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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to keep the kitten...

40 replies

harriethoyle · 29/08/2019 15:29

Found a kitten on the way home from work. Very teeny, no mum around, no neighbours to the finding place who had lost a kitten. Took her to the vets and she's 8-10 weeks old, not chipped and really poorly - riddled with fleas, has anaemia, full of worms, very thin. Utterly neglected. Vet isn't hopeful she will make it but have admitted her in for treatment to see if we can save her. I said she could come home with me if she makes it.

Have now found out from more door knocking that she is the feral kitten of an un-neutered mum who has multiple litters a year, owner doesn't feed them and doesn't even live in the house that she was found near M-F - he lives 100s of miles away during the week.

WIBU to keep the kitten if she survives rather than try and track the owner down and return her?

OP posts:
Original poster
harriethoyle · 29/08/2019 15:30

Oh bugger - I should have done the voting buttons!

OP posts:
NeutralJanet · 29/08/2019 15:31

YANBU. Keep the kitten and report the original owner to the RSPCA. What an arsehole.

SatansHelper · 29/08/2019 15:31

Absolutely .... 100% keep her.

HappyHammy · 29/08/2019 15:31

I would keep her if you can and contact cat protection about trying to catch the mum so they can get in touch with the owner or at least neuter and treat her.

thatainttheone · 29/08/2019 15:32

Poor little thing., I think you should absolutely keep her.

She is lucky you found her.

Good luck x

VivienScott · 29/08/2019 15:33

It you want a kitten keep her and report owner to every animal and cat charity you can. If you don’t want a kitten give her to an animal reigning charity and report owner to every cat and animal charity you can.
Owner is a tw@t

Ponoka7 · 29/08/2019 15:33

Is the Mother feral, or has an owner?

Is there a local neutering cat charity that you could make aware of this female?

But yes, keep the kitten.

Jesaminecollins · 29/08/2019 15:33

Aww I would keep her because she will probably end up like her mother if you don't.

Pannalash · 29/08/2019 15:34

You sound lovely OP hope your little kitten comes home safe to you.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 29/08/2019 15:34

Yeah keep her. The owner literally will not give a shit. It’s hardly theft.

gamerchick · 29/08/2019 15:34

Definitely keep the kitten

Is there no charity near you who could help trap the mum and neuter her if she doesn't reach have an owner? Or this is going to keep happening. Poor little buggers.

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 29/08/2019 15:34

That poor mum cat Sad. She needs help. Definitely contact Cats Protection for advice. And keep the kitten if you can give it a good home. I hope it's ok.

BarbaraofSeville · 29/08/2019 15:35

I'd contact a local rescue charity. They'll spay the mum to stop her having any more litters and may even try to rehome her.

They'll also look around and put traps out in case there are any more kittens.

I don't know about the legality - as in the owner may object, but I suspect a lot of them do the rescue/neutering anyway if the owner is absent or unco-operative and threaten to report them for animal cruelty if they try to get difficult about 'stealing' a cat or spaying it without permission.

Original poster
harriethoyle · 29/08/2019 15:37

Well, my last but one cat came from a local rescue so I was going to call them about it and see what they suggest - I guess the difficulty is if the shit owner is there and refuses consent there's very little we can do. People really grip me sometimes!!

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 29/08/2019 15:38

Keep keep keep!

This kitten needs a responsible owner like you. Not the selfish arsehole that let her get in this state. Do NOT give the kitten back!!!

Fingers crossed little kitty gets better.

CaptureCastles · 29/08/2019 15:38

Need a photo.

AwkwardPaws27 · 29/08/2019 15:39

I would not say that the owner comes back at weekends when you contact your local cats protection - it could tie their hands a bit with helping the mum cat. I'd say that as far as you know, the owner has moved away and seems to have left her behind. Then they can trap and neuter her without getting consent from the "owner".

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 29/08/2019 15:41

Don’t tell the shit owner! They don’t deserve the choice.

Original poster
harriethoyle · 29/08/2019 15:42

@AwkwardPaws27 that's a good idea...

OP posts:
AwkwardPaws27 · 29/08/2019 15:49

@harriethoyle they'll scan the mum cat for a microchip so if the owner was responsible enough to have her chipped they'll get a call, but otherwise the charity can spay her and stop any further litters without delays of trying to contact an absent former owner.
I hope your kitten is ok, I'm sure it'll have a lovely home with you.

Sorrysorrysosorry · 29/08/2019 15:50

Poor mum cat.

AwkwardPaws suggestion is good. Hopefully they can get the poor thing captured, neutered and into a loving home. Please come and update us both about mum cat and (hopefully) a picture of your new kitten. Fingers crossed she makes it.

LucieFurr · 29/08/2019 15:53

Definitely keep the kitten

HauntedPinecone · 29/08/2019 15:55

I would keep her, and neuter her asap. I would also see if a local cat charity could attempt to trap the mother and neuter her, so that at least she doesn't have any more kittens. There is one local to me who do this, so I know that some do.

HauntedPinecone · 29/08/2019 15:55

and I should really refresh before posting because I can see someone has already said what I just said Blush

PrincessHoneysuckle · 29/08/2019 16:03

Yes keep her and name her Lucky