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Woman wants abandoned cat back
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Jmoo
Posts: 361 Forumite
So this is a long story. Stick with me here!
We discovered a heavily pregnant cat and ten week kitten living in under a neighbour's shed during the heatwave this year. We did our best to find out from Facebook if it belonged to anyone, we had no takers. We kept an eye on it initially at night in the garden to see if it went to any houses, but it remained in the same places for sleeping. We spoke to a charity who advised feeding and taking them in as none locally would take them in due to demand. A neighbour said that there was one house that had kittens recently, but they were concerned about its welfare having given birth three times in 18 months, but we left a note for them asking them to ring us about it. As a street on social media we agreed this cat and kitten needed attention in the meantime, especially with all of the hot weather, and pledged to get it spayed if nobody came forward.
We spoke to a vet who confirmed it had a microchip but it was registered to Spain and had no details on it. They also put an appeal out for someone to come forward. We heard nothing, but they asked us to keep the cat in because she was ready to give birth in a matter of weeks. She was in need of lots of food and drink and also had a UTI, they said if nobody came forward would we take her on and pay for her treatment.
We agreed, with no clue of what we might do about the pregnancy. The kitten went to a family member to look after.
The vet registered the microchip to us ahead of her pregnancy and she had four healthy kittens. Now the poor cat has gone through a lot of health complaints to the tune of over £1,000, money we couldn't really afford but for the sake of the cat we wanted sorting. We've since set up some insurance for her, and found homes for three of the kittens, as well as the one with the family member.
Nobody came forward about the cat in those five months... until today.
Through the note comes a poor English note from a Latvian saying they noticed the kitten in the window and loved it, and said that the mother was "our cat", which they admitted had been abandoned but now looked the healthiest it had ever been. They said they'd gone through a bad break up and the cats had been put on the streets by the ex-husband, and they'd like it back along with the kittens.
Now had this have happened some time ago I'd perhaps have been understanding. But five months later, after a lot of treatment from being a stray cat, this is the first we've heard of people wanting to claim her. I am pragmatic, this obviously was someone's cat, and this could always have happened. But I'm frustrated she's on pain relief, she has to have a set diet of £15 per box of urinary food, and she is booked in for vaccines and spaying to allow to her to live a healthy life - and somebody now could scupper a lot of work if they can't afford it. And to also ask for the kitten too!
My partner, however, thinks we should hand it back because of their backstory. But I'm equally confused if this cat comes from Latvia why it wasn't noted on the chip as they claim, why nobody looked for it sooner when it was heavily pregnant and with a kitten. Do I ask for some proof?
I'm wrestling with my moral compass here - I just want what's right for the cat - so please advise!
We discovered a heavily pregnant cat and ten week kitten living in under a neighbour's shed during the heatwave this year. We did our best to find out from Facebook if it belonged to anyone, we had no takers. We kept an eye on it initially at night in the garden to see if it went to any houses, but it remained in the same places for sleeping. We spoke to a charity who advised feeding and taking them in as none locally would take them in due to demand. A neighbour said that there was one house that had kittens recently, but they were concerned about its welfare having given birth three times in 18 months, but we left a note for them asking them to ring us about it. As a street on social media we agreed this cat and kitten needed attention in the meantime, especially with all of the hot weather, and pledged to get it spayed if nobody came forward.
We spoke to a vet who confirmed it had a microchip but it was registered to Spain and had no details on it. They also put an appeal out for someone to come forward. We heard nothing, but they asked us to keep the cat in because she was ready to give birth in a matter of weeks. She was in need of lots of food and drink and also had a UTI, they said if nobody came forward would we take her on and pay for her treatment.
We agreed, with no clue of what we might do about the pregnancy. The kitten went to a family member to look after.
The vet registered the microchip to us ahead of her pregnancy and she had four healthy kittens. Now the poor cat has gone through a lot of health complaints to the tune of over £1,000, money we couldn't really afford but for the sake of the cat we wanted sorting. We've since set up some insurance for her, and found homes for three of the kittens, as well as the one with the family member.
Nobody came forward about the cat in those five months... until today.
Through the note comes a poor English note from a Latvian saying they noticed the kitten in the window and loved it, and said that the mother was "our cat", which they admitted had been abandoned but now looked the healthiest it had ever been. They said they'd gone through a bad break up and the cats had been put on the streets by the ex-husband, and they'd like it back along with the kittens.
Now had this have happened some time ago I'd perhaps have been understanding. But five months later, after a lot of treatment from being a stray cat, this is the first we've heard of people wanting to claim her. I am pragmatic, this obviously was someone's cat, and this could always have happened. But I'm frustrated she's on pain relief, she has to have a set diet of £15 per box of urinary food, and she is booked in for vaccines and spaying to allow to her to live a healthy life - and somebody now could scupper a lot of work if they can't afford it. And to also ask for the kitten too!
My partner, however, thinks we should hand it back because of their backstory. But I'm equally confused if this cat comes from Latvia why it wasn't noted on the chip as they claim, why nobody looked for it sooner when it was heavily pregnant and with a kitten. Do I ask for some proof?
I'm wrestling with my moral compass here - I just want what's right for the cat - so please advise!
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Comments
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If this were me, and I consider myself to be a reasonable and fair person, I wouldn't even give this a second thought. There'd be no way I'd give the cat or any kitten back to her. She abandoned it when heavily pregnant, so would've had it, and it's kittens fending for themselves. I don't think the backstory (whether it's even true) has any relevance or bearing. If it truly was hers she gave up her rights to it. You are now caring for it as it should've been cared for. It is best for the animal that it stays with you.
"a workman, even of the lowest and poorest order, if he is frugal and industrious, may enjoy a greater share of the necessaries and conveniences of life than it is possible for any savage to acquire."9 -
I understand. I guess the flipside is it could be taken off the streets when she's allowed back out, or it could return to wherever they live. That said I agree that I can't work out why somebody wouldn't go looking for the cat sooner, even if it was one of her family members who posted the note.0
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She gave it up - I bet she doesn't want to repay the welfare costs it has needed. There is a definite reason the cat looks the healthiest it ever has!
But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care.
Lewis Carroll2 -
If they can be so cruel as to leave a poorly and pregnant cat to fend for itself she doesn't deserve to have it back.
Personally I don't care what the circumstances were I cannot believe they have now asked for it after acknowledging abandoning them.
I'd say no. If they decide to pursue it legally which is highly unlikely then provide the full bill for all vets fees, medication etc etc and request full payment upfront4 -
I'd also say no, you've done a superb job of turning the cat's life around (and the kittens that came with it). If you hadn't - there's a chance that cat would no longer be with us. Even if it was their cat, they abandoned it (no matter what the backstory was) and they could do the same again. I'm sure that the RSPCA (not that they seem to care about that much) wouldn't want it rehomed with someone that had abandoned it. There's no actual telling that this IS their cat, it may be a similar cat. (If you really wanted to - you could ask 'where was the microchip registered' - and see what the response was, and if it's not Spain, it's not their cat).
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But if they say "Spain" you have got to know what you will say then.cymruchris said:I'd also say no, you've done a superb job of turning the cat's life around (and the kittens that came with it). If you hadn't - there's a chance that cat would no longer be with us. Even if it was their cat, they abandoned it (no matter what the backstory was) and they could do the same again. I'm sure that the RSPCA (not that they seem to care about that much) wouldn't want it rehomed with someone that had abandoned it. There's no actual telling that this IS their cat, it may be a similar cat. (If you really wanted to - you could ask 'where was the microchip registered' - and see what the response was, and if it's not Spain, it's not their cat).
It might be better off to say that you have grown fond of it and will not give it back. Even goin through a divorce, you have to look after animals, and it's not like we are not without shelters that would have taken it in.The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.0 -
Jmoo said:I understand. I guess the flipside is it could be taken off the streets when she's allowed back out, or it could return to wherever they live. That said I agree that I can't work out why somebody wouldn't go looking for the cat sooner, even if it was one of her family members who posted the note.
In that case I would be tempted to keep the cat as an indoor cat, or only let it out at night. You're right you could do nothing to stop it going back there if it chose to, but if that happens then I suppose the decision is taken out of your hands. In keeping the cat you would be doing what you thought was best for it, and that's all you can do, act in its best interests. I'm sure you'd still keep an eye out for it and it's welfare.
"a workman, even of the lowest and poorest order, if he is frugal and industrious, may enjoy a greater share of the necessaries and conveniences of life than it is possible for any savage to acquire."5 -
I like to think I'm reasonable but yes I can't understand how there has been no attempt to find this cat before now, the fact they've written mentioning the cute kitten first before the cat, and the fact they emphasise how healthy it looks - knowing how poorly and malnourished it has been.1
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No way os she fot to be the owner of any animal.
I am sure she could have found the cat and made proper arrangements for it if she had wanted to.
Have you told her how much you have spent on the cat to get her to 'look the healthiest it had ever been" , including getting her spayed which must be done before you hand her over , and which you expect her to repay, and the ongoing treatment costs for the cat , which she would have to commit to.
She will probably change her mind then.
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That was my thought too, set out your costs and what the ongoing costs are, and see how keen she is then ...sheramber said:No way os she fot to be the owner of any animal.
I am sure she could have found the cat and made proper arrangements for it if she had wanted to.
Have you told her how much you have spent on the cat to get her to 'look the healthiest it had ever been" , including getting her spayed which must be done before you hand her over , and which you expect her to repay, and the ongoing treatment costs for the cat , which she would have to commit to.
She will probably change her mind then.Signature removed for peace of mind1
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