A Feline Dilemma

[fortheloveofcats]

Okay, so a friend acquired a cat recently by... less than legitimate means.

Let's call the cat Mabel, who is about a year old. Mabel was owned by a young couple. Earlier this summer they decided to go on vacation. However, they didn't get anyone to take care of Mabel while they were gone, and just put her outside. They did not provide any food or water. Mabel was also not fixed. They were gone for a week.

An acquaintance of theirs found this out, and went and fetched Mabel while they were gone. Mabel was terrified and dehydrated. The acquaintance kept Mabel for a few weeks, and found her a new home with my friend. He also got her spayed (she wasn't pregnant, thank goodness!)

Mabel is now a pampered indoor lap cat, which is ideal for her. She is quite timid by nature and gets frightened easily by strange people and animals. Once she knows you she will cuddle for hours, and has a ferocious purr!

My friend recently found a Lost Cat poster, and it turns out her original owners are still looking for her. She now feels guilty and is wondering if she should contact them. I told my friend not to. I believe they gave up all rights to Mabel when they essentially abandoned her for a week. If they had done that to a child, they'd be in jail.

So, AIBU to believe Mabel is better off with my friend?

If those circcumstances are absolutely true then yes the New owner should keep the cat. But, how do you know for sure that no arrangement had been made for someone to pop in and feed the cat? Maybe the person who was meant to was the one in the wrong and never turned up. Or maybe they were turning up, letting Mabel in for a few minutes and putting her out again?

My husband and I are going away with the kids for a few days and a relative is coming over to feed the cats. One cat is more 'outdoor' than the others so we will be leaving her out, and she may not come to the relative if she calls her. So neighbours might think she's just been left. I will ask the relative to leave food out for her though if she doesn't come in.

Anyway , back to Mabel. I think I would post an anonymous letter to the old owners explaining that it was considered the cat had been abandoned, she was in a bad condition when found, and is now safe and happy. Even if they're furious at lleast they'll know she's alive and well.

I'd assume an acquaintance would know the arrangements, or lack of.
I wouldn't bother with a note myself. They left her, they don't deserve to have a cat or to know what became of Mabel.

Is this cat microchipped?

Also why is it an indoor cat now?

I would be tempted to post a note (unsigned) through the former owners' door telling them that their cat is now safe and being cared for but having abandoned it outside for a week, without food or water and unspayed, someone else has taken it in as they clearly can't look after it and they should count themselves lucky not to be reported for animal cruelty.

All of which to say no, I wouldn't be telling the former owners where the cat is now. Poor little thing. Sounds like she's landed on her paws and will be much happier where she is now than before.

Totally agree OhTheHugeMantee

Utter bastards!

bertrand have you read the OP? It states that an acquaintance of the original owners found out the cat had been left outside and rescued the cat. Presumably this acquaintance knew the owners & a few more details about the cat. The OPs friend adopted the cat from the rescuer.

As a fully signed up member of the cat slave club, I am disgusted with the original owners but not surprised (volunteered at Battersea dogs & cats home & frankly the way some humans behaviour towards animals is disgraceful). Mabel deserves the loving home she has now, your friend has absolutely no need to feel guilty.

Presumably this acquaintance knew the owners & a few more details about the cat. I really hope so and massive assumptions haven't been made.

Putting up Lost Cat posters isn't really the actions of owners who don't care.

Yanbu. One of my cats is a prolific hunter who does actually feed herself, except for titbits, she kills her own dinner, and not small easy prey either. Still, when she first turned up here she had clearly been had by something and due to her infected wounds was emaciated from being unable to hunt. I've also known plenty of self sufficient ferals and farm cats that nevertheless get injured and can't hunt properly for a period. And let's not forget many pet cats never get past the kitten stage of hunting, hence why as adults they torture stuff to refine their hunting skills. So bollocks they thought it would fend for itself. And even if a cat can hunt really well, and someone is keeping an eye on it, if it's used to being able to go in the house it's a bit shitty to kick it out to go on holiday.
I wouldn't tell them if the facts are 100% certain, legally it's theirs and they could take it back when they shouldn't be allowed animals

Ooooh this is a tough one. On one hand they abandoned it (assuming your facts are 100% correct), but on the other hand they are obviously missing her as have gone to the effort of putting up posters.

Either way I really do think you should let them know the cat is safe

I suggest the following text, printed out and through their letterbox:

YOUR CAT IS SAFE AND WELL FED
HOW DARE YOU LEAVE HER TO STARVE WHILE YOU WENT ON HOLIDAY
WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING HER FOR YOU TO NEGLECT AGAIN
YOU LAZY SELFISH BASTARDS

I don't think that's a great idea Manatee

My neighbour did this. Went abroad in February half term leaving FatCat shut outside. No cat flap. I saw someone go once to put food out in a dish outside where all the other 57 million cats in the village could get to it.
FatCat spent the week meowing pitifully outside my door and eventually I caved in and fed him. BareCat was not amused.
Ever since I cannot shake FatCat off. He wants to live with me. Every time I leave a door or window open he jumps in.
Neighbour is going away again next week.....

I knew of someone who went to USA for two weeks leaving a grown cat and a kitten locked out, the kitten moved in with my work colleague, big cat was too nervous. It does happen. If they definitely did not make any provision for Mabel she should not go back. A note to say she is rehired would be kind. If i didn't feed the pomcats for a week then turned up, I think they would eat me!

Doh rehomed!

I also agree with the anonymous note idea.

Also the owner of the cat and kitten eventually moved to the states (internet girlfriend) and said if he couldn't rehome them and no sanctuary had room, he would 'have' to have them put to sleep. They were rehomed but when work colleague told me this I was and

I also agree to leave a note. Someone who cares for their pet doesn't bugger off on holiday and leave it to wander for a week un-neutered and with no access to food and shelter, poster or not.

I don't see how you can know they didn't have someone going in every day to look after the cat. How are you sure they don't have a cat flap?

My cats never ever drink out of their water bowl. I presume it's puddles or ponds. Most cats are capable of fending for rhemsves for longer than we give them credit for.

Un-neutered females shouldn't be out wandering the streets, regardless of whether they can fend for themselves or not! It's a recipe for disaster for the cat and the owner. Rescues are full to bursting because too many irresponsible owners refuse to get their cats neutered and they end up with kittens they can't afford to keep.

Responsible owners don't let out un-neutered cats.

Surely if Mabels owners are responsible and do care she will be microchipped and the vet will notify the owners. Was she microchipped op?