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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I’m not responsible for someone else’s cat, am I?

267 replies

PoppliosBubble · 25/04/2020 13:51

On Monday I was in the garden and heard a noise in the garage. I opened the garage and a cat shot out and disappeared up the road. I knew the garage hadn’t been opened since the previous Thursday so the cat had been stuck in there for 4 days without food or drink 🙁.

I posted the above on our local FB page with a brief description of the cat, asking if anyone had lost one. A lady replied saying her cat had turned up at hers incredibly weak, she’d taken it to the vet who had given fluids and was keeping it overnight. I messaged the lady my email and asked her to let me know how cat was doing, that I was really sorry and that it was only due to lockdown that the garage hadn’t been opened in so long etc.

This morning she emailed me to say cat was home, seemed much better but that she was keeping him in from now on. The cat had to stay at the vets for two days and the cost was nearly £800, vets bill attached to the email. I think this is a bit odd but reply ‘glad to hear cat is better. I’ll keep an eye out for him once he’s out and about again. Hopefully your insurance will cover the fees and you didn’t have to pay too much of an excess.’

She’s just replying say she doesn’t have insurance against someone locking her cat in their shed for nearly a week. She’s been furloughed and absolutely cannot afford to pay this bill at the moment. She thought that I’d offer to at least pay half of the bill after the harm I’d caused her cat but as I haven’t she’ll ask me outright or be posting my details on the local FB telling everyone what I’ve done. The same FB page that I posted on saying I’d found a cat in my garage in the first place.

This isn’t my fault is it? I have a cat and if someone accidentally shut it in a shed/ garage them I’d consider that my responsibility as I’m the one that allows my cat out. I’m just ignore the email as I’d quite like to see what she posts online.

OP posts:
ChristmasCarcass · 25/04/2020 15:12

No details of what the bill was actually for though, just ladies name, cats name and total due.

This is just a scam artist who thinks she’s found a way to get her vet bill paid. It won’t be the same cat.

I would be tempted to put something on Facebook saying “Wow so disappointed! I posted about finding a lost cat last week, and immediately got a load of DMs from random people trying to extort me into sending them money! Thought this group was such a great community, guess you never know!”

And complain to the admin to have her kicked out of the group. She probably does this with everyone who posts, if just one person pays up she’s made £800 for nothing.

Notredamn · 25/04/2020 15:12

Catshit crazy!

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 25/04/2020 15:13

Not your fault. Everyone know that cats are risk-taking little arseholes at the best of times, and that's why we have insurance for them.

PuppyMonkey · 25/04/2020 15:15

As with all CFs, the best thing would be to simply reply: “lol.”

backinthebox · 25/04/2020 15:18

£800 for 2 nights of fluids? Last year my horse spent 3 nights in a horse hospital with a serious injury, had various scans and xrays under sedation in the operating theatre, all treatment, feed, bedding, bandages and drugs included, and it was just over £1300. What were the rehydrating the cat with? Vintage Dom Perignon?

Frownette · 25/04/2020 15:19

But she should know cats do sneak silently into places without being noticed?

Shame cat went without water and food for a few days but seems to have made a good recovery.

Sparklesocks · 25/04/2020 15:22

She’s trying it on, but she has absolutely no leg to stand on - legally or otherwise you have no accountability for the bill.

recycledteenager24 · 25/04/2020 15:23

i wouldn't engage at all and just ignore her, let her sue if she wants she'd be laughed out of court, and as to what randoms think on fb well..let's just say i'm not any of that stuff for about 101 reasons andnever have been.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 25/04/2020 15:27

Another saying ignore and enjoy her stupid Facebook post. She's trying her luck!

Windyatthebeach · 25/04/2020 15:29

I would be tempted to ring the vet.. They may be under the mpression you have agreed to pay. Best nip that idea in the bud and make them aware of her plan to scam you...

BumbleBeee69 · 25/04/2020 15:29

£800.. oh my good grief Confused

I'm stunned.... and I agree she's a cheeky cow Flowers

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 25/04/2020 15:35

My cat went missing for a week, was found in a shed. I was over the moon he'd been found, so much so that I sent the finders flowers and a small chocolate / sweet hamper.

Lairymary · 25/04/2020 15:36

What @STAYTHEFUCKHOME said!!!!

ButtonMoonLoon · 25/04/2020 15:37

I’m guessing the cat ended up on a drip for dehydration and that she was charged out of hours fees for boarding or something. If it went under a GA for any tests that also costs.
In any case, as a pet owner, I consider it my sole responsibility to have adequate insurance cover for my cat. If she has failed to have this in place then that’s her choice and she needs to deal with that consequences.
You did a kind and thoughtful thing to post letting people know you’d found a cat, this is a real life ‘No good deed goes unpunished’ situation.
As an aside, I’d love to know the thoughts of the 1% who thought you were being unreasonable!

Phifedean123 · 25/04/2020 15:40

My cats been missing for two weeks now. I'd be so grateful if someone found my cat in their shed right now, I certainly wouldn't be expecting you to pay vet bills if needed my cat is my responsibility 😲 I'd be buying you a thank you present and card for reuniting us in fact, some people are just awful

wastinglife · 25/04/2020 15:41

@thecatneuterer you’re absolutely correct; I apologise that my post lacked sufficient detail. I was referring to a programme I watched a few years ago which explained that cats get much of their hydration from the food that they eat. What I meant was that by eating insects, spiders etc then they wouldn’t get awfully dehydrated in 4 days. Thank you for picking up on it.

lottiegarbanzo · 25/04/2020 15:41

PDSA is what she needs if she really can't afford to pay.

Sounds like she's saying she doesn't have any pet insurance (and is just being snarky about it).

Blackmail is a serious criminal offense. Might be worth mentioning that to her?

If she does post about it, ignore, don't drag yourself down to her level by responding. You'd only make yourself look bad - an argument between two people, rather than one person being crazy.

MadameMeursault · 25/04/2020 15:44

Tell her that blackmail is a criminal offence and you’re going to report her to the police.

Ginkypig · 25/04/2020 15:44

weregoingonanadventure

Ye mine too.

My friend is in her 70's and the room was upstairs which may explain it but you would have thought the dog would have heard!

lottiegarbanzo · 25/04/2020 15:44

Btw, had she posted any 'missing cat' posters / Facebook posts etc? Or was she blissfully unconcerned that her cat had disappeared for four days?

MadameMeursault · 25/04/2020 15:45

Btw one of our cats was once shut in our garage for 3 days when we were away for a weekend. There was nothin wrong with him afterwards. We certainly didn’t take him to the vet.

LilacTree1 · 25/04/2020 15:46

Lottie, exactly. She might give a stuff but just sees a chance to make money.

LilacTree1 · 25/04/2020 15:46

*not give a stuff!

CallmeAngelina · 25/04/2020 15:48

Tell her you're thinking of suing her cat for breaking and entering your shed.

areallthenamesusedup · 25/04/2020 15:49

I can understand her being upset about her cat but you have no liability and I think it is awful she has resorted to blackmail.....it is attempted blackmail clear and simple!