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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Jaxhog · 31/10/2017 16:34

I bet the “ownership” would suddenly revert back to the original owner if said cat needed £4000 worth of vetinary treatment...
This.

Cats can be a bit promiscuous. But at the end of the day, someone paid for the cat, feeds it regularly and sees to its veterinary needs. They are called the 'owner'.

Jaxhog · 31/10/2017 16:42

If a cat wanders into your house and appears to want to take up residence, try and find out who its owner is. Check for a collar, ask around, ask local vets and police, look for notices on lampposts etc. Take it to the vet so they can check for a chip. Only if this draws a blank, should you start to feed it and start to think of it as 'yours'.

Do not feed other people's cats. You don't know if they might be on a special diet, taking medication etc. In the past, we had problems with a neighbour feeding one of our cats dry cat food. He loves it, but it is very bad for him.

treaclesoda · 31/10/2017 16:55

Just as I was reading this, I felt something at my feet. It was visitor cat headbutting me. It was coming from the direction of the living room. I have no idea how long it has been in my house for today as I've been out all afternoon and had no idea it was here. I didn't let it into the house. It must have come in at some stage this morning when I nipped out to the garage, I certainly didn't see it.

I have not stolen this cat, because most of the time I have no idea that it's in my house.

ForagingForFaerieGold · 31/10/2017 17:03

Legally you cannot steal a cat. I was actually told this by the police. Morally however...
Disclaimer: I have stolen no cats.

reetgood · 31/10/2017 17:07

@9greenbottles you made reasonable effort to locate the owner and were unable to. That’s not stealing.

Original poster

brasty · 31/10/2017 17:17

Jaxhog I don't have the time or inclination for that. I discourage cats from coming into my house, but have still had it happen. The cat next door I think wants to move in here, it is not going to.

OP posts:

mirime · 31/10/2017 17:27

@LizB62A There is no need to feed other people's cats unless you know for certain that they are strays.

Or you know for certain it's owners are neglecting it.

I ended up with a beautiful long-haired ginger fluffball. It's owners weren't feeding him or grooming him, he was skinny, scavenging from bins and had clumps of matted fur. They also denied ownership of their other cat when he had cat 'flu - I carried him round to their house, the kids said it was their cat, the mum came and insisted it wasn't. We took him to the vet and nursed him back to health, then they moved took him with them and left the ginger fluffball behind. Luckily as we'd been feeding the pair of them for months he knew where to come for food and cuddles.

Original poster

brasty · 31/10/2017 17:28

Cats who have decided they want a new home, can be very persistent in finding one. My friend who has a cat who decided to live at their house, spent months sneaking in, stealing the other cats food, hiding in places in their house to sleep.
Now it is their cat. It still visits other people's houses and gets fed elsewhere, but it comes back every night to their house. It has chosen where it wants to live.

OP posts:

mirime · 31/10/2017 17:29

@Jaxhog Do not feed other people's cats.

In my experience they come in and help themselves! Don't want to keep all the doors and windows shut in the summer.

Original poster

brasty · 31/10/2017 17:31

My elderly parents feed other cats, although do not want another cat themselves. It does not make any other cat want to live there. Cats do not leave home just for food. They usually decamp because there is a change in the house they do not like.

OP posts:

reetgood · 31/10/2017 17:34

@brasty your elderly parents should stop feeding other people’s cats. It’s really not kind and not helpful. As someone who’s had a cat that I’ve struggled to maintain a healthy weight on, who wandered when needing medical attention, people like your parents made my life really difficult and caused me some distress.

NotAgainYoda · 31/10/2017 17:34

It's easy to steal a cat. It's easy to keep a cat out if you really want to.

If a cat comes in your house, don't feed it. Chase it out.

Of course if a cat is skinny and matted and ill-looking you should make reasonable attempts to locate its owner - vet, check microchip, put a collar on it with a message

Original poster

brasty · 31/10/2017 17:36

My parents don't listen to a word I say.

OP posts:

NotAgainYoda · 31/10/2017 17:39

I know someone who has stolen many cats and kittens, including from a neighbour who had children. They convince themself they are neglected. They are just cats in a rural area of another country who are not over-fed

reetgood · 31/10/2017 17:40

@brasty, fair dos. You can’t make people do things but I do wish that it were possible! If they’d seen the amount of door knocking and leafleting I had to do to get people to stop feeding him... he was a gorgeous cat but it did make my life difficult that people seemed to think it was fine to feed but not accept any further responsibility. All about them rather than concern for the actual animal.

NotAgainYoda · 31/10/2017 17:44

Lover

Yes, I wouldn't mind you throwing water on my cat to keep it out.

minmooch · 31/10/2017 17:51

I now have one and a half cats! My boy cat has decided after three years to leave me for another woman! He returns home occasionally looking fat, happy and smelling of some other woman’s perfume - he is now known as The One Eyed Lying Cheating Bastard Cat! I love him and miss him but he seems quite content to share his love around.

His mum remains loyal to me and I think she rather prefers the peace and quiet (TOELCBC howls like a goodun!)

No doubt if he needs any vet treatment I shall be presented with the bill - he is microchipped.

liz70 · 31/10/2017 17:57

I once saw a greedy twat cat helping itself to the bird feed I left out.

toomuchtooold · 31/10/2017 18:00

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

Replace it with adult child, that's closer - you might not like it if your adult children decide to go and e.g. live with their gf/bf but you wouldn't consider it stealing

Original poster

brasty · 31/10/2017 18:06

I have friends who would be quite happy if I stole their teenager for a few years.

OP posts:

mrsRosaPimento · 31/10/2017 18:09

Yes, cats choose their human slave. Read the children’s book Six Dinner Sid.

TammyswansonTwo · 31/10/2017 18:16

You cannot own a cat? My expensive pet insurance says differently.

9GreenBottles · 31/10/2017 18:26

@reetgood I didn't feel it was, but some of the comments on this thread made me wonder how it would be viewed. Feeding a visitor can be unintentional.

EvilDemonRaspberryOverlord · 31/10/2017 18:28

ForagingForFaerieGold Tue 31-Oct-17 17:03:13

Legally you cannot steal a cat. I was actually told this by the police.

They were wrong. Please see previous posters who have posted detail about the relevant laws.

SweetGrapes · 31/10/2017 18:32

My visitor never comes in the house. But she sits on my kitchen window when I am washing up every single day (on the outside).
I never feed her but she is also always at my back door whenever it opens. Always purring and ready to be stroked.

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