Expert: Becky - 5/31/2006

Question
My neighbors are very much in love with my tabby cat.  He comes home from their house RARELY and I spot him in their driveway, call him, and he looks at me like "who are you?"  He comes in, eats and sleeps then returns to their house.  Also, I'm sure he's eating somewhere else.  I've discussed this with my neighbors.  They promised not to feed him.  What's more, he got sick and had to be in my house for a week and during that week, they got a look-alike tabby cat of their very own.  How can I lure him back home and keep him coming in and out of my cat door?
I play with him and feed him immediately when he walks in our house.  
Also, they are washing him, I think, because he smells very much like ladies' bath powder when he arrives at our house for the rare 15 minute appearance.

Answer
Hello!

The nerve of some people !!  It never ceases to amaze me.
I'm afraid the only way you're going to keep him at your house, is to keep him inside.  There's just no other way to "make" him stay home.  It is very rude, in my opinion, for your neighbors to entice him like that when you have made it clear that you are not happy about it.  I'm sorry, I wish I had a magic answer, but keeping him inside is the only sure way that I know of to keep him home.

God Bless,
Becky