to recognise a cat I 'lost' over a year ago and accuse the 'owners' of being lying bastards!

[RuddyNora]

6 month old kitten went missing last year. A one colour cat with no markings at all but I saw him in the street the other day and I KNOW it was him. I recognised his face and his elegant demeanor as did DH!

The location that he was in was close to where he went missing (we have since moved) so definitely would fit. He was overjoyed to see me - purred like an engine. I noticed that when other people walked past, he got skittish and walked away but when they had gone he came back. He also literally ran to my DCS and let them cuddle him.

I rang the number on his collar and the person said that they had got the cat from a rescue place longer ago than when he went missing but they sounded very defensive IMO. Is it conceivable that they are lying? Now I don't want the cat back, he has been away too long and is probably settled but I would expect anyone who found him to try and find the owner - we had loads of posters up, rang all the vets, rescue places, ad in the paper - I even spent 4 days leafletting letterboxes in the area. My DCs were so upset. DS has SN with sensory issues and absolutely adored that cat. We all cried and DH even spent nights out searching for him (which I was amazed at!). It hit me really hard as it was the DCs first pet and I was pregnant so I was sobbing about him . We thought he had been taken by a fox and I used to torture myself with images of him meowing for us in pain .

I had him neteured just 2 weeks before he went missing and had made an appointment for him to be chipped as we were waiting for the next payday. Am really cross about that!

I want to tell the people who have him now that I know they are lying (issues as DCs at same school). AIBU?

The OP seems certain - and I'd definately know MY cat.

I'd also throw a family reunion party!

BTW I never think it's good thing to call someone "a lying bastard" - not nice ... and it could trigger a violent response...or for the recipent to say, "are you calling me a liar?" ..and you would say .."no" ..."well, yes!"...( and then things could turn nasty.)

The other people may have got the cat legitimately. They may be like me and can't remember exactly when they got their cat .

Also no offence OP but if someone rang me and said they thought my cat was theirs, I would be bloody defensive too and panicking that you would just take her.

And I got my cat as a baby kitten.

We used to have a rescue cat who was really nervous round everyone else aside from me. After I had my son it got a massive mood on & started pissing all over the house in protest. In the end it fucked off one night never to return, he was chipped so I've been waiting 4 years for a random phone call telling me he's injured/dead/living with some old dear & being fed pieces of fresh salmon. It's probably a bit mental but I never give up hope.

Sorry Op but you do sound crazy.

You do not know it is your cat. Yours went missing as a kitten over a year and i bet it would of changed.

The thing i find more alarming is that you do not even want this cat so why try and cause up set to a family who is looking after the cat??

Move on.