Woman wants abandoned cat back

Mrs_Z

I'm with the others, definitely do not give the cat back to them.  They've seen a cute kitten in the window and now suddenly want it back.  The cat was never a priority to them when they had it, they've never come back to look for it. You've done the admirable thing to ensure the cat has seen the vet, etc. My suspicion is that the cat would never be their priority again as soon as the cute kitten/s grow up.
I would not get into too much of a conversation with them, just be polite and say something on the lines that you've taken care of the cat, paid the vet fees etc and it's now registered to yourself.  Anyone wanting it back would need to a) prove it belong to them AND b) be prepared to reimburse you of the expenses occurred.  No way will they pay £££s to get 'their' cat/s back.  If anything, unfortunately, they would go out and buy a new kitten.
If the cat goes out and gets 'catnapped' then I guess there's not too much you can do about it, but at least it's microchipped to you.

Shineyhappy

They abandoned their pregnant cat which is neglect, I certainly wouldn’t be giving a cat back to some who did that and do they even have proof it’s their cat? It’s not like no two cats look alike

jusferbrowsing

Its a big fat NOPE from me too.
The cat is registered to you and your vets and you have a documented history of looking after it. I can't see how they could have any realistic evidence it is theirs. If you somehow are forced into a position of them getting it back they should pay what you forked out in vet bills, if they can't pay then they can't afford a cat.

CPL runs cheap neutering on a very regular basis for a few £s outlay, there is no excuse for a unneutered cat. 

SensibleSarah

Definitely don't give it back. Jumping to a few conclusions here but it strikes me that they are seeing the cat as a potential cash cow because cute kittens can be sold for a decent amount of money. If it were me, I'd ensure she's neutered as soon as your vet will do it (if not done already) and simply refuse to return the cat or the remaining kitten. They have no claim on them legally by the sounds of things. By all means, outline what you've spent on the cat and kittens since taking them in, and any ongong costs, and make noises that the previous owner should pay for it (regardless of getting the cat back) because it was all essential treatment, much of it probably caused by their neglect in the first place. I will take a guess that you'll never hear from her again after that. 

elsien

I’m firmly in the telling them to do one camp. 

They’ve admitted they abandoned her,  you know she was badly looked after, I’d be struggling with the moral cosmos’s of anyone agreeing to hand her back. 

superstylin

Good luck with it all @Jmoo and thank you for caring for animals. I wish all people were like you. 

TripleH

They say they want the cat and kittens back, but the kittens have been re-homed.

There may be a genuine sad back story but you have to think of what's best for the cat.

I am biased, our youngest cat was 'left with friends' when his owners moved. They never came back for him.

He ended up in a flat with 3 men who didn't want or could afford to keep him. When they realised he had been abandoned they surrendered him to cats rescue when we adopted him (arriving 4 days after we lost our eldest).

He was about 2, unneutered, unvaccinated, unchipoed and under weight ( mot best quality food). He has grown in 6 months fron our smallest to our second largest cat and we love him. We won't hand him back as we fear neglect. I suspect he lost his small kitten appeal, hence the abandonment

Jmoo

So a development - they came to the door last night and practically invited themselves in.

They seemed sincere but I couldn't help feeling the cat wasn't their focus but more the kitten.

They provided a cat passport and showed pictures which suggests it was their cat. But her story put emphasis on the fact she had been back to Latvia for the summer, and had only recently returned, which is why she hadn't seen the note we left or tried to look for her cat.

She said she'd given her home to someone for the summer, and they kicked out her cats. It turns out she had five other cats, including three other kittens, but there doesn't seem to be an attempt to try to track them down.

The granddaughter turned up with a toy and some chocolates, so felt difficult to turn them away, and she played with the kitten but they didn't show a huge amount of interest in their cat who eventually went upstairs and slept. 

Her English wasn't very good but I did explain the health complaints she has, and the fact we wanted them neutering. We emphasised how malnuroished the cat had been and how poorly it's been plus the fact it was heavily pregnant. She insisted she'd left food at the house for the cat, but also said in Latvia she was an outdoors cat that fed on mice and rats.

I think she probably thought she was doing us a favour by taking the cat back, and was relieved to see it still alive, but hopefully she realises we aren't going to be just handing it over. Particularly as she knows there's been a big cost for us.

By the end of the hour it felt more like she wanted a chat rather than interest in the animals, but at least we were on a more personal level than notes through doors or even texts. We said they could come back to see the animals. But I couldn't help thinking their interest was more in the kitten than their actual cat, and I'm still confused by the set up, and the lack of interest in trying to get her other cats back!

sheramber

I hope you are getting the kitten neutered asap. 

How many people get kittens , pups , whatever then lose interest when they become adults?

Mojisola

Jmoo said:

The granddaughter turned up with a toy and some chocolates, so felt difficult to turn them away, and she played with the kitten but they didn't show a huge amount of interest in their cat who eventually went upstairs and slept.

By the end of the hour it felt more like she wanted a chat rather than interest in the animals, but at least we were on a more personal level than notes through doors or even texts. We said they could come back to see the animals.

But I couldn't help thinking their interest was more in the kitten than their actual cat, and I'm still confused by the set up, and the lack of interest in trying to get her other cats back!

I know you're being nice but I would be wary at encouraging visits.

If the kitten goes outside and knows the granddaughter, would it go to her and perhaps be taken away?

If they just picked up the kitten and walked out of your house with it, what would you do?  The police hate getting involved with complicated "it's mine - no, it's mine" disputes.

Even if she did leave food for someone to care for the cats, it doesn't sound as if she ever asked that person how the cats were doing!