Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU by saying no to looking after the 'outdoor cat' which I've just been informed will be staying with the house for 'a few weeks' after completion?

193 replies

ExchangedCat · 17/10/2019 20:04

Having recently exchanged the seller has been in touch to say they're taking all the pets except their 'outdoor cat' and could we look after it got a few weeks until they're settled?

We won't be moving in fully for the first few weeks as the house and garden need a fair bit of work. I'm also slightly worried that we have no idea where the cat is given the neglected state of the garden.

Voting:
YANBU - say no to the cat
YABU - say yes to the cat

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 17/10/2019 23:05

What a bloody cheek...and I'm a cat lover.

I don't know where ppl get off even asking such a thing.

My response would be No.

StCharlotte · 17/10/2019 23:27

I voted YANBU but our sellers did this and didn't even pretend they would come back. I said if it didn't get on with our cats, they'd have to come back for it. It didn't get on with ours and I rang them to fetch her but they wouldn't, besides she was already 16 so...

EIGHT YEARS LATER I cried buckets when we had to have her put to sleep at 23!

greeneyedlulu · 17/10/2019 23:36

Nope!

catyrosetom2 · 17/10/2019 23:56

The owners don’t necessarily want to get rid of the cat as so many posters are saying - if they are moving somewhere for two weeks they may simply not want to move an outdoor cat (which not the same as a feral cat!) because it will be so much harder to settle an outdoor cat not used to living indoors. I own one and frequently wonder what would happen if we moved and play out this exact sort of scenario.

That said, YANBU to say No, of course. You have enough stress of your own and aren’t moving in yet anyway. I think they should ask a next door neighbour instead.

catyrosetom2 · 17/10/2019 23:58

Also it’s entirely possible they didn’t know the new property wouldn’t be ready for two weeks until very recently hence the last minute request.

Gingerkittykat · 18/10/2019 00:09

A friend had this happen to her, the Cat Protection League would only take the cat if she agreed to make a complaint to the police for animal neglect.

Don't do it. It makes no sense to leave one animal behind.

AthollPlace · 18/10/2019 00:12

I’d look after it because they’re going to leave it anyway and you can’t let the poor thing starve.

100PercentThatBitch · 18/10/2019 00:15

I'm suspicious but I would say this is a definite attempt to ditch the cat. Don't accommodate it, it's cheeky as anyway!

pigsDOfly · 18/10/2019 00:21

I'd be dealing with their solicitor about this and telling solicitor that I will not be looking after the cat that they are abandoning, in what will be your garden.

And given that you won't actually be there for a few weeks, how would you look after it anyway.

I'd also inform the solicitor that if you do find a cat that seems to have been abandoned in your garden you will be taking it to Cats' protection, RSPCA or a local vet as a stray.

Just hope they don't contact you on moving day to inform you that, 'by the way, we can't take granny with us for a couple of weeks so she's going to have to stay in the house until we collect her. Hope you won't mind feeding her three times a day.'

CheshireChat · 18/10/2019 07:19

Seeing as you won't be living at the new house for a few weeks I'd definitely say no as how would the logistics work if nothing else?

pinkprosseco · 18/10/2019 07:21

YANBU

Sallyseagull · 18/10/2019 07:23

I live cats but it should be a no for me.

Savingforarainyday · 18/10/2019 07:27

Tell them if they leave it, you'll call RSPCA or similar.

magicstar1 · 18/10/2019 07:29

That’s exactly what happened to us. He took his dog but left the “outdoor” cat. She slept in a kennel right at the back door and had to be fed regularly...so he left two boxes of cat food Hmm
Within a few days she was like part of our family, ended up indoors all evening, but slept outside.
As she was old we only had her for a year, and she cost a few hundred in the vets, but I would do it again.

Inforthelonghaul · 18/10/2019 07:34

YANBU but I don’t think they will come back for the cat so it will be down to your conscience whether or not you could see a cat starve or freeze to death this winter. Personally I’d have to take it on. What an outrageous way to treat a pet.

DriftingLeaves · 18/10/2019 07:39

Tell them you'll report them to the RSPCA for abandoning it if they leave it.

CFs of the week award.

WellErrr · 18/10/2019 07:40

It’s not hard though is it? Cats like living outside, they’re animals, just put food on the step every night and it’ll either stay and thrive or move to someone else’s garden.

To be fair if it’s an outdoor semi-feral cat it would be really unfair on it to put it through the stress of being caught and moved.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t actually buy the cat and it just moved into their garden, if it lives outdoors. Just feed it, it’ll take approx 2 minutes per day.

WellErrr · 18/10/2019 07:41

it will be down to your conscience whether or not you could see a cat starve or freeze to death this winter.

They’re covered in fur.

ForTheTimeBeing · 18/10/2019 07:45

The seller has always maintained they're very friendly with their neighbour, to the extent of said neighbour walking the seller's dog when the seller is at work, so I'm surprised they haven't gone for that option, surely more reliable than near-strangers?

The reason might be that the neighbour would have to enter your property to feed the cat. I would talk to the sellers. As previous posters have pointed out, there may be a genuine reason they can't take the cat with them immediately. A little bit of kindness from your side could solve a difficult situation.

ForTheTimeBeing · 18/10/2019 07:47

With 'property' I was referring to your garden, not your house, BTW.

KatherineJaneway · 18/10/2019 07:50

They'll never come back for the cat. If you agree to this, it means the cat will be yours. Only you know if that is ok or not ok for your lifestyle.

DriftingLeaves · 18/10/2019 07:52

If they can't take the cat then they need to put it in a cattery.

I can't believe some posters think OP should take responsibility for someone else's cat. Who will buy the food? Who will clear up its shit?What if it gets ill, should they pay the vet as well?

I think some CFs here would say yes. Madness.

ChickenyChick · 18/10/2019 07:57

My response would be “ok, fine, but I am not taking official responsibility (vet visits etc.)”. Put some cat biscuits out once a day for 2 weeks is all I’d do.

After that, the cat will find a new human, no doubt. Cats do.

Or miracle of miracles the owners actually might turn up for it (no way)

RandomMess · 18/10/2019 07:58

I would just say "no, we won't be living there so we can't and I wouldn't anyway"

In reality I would put food down whilst there but there is no way I would tell them I would take on the responsibility.

YobaOljazUwaque · 18/10/2019 08:00

Tell them that if they don't take responsibility for their own cat you will be reporting them to the RSPCA for neglect and will ensure they are acknowledged as unsuitable people to be entrusted with animals for the rest of their lives.

Swipe left for the next trending thread