Minding Cats

>>2350811
Cont.
I showed up at night a few hours after the family had left for their holiday with the cats already inside. Despite being around awake for a few hours, I only saw the black one once before it fled around a corner and disappeared again. When I woke up the next morning, both cats were at the back door expecting to be let out. Following the instructions given, I obliged. The black one shot out while the brown one strolled out slowly and then stayed around the house.

Once I returned from uni in the afternoon, the brown one was still nearby and when I opened the door it came in willingly. Again, as per my instructions, I put out some mince and waited for the blacks return. It didn't show up.

The next morning I'm woken by the brown cat scratching at the door. I look outside and surprise, surprise; it's the black cat! I open the door to try and let it in but he's way too wary. He wouldn't go near me and would run back outside if I tried to close the door behind it. Try as I might, I couldn't hold him and he fled back to the outdoors after a few mouthfuls of food (the food bows sits right next to the door).

The same thing happens that afternoon after I let the brown one in. Brown scratches at door, black is sitting there waiting, I open the door and step away, it manages to get a few mouthfuls but I fail to trap it and it eventually fucks off.

This morning, I tried a slightly different tactic. The black one turned up again but this time, instead of moving away after I open the door, I stand there and hold it open and close it behind it. It was a resounding success and I feel like an idiot for not doing so sooner.

The problem is that now I have two cats that are expecting to be let outdoors. The back one goes nuts and starts climbing up the screen door (pic related) while the brown one sits there looking outside longingly. Eventually they calm down and the black one resumed hiding while the brown one wanders the house.

>>2350812
So now I'm left with a dilemma. Do I continue to try and follow the owner’s instructions or do I try and turn these outdoor cats into indoor cats?

Any other tips about looking after these cats that you can think of would be welcome. I've never cared for cats before and my instructions were pretty basic.

Tell the black one to fuck off if it doesn't want to come back inside.
It's probably having a great time killing song birds and infecting the neighbors.

>>2350813
It takes time to weed out this outdoor cat behavior. Time and long-term commitment to your cat's safety and well-being. If the owners never bothered you can't be expected to make it during the next few weeks.

As much as I think it's irresponsible and outright rude to let cat outdoors like this, you should look out for yourself, since you can't fix their owner's mistakes. Just follow the instructions and do this locking the door behind black cat thing and you should be in the clear.

The cats aren't likely to die on the streets right now when you're taking care of them if they haven't so far. The holidays will be over soon and you'll be in good terms with your uncle and family. The cats might die later but, then again, that's not your problem.

you're just feeding ferals at this point