Expert: Karen Craft - 3/22/2009

Question
Hi - I have a problem and am at my wit's end. I have done some internet research already but cannot come up with any conclusive answers.

I have a two 5-year-old cats, a male and a female who have been together since birth (they are brother and sister).

I have been living in my current place for nearly 3 years. Over the past two months since January, my female cat has been running away to the same house, in the next street over. I went away in January for a week, then came back for one night (the female cat was totally normal then, all over me and very affectionate as per usual), and then I went away for another week somewhere else. I had someone staying in the house feeding her. I have gone on holiday for two weeks at the same time every year. Both my cats are indoor-outdoor cats (they have a cat door and come and go as they please).

My problem is that since I returned at the end of January, my cat has been running away. When I first returned, she was nowhere to be seen, and after putting up posters I found her in the next street over about a week after I got back from holidays. Her eye was damaged and she looked like she had been in a fight. I caught her and took her to the vet and got the appropriate medicine, etc. I found out the lady there had been feeding her and I asked her to stop and told her if she continued to do so, my cat would try to 'move in'.

I kept her in for two weeks before letting her out again. After about 5 days she disappeared again. I went and retrieved her from the same house. I kept her in again for a few days then let her out. Same thing, she did not come back for three days until I went and got her. Last week she disappeared again, and I went and 'chased' her over the fence of this house and she came back. I kept her in for a day and then as soon as I let her out again she jumped the fence and has been at this house now for 3-4 days. I just went and tried to get her but she hid under the lady's house.

I don't know what is causing this behaviour in her. Lately her and the other cat that live here have been getting annoyed with each other, that could be it. Or it could be this other cat that's been hanging around my place, it always seems to want to fight my cat and 'move in' to my place and take it over as its territory. Or it could be simply because my cat HATES being locked up inside (as since I found her the first time I have been locking her in at night).

I just went to see her at this house and could not get her, I 'chased' her over the lady's fence and then went back home to wait for her, but she has not come back. Every time she goes to this lady's place, she stays there for days and is starving. This lady does not feed her, only gives her water, and I believe this, as my cat is always starving when I get her back.

I do not know what is causing this behaviour. I realise she might be going back to this lady's house because she got food there once and maybe thinks she can get it again, however I have food HERE at my house, and she knows perfectly well how to get here and get it! Something major in her mind is causing her to rather stay at this lady's place two doors away and starve rather than come home.

Please help!

Answer
Hi Laura,

There could be a few different reasons for her behavior. Cats are territorial. She could consider the lady's house part of her territory. She could be having problems with your other cat and feels safer over there. She could have bonded with the lady. Whatever the reason it sounds like a bit of a problem. However, I have a solution for this. Check out this link.
http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-enclosures.htm

This will take care of your problems. She will be able to go out yet she will be safe. And you will know where she is at all times. Hope this helped. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen