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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lost and found kitten, not coming to collect!

98 replies

fabaga · 30/07/2019 14:29

Long story short, over a week ago we found a sick kitten on our road. Took her in, to the vets, paid for medicines, stuck up posters etc etc.

On Sunday eve I got a message from the owner, who first thing Monday morning sent me proof she is theirs (photos etc). Said she (or he, not sure) is away and their partner would be in touch to arrange collection.

Fast forward to Tuesday and no word from them, chased late last night and was told curtly we need to contact their partner. AIBU that they should be a bit more grateful and also make more of an effort to collect the kitten promptly? Thinking now we should ask them to pay for the vet bill as it feels like they're just using us as a kitten boarding house!

OP posts:
TheInebriati · 30/07/2019 16:07

Vets don't work for free. Usually, the owner has to pay the vet before they can take the animal home; if they don't pay, the vet will give it to a shelter.

If OP has paid the vet bills she can take the owner to the small claims court.

BrendasUmbrella · 30/07/2019 16:10

I would have been round asap. They clearly don't care about her. And if she's sick and having treatment they may even have let her escape so they no longer have to deal with her.

Text them asking for payment for the vets bill when they pick her up. If they're fed up of looking after her they'll probably just block you.

Chocolatelover45 · 30/07/2019 16:16

*Vets don't work for free. Usually, the owner has to pay the vet before they can take the animal home; if they don't pay, the vet will give it to a shelter.

If OP has paid the vet bills she can take the owner to the small claims court.*

Not true apart from the first sentence. Vets don't hold animals pending payment. An animal can not just be 'given to a shelter'. For a start most shelters are overflowing already. Vets will try to get payment at time of treatment but are obliged to give first aid even if the owner doesn't pay. In the case of a stray, the rspca will pay a small amount towards this.
Secondly, the owner of the cat is not liable for the bill unless they authorised it. The person who requests treatment is liable (except for strays but then you wouldn't be allowed to take the animal home with you - a surprising number of people bring in strays that they've been looking after for the last 10 plus years, wanting free treatment!)

Chocolatelover45 · 30/07/2019 16:17

Not saying op shouldn't ask them to pay. And morally they ought to. But legally they don't have to.

ChippingInLowCarbing · 30/07/2019 16:26

If they don’t have your address just ignore any further contact and allow the kitten to live with you & be spoilt rotten instead of neglected ‍🤷🏻‍♀️. If they have your address I’d take it back to the vets and ask them to keep it for a few days until they pay the bill (yes I know you’ve paid it but the other people don’t! Just explain the situation - my vets would definitely help out) .

AryaStarkWolf · 30/07/2019 16:28

Bloody hell, they don't sound too bothered about her/him do they? Hopefully they don't contact you anymore and you can give it a better life, poor thing

BrokenWing · 30/07/2019 16:32

Tell them you couldn't continue to house the kitten and it is now at the vets and they can pick up when they settle the bill. You probably wont hear from them again.

AmIAWeed · 30/07/2019 16:40

cats are funny creatures, we have had a stray turn up, hes very good at arriving when sick!
First time full of fleas and worms, very hungry and in a horrible rain shower, I thought he was a missing cat from a poster in the village but he wasn't theirs.
In the 2 months he's been coming to our house he's cost me a fortune.
£100+ for blood tests to confirm not feline aids (we have 5 other cats) plus flea and worm treatment for him and all other creatures in the house
£55 neutered
£0 tick removal - just lots of cuts on hands!

We then found the owner who didn't care, said owner then contacted us when their other cat (also an unneutured tom cat) went missing wanting him back. I said sure, but I want a donation made to a cat rescue to cover another cat being neutered. Heard nothing.

He started coming regularly for food, but also visted 2/3 other neighbours, anyone that would show him a little bit of love and food.

Then almost 2 weeks ago he pitched up Saturday night lame.
£143 emergency vet call out for Sunday am as lame on one leg, antibiotic injection given
£38 follow up trip - burst abscess still lame, antibiotic injection and pain relief injection.
£61 another follow up trip - different type of antibiotics and pain killers
We go again Thursday for another check up but thankfully the little ginger git is starting to put weight on his paw

That little ginger ninja is mine now, aint nobody taking him away.

sweetkitty · 30/07/2019 16:43

How young is the kitten if it escaped and is unwell? Poor wee thing.

I would contact them and say you have until tomorrow 5pm to pick up the kitten and pay the vets bill or the kitten will be rehomed. Fingers crossed you won’t see them.

chaoscategorised · 30/07/2019 16:55

RE: theft - having had our cat stolen by a neighbour, to the point she was locking him in the house, and getting this woman's housing officer (she was in sheltered housing) and the police involved, you cannot steal a cat apparently. Cats are roaming animals and therefore the police don't give a shit - dogs are a different matter!

AryaStarkWolf · 30/07/2019 17:07

@chaoscategorised They're can't be roaming creatures if they're locked in someones house though!

chaoscategorised · 30/07/2019 17:28

Good point AryaStarkWolf! But the police were quite insistent that it wasn't a legal matter and that despite the fact this strange woman had taken our cat and refusing to let him come home for his food (and medication!) the only thing they could suggest was ringing the RSPCA if we thought he was being mistreated. I briefly considered just breaking into her house to get him back...

TheDarkPassenger · 30/07/2019 17:37

Cats are not owned by law so no it’s not theft

Original poster
fabaga · 30/07/2019 17:51

@MushySeas @SunshineCake

Vet said she's about 9 or 10 weeks old

Lost and found kitten, not coming to collect!
OP posts:
AyeToIndy · 30/07/2019 17:54

Its worth nothing that the RSPCAs stance on strays is that if you feed them for a certain period of time they are yours and you are responsible for their welfare. If you like the wee furball just do nothing

Original poster
fabaga · 30/07/2019 17:54

@chaoscategorised sorry to hear about your cat!

OP posts:
smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 30/07/2019 17:55

If that was my lovely wee kitten I'd have been at your door with cash and wine. They're clearly not that bothered. Congratulations on your new cat.

KatherineJaneway · 30/07/2019 17:57

What a beautiful kitten 😍

FuzzyPuffling · 30/07/2019 18:00

That is one gorgeous kitten. Congratulations on your new friend!

MushySeas · 30/07/2019 18:01

Oh my word that's a gorgeous kitten.

keep it

sweetkitty · 30/07/2019 18:01

What if it’s a pedigree cat and you have it’s pedigree papers though?

Or it’s microchipped to your name and address?

MadamePompadour · 30/07/2019 18:05

Kittens should only leave their mum at a very minimum of 8 weeks old, a lot of breeders would say not till 12 weeks.

So they've had this kitten for a week max and managed to lose it and didn't seem that bothered about it being lost and haven't bothered coming to get it? Please don't give it back. Keep the cute kitty.

Dodie66 · 30/07/2019 18:17

Oooh keep it 🙂

ashtrayheart · 30/07/2019 18:19

Not a pedigree, also pretty sure they would
be keener to collect if it was!
Very cute Smile

Bookworm4 · 30/07/2019 18:20

I think foundling cat needs a name....