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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:
Lilymoose · 12/12/2017 21:16

I would also keep quiet and keep the cat as it's clearly going to be more looked after in your care and in this situation the cats safety and happiness is the most important.

MrMeSeeks · 12/12/2017 21:17

I'm actually on your side.
The farmer wasn't caring for it and didn't want to know when there was a vet bill.
This cat is clearly not cut out as a farm cat.
It also doesn't seem like he ever actually had an owner until you started caring for it!

YouTheCat · 12/12/2017 21:20

I'd just say nothing other than maybe he's gone off somewhere?

Hopefully, they'll soon forget about it.

Chimera246 · 12/12/2017 21:26

OP, you're ace.

If you're questioned, tell people you initially took him home to convalesce but he bolted out your front door and now you don't know where he is.

If you ever slip up and mention him at a function, or whatever, say you see him every couple of months when he comes to your doorstep but that's it.

Well done you.

abbsisspartacus · 12/12/2017 21:30

You looked after him he escaped your sorry there is no value to a feral cat they are wild animals

g1itterati · 12/12/2017 21:54

Thank god for people like you OP!!!!
The cat is yours now, don't worry. Fantastic job.

MabelFurball · 12/12/2017 21:59

What g1itterati said.

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2017 22:04

I'm planning on micro chipping him asap.

If he's had medical treatment he will already be microchipped.

This means if you have to take him to the vet in the future, he'll come up as lost or stolen.

ToadOfSadness · 12/12/2017 23:39

He will only come up as lost or stolen if it has been reported. He may not be microchipped, it is not done automatically.

I took a cat to be microchipped and it turned out she already was. It was left to me to contact the chip company.

Take him to another vet or a rescue and get him scanned, do not give your own name. If he isn't chipped then you can get it done by another vet, in your name.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 12/12/2017 23:44

Cat?

What cat?

WorraLiberty · 12/12/2017 23:45

It must depend on the area or vetinary practice then Toad

But my local vets will always insist on chipping an animal under those circumstances. They don't even charge the £5 as they're the ones insisting upon it.

And yes I agree it will only come up as lost or stolen if reported, but equally if the OP ever needs to take it to a vet, it will show up (if chipped) that she is not the rightful owner.

Just something to be mindful of.

abouttimeforanotherone · 12/12/2017 23:53

That is most definitely not a feral cat.

If you got within arm's reach of a feral cat you'd sure as hell know about it - they are completely wild (and vicious - and I have the scars to prove it).

TroelsLovesSquinkies · 12/12/2017 23:57

Say nothing but if asked outright by the farmer/landlord, say he got out the back door of your house while he was recuperating and you have no idea where he went from there.
Poor kitty, he sounds like a house cat that got dumped off.

Eatalot · 13/12/2017 00:02

Whats the farmer going to do demand you take it back? Tell him no. Police will laugh at him or say civil matter and I doubt hes gonna pay court fees for a ferel cat. Either that or just deny it even if busybodies in office out you just say nope dont know what your talking about. What can he actually do??

honeyroar · 13/12/2017 00:09

Tell him he can have him back when he pays you the vets bill money. The tight arsed farmer will soon lose interest. Usually I'd be against someone steeling another person's cat, but in a neglect/cruelty case I'm all for it. Happy new happy cat.

crazycatgal · 13/12/2017 00:12

I normally wouldn't suggest keeping someone else's cat but having a cat living outdoors without love and veterinary treatment is cruel. Feign ignorance. The farmer probably only wants it around to keep mice away.

LolaTheDarkdestroyer · 13/12/2017 00:23

He could still be someone's missing pet though? Was he checked for a microchip? He's obviously better off on a home than on a farm with 3 legs..but it's not fair to lie to any co workers that also chipped in for treatment, you shouldn't have just swiped him.

sizeofalentil · 13/12/2017 00:29

Try petalcleanse - you can get it from Amazon, if you're allergic

Lollipop30 · 13/12/2017 02:49

@Lola - Exactly! OP are you just too scared that actually it may be someone’s to come clean? Even to coworkers.

There’s another thread on here about someone asking if they should just keep a parcel. The consensus is that it’s dishonest. How is it more dishonest to keep a parcel and ‘just not say anything’ than it is to keep a cat and ‘just not say anything’!!! Weird logic!

OtterInDisgrace · 13/12/2017 03:44

A parcel is very different to a living creature that no one gave a shit about before. Are you being deliberately obtuse?

Lollipop30 · 13/12/2017 03:52

‘a living creature that no one gave a shit about before‘

OP hasn’t actually checked to see if it’s chipped or spoken to her colleagues (who equally paid for treatment) who may give a shit. Just ‘saying nothing’ is dishonest and OP is just scared that if she does then she may not get to keep it.

nooka · 13/12/2017 04:20

Farm cats cat be perfectly friendly they just aren't pets and live besides human rather than with them, mainly living off the mice and rats that the farm attracts. They tend to have quite short lives though. My family had a holiday place near a farm that had a stable number of cats but always had kittens (which we played with). The cats were mainly killed in accidents with cars or farm machinery.

Re this cat the OP should really have offered to take it when it was hurt as now she is in a position where she will have to lie or return it and it could be difficult as the farmer is her employers landlord.

I think it's pretty unlikely that the cat is unable to hunt unless it only arrived on the farm this November (I assumed from the OP that it was last November) as otherwise it would be dead by now. Cats do pretty well on three legs.

josbd · 13/12/2017 04:32

You are the only person who cared enough about this cat's life to look after him. Cats who want a home with people come looking for it, feral or not. This chap has chosen you. I would say nothing, because they will forget all about him. If anyone has a go it says a whole lot about them! None of them have claimed him, he and you belong together in a lovely warm home. That is the greatest thing you could have done for this poor love.

Slaylormoon · 13/12/2017 04:37

It's a sweet little 3 legged cat, I think after a life of being transient it deserves a nice home. You see posters all the time saying you can't 'own' a cat, and while I don't agree with that I do think if a cat just turns up in November you can't really just assume the owner of the land it's been on for a month suddenly owns it either.

There are always places looking to rehome actual feral cats to farms for pest control, perhaps you could recommend they look into that if they really want a new 'farm cat'.

Original poster
Imalloutofoptions · 16/12/2017 02:58

I didn't come back to this thread as I was worried about being recognised. I should have been clearer, all my colleagues know where he is, one of them took us home. He isn't microchipped.

OP posts:
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