Neighbors perpetrating creepy relationship with my cat. Thoughts? (Cape Coral: houses, neighborhood) - Fort Myers - Cape Coral area - Florida (FL) -Lee County - City-Data Forum

juntjoo · 05-20-2016, 04:01 AM

Over the last 18 months someone has been tampering with my cat, mostly one, but now it appears my other. First he used to come home with his collar loosened. I'd readjust and leave a note in him requesting they stop and if they have a prob call the phone number. They just kept doing it like it was a game. Later on I got a GPS device just for general security for the younger more active one. One day he returned with it broken. Figured it was defective and got it replaced, till a couple weeks later he returns again with it broken but this time obviously not by design or accident. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the location. That was a couple months ago. Since then he's not had one. I'm waiting for an improved version which will be able to help me find the culprit next time.

Anyway, I don't know that I've found them/him/her, but I have noticed a few houses down someone leaves their garage door slightly open during the day and evening and so far the only cats I've seen go in there are my two. I picnic a lot out on my front lawn.

Along with the notes on my cat requesting to not touch the collar I also have a note next to the phone number "PLZ don't feed". I followed the older one over there and watched him go in and eat out of a bowl. I had to do some sneaky sh#! to get that angle. Needless to say I skidaddled my way off their property so as not to be detected. I wanna know what's going on first before I talk to anyone. I'm thinking wait til I get an improved GPS unit to help narrow down the area the crime(hopefully won't) be committed again. Anyway, being in the vulnerable position I'm in I only plan on catching them so they can't lie then work this out somehow.

I'd like to just tell someone 'don't touch my cats' but one, them going in their property makes that demand a little difficult as obviously they(it's a couple that lives there) haven't decided to stop so far despite the notes, and two, I'm not exactly sure who I'm dealing with and what their motives are. I'm hoping they don't have bad intentions towards my cats, on the contrary, loosening collars and feeding them indicates concern, so fortunately it doesn't look dangerous for them directly, but the destruction of the GPS units, if it's these people, which I've a good feeling it is, and even this whole creepy courting of them gives me a little cause for concern. Either they don't want to be caught or they thought they were doing my cat a favor. Either way this is disturbing behavior.

Lol, has anyone ever had to deal with a situation remotely like this? And no, keeping my cats inside is not an option. Not yet at least. I own my home here and unless my cats prove to be threats to the neighborhood, maybe in a Stephen King novel, I'd like to be able to live comfortably here with my cats.

nhkev · 05-20-2016, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juntjoo

Over the last 18 months someone has been tampering with my cat, mostly one, but now it appears my other. First he used to come home with his collar loosened. I'd readjust and leave a note in him requesting they stop and if they have a prob call the phone number. They just kept doing it like it was a game. Later on I got a GPS device just for general security for the younger more active one. One day he returned with it broken. Figured it was defective and got it replaced, till a couple weeks later he returns again with it broken but this time obviously not by design or accident. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the location. That was a couple months ago. Since then he's not had one. I'm waiting for an improved version which will be able to help me find the culprit next time.

Anyway, I don't know that I've found them/him/her, but I have noticed a few houses down someone leaves their garage door slightly open during the day and evening and so far the only cats I've seen go in there are my two. I picnic a lot out on my front lawn.

Along with the notes on my cat requesting to not touch the collar I also have a note next to the phone number "PLZ don't feed". I followed the older one over there and watched him go in and eat out of a bowl. I had to do some sneaky sh#! to get that angle. Needless to say I skidaddled my way off their property so as not to be detected. I wanna know what's going on first before I talk to anyone. I'm thinking wait til I get an improved GPS unit to help narrow down the area the crime(hopefully won't) be committed again. Anyway, being in the vulnerable position I'm in I only plan on catching them so they can't lie then work this out somehow.

I'd like to just tell someone 'don't touch my cats' but one, them going in their property makes that demand a little difficult as obviously they(it's a couple that lives there) haven't decided to stop so far despite the notes, and two, I'm not exactly sure who I'm dealing with and what their motives are. I'm hoping they don't have bad intentions towards my cats, on the contrary, loosening collars and feeding them indicates concern, so fortunately it doesn't look dangerous for them directly, but the destruction of the GPS units, if it's these people, which I've a good feeling it is, and even this whole creepy courting of them gives me a little cause for concern. Either they don't want to be caught or they thought they were doing my cat a favor. Either way this is disturbing behavior.

Lol, has anyone ever had to deal with a situation remotely like this? And no, keeping my cats inside is not an option. Not yet at least. I own my home here and unless my cats prove to be threats to the neighborhood, maybe in a Stephen King novel, I'd like to be able to live comfortably here with my cats.

If you can't keep your cats out of other peoples homes you get what you get. BTW Cape Coral's leash law applies to cats so by you allowing your cat to run at large unattended you are the one in the wrong.

willow wind · 05-20-2016, 06:42 AM

Your cats have no business being on other people's property. You're lucky they haven't been poisoned or trapped and taken to a shelter. If you care about them, you'll keep them safe.

If you want them to be outside build them a nice catio so they can go in and out at will on your property.

Outdoor Enclosures | Jackson Galaxy

Samiamnh · 05-20-2016, 07:02 AM

We have several cats prowling our neighborhood,including ours and they no one seems to mind.They don't really hurt anything and at least they don't bark all day like some of our neighbors dogs.
I would watch your cats when they leave the house because they probably make a b-line for the neighbor that's feeding them and then I would politely talk to them.

FLHfan · 05-20-2016, 07:38 AM

It's irresponsible to let your cats run loose. If you can't take care of them you shouldn't have them.

Florida Paradise · 05-20-2016, 08:27 AM

I too had a creepy neighbor who liked to lock my cat on her back porch area. She used to take off his collar too. Multiple times... Multiple replacement collars. Once she came down and told me he was limping. No limp. Told me I should get him fixed. He ALREADY is fixed. ( I think she had him confused with another cat ) Usually this cat is inside my home, since I am only cat sitting for my daughter till she is done with graduate school, I want his safe inside. But he does escapes probably once or twice a month. Usually for just an hour or so and he is back at the front door meowing.

Unfortunately in the new world of social media, everyone thinks they can do or say whatever they want. Everyone is always judging and nebbing. If you want your cats safe, inside is the only option. If they get out,then we gave to deal with all the interference.

Living the Florida Dream · 05-20-2016, 09:40 AM

You really shouldn't be letting your cat trespass on other people's property. While it might seem harmless, many people are very allergic to cats. If your cat is wandering in to their garage, that can create serious allergy issues.

juntjoo · 05-20-2016, 10:21 AM

No one's sneezing and no one cares about the leash law. Occasionally I'll get a call from someone like some of the posters bringing up some concern but after talking a bit it's just people with no lives looking for someone to shake their finger at. This issue is about creepy people.

Bruins_Fan · 05-20-2016, 10:26 AM

I have no problems with people letting their outdoor cats roam. We have a few in our neighborhood, though we keep our cat inside.

Unfortunately, there are all types of people out there (good and bad), and never can tell what your cat will run into. I'd probably try to contain your cats on your own property.

FLHfan · 05-20-2016, 11:22 AM

Putting notes on your cats is a little creepy. It sounds like you're not getting it. They started by loosening the cat's collar hoping you would be concerned enough to watch after them, then escalated to breaking the GPS to send a stronger message. They have earned the cat's trust by feeding it. Next step, dead or missing cat.