How do I find people who've moved but might have 'adopted' my cat? Help! :0)?

pookienoodle

Have you tried phoning local vets and asking them to look out for him(is he identi chipped?)as they will pobably take him for a check up.
we had a similar thing happen to us.
our neighbours elderly mother was visiting her and took a shine to our cat( he was a fatty who would go with anyone who fed him.)
the neighbour asked if we would sell her the cat,we declined.
when her mother returned home our cat vanished.
we put posters up and checked the shelters but to no avail.
our suspitions were confirmed when the neighbour stated to quiz us if our cat had any medical issues or needed a special diet.
we like to think he spent his last days being pampered by a loving elderly lady who although stole him,did it because she had fallen for him.

Claire_Bear

:O that's awful pookie, I've heard loads of stories about neighbours who've stolen people's cat, I can't get my head around it. If you take a shine to a cat go to a rescue shelter and adopt one for yourself, why would anyone think it's ok to take someone else's beloved pet? I hate it when the person's excuse is that they've 'taken a shine to him' That doesn't make it ok to take another person's property!

When they started asking questions, did you do anything to get the cat back?

jess1974

Oh Andrea thats awful, i would be devastated if someone took my cat, no useful advice for you, but i'm keeping my fingers crossed xxxxx

P.s I think contacting the removal company is a great idea...

tandraig

I have a confession to make - I stole my last cat nicky!
heres hoping you all understand why?
I was working as a canvasser and was sent to a very rough neighbourhood - rotties dobies and staffies abounded - and not a few pitbulls! well, i was walking up the path to one house when this pitiful mew drew my attention. this ginger cat was sitting in front of empty bowl outside the door. the other bowl was full of dry food. luckily i had a bottle of water in my bag so gave the cat some. no-one was home so made anote to return next day.
the next day - same scenario (and it was about 5 - 6 years ago - that heatwave we had?) only the cat met me at the gate! gave the cat a drink realised the people prob in work - so went back at 6.00pm. still no-one home. by this time the cat thinks i am his best freind and jumped into my arms. oh god - he was skin and bone! his fur was so matted was like a suit of armour! he stank! i petted him a bit - gave him water and noticed that it seemed to be the same dish of dry food!
I had to go into a diff area for a few days - then returned to follow up on the not at homes! the cat was very distressed - dry water dish and the food was turning green. phoned my boss on mobile could he pick me up? I picked up cat and literally - ran up street and into boss's car. told him to drive go go go!.
fair play for boss - he was a bit startled but drove out of area and willingly let me have time off to take the cat to vet. and waited for me! the vet said the cat was badly dehydrated malnourished and possibly had cat flu - kept him overnight - when i went to pick him up next day - the bad news was he had cat aids.
i kept him - had him for three years - called him nicky cos i nicked him! and he was the nicest most loving house cat you could ever wish to meet!
so i dont really regret stealing him - but feel a bit guilty i never let his owners know he was ok! scared to go back in case i was seen and got duffed up - was very rough place!

tandraig

got carried away with confession time and forgot to post any useful advice to OP sorry!
first i would suggest you ask the landlady if she or you could search the house for your cat - as you suspect he may be locked in! then if he isnt there speculate he got in removal van - ask if she has their new address? also their surname. if by chance she has these - dont write and ask about cat - drive over and see if you can spot him - then steal him back!
your cat was well looked after and loved - no reason whatesoever to just take him!
if you get their surname but landlady doesnt have forwarding address - then would suggest you use private investigator or try peoplefinder on net first!

cte1111

Do you know where they got married? The registry office would have a record of all marriages, so you could check through those with the right first names. You would then have their full name at least.

pookienoodle

Claire_Bear wrote: »

:O that's awful pookie, I've heard loads of stories about neighbours who've stolen people's cat, I can't get my head around it. If you take a shine to a cat go to a rescue shelter and adopt one for yourself, why would anyone think it's ok to take someone else's beloved pet? I hate it when the person's excuse is that they've 'taken a shine to him' That doesn't make it ok to take another person's property!

When they started asking questions, did you do anything to get the cat back?

we did ask if she had taken him,which she denied.
her mother lived in Surrey,we were in Cardiff so there was not much we could do.
we did notify the microchip people that he had been stolen/missing but they said
vets don't really bother if the address doesn't match the microchip one anymore.

Claire_Bear

Tandraig, I don't think anyone would think badly of you for rescuing that poor cat I bet if you hadn't intervened then it would have died from it's various ailments, the owners clearly didn't give a damn about it :mad: It's like my friend's cat Sweeny, it belonged to her ex boyfriend when she was going out with him, he lived in a student house with a few other lads and they got a kitten, but they threw it at the walls and kicked it about and stuff :mad::mad::mad: So one day she stormed in, picked him up and said 'this is my cat now' and took him home with her. I don't think anyone would blame her for that either! In some cases it's ok to 'steal' a cat (although in those cases I'd call it a rescue, not a theft), but simply 'taking a shine' to an animal is no good reason to claim it as your own!

Pookie, that is terrible, it makes my blood boil just thinking about it. I wouldn't have let it rest with the neighbour if it was me! Some people are so maddening!

tandraig

pookienoodle wrote: »

we did ask if she had taken him,which she denied.
her mother lived in Surrey,we were in Cardiff so there was not much we could do.
we did notify the microchip people that he had been stolen/missing but they said
vets don't really bother if the address doesn't match the microchip one anymore.

so what is the point of microchipping then???

tandraig

Claire_Bear wrote: »

Tandraig, I don't think anyone would think badly of you for rescuing that poor cat I bet if you hadn't intervened then it would have died from it's various ailments, the owners clearly didn't give a damn about it :mad: It's like my friend's cat Sweeny, it belonged to her ex boyfriend when she was going out with him, he lived in a student house with a few other lads and they got a kitten, but they threw it at the walls and kicked it about and stuff :mad::mad::mad: So one day she stormed in, picked him up and said 'this is my cat now' and took him home with her. I don't think anyone would blame her for that either! In some cases it's ok to 'steal' a cat (although in those cases I'd call it a rescue, not a theft), but simply 'taking a shine' to an animal is no good reason to claim it as your own!

thank you clairebear - your opinion matters to me. the vet said that nicki wouldnt have lasted another fortnight on the streets (didnt tell him that i had nicked him - just that i had found him). and good for your friend - I hope i would have done the same.
Its just that i didnt even make a conscious decision - i just phoned my boss picked nicky up and legged it! never ever done anything like that before - and my boss ragged me endlessly about it! was called the catnapper after that!