r/BenignExistence • • 6d ago

The cat from three doors up

My direct neighbour is best friends with the cat from three doors up, she often feeds him and he turns up early in the morning for his breakfast despite his food bowl at home being stocked. I'm friends with him too and while she was away I gave the gorgeous little creature his second breakfast from her shed so he didn't associate my garden with feeding.

She's been back from holiday for a few days and today I hear him meowing outside my window so I go out, give him some ruffles and he goes to the gate between our two gardens to be let through. I open the gate, give him a few more ruffles on her patio and he tries to lead me to her shed. I don't want to be feeding him often because that's a slippery slope (apparently one I'm already half way down) so I messaged my neighbour to say "Not sure if you are home, but if you are your little friend asked me to let you know he'd like a snack. He's on your patio." About 30 seconds later I hear her back door open as she greets him and invites him into her home for some food. It just warmed my heart, that little cat has us all wrapped around his little paw.

439 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

158

u/MerryTWatching 6d ago

Now that he has First and Second Breakfast locked in (home and neighbor), he's recruiting you for Third. Or Elevenses, he's probably not fussy about the name, as long as it's on time.

46

u/Skygreencloud 6d ago

I know, that's my concern. 🤣 I will redirect him to my neighbour. I have a cat already and although the two are friendlyish I don't want the little one claiming my house as his third home because it's already taken.

32

u/bombeck1405 6d ago

He has you marked down in his diary as "third responsible backup human", he has all his needs and wants sorted out for the future, as any good cat should.

12

u/Skygreencloud 6d ago

I love this, it made me grin!! Thanks.

5

u/bombeck1405 6d ago

You're most welcome "trbh" thanks so much for the award ☺️

24

u/Clean-Patient-8809 6d ago

My new head-canon is that cats are basically extra-short and heavily-armed hobbits.

6

u/MerryTWatching 6d ago

It's been many decades since I read the books, so I'm spotty on the details - do Hobbits try to trap you by exposing their bellies with a look on their faces that says "Go ahead, rub it! I promise that it's safe!" 😁

3

u/Hugh_Manatee123 6d ago

I feel like Pippin definitely would. Sam gives more of a mostly yes pets with an occasional attack. Merry would just taunt, never let you get close enough. Frodo wouldn't be a trap at all. Bilbo-always a trap.

3

u/DelightfulOtter1999 6d ago

Like the lovely story about 6 dinner Sid!

24

u/BrassyLdy 6d ago

As it should be!

5

u/Lobin 6d ago

Cat tax?

3

u/only_Q 6d ago

Aww 🥺

2

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Skygreencloud 5d ago

I know it's so sweet, he has five human friends that I know about. It's adorable! He's a very talkative cat and if he hears you and he's at the top of your garden he'll come running towards you yelling a very convincing meow mimic of hello. 🥰

2

u/looksfunny2u2 5d ago

We are so easily trained.

-8

u/Repulsive-Bug-7641 6d ago

Yeah, it’s cute, but don’t feed other people’s pets please.

18

u/Skygreencloud 6d ago

The cat's human knows about it. I'm not randomly feeding other people's pets.

13

u/Practical_Nature369 6d ago

They ASKED. Don't be daft