We have 3 cats in total, 2 normal cats and bobby our bengal
we have had bobby for about 3 years and from a kitten and since the other two cats are free to go as they please we always allowed bobby to roam free also

gradually as he got older we started to see him less, until we had a call from the vet one day to say that a neighbour had taken him to the vets as he had had an abcess on his back

we then had a contact number for these people who had stated im surprised you ever see him hes always at our house! i thanked them for their concern over the cat but said next time call us and we will take him to the vet

we found out the house we believe to be going to, and to cut a long story short in the last 6 months this woman has taken bobby to the vets for us 4 times, one time because he looked a bit tired ?....


after trip 3 we had found she had set up an account at the vets under the name mr mgoo and even offered to pay for his treatment, the vets were great with us and always alerted us immediately, but i had had enough and knocked on the door she was shocked to see me as she had since changed her phone numbers so we couldn't contact them, very shocked she told me that she wasn't doing anything wrong, she couldn't stop him coming in (she hasn't got a cat flap) she had told the vet that she fed him but only when he looked hungry! (bobby never eats at ours hes always full)

two weeks ago i was phoned to say look we have done as you asked and not let him in but bobby is in real pain and has a gash on him the length of his paw and needs urgent treatment

i scooped him up and was about to take him to emergency, but before we went we took him to a breeder friend who checked him over, it was scratch from a fight,and needed anti biotics and anti inflamitary take him to the vets am the next morning its not an emergency he was fine

then last week i took a call at work to say dont want to worry you but looks like he been run over, came out of work took him to the vet to find its another cat fight and just a small scratch on his paw

vet recommended not to let him out anymore


so we weighed up options 3 trips to vets for fights in 1 month, this isnt good for him or us


we found that you can get a microchip catflap and my husband has found a way that if we buy two and install one back to front it should work and let the other two cats come and go but bobby wont be able to get out

none of the cats will wear collars


as we want the others to be able to come and go we have been putting bobby in the spare room over night, its a double sized bedroom i put in toys food water litter dray and a clawing frame but he howls all night long


last night i got into the room with him and slept on the floor on a bed of towels jto keep him company

but i just feel so cruel, we go away on holiday in a few days and normally we get a house sitter but we are taking bobby to the cattery, he wont be going in a pen he is getting his own room,


but am i making his life miserable, its breaking my heart to hear him so upset. every time he goes out he head to this ladies house, and then fights with the cats on that street,

have i missed anything here/? am i doing all i can, it crosses my mind to re home him to someone with no cat flap and no other cats because i feel he cant be happy here


i just dont know the answers here, will he adjust to being at home

Just to make sure I understood correctly ( I can get confused very easily these days)

ok it seems like Bobby is getting loads of attention, food and he is being really spoilt by a lady who appears to have fallen for him. Who can blame her when charmed by a bengal it is hard to resist!


Why not make friends with the woman, and she can help you look after Bobby. If you explain he is getting hurt by visiting her by the other cats in the street, she might stop encouraging him. Also she could become your pet sitter, daily checker, helper, Bobby's auntie!!!!

just a thought

sue

My mum is in a similar situation at the moment where a neighbours cat has 'adopted' her and will not take no for an answer. If they don't let him in he damages their patio door with incessant scratching and is just incredibly miserable unless they let him in

He lives in a household where there are 2 other cats and the owner says that he doesn't enjoy their company at all. So we think the reason he likes going to my mums is that he is the only cat there, he gets all the attention and has a peaceful day there, until they throw him out at bed time (which they are now starting to feel guilty about as its so cold).

Is it possible Bobby has taken a disliking to your other 2 cats? Does this other lady have any pets? I really feel for you as you are obviously a very loving cat-mum and are giving him all you can in terms of love and fulfilling his needs. Do keep us posted.

I'm not speaking as an authority on cats really, just speaking how I've read the situation.

You seem to miss out a few important pieces of information.

You say you let Bobby roam, but for how long before you might suspect something was wrong? And how far away do you let him wander? This could be important because if he isn't reigned in after a certain time, or distance, he might feel unwanted, and simply go to someone who gives him attention. The neighbour is obviously giving him that attention, and you might want to ask yourself why he keeps going to the neighbour...?

It might be a bit late to turn him into a house cat now, but I don't know. The more knowledgeable members on this board can probably advise on that one a bit better. Not sure if the howling might decrease if he gets used to it, but the decision is going to be do you let him go out again, and if so, are you going to keep tabs on him or just let him go where he wants and for as long as he wants?

If your life is so busy that you can't realistically keep tabs on him, then the idea to make friends with the neighbour seems a good one, although I suspect theres some friction there now so that might not be that easy I guess.

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Is Bobby neutered? If not, that might contribute to his urge to roam and fight.

Have you thought of an enclosed cat cage thingy? Some members on here have them, and they seem the perfect solution for cats who REALLY want to go outside. It protects them from cars, getting lost (or stolen), other cats, etc. It means they would still have their outside time, and you would know where they are and that nobody can get to them.

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Zakiyya C: Mum to Zebedee - Silver Spotted Bengal & Coco Mademoiselle - Usual Abyssinian

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