Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect next door neighbours to give me my cat back?!?!?!

329 replies

tillytrotter11 · 14/04/2013 17:50

I am absolutely fuming and doing my nut! This is the first nice day of the year and I've just noticed my 11 year old cat, which went missing 11 months ago, in my next door neighbour's garden. The next door neighbour was sitting outside with her patio doors open and my cat was sitting next to her. Me and my daughters were in shock as we have searched for her and asked around and had even put posters up but had little luck and therefore we assumed that she had died. We kept calling the cat and she instantly recognised us but the woman just sat their ignoring us. We finally got the woman's attention and when we said "excuse me that's our cat" and asked for her back, she blatantly refused as she said she had "taken her to the vet and had her micro chipped". She then brought her husband out, who spoke to us like we were a bunch of idiots. He told us "she was an indoor cat" after we had showed them a load of photographs of her and then they stormed back inside.

It's very obvious that the cat had been shut all this time and the reason we have spotted her now is because it's a very nice day and they have let her roam in the garden.

Where do we stand and AIBU to expect them to return our much loved cat back to us? Thanks for any advice!! Sad

OP posts:
NotSoNervous · 16/04/2013 21:52

Just read this from start to finish and i was raging or you OP but I'm over the moon that you have your cat back. What's horrible fuckers for nicking her in the first place. Hope you have lots of cuddles tonight

Slavetothechild · 16/04/2013 22:11

Fantastic news so happy for you :)

MeerkatMerkin · 16/04/2013 22:14

Awww I'm so glad you got her back. :)

Passmethecrisps · 16/04/2013 22:15

hia notso!

I am still mega chuffed for you OP. it will be so lovely having kitty snuggles tonight. I hope you have bought some salmon!

LeoTheLateBloomer · 16/04/2013 22:18

Excellent result!! I seem to have something in my eye...

ghosteditor · 16/04/2013 22:43

Thrilled for you OP! I have a bonkers neighbour who has stolen my cat (and 3 others on the street before, allegedly). DCat was chipped and collared with 'do not feed' and has gone from a sleek, glossy, cared for cat to an overweight, dull, smoke-stinking scared cat. Tried everything but can't get her to stay home - we are moving house soon so are hoping to catnap her. People are bastards sometimes...

changeforthebetter · 16/04/2013 23:21

Smile Smile Smile Wine Brew

Pickles101 · 17/04/2013 00:10

So so happy for you Tilly! And yes, a diet of sirloin steak for pusscat from here on in!

onedev · 17/04/2013 00:16

So pleased for you!! Grin

pamish · 17/04/2013 00:53

The next thing to do is to build a 28 foot conservatory that she can live in. They can do nothing to stop you.

Dfg15 · 17/04/2013 08:28

Lovely news! so pleased for you.

MayTheOddsBeEverInYourFavour · 17/04/2013 08:32

I'm so happy you've got your cat back! Grin

I wouldn't let her anywhere near those pair of thieving twats though. I can't believe it took the police for them to hand her over, the letter they sent made it clear they didn't give a fuck about you and your kids so I would return the favour

middleagedspread · 17/04/2013 08:42

Aww, lovely news. Was she thieving bloke embarrassed? I'd love to know how he explained their actions?

NinaHeart · 17/04/2013 09:13

Yay! Very pleased to hear this excellent result - but also want to know how twunts explained themselves.

tillytrotter11 · 17/04/2013 09:21

Urgh, they said that they didn't know she was ours (which is a load of crap!) and that they had got very attached to her!

She certainly has been fed posh food bought straight from the vets at about £10 a bag!! But she's going to have a nice tin of tuna in a minute.

They came round last night and offered to pay to change the microchipping but we refused - but I suppose it was a nice gesture.

Thank you all again for yqour kind words!!

OP posts:
SarahAndFuck · 17/04/2013 09:24

I'm glad you got your cat back.

Are you going to change the microchipping though, just that you don't want them to pay, or do you mean you are going to leave it in their name?

tillytrotter11 · 17/04/2013 09:26

Ooo no, we're definitely going to change it!!!

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 17/04/2013 12:14

Didn't know cat was yours? Meh! Spotty cat goes missing from
Next door. Spotty cat is in your garden. You have two choices a) pop round to neighbours to say "oh hi! We have a spotty cat in our garden. Yours?" Go to bed happy and secure in the knowledge that spotty cat has been returned to loving family and is probably snozzing on child's bed right now b) not give a flying fuck about child or loving family and catnap spotty cat. Keep spotty cat hostage for A YEAR. Ignore pleas of family next door. Shit self when copper comes to door so tearfully return cat to family.

They should get themselves to an animal rescue centre and get a lovely spotty cat of their own! We got one 10 years ago - best £26 we ever spent!

cumfy · 17/04/2013 12:20

BEFORE YOU CHANGE THE MICROCHIP

You should be able to find out the date and place they micro-chipped.

Then you can find out if they microchipped any other cats on that date or registered at their address

My suspicion is they want to pay for the chipping so that you don't get this information, not some grand gesture.

I'm sure the local vet where they did this would be co-operative in the circs.

MortaIWombat · 17/04/2013 12:25

Ooh, cumfy, I bet you're right! Shock

Floralnomad · 17/04/2013 12:27

At least they offered and I suppose it is an attempt at an olive branch ,at the end of the day you have to live next door to these crazy people so its worth keeping it amicable .

cumfy · 17/04/2013 12:36

Also you wouldn't need to change the chip, you can just change the details.

QueenStromba · 17/04/2013 14:00

That's probably not info the OP could get but the police probably could if they can be bothered. I know in the US (from watching loads of cop shows) that they wouldn't be able to compel the vet or microchip company to provide that info without a warrant - probably the same here. I doubt they'd bother for a cat but the microchip people would hopefully be willing to help since reuniting people with their lost pets is their raison d'être.

cumfy · 17/04/2013 14:15

But I think the thing is Queen that the local vet won't need compelling, they'll be on the OP's side presumably.

Fillyjonk75 · 17/04/2013 14:25

Great news. I bet the cat was so pissed off to be kept in, expensive cat food or not.