Does anyone else have half a cat?

In my experience what you describe is quite normal cat behaviour and it sounds as if both you, the cat and the family who think he is their cat are quite happy about the arrangement.

So enjoy it.

Here the local cats wander in and out of each others' houses given half the chance. Our old cat wasn't all that keen on the idea, so only a few were allowed in "his" house.

Greyduster

When we were viewing our previous house, I admired the owners cat. “Oh it’s not strictly speaking ours,” she said. “She decided a long time ago that she wanted to live here during the day and she goes home at tea time.” It seemed to be an arrangement that suited all parties! We bought the house, but after a couple of days when she wasn’t getting fed or pampered, she gave up on us!

What a pity you didn't succumb! You've missed out: the pleasure without the responsibilities!

Coastpath

What a welcome visitor you have there giulia.

Our cat Rosie was well loved and fed at home but a wanderer. She was very loving when home but obviously had a whole other life beyond the cat flap. It was clear that she had one regular 'mistress', for want of a better word, as she regularly came home smelling of the same beautiful perfume.

Adorable!

Kali2

Proportions are hard to calculate precisely here. We have a cat with 3 legs, who adores spending time with my neighbour. So probably more like Adrian Moles' cat - 3/4s. lol

Lovely!!

We weren’t aware for several years, but our cat was a regular visitor at our next door neighbours’ house - apparently he went for a saucer of milk every morning, and for the leftovers from her many dinner parties. A lot of choice fish and chicken, I dare say.

He always tended to be overweight, but as the vet said, it’s very hard to put a cat on a diet - they just go to neighbours and put on that starving orphan kitten act - one paw raised and a pathetic little mew - ours was evidently very good at it.

When we were viewing our previous house, I admired the owners cat. “Oh it’s not strictly speaking ours,” she said. “She decided a long time ago that she wanted to live here during the day and she goes home at tea time.” It seemed to be an arrangement that suited all parties! We bought the house, but after a couple of days when she wasn’t getting fed or pampered, she gave up on us!

My BSH cat Oliver the Great often visits my elderly neighbour Jim almost every day he goes between our two back gardens all day, Jim does spoil him with treats but he is home every evening by 7pm when Jim locks his back door when he comes in for the night.

I have half a cat, an unwelcome visitor from next door, who waits until I have fed my cats, then comes in through the cat flap and steals their food. I caught him this morning when I found him trapped in the kitchen by one of my cats who was outside and wouldn't let him out. I managed to smack him once for the first time, for which I make no apologies,before he escaped but will make sure I have a jug of cold water to empty over him in future.

My bloke has had a couple of cats that visit him (with my encouragement). One of them was a very shy boy, who gradually became friendlier over the years. His owner was away all day and he didn't have a cat flap. He became very attached to my bloke in his last year and also developed a real appetite, which was satiated with titbits. He spent a lot of time indoors sitting on bloke's lap and having a bit of comfort.

We found out later he'd had cancer and was on cat chemo and steroids, which were stimulating his appetite. I'm so pleased he had somewhere to go when he was outside for the day (who puts a cat out when they're ill?) in his final year.

Proportions are hard to calculate precisely here. We have a cat with 3 legs, who adores spending time with my neighbour. So probably more like Adrian Moles' cat - 3/4s. lol

Ps: I so agree with you PADDYANN54 about coming back as a cat in the next life! Have always thought that.

Thanks everyone for your interesting comments.

I never give food to Peppo - that would be disrespectful to his owners. They are well aware that he comes to us for his water and we all laugh about how crafty he has been taking over two households instead of one. We notice he often comes to us on Tuesday and Friday mornings: that's when the lady comes to clean next door and she obviously kicks him out while working!

I had a cat who used to go about her daily catty business but came home every night. I just assumed she was out and about during the day. My next door neighbours were selling there house and being nosey I had a look at it on Rightmove. I was somewhat surprised when I came to the photo of their bedroom as there was my puss, sprawled across their bed sound asleep.

This sounds typical of cats to me!
My stepdaughter has a cat 'part of the year'. He disappears randomly, lord knows where, but she has now learnt not to worry & go looking for him, not to dispose of his stuff, & to just expect him when his holiday is over!
When I first read your post, giulia, I thought you meant sharing a cat with family,like we do. My daughter and family have moved in with other family while they look for a new, damp-free, place. They couldn't take their cat so he's staying with us for awhile!
At hers he regularly went out, but he's decided to be a house cat at ours.

Our last cat who died when he was run over by a car ,would go missing for 24 hours at least once a week. My son came to see us and showed us his Facebook page and there was our boy quite at home on a strangers lap.They wondered if he was missing or lost as he was happy to visit with them and even stay overnight on ocassion.They lived 3 miles away!

He also visited the couple across the road who had 2 cats of their own ,we found out when we came home from the shops and saw him sitting inside their window .They too were happy to have him .The two we got 6 months after he died dont go far and never stay out but we do get folk coming to the door to let us know they are on the roof or up a tree chasing squirrels .I'm coming back as a cat next time they have a great life and no responsibilty

Vets, during lockdown, said owners were bringing their cats in to be examined because they thought their pets were ill and losing weight. The loss of weight was caused because the cats were staying with their owners and not visiting other homes.

LucyLocket55

There is a wonderful children’s book on this theme ‘Six Dinner Sid’, I often gave it to children as a birthday present.

I remember that!

Our friends had a cat which went missing for months. They couldn't find her anywhere despite searches then one day she strolled in again as if she'd never been away.
They found out where she'd been when her new 'owners' came round, were most indignant and wanted her back, but alas, she was back home again where she first belonged.

Cats aren't very loyal.

This book features one very bad cat who goes from house to house stealing all manner of items. It's in verse and if you like Hairy Maclary, you will like this one for very young kids.
We had two brothers when we lived on France and they would sneak into the houses to visit the guests on holiday. When we moved to London they used the same tactic up and down the street and would be gone for a day or two.

I think this is quite usual. My two used to visit my neighbour until they got too old to climb over the fence.

I looked up that book and think I will add it to my collection. Thank you. Cats are such funny creatures. We had one that ended up spending a lot of time next door as he got older; my mum did get a bit jealous and put it down to the cat getting dementia.

I had a cat once who decided being a cat in a multi-cat home wasn't to his liking, so he moved out and went to live nearby. He would come back once a month or so to visit, but wouldn't stay. He once came back, having had surgery, with a nicely shaved and stitched wound, so clearly was very well looked after!

LucyLocket, my DD had Six Dinner Sid as a child. My DGS has it now and loves it too.

*fed

My son has a cat visitor who stays for hours, very well cared for and a lovely personality and wears a tag saying ‘please do not feed me’ . The owners obviously know he must get get away from home ?

There is a wonderful children’s book on this theme ‘Six Dinner Sid’, I often gave it to children as a birthday present.

Totally unrelated but reading this has caused me to recall when our cat went missing. It was at the time of the change over to North Sea gas and installation of new pipes was necessary. The pipe fitters lifted the floor boards to replace the pipes.
The cat went missing but after a couple of days we heard a faint meowing.
Up came the carpet and the floorboards and there was the cat. No idea why he remained silent for so long.