40 “My Cat, Not My Home” And “My Home, Not My Cat” Tweets About Cats That Do What They Want
Interview
A surprisingly huge number of people have reported unknown cats slinking about their homes. In fact, this odd phenomenon is quite a well-recorded one and you can take a look at some of the most nosey “not my cat” sightings in our previous posts here, here, and here.
But there’s one thing about cat logic we all know very well and that there’s literally no limit for how bizarre it may get. So this time, we are looking at cases that combine both “not my cat” and “not my home” evidence, and if it doesn’t make much sense just yet, bear with me.
It all started with Michael Hubank’s Twitter post that read “The neighbours just put the house up for sale. Couldn't resist checking it out on Zoopla. That's our bloody cat” with the pic evidence attached to it. Amassing 308.7k likes, the tweet ignited a hilarious thread that got people sharing their own peculiar stories.
It turned out that for whatever reasons, too many felines have too many homes and too many owners. And honestly, it’s about time to stop convincing ourselves that we own our cats since it's the cats who own us instead.
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With so many cats roaming around people’s houses like it's no big deal, you can’t help but wonder what’s going on in that feline mind. Don’t they ever feel a teeny tiny suspicious of strangers and foreign places that clearly are not their home? Where’s that apprehensive attitude cats are so well known for when you leave home for work?
To find out the possible reasons behind “not my cat” and “my cat, not my house” sightings that have grown very frequent recently, Bored Panda talked to Molly DeVoss, a certified feline training and behavior specialist who runs Cat Behavior Solutions agency.
Molly explained that “Cats are natural explorers and might wander into a different home looking for better food, a soft place to sleep, or hoping for some attention. This behavior indicates the cat is very trusting of humans, and is likely owned, rather than feral.”
In fact, the certified feline behaviorist said that she also was the owner of one such roaming cat. “I used to have an indoor/outdoor cat (named Quincy) who spent most of his time in a neighbor’s home. They would send me pictures of feeding him sushi and cuddling in bed with their daughter.”
“Eventually when I moved, they agreed to keep him and care for him,” Molly recounted and added that “that was over 25 years ago, and today I do not allow my cats to free roam because there are so many outside dangers to them: diseases from other cats, cars, predators, people who don’t like cats, etc.”
If you wonder whether it's a good idea to befriend that cute furball who keeps hanging around your home day after day, Molly said it’s indeed possible, but in some cases, not recommended. “You can befriend any cat you see outside by providing tasty food, but it’s not recommended if you have cats living inside with you.”
“When an indoor cat sees a cat outside, it is perceived as a potential territory invader and can cause redirected aggression to you or its roommate cats.” Molly suggests that “it is best to discourage them from crossing your yard with humane deterrents.”
How do cats tell time? My cat used to wake my mom up for work at 5am Monday through Friday, but never on Saturday or Sunday.
Not tolerates. Dominates! Even the tiniest kitten can take control of the biggest, toughest dog with one well-placed swipe across the nose with the murder mittens. I have a dog. I also have four cats. I’ve seen this in action, including by tiny kittens that barely weigh one pound.
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Well, you see, if you had the lab first, he might have "defended his territory" but seeing as the cat was there first, lab feels she is entitled to be there.
I know people just want to be nice but DO NOT feed other people's cats. Not only you interfere with food intake scheduled by their owners but you may actually harm the cat unknowingly. I was wondering why my cat isn't losing any weight after being a year on a quite expensive diet - yes, a neighbour was feeding him. Luckily I knew which neighbour so could ask her to stop. Please, do not feed your neighbours' cats. In most cases you can clearly see if a cat is a stray or if it has a home.
There is an office on the first floor of the building where I live and they adopted a stray kitten a few years ago (named Alice). Sometimes she tries to sneak into other people's apartments (setting off alarms in several cases), got into mine once as well. She is quite mischievous.
What?? No one was complaining everyone loves their visiting cats and most cat owners understand our cats can be loved by others.
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i full on stole someone's cat. he was always hanging around the parking lot where i worked, in all weather. i thought he was abandoned at first. i was friends with him for 2 years before my alpha cat died and i took him home. he had scars on his nose and was once shot by a bb gun and someone had taken care of him, but i took him anyway. he's FIV positive and absolutely should not be outside unsupervised, as he can spread the disease or get an injury that won't heal. he's been here for 5 years now and loves the indoor life. he took over as the alpha and is the best cat ever! he gets under the blankets and makes biscuits on my belly at night, and loves cuddles. he also thinks he's my youngest's father- he's always pinning her down and cleaning her. sorry not sorry to whoever had him before.
My typical week involves at least three phone calls of this nature: "Hi, have you seen my cat/dog? They're not here, and I figure they're at your house." .... my reply is, "Yep, they're right here, want me to bring them over?" .... usual reply is, "Nah, they'll come home eventually."
Had a cat in high school named Chesterfield - big old fluffy Maine C**n cat. He went missing for a week, then showed up on the front porch. Halloween rolls around, and I'm handing out candy. This family comes up, the kid looks down and sees our cat and yells "Fluffy!". Turns out he had spent the week at their house. The dad was like "yeah, we eventually had to kick him out because he kept jumping on the counter, getting into cabinets, and just eating everything in sight."
Interesting filter, there. I mean, I get it, but that's the breed.
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Ha ha i used to sleep with a window open out to a garden. Kept waking up roasting hot. One night woke up with a cat on my chest. I dont own a cat. He took a big yawn and stretch, not at all bothered then slipped off through the window...
Outdoor cats die early- fights, cars, diseases..if you love your cats, don't let them outside...plus they're killing off too many bird species..
I know an outdoor cat that lived to be 21 and I have an indoor-outdoor cat who's 16, what are you talking about? If a cat's smart enough to avoid cars and predators, they will live as long as an indoor cat.
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There is stray who always visit my house. Pretending to be wounded to demand more food. I can't adopt him, I already adopted 3 cats. He is very smart. I called him Ali, short of Aladdin. One day he ate almost one bag of dry food. When I tried to discipline him with water spray. He meowed like baby's cry. I hate him, but when he doesn't come, I will spend my time looking for him.
My neighbors. This is why I feed ten more cats than I own. And have to see to their water, their wounds, etc...
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Sometimes I wish my neighbour owns a cat who could visit me... who am I kidding? I wish that ALL the time!
My current three cats are indoors only, and have been since they were born so know no different. One of them definitely has no loyalties and would go anywhere for food. One is a bit dumb and I imagine would end up in other houses by accident. I had a cat like that growing up. He got into the old man next door's house, my mum went to put some washing out one day and looked up and saw him. He was in the old man's bedroom at the time and the curtains were closed so it seems he was still asleep! Mum was worried he'd give the gentleman a heart attack. The same cat also used to go to the other neighbour's house regularly. Trouble is at our previous house that he was born in his litter mate went to the neighbours so they were used to running between and playing in the two houses. He just thought it was normal to have multiple houses I guess!
Cats are not normally allowed to roam loose where I live, but sometimes when I'm walking my big male in his harness, he'll try to follow some total stranger down the sidewalk. This article makes me wonder if he was truly a stray or just a sociable cat who liked to wander into different homes in his original neighbourhood.
When my dad moved into his current house, there was a ginger cat living in his shed. He did belong to someone in the street behind but the cat, who I named Jasper, didn’t want to live there anymore. Not sure if they got another cat or had a baby 🤔 either way, my dad took him in 😊
I keep a dish of kibble on the front porch for the neighborhood strays. Two have learned to use the dog door so they come and go as they please. One is sleeping in my bed right now. But the neighbors big yellow brindle comes over to chow down every time I put out fresh food, and is not above sleeping on the porch or on the hood of my car until I refill the buffet.
I had a cat Onyx who was co-owned by at leas three other neighbors, possibly four! One neighbor called him Midnight another called him Pepper. He disappeared two years ago right around when one of the neighbors moved temporarily for foundation repair. I’ve always wondered if she took him and now keeps him indoors only.
I hope my cats that go out on the prowl are just as loved in their other homes as they are here in their actual home. And I am always welcoming and kind to the cats that come visit and stay with us as they choose.
I'm always furious when I read stories about random people feeding other people's cats. My cats are on specific diets for health reasons - cat treats are junk food. Its not appropriate to feed pets that are not yours.
I feed my neighbors cats they feed mine and I feed visitor cats. And skinks and possums and racoons and any other animal that visits. If your cat needs a special diet then they shouldn't be out and about eating whatever they come across
Load More Replies... I live in a garden cottage (flat attached to someone's house) and my landlords cat naturally considers my flat it's house too. He comes in the back door, gets a treat and exits through the front door, meowing loudly if I don't open the doors quick enough or give him the treats fast enough. Sometimes he stays for a nap on my lap.
my cat is named CAt, she would come to our aartment and sleep there as she was only a baby i thought who could let her out at this time, we lived by a motor way and it was dark and very dangerous as lots of cats got killed on the road, any hoo, we moved and she came with us, that was 8 years ago lol
So these are all stories about asshole cat owners who let their animals roam? WTF is that all about?
There is an office on the first floor of the building where I live and they adopted a stray kitten a few years ago (named Alice). Sometimes she tries to sneak into other people's apartments (setting off alarms in several cases), got into mine once as well. She is quite mischievous.
What?? No one was complaining everyone loves their visiting cats and most cat owners understand our cats can be loved by others.
Load More Replies... i full on stole someone's cat. he was always hanging around the parking lot where i worked, in all weather. i thought he was abandoned at first. i was friends with him for 2 years before my alpha cat died and i took him home. he had scars on his nose and was once shot by a bb gun and someone had taken care of him, but i took him anyway. he's FIV positive and absolutely should not be outside unsupervised, as he can spread the disease or get an injury that won't heal. he's been here for 5 years now and loves the indoor life. he took over as the alpha and is the best cat ever! he gets under the blankets and makes biscuits on my belly at night, and loves cuddles. he also thinks he's my youngest's father- he's always pinning her down and cleaning her. sorry not sorry to whoever had him before.
My typical week involves at least three phone calls of this nature: "Hi, have you seen my cat/dog? They're not here, and I figure they're at your house." .... my reply is, "Yep, they're right here, want me to bring them over?" .... usual reply is, "Nah, they'll come home eventually."
Had a cat in high school named Chesterfield - big old fluffy Maine C**n cat. He went missing for a week, then showed up on the front porch. Halloween rolls around, and I'm handing out candy. This family comes up, the kid looks down and sees our cat and yells "Fluffy!". Turns out he had spent the week at their house. The dad was like "yeah, we eventually had to kick him out because he kept jumping on the counter, getting into cabinets, and just eating everything in sight."
Interesting filter, there. I mean, I get it, but that's the breed.
Load More Replies... Ha ha i used to sleep with a window open out to a garden. Kept waking up roasting hot. One night woke up with a cat on my chest. I dont own a cat. He took a big yawn and stretch, not at all bothered then slipped off through the window...
Outdoor cats die early- fights, cars, diseases..if you love your cats, don't let them outside...plus they're killing off too many bird species..
I know an outdoor cat that lived to be 21 and I have an indoor-outdoor cat who's 16, what are you talking about? If a cat's smart enough to avoid cars and predators, they will live as long as an indoor cat.
Load More Replies... There is stray who always visit my house. Pretending to be wounded to demand more food. I can't adopt him, I already adopted 3 cats. He is very smart. I called him Ali, short of Aladdin. One day he ate almost one bag of dry food. When I tried to discipline him with water spray. He meowed like baby's cry. I hate him, but when he doesn't come, I will spend my time looking for him.
My neighbors. This is why I feed ten more cats than I own. And have to see to their water, their wounds, etc...
Load More Replies... Sometimes I wish my neighbour owns a cat who could visit me... who am I kidding? I wish that ALL the time!
My current three cats are indoors only, and have been since they were born so know no different. One of them definitely has no loyalties and would go anywhere for food. One is a bit dumb and I imagine would end up in other houses by accident. I had a cat like that growing up. He got into the old man next door's house, my mum went to put some washing out one day and looked up and saw him. He was in the old man's bedroom at the time and the curtains were closed so it seems he was still asleep! Mum was worried he'd give the gentleman a heart attack. The same cat also used to go to the other neighbour's house regularly. Trouble is at our previous house that he was born in his litter mate went to the neighbours so they were used to running between and playing in the two houses. He just thought it was normal to have multiple houses I guess!
Cats are not normally allowed to roam loose where I live, but sometimes when I'm walking my big male in his harness, he'll try to follow some total stranger down the sidewalk. This article makes me wonder if he was truly a stray or just a sociable cat who liked to wander into different homes in his original neighbourhood.
When my dad moved into his current house, there was a ginger cat living in his shed. He did belong to someone in the street behind but the cat, who I named Jasper, didn’t want to live there anymore. Not sure if they got another cat or had a baby 🤔 either way, my dad took him in 😊
I keep a dish of kibble on the front porch for the neighborhood strays. Two have learned to use the dog door so they come and go as they please. One is sleeping in my bed right now. But the neighbors big yellow brindle comes over to chow down every time I put out fresh food, and is not above sleeping on the porch or on the hood of my car until I refill the buffet.
I had a cat Onyx who was co-owned by at leas three other neighbors, possibly four! One neighbor called him Midnight another called him Pepper. He disappeared two years ago right around when one of the neighbors moved temporarily for foundation repair. I’ve always wondered if she took him and now keeps him indoors only.
I hope my cats that go out on the prowl are just as loved in their other homes as they are here in their actual home. And I am always welcoming and kind to the cats that come visit and stay with us as they choose.
I'm always furious when I read stories about random people feeding other people's cats. My cats are on specific diets for health reasons - cat treats are junk food. Its not appropriate to feed pets that are not yours.
I feed my neighbors cats they feed mine and I feed visitor cats. And skinks and possums and racoons and any other animal that visits. If your cat needs a special diet then they shouldn't be out and about eating whatever they come across
Load More Replies... I live in a garden cottage (flat attached to someone's house) and my landlords cat naturally considers my flat it's house too. He comes in the back door, gets a treat and exits through the front door, meowing loudly if I don't open the doors quick enough or give him the treats fast enough. Sometimes he stays for a nap on my lap.
my cat is named CAt, she would come to our aartment and sleep there as she was only a baby i thought who could let her out at this time, we lived by a motor way and it was dark and very dangerous as lots of cats got killed on the road, any hoo, we moved and she came with us, that was 8 years ago lol
So these are all stories about asshole cat owners who let their animals roam? WTF is that all about?
