Dear all, your thoughts on this please.

I have had my cat for nearly 5 years, however, when my new neighbours moved in a couple of months ago they also have a cat, very large and a bit of a bully (even Copper is scared of it ).  My cat then started not coming home and I thought it had run away.  I conducted a search/posters/phoning rescues etc and a week or so later I saw him in the street so brought him home.  However, he wouldn't stay indoors and disappeared again.  He wasn't thin or bedraggled so I assumed someone was looking after him.

I didn't see him again for weeks and when we arrived home after Christmas I spotted him again, this time with a collar on, so someone has obviously adopted him.  Now I don't mind really if the cat has decided that he wants to live elsewhere but my problem is he is now double the size he was when he lived with me and is obviously being overfed.  I'm still paying the insurance premiums for him and he is microchipped with my details so am I entitled to catnap him back even though he doesn't want to be with me?  I don't know where he is living but it's obviously close by.  My plan was to get hold of him and send him for a while to a friend's house where he often goes when I'm away.  I don't mind this other person looking after him but I don't want him to get unhealthily fat.  What do you think?  I stuck a note on his collar to say I was the owner so they will know he's not a stray.

CG

He's your cat, you bought him presumably as a sales transaction, in my book that means you can pick him and take him where you like.  Same thing happened to a friend of mine.  The cat came back after a few weeks, she put some food down for him, he sniffed it and walked off again.  She had same attitude as you in that she was happy he was being looked after and had just decided he preferred it somewhere else (probably getting tastier dinner by sounds of it).  In your case you are only looking out for your cat's best interest so if you want to take him, take him ;)

We had this too - my beloved cat of 13 years went and lived with the people over the back - the back of there house looked into the back of ours - we would often see him peering out of their windows :-( we tried everything to get him back - there was no need for him to go anywhere else - we gave him everything he needed :-( we went to see the people to tell them he was out car with no joy.
Then they moved and took my cat with them - they obviously rented as no for sale sign so im just warning you to act quickly so the same doesnt happen to you :-(

Sadly cats are very independent and will choose where they want to live ...who knows what goes on in thier heads!.

I have 3 cats of my own and 1 cat that lived in our road but moved  in with us about 2yrs ago we did everything to discourage him but he was determined he used to sneak in the back or sit by the front door then jump ontop of the kitchen units to sleep where we couldnt get to him.
The dogs dont bother him and he isnt frightened of them.
His owners to be honest couldnt care less about him they knew he was being fed at our house we dont think he was being treated very well as the family like to drink ;)
She still refers to him apparently by other neighbours as her cat but he wont go home.
I never refer to him as being mine  eventhough I love him to bits he's very affecionate but I couldnt leave him out in the cold we just leave him to do his own thing if he comes in thats his choice whereas my cats I have rules that they cant stay out at night.

Your cat is a differnet situation as he was loved and cared for and you want him back well I say "just take him" if you have left a note on the collar to let the people know that he belongs to you just in case he returns to them.
If he is overweight maybe he has a few different homes he visits for treats I know one of  my cats visits a certain friends (neighbour) house early morning and they give her some ham and milk on a regular basis but I know about this it sjust a friendly visit!
You might find that quite a few people think he belongs to them!!!!!

I would take her  back and put her in a room with a tray and food for a few weeks get her out of her old routine get the weight off her give her lots of love and attention and hopefully she'll be fine.

Roni

If you want him back then take him. If you are happy for him to stay where he is then you need to make sure that the new owners take over the insurance and get the microchip details changed otherwise they might quickly drop him off outside your house if there is ever an accident or medical bill to pay.

Val