Given cat by neighbour but original owner, her son, wants it back.

70Su

Hi, around a year ago our neighbour at the request of her son took in his cat because the son had just had a baby and his wife considered cats dirty, they didn't like cats, and they didn't want it in the house ruining their expensive furniture. This was their third cat they had taken on and given away, their first two cats to other people.
Our neighbour took on the cat as she felt it was the right thing to do, but her husband is elderly, ill and unsteady on his feet, the cat is young and gets under his feet, on a few occasions almost tripping him.
They also have a dog that doesn't leave the cat alone.
Said cat started spending more and more time in our garden and home, our neighbour didn't mind and encouraged us to play and pet with her until eventually all the cat went home for was food so it was decided that as we now had such a good bond with the cat who used to be nervous and unsettled, but now was calm and loved, we should have her.
Since we have taken ownership she has damaged our wallpaper, split one of our net curtains, eaten our food, drank our milk and water. Of course, we take on these responsibilities as an owner and love her so it's all part and parcel.
The trouble started a couple of weeks ago when my neighbour told her son what she had done, he changed his story and said that he'd only asked her to look after the cat and they shouldn't have given her away. He is lying and has upset his mum and dad so much, he admits he doesn't like cats, that she will stay in a kennel outside and not be allowed in the house, and that they might not even keep her but if they decide to get rid of her it'll be who they decide to give her away to. My neighbour has said he is not considering the life of the cat at all, that he is selfish and it is cruel to remove the cat from a loving environment, let alone upsetting us. He said he doesn't care about us or the cat, it's the principle and as soon as the cats kennel is built he'll be taking her back.
We are so very traumatised by this, unfortunately our neighbour didn't get the cats' 'microchip' details swapped to her name and the cat is still registered to her son and his address.
Legally I really don't know where we stand. Please help.

hb2

What am awful situation for you! I suspect that, legally, the cat still belongs to the son - but I really hope that someone will come along and tell you otherwise as it seems clear that puss would be far better off with you

onwards&upwards

Sounds a bit extreme, doesn’t like cats but wants to keep one imprisoned in a kennel for no appar3nt reason? Is he a psycho or perhaps is his mum not telling you the full story!

sheramber

tell him he will have to pay your expenses for 'boarding' his cat'.

Make a list of all your expenses since you have had her and give him it.

Fire_Fox

You cannot know exactly what has been said between your neighbours and their offspring, recently, or in the past. That is critical legally. There was no contract - verbal or written - between yourself and the original owner so costs are irrelevant legally.

Animal welfare legislation extends well beyond shelter (see 2006 Act). Unfortunately legislation cannot be enforced until an appropriately qualified professional agrees it has been breached.

I suspect you are being blackmailed. You can pay the ransom or call their bluff.

GDB2222

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You cannot know exactly what has been said between your neighbours and their offspring, recently, or in the past. That is critical legally. There was no contract - verbal or written - between yourself and the original owner so costs are irrelevant legally.

Animal welfare legislation extends well beyond shelter (see 2006 Act). Unfortunately legislation cannot be enforced until an appropriately qualified professional agrees it has been breached.

I suspect you are being blackmailed. You can pay the ransom or call their bluff.

I think it's unlikely that the son will start legal proceedings over a cat he doesn't like. Until he does, I think you need do nothing. Just hang onto the cat. He's perhaps just annoyed that his parents gave the cat away without asking. He may well calm down once the initial upset is over.

If it does go to court, you can defend the case, but you may lose.

onwards&upwards

I reckon the neighbour was only supposed to be looking after the cat temporarily but was happy to let the OP take it on and is now making up a load of rubbish because the son wants his cat back.

People who don’t like cats don’t get cats, and they certainly don’t fight tooth and nail to have a cat returned to them just for spite so they can mistreat it. If it were true i’d be worried about the safety of the baby as they’d be sadists!

Mojisola

70Su wrote: »

Hi, around a year ago our neighbour at the request of her son took in his cat because the son had just had a baby and his wife considered cats dirty, they didn't like cats, and they didn't want it in the house ruining their expensive furniture. This was their third cat they had taken on and given away, their first two cats to other people.

onwards&upwards wrote: »

People who don’t like cats don’t get cats, and they certainly don’t fight tooth and nail to have a cat returned to them just for spite so they can mistreat it. If it were true i’d be worried about the safety of the baby as they’d be sadists!

Most people don't - others obviously do.

Some people feel their 'ownership' is more important than any animal's welfare.

mangog

There's some information on the law regarding cat ownership here:

https://www.cats.org.uk/documents/cat-care-leaflets-2013-eg13catsandthelaw

I would contact a charity such as the Cats Protection League or RSPCA for advice if you're concerned about the cat's welfare. They may also be able to advise on your legal rights.

onwards&upwards

Mojisola wrote: »

Most people don't - others obviously do.

Some people feel their 'ownership' is more important than any animal's welfare.

Yeah, but is that a reliable source?

If they gave the first two away who is it so crucial to get this one back?

Yes there are people who keep getting animals on a whim then give them away/abandon them etc. but do those people go all out to get an animal back just to give it a deliberately miserable life? That’s borderline psychopathic!

I just don’t think this adds up.

70Su

Thanks all, things have gone from bad to worse, our neighbour came round in tears again last night, her son is refusing to see the right thing to do for the cat and has now said she'll be taken next Sunday, but not to stay at his but at his brothers who happens to live on a main, busy road! If this isn't proof enough that he doesn't have the cats welfare to heart but is just being spiteful what else is?
Our neighbour has many times said it is just that he feels wronged because she gave the cat away, if they'd kept her this wouldn't be happening, not that he or the family really want the cat back, the cat is just a 'pawn'.
To put the poor thing through being in yet another home, where they won't keep her in for the recommended 6-8 weeks, on a busy road!
My neighbour is so desperate for the cat to remain with us she offered her son money and her frail husband apparently is so distraught he is not eating!
I have looked further into if micro-chipping is proof of ownership and apparently it isn't but ideally I would need some evidence that the cat has been given to us. I asked my neighbour if she'd write up a statement of the truth of all that has happened and then the dispute would solely be between us and her son but she said that already her son is threatening that he'll stop them from seeing their grand kids if they carry on how they are.
It's such a shame, I really feel for our neighbours, it appears their son's selfishness stubbornness has caused lots of family upset over the years and all he is doing is blaming his mum when all she was doing was putting his, when he first asked them to take the cat, her husbands, when he tripped over the cat and fell, and then the cats interests first.
When, whether or not he feels it was wrong or right of his mum, this far down the line he really should just now think of what is best for the cat and he is not.