Why Do People Feed Other Peoples Cats?

[Retrochic]

Oh I am so annoyed. For weeks now our cat has been off her food. I've been trying to tempt her with her favourite things but just the odd half-hearted crunch or licking off of gravy from her whiskas lick and chew. She's getting on a bit and although not losing weight looked a bit dull in her coat so I took her to the Vets and she checked out ok. The vet asked if someone else could have been feeding her -this never crossed my mind so she suggested writing 'do not feed' on her collar. I did that a couple of days ago and bingo -she's started eating her food again. Why oh why do people feel the need to feed random cats? Its not like she looks like a stray , she's plumpish, she has a collar and a tag with her name and my mobile number on it. For heavens sake I wish people would mind their own business.

[Jeza]

I often put food out for the local cats. No one has ever complained. I put a whole tin of red salmon out a few weeks ago. It seems a better option to me than binning it.

[B00]

Unless your cat has specific dietary needs, does it really matter? If so, why?

[Retrochic]

Tizzy24 you are missing the point. My point being don't feed what is OBVIOUSLY someones well-fed pet. I and any animal lover would feed a malnourished skinny cat that looked like a stray , that's not my point. When you see a well-fed plump cat with a pink collar with diamontes on (ok it was a xmas pressie) with a pink tag that says her name has a mobile number and the words 'I am micro chipped' you may deduce its someones well-looked after pet and not in need of a tin of kitty kat.

[ummmm]

I fed it a sausage...and yes, it looked like a stray that had been hanging round the shop for a few days....like I already said.

My cats chipped, he doesn't need a collar. Not that he goes out. He spends most of his day at the front door but only lasts outside for about 30 seconds. Wuss....

[Retrochic]

I matters Boo becasue I thought she was incubating something and it cost me £40 to take her to the vet to find out. When a normally greedy cat stops eating it is cause for concern.

[Retrochic]

Ummmm -I thought you meant the sausage roll had been hanging around the shop for a few days, seriously

[wolf63]

This is an article about cats and how their meow had evolved.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17455-hungry-cats-trick-owners-with-baby-cry-mimicry.html#.VBv2PxZuXZg

Retrochic - your cat is a free spirit who goes out and had fun but returns to your house because she feels safe, relaxed and loved/appreciated.

You can't really control this situation but I understand your annoyance.

[Retrochic]

Jeza you say no one has complained? How do you know that? The cat owners may be saying 'I wish I could find out who the busy body is that's feeding my cat!

[Retrochic]

Wold63 thanks for the link. As for her being a free spirit that's very true and although well fed I can't and wouldn't try and stop her roaming around although I hate it when she brings 'pressies' back home.

[ummmm]

No...I'd just bought sausages for the fry. I stroked it outside the shop and the shop keeper said it had been hanging round for days. Then it followed me home so I gave it a sausage. It grabbed the sausage and legged it.

If he'd hung about I would have taken him in and took him to the vets (It could have been a girl)

[SlackAlice]

I think the answer her is so simple. Restrict your cat to the house and ensure he/she cannot escape your garden.

You do not have to get so annoyed then.

[Retrochic]

Ummmm in that situation I would have done the same.

[Retrochic]

Tambourine, why should I restrict my cats access to a natural environment because of other humans actions?

[Retrochic]

Slack Alice , I would rather get rid of my cat than have it as a house cat. Our house backs onto open fields we don't live in Town.

[Jeza]

If the cat owners wanted to complain they would complain to me as they all know at one time I had 5 cats. I don't see a reason to put good food in the bin when the cats will eat it.

[ummmm]

I have a field opposite me and parks at the end of my road. My cat refuses to go out. He'll sit on the door step but only if I sit with him.

[Retrochic]

Jeza if you have any spare cookies why not go down to the local primary school at lunchtime and feed them to the children. I mean its no good wasting perfectly good food is it? We will never agree on this I think you are being irresponsible.

[Retrochic]

Ummmm we had one like that he ,wouldn't even go out for a poo but I think it was because we had a nasty Tom cat living a few doors away and he got frightened.

[Jeza]

Any spare/stale biscuits I put out for the birds.

[ummmm]

He's scared of cars and other people. He even hates my older son for absolutely no reason. But, he can recognise my younger sons walk and run to the window....then run to the door to greet him. It's funny with older son and sweet with younger.

He likes me and OH :-)