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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you can't steal a cat?

213 replies

brasty · 31/10/2017 13:26

This is in reference to a conversation with a friend. As long as the cat has access to outside, I don't think anyone can steal your cat. Your cat may decide though to live elsewhere, because of better food, because it is quieter, or some other preference.

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 31/10/2017 14:05

treaclesoda as long as you don't feed him he'll go home

I don't feed him.

Bluelonerose · 31/10/2017 14:05

Yes you can steal a cat. If you feed a cat it will return.

Wightintheghoulies · 31/10/2017 14:06

How are you supposed to stop a cat wandering into your house and eating your cat's food if your cat doesn't object?

Either buy a cat flap that only opens for your cat, or get rid of a flap altogether. My neigbour's dog constantly breaks into our garden, shall I feed/water/leave the back door open for it? No, because I'm not responsible for someone else's pet.

Just because cats have the mobility to get around, doesn't mean they are 'up for grabs'. If a cat looks well, leave it alone. If you suspect a stray/not going home, take it to the vets and do everything possible to try and track an owner - check for microchips, put up on social media, report to the RSPCA. Taking in someone else's pet because it just turned up is a form of theft.

Shadow666 · 31/10/2017 14:07

The argument that there must be something wrong at home that a cat would choose someone else doesn't really hold mustard. My cat would literally go in anyone's house and eat food off anyone. Luckily my other neighbours are kind enough to turf him out and send him home. He's a greedy fucker and loves attention. He really is very well taken care of.

Weedsnseeds1 · 31/10/2017 14:08

Cats are property. I think the confusion is that you aren't legally obligated to report running one over as for that purpose that are classed the same as rabbits, foxes, pheasants etc. A dog you have to report ( maybe because you used to have to buy a license?) Along with livestock likes goats, sheep and cows. Although if you'd hit a cow, I'm not sure you'd be in a fit state to report it.

Original poster
brasty · 31/10/2017 14:09

Actually cats that are fed elsewhere and like their home, will go back home.

Wight I think it is cruel to have an indoor cat. So yes a cat flap is necessary, and collars are dangerous for very active cats.

OP posts:
smerlin · 31/10/2017 14:09

This thread is ridiculous. My cat is a greedy thing and would cry for food all day long if there were a mug he could persuade to feed him.

I would hit the roof if I found out someone was feeding him however as they do not know the exact exorbitantly- priced Hills prescription cat food he needs to avoid multiple trips to the vet which are even more exorbitantly priced!

He would happily wolf down Whiskas or steal it from another cat because he doesn't realise it would make him ill!

Obviously the people rescuing a clearly abandoned cat are different but then I would assume they had the cat checked over by a vet, including for a microchip.

Original poster
brasty · 31/10/2017 14:10

Cats are legally property. In reality they are not, they do what they want.

OP posts:
CorbynsBumFlannel · 31/10/2017 14:10

Of course you can own a cat. I've no idea where our cat goes when it goes out but it sleeps in its home. If other people are willing to have it in their home while it's out that's up to them. But if they are enticing them with treats that if fed regularly will make them ill or refusing to let them back out then it is stealing.

wasonthelist · 31/10/2017 14:11

Replace 'cat' with 'child' (especially teenager) and see how ridiculous that argument is.

Except kids aren't remotely comparable.

Original poster
brasty · 31/10/2017 14:12

There are lots of ways you can legally treat a cat that is fine, that would have you in court if you did the same to a teenager.

OP posts:
ExConstance · 31/10/2017 14:12

Next door's cat has been trying to move in with us for years. Every time we are between dogs ( we have adopted a series of elderly rescue dogs) She is round in our garden when we are out, rubbing up against our legs, looking in through the garden doors as if she is sizing us up. She tries it on by coming right up to the front door and waiting expectantly when I get home and spends most of her time sitting on our garden wall. She might have got her way but for the fact she is a bit too into rough games and bites and scratches if you try to play with her, though ery happy to be picked up and cuddled.

CorbynsBumFlannel · 31/10/2017 14:13

If you want a cat get your own. Keeping a well looked after cat that may be the beloved pet of a child is fucking awful behaviour.

wasonthelist · 31/10/2017 14:13

Cats are property. I think the confusion is that you aren't legally obligated to report running one over as for that purpose that are classed the same as rabbits, foxes, pheasants etc. A dog you have to report ( maybe because you used to have to buy a license[sic]?)
I think you report dogs because the owner can be liable for the damage caused if they allow their dog to roam - wheras cats are legally allowed to do exactly what they like.

Wolfiefan · 31/10/2017 14:13

I don't have a cat flap. I let my cats in and out. I do own them. They are bought and paid for and registered in my name.
If you need a cat flap you should have one that works on a microchip to keep visitors out.
My old girl was on over £60 a month worth of pills. Bet you don't want to take that on?! Hmm

MycatsaPirate · 31/10/2017 14:14

We have cats. When we moved into this house two years ago, we had two cats. We now have five. We get cat visitors every day, a ginger one that comes in through the window (if it's open) and a black and white tom who thinks he lives here. I have posted everywhere about the tom cat but can't find it's owner. It's too aggressive to get near but it's in good condition so clearly has a home somewhere. I chase it if I catch it in the house at the food bowls but unfortunately he's persistent.

Cat 5 was living three doors up from us. The owner had rehomed from a friend and had kept him indoors for a year. Then decided to put him outside as she said he was toileting all over the carpet and on the kids toys. The kids were rough with him and they would constantly pick him up and drag him about. He was left outside permanently and in August he moved into our back garden, kept crying at the door. I took him home repeatedly but he kept coming back, literally I would get home and he would be at the back door again.

Eventually she agreed to sign him over to us and he is now a very happy content cat who doesn't toilet anywhere except our garden or the litter tray, is very chilled and obviously a lot happier in our house.

Even the cat across the road comes to our house if she hasn't been fed, they clearly know a cat loving house.

DeleteOrDecay · 31/10/2017 14:15

I don't know anyone who minds their cat visiting other houses. It's the feeding them that causes them not to return home.

Exactly. Cats will usually go home if you don’t feed them, they won’t just hang around forever starving. I’m sure there are some cats who won’t but not feeding them reduces the chances of that happening a lot.

RhiannonOHara · 31/10/2017 14:15

I'm not sure you can steal a cat unless you fed it consistently, shut it in at night/when you went out (or whenever you would keep a cat in if it were your cat, IYSWIM) and got rid of its collar/chip.

You can certainly influence their decisions about where they live, though. We have a regular visiting cat that, I'll admit it, we actively let in (rather than it just coming in if a door/window is open). We don't feed it though; it seems happy just to come in for a kip on a bed or sofa.

I know where it technically lives, and it has been spotted sitting proprietorially in the window of a third house on our street as well, so I think rather than anyone stealing it it has deliberately chosen a peripatetic lifestyle. Grin

Original poster
brasty · 31/10/2017 14:15

You all seem to have missed that we have had to be very vigilant to stop next doors cat moving in. Never fed it, but would sneak in the house and fall asleep on our beds. It wanted to move in, and still looks through our windows a lot.

OP posts:
Wightintheghoulies · 31/10/2017 14:16

Except kids aren't remotely comparable.

Really? To some people pets are their family. Imagine if someone rang you up saying 'your 13 year old has been popping in here all week. He likes our food and Xbox, so we just thought maybe it's best he stayed. He'll even have another 13 year old to play with!'. It may seem a bit of a silly comparison, but ultimately the point is that if you wouldn't do it in any other circumstance, why do it with a cat?

SquareWord · 31/10/2017 14:17

When I was a child our cat was stolen. Our next door neighbours moved house and our cat disappeared. We were worried that he had got himself locked in the house as no one moved into it immediately. My mum knew where the neighbour worked and rang her up to say she was worried that he might be locked in. The neighbour very calmly replied that they'd taken him-they'd moved 40 miles away! There was no way he was going to find his way home! She returned him a few days later and was in floods of tears!

BertrandRussell · 31/10/2017 14:18

"may seem a bit of a silly comparison,"

It doesn't seem like a silly comparison, it is a dilly comparison.

CorbynsBumFlannel · 31/10/2017 14:19

So it goes into your house sometimes? Much like our cat likes to hang around under next doors car then. It's not your cat. It's just found somewhere warm it can go while it's out exploring.
If I found someone trying to entice our cat or lock it in and actually steal it on the other hand I'd be having very firm words with them.

Iris65 · 31/10/2017 14:20

Cat's are not legally owned by anyone, so technically you cannot steal them. This is also why car drivers do not have to report having hit one. However, if they are a valuable pedigree and stolen from inside the house then it is theft.

Iris65 · 31/10/2017 14:21

*cats. No idea why me and apostrophes are not getting on today!