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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:
SueFlaysAgainstTheDaleks · 16/04/2013 11:42

I had a thread on here last year after a neighbour decided to imprison my cat. Was a bloody nightmare, and the cat has a lot less freedom because of them Angry

Hope you get your cat back soon OP.

survivingthechildren · 16/04/2013 11:54

I keep coming back here to check on you OP! I really hope this all works out for you!

Sailormercury · 16/04/2013 12:05

Waiting patiently for them to get their comeuppance.

MansView · 16/04/2013 12:44

shocking story :(

Pickles101 · 16/04/2013 12:44

Make sure you mention that the second cat is missing, Tilly.

MansView · 16/04/2013 12:47

my lady had a cat - and she moved back in with her mum after she sold her house, and about 2 weeks before she moved out (this was only a few months ago) her cat went missing...

I know my lady doesn't show that much emotion - but she doesn't seem to be that bothered about the cat being missing...I'd be devastated if it was mine... I'd only saw it a few times as we haven't been together that long, but I did fall for the little fella :(

Khaleese · 16/04/2013 13:10

Omg its awful. Keep us posted.

woozlebear · 16/04/2013 13:14

Just read the whole thread getting increasingly Shock Shock Angry Angry Angry.

Hope police intervention tonight achieves safe return of kitty hostages!! And hope the filthy cat nappers are hauled into court. Do press for some kind of action to be taken.

If anyone did this to my two I'd have broken into their house by now, I think!!! (Clearly NOT best course of action). Will be checking back later for updates. Good luck!!

TheSeventhHorcrux · 16/04/2013 13:43

Buy a new cat. I'm pretty sure you are dead to this one now. It prefers next door.

I know I shouldn't have but this made me snort. Perfectly summing up the cats opinion in this

echt · 16/04/2013 13:48

It has been locked in the house No preference by the cat has been possible.

TheSeventhHorcrux · 16/04/2013 13:50

I would be fuming though. Id not be so rational though and end up breaking in to take the cat back.

Like an episode of desperate housewives or something

ophelia275 · 16/04/2013 13:51

If you get your cat back (which I hope you do), are you going to let it out again (in which case it might go back to your neighbours) or do you intend to keep it inside?

Angelico · 16/04/2013 14:01

Marking place :o

tillytrotter11 · 16/04/2013 14:13

No... we don't really know what to do. That is quite a big problem. They only have to nick her back again! Confused

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 16/04/2013 14:23

well then, make it clear that once you get your cat back, if it goes missing again, the first thing you'll do is call the police and get them to go round, and having stolen the same cat twice, you will definately insist on pressing charges.

I would say over the summer, make sure you keep the cat in unless you are goign to be in the garden, go out with her. Lots of treats (cats are shallow!) and attention.

ExitPursuedByABear · 16/04/2013 14:32

Hope you get her back op. I have never had a cat microchipped or insured.

KansasCityOctopus · 16/04/2013 14:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoftKittyWarmKitty · 16/04/2013 14:38

Definitely tell the police about your other missing cat. I can't understand why you didn't mention it already, tbh.

maddening · 16/04/2013 14:45

write back and say you'll pay them what they estimate they have spent on the cat within reason and with proof?

not that you should have to - but if the police have no luck it might be the route of least resistance if their only dispute to returning the cat is money.

tiggytape · 16/04/2013 14:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

changeforthebetter · 16/04/2013 14:50

Twunts! (Them, not you Grin)

Cat shelters are crying out for adopters. WTF would you take someone else's pet? Changecat1 was temporarily lost and adopted by a nice family over a bitterly cold snowy fortnight. But they gave him back as soon as they found out who his owners were. Changecat1 quite liked it there as he is a bit of a faithless bastard and there was dog to bully Grin

I hope you get the cat back soon!

YouDontWinFriendsWithSalad · 16/04/2013 14:58

They are clearly deranged! Good luck tonight, OP.

woozlebear · 16/04/2013 15:05

If tonight doesn't work I suggest enlisting an outraged band of MNetters to stand outside their house until they surrender the kitties.

I for one would be most willing.

YouDontWinFriendsWithSalad · 16/04/2013 15:14

Yes, or handing out leaflets on the street with mugshots of neighbours under the headline "lock up your kitties!"

Maryz · 16/04/2013 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.