Is it wrong to in steal my a neighbors cat?

Question

There is a lovely ginger cat that visits me at night who I invite and play with for a hour then let her out again after some milk. Is this wrong?

Its cat milk in these little white bottles.

Answer 1

Its not wrong to invite it in for an hour, but it would be if you actually stole it. Although no doubt if you tried it would go back to it's owners house and just carry on visiting you.

Answer 2

I have three cats. One of which is ginger. There is a young boy who has managed to befriend him. And he acts quiet secretly about it, which as the owner, worries me.

However, if he weren't so secretive about it, I would be quiet happy about the whole thing, I don't have a problem with it.

However, what I do have a problem with, is feeding someone elses cat. And I've got recomend you don't. Someone has also been feeding the above mentioned cat. He got so overwight that he couldn't lay down properly. I've had to keep him in during the day, to try and end the problem.

So, no there is nothing wrong with what your are doing at the moment, but don't steal it. As that is wrong. You neighbors have looked after the cat, paid for its vets bills and the most important thing is they love it. They'd be heartbroken if their cat just vanashed. I know i would be.

Maybe, if your feeling a bit guilty about the nightly visits, talk to the owners, tell them. If they don't want you to give her milk and stuff then they should tell you. But providing they know, they'll be cool about it. After all you can't stop your cat from visiting people!!

Hope some of that helped!!

But I have to beg you. . . please don't start feeding it!!

Answer 3

Ever heard of cupboard love?

If the clever little thing knows that at the end of a bit of play it'll get some cat milk, then its probably quite happy to visit.

It might be a good idea to mention to your neighbor that its paying you an evening visit by its own choice. As long as its free to leave when it wants to.

I have the same thing happening. My neighbor's cat visits me regularly, just to make sure I'm ok and everything is as it should be. My four cats tolerate her popping in and they get on fine!!

Answer 4

My neighbor has 2 cats that come over daily. My other neighbor and my kids feed them and leave water out for them on the front porch. Stealing the cat would be horrible, but theres nothing wrong with being a friend to it...dont give it too much milk, try water once in awhile.

Answer 5

You did not steal this cat, you gave it a better life. Don't feel bad. There are still so many strays who are leading unhappy lives, cold and hungry. We took on our neighbours' cat when they moved and "forgot" her, and another cat from a home where the parents split up and all the cats got neglected and were left to their own devices. Both are happy and healthy now. Treasure your cat and you will enjoy the reward for what you have done. If it's been "years" and the old man still lives next door, he would have said something by now if he minded that much!

Answer 6

No I dont think so, I do the same as you with 3 cats we all live in a quiet street and the owners know that I invite them round, they are fine with it and the cats spend time with their owners and when they are at work the cats come around to my house and I play with them for hours on end and the owners are fine with it. Its not stealing thats like stroking a dog in the park your not stealing it your just spending time with it.

Answer 7

They say every cat has two homes, carry on with what your doing and let the cat go back to its first home, Maybe have a chat with the neighbour, my mum was in this situation and found out by talking to the neighbour that they we;re quite happy for her to take the cat on, as they had kinda got bored with it. However if the neighbour objects to you giving it milk (highly unlikely) you will have to consider their feelings and stop, but I bet they don't mind. Go have a chat with them and tell them how wonderful their cat is.....they might even ask you to cat-sit if they have to go away - good luck

Answer 8

Firstly, not milk...isn't good for them. Give him/her water. Mind you we do that with ours and then he insists on drinking from the yukky pond with flies in.

Cats are lovely pets and playing is fine, letting them sleep a while is fine. I call my cat in at night and I would be worried if he didn't turn up (partly to prevent risk of fights). So don't kidnap him/her for the night. In fact don't kidnap him/her at all. :) Playing for a while though during the day is okay.

Another thing, feeding is not a good idea. You don't know when he/she is on medication and also it can upset the food cycle. Ie two meals a day - leading to worry of the real owner. They also can get rather fat if fed by several people. So only give them the odd nibble, not a meal...

Answer 9

I am sure your neighbors would be delighted to know that you enjoy their cat. In our neighborhood, we have a cat that someone dropped off, and a lot of the neighbors take care of her, making sure she has food and water. It is really kinda neat, when we all realized that we were all taking care of her, especially to hear all the different names she has! Just make sure with them that is ok for you to be giving her milk, some cats don't digest milk well, maybe they would prefer you just spend some time with her. And, if they don't want other people messing with her, they shouldn't be letting her out.

Answer 10

You can't steal a cat like that, they make their own minds up about where they want to be.
Most cats have several points of call. There's one on our street who does the rounds of virtually every house, basically calling in for a chat just like the vicar! He always goes home, though. We don't feed him, in case his owners worry about why he's not eating much - perhaps you might want to leave off the milk for the same reason.
And don't keep her in, if she wants to stay that's one thing but she should be able to go if she wishes. I'd tell your neighbours that she calls on you, in case they wonder where she goes.

Answer 11

i think yes to give them milk as well as ur enticing the cat to stay. An old woman recently stole my cat and as the owner its a heartbreaking experience to have to go through! Ive tried everything to get him back with still no luck. The Cats Protection League are inundated with cats people dont want, why dont you give a homeless cat a loving home? You obvously love cats and they love you too.