Hi, I am a new forum member and looking for help.

About 3 years ago I took in a pair of kittens from a local rescue centre, they are typical English Shorthair Black and Whites and I’d assumed from the same litter though they came from a large re-homing so possibly not.

For the first six months or so they were great, snuggling up with us (myself and my son then six now nine) and each other and very affectionate.

Then one of them started to stay away for increased periods. I tried a collar, putting up local notices, notes through neighbour’s doors but with no response and he has stayed away for longer periods.

Now nearly two years on the second cat hardly ever comes home, about once a week and never when my son is at home which really upsets my son. He (the cat) never stays and just eats and runs, he never ventures past the kitchen or sleeps in the house.

Annual vaccinations are a nightmare and I spend a fortune on appointments I have to cancel because the cat is not home to take him and I’m always worrying that whoever has “adopted” him will move and take him with them. He is micro chipped but they have obviously never checked.

Is there anything I can do to tempt him home after all this time or anything more I can do to discourage mu neighbours?

I assume they are both neutered?

You could try putting a note on his collar stating he is on a special diet and not to feed. Honestly its hard in this situation as you dont know whats happening, he may not be getting fed elsewhere, it could be all manner of things.

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Thanks, they are both neutered, I have already tried increasingly desperate lies about special diets and veterinary treatments! I live in a very built up urban area so if he is not sleeping elsewhere I don't know where he is living!

is he v hungary when he gets back? one of my neighbours have 2 cats - and one does the same as yours 3 year old spayed girl, disappears 2/3 times a month for 4 + days

but eats tons when she returns so doesnt seem to be eating elsewhere.

Brocolli, no he is not hungry when he comes back. He only comes in about once a week and just picks.

I feed them the Iams complete dry food so there is some out most of the time (though I throw away and add new every day). This food was recommended by my vet as better nutritionally and for their teeth than "wet food".

I have found though that if I buy wet food pouches and feed once a day at the same time the "missing" cat will come back every day for this so I think that is what he's being fed elsewhere.

I'm thinking that might be the answer, give in to the wet food and start gradually moving the bowls further into the house to get him used to us again

if i were you id ditch the dry and give them the wet its obviously what they like and will be more cost affective as your thowing away good food.
i found if you want to try it mine loved sience plan its realy meaty and my old vets sell it and you can get it in p@h my cats loved it and so did all the local cats who decided to get into the house just for it. i used to give them wet and leave the sience plan out so they could pick at it, its worth a try.
good luck

Vets He is really much better off on wet food and having a raw chicken wing once a week for his teeth. If you can give him a wet diet it sounds as if he will back home like a shot

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Wet food it is then! Thanks all. I have tried the raw chicken breast before but they both looked at me like I'd gone quite mad and totally ignored it!