Toby returned home 9 months after moving, advice appreciated

[TheCatsMum]

We moved house about nine months ago. Both cats were kept in for about three weeks, and to the best of my knowledge Toby has only been going into our new neighbours gardens. I noticed he wasn't in this morning and then had a phone call from an old neighbour saying he was on his doorstep late last night and he'd kept him in. He's been out since returning for a wee and has come back in.

By way of background, we only moved a five minute walk away, but have been very careful with Toby, getting him back in if he's out the front and we want to walk down the road. He was very popular with two lots of old neighbours, both of which used to give him treats and he spent a lot of time sleeping in one house - it's this house he's gone back to (the other old neighbours happen to be away). To the best of our knowledge he hasn't returned to our old house. He followed me back this morning but was very nervous of cars and I had to coax him out of a few gardens he ran into.

Any suggestions what we do now? I don't think keeping him in for a few weeks is going to work as he now knows how to get back. I've asked the old neighbour not to feed him and not to let him in during the day, but to phone me if he sees him. My husband thinks we should let the old neighbour have him in at night so we know he's safe, but I think this is encouraging him. I want to say he can't have him in at all, not to feed him but kindly ask him if he'll phone me if he turns up. This chap does have a very soft spot for Toby though and I think he'll be torn between doing what we want and turning his back on him. Toby is nearly 16 years old, so I've had him a long time and really don't want to give him up.

[Kay]

I understand your concerns, but I would worry much more about a cat being out on the streets at night, when RTAs are much more likely, than being safe in someone else's house, and someone who cares about him to boot

I think you might, too, be putting this man in a very difficult position if he felt obliged to leave an elderly cat outside in the dark, perhaps in the rain - I know I couldn't do it - perhaps the compromise would be for him to let you know whenever he lets Toby in, and not to feed him so Toby comes home in the mornings

I hope - though I'm not sure - I would feel able to let a lonely elderly person have a share of one of mine on a part time basis

[TheCatsMum]

Thanks for your reply and I understand what you're saying. I think I would rather Toby was discouraged so he wouldn't be crossing busier road in the first place. It's really quiet in our new road so he's as safe as he could ever be for a cat who has access outdoors.

Before we moved we knew he visited the neighbours and suspected he would return in the early days, so it was a bit of a shock after nine months.

He's been out three times today and returned, but I suspect he'll go wondering again one evening soon.