An unwanted gift… Calling all cat lovers

Help! There’s this cat, a likeable enough critter, who is trying to win me over. It’s an uphill battle, as I’m allergic. So I tend to avoid cats. Therefore, they love me. Even the most anti-social cats find their way to me, to seductively slink around my legs, letting their tails casually curl around my calves. Sometimes I can be won over. I’ll scratch them a bit, always mindful to wash my hands before scratching my eyes.

But this one, my neighbor’s cat, wants into my house as well as my heart. That just can’t happen. I call it Spook – and I guess he’s a he. Apparently he adopted Mr. Lalor and his brother, who lived in my flat before I did. Mr. Lalor fell to his charms, but never went so far as to name him (or determine if he’s a boy or not.) When I was checking out my flat, before moving in, Spook was in the bedroom, on the bed frame that had been left here. So I know he’s used to coming in. But I just won’t go that far.

At first, he was just curling up on my front door mat, outside my sliding glass door each night. Surely I would notice his persistence and give in, right? No. He warmed my heart a bit, but my line is drawn. I’m standing firm. So then he started to bring me gifts, trying to persuade me. But this was his mistake. See, his gifts are dead birds.

Spook delivering one of his gifts.

The first time I heard a constant meowing outside the door. I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I looked outside. He was sitting there patiently waiting for me to ooze praise and welcome him into my home. I stared at him, and then went back inside. Huh. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do. I didn’t want to encourage him – and have him kill more birds. But I wanted to let him know I appreciated his effort. I left some leftover salmon paté (don’t ask – it was a mistake) which was gone in the morning. But that didn’t work. It only encouraged him. There’ve been at least half a dozen ‘gifts’ now. Spook is single handedly disrupting the local breeding season.

And such nice birds too. The Silvereye, a cute little green and peach thing, with a ring around its eye.

So I’m asking your help. What do I do? How do I get Spook to stop bringing me gifts?

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For the birders in the crowd, here’s a link to the Silvereye’s bio, and it’s song.