Is it weird to feed my neighbors cat?

Question

I just moved into a new apartment building, and also just lost my second cat, Garfield. There are a few cats roaming the block, and I have fed them in the past, and now I wonder if its appropriate to do so? Is it like baiting other peoples pets to hang out with me?

Answer 1

Hi I dont mean to sound horrible but I think if you know that these cats are already well looked after you shouldnt be feeding these cats. If its a stray then why not but otherwise I just think its unfair to the owner. For years I've lost cats to my neighbours who feed them and you see your cat sitting inside their house and it feels like you have done something wrong. Cats wander thats what they do, give them a cuddle thats cool but dont feed it so it knows where its real home is.

If your missing the company of a cat why not get a new one of your own - i think your right it is a bit like baiting other peoples pets to hang out with you.

Answer 2

When I was young I had a beautiful smoke colored tom cat, Smokey.. Anyway a friend of the family came over to do a load of laundry, put the laundry (warm from the dryer) into the car with the window down. My kittie jumped in and took a nap in the basket. The friend left without knowing the cat was in the basket. She lived about 30 miles away from us. I thought for sure the cat was gone, but low and behold about a month later the cat showed back up at home fat and healthy. I can only assume that some sweet soul such as your self fed my kittie and kept him strong to make the 30 some mile trip back home.

Answer 3

Sometimes our barn cats disappear for a few days. We figure they went next door to see if the eats are better. We sure don't worry about it as this is the nature of a cat. The meow Mix is always better 2 doors down! My uncle "Co-owned" a cat for eighteen years. It just came by and ate at his place like it was his restaurant, would hang out for the ambience, then wander back down the block to his own place. If the owners were concerned, they wouldn't let the kitties wander off in the first place.

Answer 4

They are either strays or their owners don't care enough to keep them inside the house. You should ask around and see if anyone owns them. Either way, they should be fixed because they'll start having kittens eventually. You could always put up fliers telling people if they own a cat that they let go outside they should at least put a collar on the cat so you'll know they have a place to go for food and shelter.

Answer 5

If they are roaming the block, they are not necessarily your neighbor's cats. They may be abandoned or homeless cats.

If you would like to take one (or more) of them in, which would be best for the cat, my suggestion is that you put a collar on the cat with one of those little cheap plastic tags into which you insert a piece of paper. Put your phone number on the paper -- if someone owns the cat, they will call you to ask why you put a collar on their cat. Or you could write "If this is your cat, call me" or "I want to adopt this cat" and your phone number on it.

I know people advise against feeding stray cats, but it seems I am always providing food for one or two...I think, if I don't, will anyone else?

Answer 6

f you know they have an owner you shouldn't feed them for two reasons. One is that if they like your food better they will stay around you and may not go home. Secondly, they are getting fed so you would be over feeding them. the owner may be feeding it one brand of food and you may be feeding it another which could upset it's stomach as new food should be introduced gradually by mixing it with the old food. Also the cat may have some allergies to some foods you don't know about.

Answer 7

I think it's perfectly ok, as long as you aren't feeding them stuff that's bad for them. It sounds like you're missing your late cat, and that's perfectly ok. It also sounds like it might be getting to the point that you're ready for another cat; if that's the case, I'd suggest going to your local shelter to get a new pet - I'm sure I don't have to tell you there are tons of cats and kittens in shelters this time of year, just waiting for good homes. I think when the time is right you'll know, but I suspect that time is going to be fairly soon if you're trying to get the company of cats again.

Good luck :-)

Answer 8

Your stray cat is doing in basic terms what any self respecting cat would do....taking earnings of the kindness of strangers. although your neighbor would be attempting to attraction to him over to her, according to risk with the objective of becoming him an indoor cat, you could no longer be afflicted. He has 2 properties! greater desirable than would properly be pronounced for many strays! i'd be chuffed if my neighbor contributed to my stray cat's care. although i'm the only that had her spayed and feeds her and residences her daily on my porch, i understand she wanders the community. She is feral and could no longer enable me to the touch her, yet by some ability she have been given in my acquaintances basement and allowed him to hold her out of the abode! i'm getting no admire! yet whilst she meows at me at feeding time it makes all that jealousy bypass away. And whilst she's no longer there at feeding time I difficulty. yet, no, its no longer something to difficulty approximately. in basic terms be chuffed for the cat that he has a lot of human beings to preserve him!

Answer 9

Kinda, but everyone does it. I just wouldn't let the cat spend a lot of time inside your apartment - that might upset the owners. But giving the cat a little food is fine.

Answer 10

we do it all the time, they need to eat too-if they are strays
i would ask your neighbors if they use a specific type of cat food for the cat, incase he may be allergic to one brand