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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to take this cat

56 replies

Imalloutofoptions · 12/12/2017 00:14

I work in an office based on a farm. I started in May and the cat had been there since November, he 'turned up' with a sister who vanished (hopefully taken and rehomed, but who knows) anyway, this cat is not too savvy, he needs rescuing from rooves etc. But is a total sweetheart, he tried to come in the office when it rains and absolutely loves attention. About two weeks ago he was hit by a car and needed his leg amputated, the man who owns the farm said he would be put down because the vet bill was large. My colleagues and I pulled the money together and after care would be provided by a man who rents a field from the farmer. The farmer (our landlord) insists he is a 'farm cat' but he isn't, wasn't born on a farm, was clearly dumped. After his op, I took him home. they've finally noticed he's missing, I don't regret taking him as the snow could've killed him but I'm sooo scared of repercussions, I'm terrible at lying even though I know I won't bring him back.

OP posts:
Frederickvonhefferneffer · 12/12/2017 00:17

That’s a pickle. Admit you took him home, will they really care? It’s easier than living with a lie

Feliciaxxx · 12/12/2017 00:17

Good for you - I would have done exactly the same!

Original poster
Imalloutofoptions · 12/12/2017 00:19

They will care, they truly believe this cat belongs on the farm. Despite being quite dippy and unable to hunt. I think the farmers would be quite nasty. They insist he's 'feral' which is ridiculous

OP posts:
GrockleBocs · 12/12/2017 00:23

Tell them you're doing the nursing and when he's ready you'll bring him back. Expect him to need a few more weeks in perpetuity. Look for another job.

Frederickvonhefferneffer · 12/12/2017 00:23

Is there a chance they will find out he lives at yours? Do you socialise with anyone from work?

Original poster
Imalloutofoptions · 12/12/2017 00:28

My colleagues and bosses are supportive of me taking him (or rather, him having a decent home) but there are people who work upstairs from us, they initially supported me taking him but I'm not so sure now.

OP posts:
mostlikelyanunpopularviewpoint · 12/12/2017 00:30

Honestly? I'd keep quiet about it.

The cat is better off with a loving owner.

Have you microchipped him?

I honestly don't see how you'll be find out, unless you socialise with colleagues or if they live near you.

If they do, you may need to disguise your cat. Grin

Good on you for taking the cat in. You sound like a nice person OP.

Original poster
Imalloutofoptions · 12/12/2017 00:36

I'm planning to keep quiet (and hope I'm not asked outright). I'm hoping everyone else will too. There are some ladies who work upstairs who wanted him to have a home but I don't know how discreet they are. I'm planning on micro chipping him asap.

OP posts:
BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 12/12/2017 00:46

I would have done exactly the same as you, keep the cat, he now has a safe and loving home, don’t see how they can ever find out so don’t worry.

Original poster
Imalloutofoptions · 12/12/2017 00:55

I'm so pleased to see others would do the same, I'm actually fucking allergic to cats and taking piriteze every day. He's happy here though and warm and safe. I'm worried about the women upstairs telling the farmer/ landlord. I think I will have to keep fibbing because I can't take him back, he's actually happy here. Love my job so I won't look for a new one.

OP posts:
Chrys2017 · 12/12/2017 02:53

There will be no shortage of feral cats requiring rural/outdoor homes at your local cat shelter, so if the farm is in need of cats I'm sure you could find them a replacement that they'd be happy with.

However, I'm more concerned about your ability to look after this cat long-term as you have an allergy.

OtterInDisgrace · 12/12/2017 02:59

Take the cat and fucking keep him as he so obviously needs a good home. And bless you for doing it. Aw.

Fuck anyone who says otherwise. Sorry for the swears but I love animals and al, you’re doing us keeping him safe and loved.

OtterInDisgrace · 12/12/2017 03:01

An allergy isn’t such a big deal unless it’s extreme.

I’ve always had cats and think they do affect my sinuses but I don’t care. It doesn’t affect my quality of life.

TheHodgeHeg · 12/12/2017 03:26

I suffer from cat allergies and we ended up taking a cat in. My allergies are a lot better than they used to be, I think some people get used to it through exposure.

Keep the cat!

Lollipop30 · 12/12/2017 03:36

Keep someone else’s cat??!

Erm no, that in itself is wrong on so many levels. The fact that they’ve asked for it back, told you where it lives and you’re now keeping it a secret just shows how deceitful this is. Maybe you should have asked if you could take it in when your colleagues pooled the money? Note ASKED being the operative word. You could always ask now, and if they say no then tough luck it’s not yours to take.

Astounds me how stupid people are when it comes to cats yet they go into outrage if someone stole a dog in the same way!

dentalplanlisaneedsbraces · 12/12/2017 04:06

@Lollipop30 no one was actually looking after or caring for the cat so how was it someone else's cat??

Rollmopsrule · 12/12/2017 04:07

Lollipop30
Have you read the thread properly? The cat turned up in Nov. It hadn't been there all along. The farmer was going to put it down because of the vet bills - it was Op and colleagues that paid for treatment. If it wasn't for them the cat would now be dead, hardly the act of 'stupid people'....

limitedscreentime · 12/12/2017 04:14

We rehomed a farm cat - actually he came to live in our barn. The farmer was pissed about it but cats choose where they live. Cost us a fortune in vets bills too!

The farmer has no interest in the cat and the cat has chosen to live elsewhere. I'd keep quiet about the fact it may have stowed away in your car for a short journey.

Lollipop30 · 12/12/2017 04:30

Yes I’ve read it.
It’s a farm cat, the farmer has now realised its missing. It is still the farmers cat whether or not OP agrees it looks like one, or that it should live in a barn.
Ownership should have been brought up before paying for it. If the farmer really didn’t want it you can always just say now ‘yes I’ve taken it home as id assumed you didn’t want it as it was to be put down’, just lying and being deceitful shows OP knows it’s wrong.
You cannot just keep someone else’s cat because you think you’re giving it a better home, if you really think it’s being abused where it is then contact the RSPCA and I’m sure they’ll give you a proper judgment.

Lollipop30 · 12/12/2017 04:39

Ah ok no I actually hadn’t read it properly but it’s 4:30am so forgive me!!

I still think you should come clean especially to your coworkers and the farmer. You can say the above^ as if it’s not theirs and they didn’t want to pay for the op then they shouldn’t have a problem. It’s the lying that gets me, no need.

I’m also probably quite sore on this point at the minute as a neighbour of ours ‘adopted’ our cat then lied and refused to give it back, as it had chosen to live with them. Thankfully we have the cat back now but I’m still incredibly sceptical of someone who can take an animal that is not theirs.

Bananarama12 · 12/12/2017 04:48

Don't tell them.

TheDonald · 12/12/2017 05:02

If they think it's feral just tell them you let it out and it ran away. That's what feral cats do after all.

Enjoy your new cat master!

Chrys2017 · 12/12/2017 09:50

The previous owner was prepared to let the cat die rather than have to pay its vet bills. I think OP now is the rightful owner of the cat.
Farmer will be happy with a four-legged feral cat from the shelter.

Ashamedandblamed · 12/12/2017 20:43

It's a bit of a joke he wasn't happy for the cat to die but now wants it back now his healthy again

Tell him the cat got ran over again and died and kewl him at home all toasty eating Felix.

Feliciaxxx · 12/12/2017 21:13

Maybe he's gone to live with his sister!