is it ok with you, havent yet though feels a bit silly, cats are strange, my friends cats would never dream of finding new owners but then they are very well looked after by him.

Anders · Post by **Anders** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:00 am 0

stealthbanana wrote:spray it with water when it comes, cats hate that.

Spoongod · Post by **Spoongod** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:13 am 0

Cool stuff. Feed the bugger occasionally, sure. As long as it knows you're not its owner it's fine.

Don't let it bully you though. Ignore it if you can't be bothered. They get fussed all the time. Let it realise it's not the centre of the universe.

It won't help, but you've got to make a stand ain't ya?

Jimmy T. @ · Post by **Jimmy T. @** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:24 am 0

Spoongod wrote:As long as it knows you're not its owner it's fine.

Just a subtle point to make, as I've seen it crop up a few times on here recently.

With a dog, I think you can undisputably be known and regarded as an owner.

Cats? Not so clearcut I'm afraid; at best, the highest mantle you are likely to reach is that of Carer, Manservant or of course in my case - Human Slave with opposable thumbs, in charge of the tinopener.

Good luck with the new addition; but as Rod says, maybe check for a collar tag, it never hurts to check, and some people can be a bit sniffy about these things I've found in the past; sometimes for a good reason mind, if it's got something like diabetes or a stomach disorder and requires a controlled diet.

offyoutoddle · Post by **offyoutoddle** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:33 am 0

Rod_S wrote:
stealthbanana wrote:spray it with water when it comes, cats hate that.
Yes this would be a great opportunity to test some feline tolerance levels. Once you've made him accustomed to water, see if you can dye his hair

I like that plan

Absolute_Zero · Post by **Absolute_Zero** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:43 am 0

Spoongod wrote: [...] Let it realise it's not the centre of the universe.

That will be an all-time first.

Dogs: They feed me, they are Gods.
Cats: They feed me, I am God.

zip accident · Post by **zip accident** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:48 am 0

Jimmy T. @ wrote:

Manservant or of course in my case - Human Slave with opposable thumbs, in charge of the tinopener.

Sounds a plausible cat's eye view of the matter. However, legally, cats have owners. It may be an utterly daft law (though I'm sure we can all think of worse ones), but there is that aspect to the situation.

zbandito · Post by **zbandito** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:54 am 0

Jimmy T. @ wrote:some people can be a bit sniffy about these things I've found in the past; sometimes for a good reason mind, if it's got something like diabetes or a stomach disorder and requires a controlled diet.

Understandable, but still, I'd have to say that proper pet stewardship might mean that if you know your cat has diabetes, you take some efforts to make sure it can't just eat whatever the fuck it wants.

Lenardian · Post by **Lenardian** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:00 pm 0

offyoutoddle wrote:
Rod_S wrote:
stealthbanana wrote:spray it with water when it comes, cats hate that.
Yes this would be a great opportunity to test some feline tolerance levels. Once you've made him accustomed to water, see if you can dye his hair
I like that plan

Cat hunting!!! HAHAHA!!!