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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to steal the cat

140 replies

ChilliNoodleGoodness · 20/10/2023 13:08

I know IABU and I would never do it but I feel so sorry for it.

A neighbour of mine has a few cats, one of which became pregnant and had kittens. One of the kittens she kept has gone on to have her own kittens - she is so small too.

She gave birth a few months back and is pregnant again! She is covered in fleas and worms and always crying outside peoples houses.

Have asked Cats Protection for advice and they have provided me with details of cheap neutering which I have anonymously posted through her door.

Part of me wants to just take the cat to the vets and get her treatment and have her speyed but I know in real life that is not the best thing to do :(

WWYD?

OP posts:
JFT · 20/10/2023 23:36

The animal charities are not averse to 'trap, neuter, and return' for stray cats in principle or theory but actually getting them to come and do it is near impossible. It would be unlawful for you to trap or hijack the animal and bring it to the vet for spaying.

I once trapped an abandoned full male cat, gave them advance warning, the RSPCA came around immediately (probably to prosecute me for trapping a cat) and I paid them a good chunk of money to take him, neuter him, rehome him. I couldn't keep him myself as I had two kittens and he had severely injured them in awful attacks.

In your case, it's not so easy, if you told the vet it's stray, they would want to rehab and pass it for rehoming -or- they would expect you to sign up as the pet's owner and have it micro-chipped at the same time as the spay. There's the difficulty.

Even worse, in my experience as this has actually happened to me, if you tell them the animal belongs to someone else but it's being neglected or abused, they hold onto it and assign an investigation officer to take action, using your account as a witness statement. Which can be dangerous depending on what sort of people you're dealing with.

Is there any way you could get the other neighbours in your community involved by way of helping the problem owner?

SomeCatFromJapan · 20/10/2023 23:40

I think the vet rehabbing and rehoming the cat would probably be the best outcome here. It would be away from the neglectful situation and OP would have no need for any dealings with the unsavoury neighbour.

Original poster
ChilliNoodleGoodness · 21/10/2023 11:51

Shes back. Could have sworn I heard a knock at door!

AIBU to steal the cat
OP posts:
Callipygion · 21/10/2023 11:59

Aww can't your sister steal her and keep her, poor little thing.

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/10/2023 12:02

We have 4. I’d take the cat it, restore it to health and keep it indoors. I’d tell a bald faced lie, too, if your neighbour bothered to come looking.
Some people should be banned from keeping animals.

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/10/2023 12:02

Oh, and report the others to RSPCA.

verdantverdure · 21/10/2023 12:03

Oh please help her.

She's hoping you will by the looks of it

UtterlyButterly2048 · 21/10/2023 12:09

Yes, steal the cat. Do not speak to the “owner” because she will then know it was you when said cat disappears. You can check yourself if it’s chipped (you can buy a scanner off Amazon for around £40. Worth having either way so you can make sure your own cats chip is still working) If it’s not chipped, simply tell the vet you’ve taken it on from an elderly relative who was struggling to look after it. Job done.

Original poster
ChilliNoodleGoodness · 21/10/2023 12:12

My other neighbour saw me on doorstep and confirmed she locks the cat out all the time. Her name is whiskers

OP posts:
Original poster
ChilliNoodleGoodness · 21/10/2023 12:14

Have given food and hatching a plan

AIBU to steal the cat
OP posts:
verdantverdure · 21/10/2023 12:16

She's lovely

Willowcat77 · 21/10/2023 12:19

Poor, pretty little cat, please steal her.

verdantverdure · 21/10/2023 12:20

One of ours moved in with us when we had an ordinary cat flap without a microchip reader. He used to sneak in and sleep in the warm when we went to bed.

He had people nearby, but they were shit.

Legally he was no one's because he wasn't chipped.

I took him to the vet, got him all fixed up and microchipped to me and then legally he was ours.

I was worried about doing it at the time but it was the best thing I ever did.

verdantverdure · 21/10/2023 12:23

She's definitely asking you for help, isn't she?

If she didn't need help and was just the neighbourhood cheeky chancer that would be one thing but when you know she's shut out, under fed, flea ridden etc you know she's neglected and badly treated and she needs your help.

SplendidUtterly · 21/10/2023 12:26

Your cat now.

JMSA · 21/10/2023 12:28

Cunting owners. I am enraged reading this.
Please do it.

itsmylife7 · 21/10/2023 12:28

Take her and give her to your sister.
I'd do it without hesitation.

She'll just get pregnant throughout her life otherwise.

I detest people who treat animals like this.

SkySmiler · 21/10/2023 12:30

Do it - neighbour probably won't even notice, or care

0ElectronBlue0 · 21/10/2023 12:31

If no luck with any cat charities then I’d be stealing each cat one by one and getting them neutered and putting them back. And yes, I’d give the female to your Sil.

wayyour · 21/10/2023 12:37

44PumpLane · 20/10/2023 13:16

Honestly I would consider taking the cat to a shelter, if your neighbour cares so little for her cats I doubt she has them chipped.

I would be tempted to do this if brave enough.

PabloandGustheGreySquirrels · 21/10/2023 12:38

MidnightOnceMore · 20/10/2023 13:10

You can't do that.

Have you reported the poor care?

Absolutely nothing will be done. RSPCA's bar for intervention is eyewateringly low. It's not the same as social services. If they have 'any' roof over their head and food & water then they're not interested. Yes, really

PabloandGustheGreySquirrels · 21/10/2023 12:39

Prescottdanni123 · 20/10/2023 13:19

I'd report to RSPCA. It's neglect and abuse. Sounds like a dodgy breeding business she has set up. I doubt the kittens are in good health when they are rehomed either.

Absolutely nothing will be done. RSPCA's bar for intervention is eyewateringly low. It's not the same as social services. If they have 'any' roof over their head and food & water then they're not interested. Yes, really

mynotfinkso · 21/10/2023 13:13

I posted a few weeks ago about Ds and his partner who were in the same situation. Cat was pregnant, full of worms and the neighbour (owner) couldn't have cared less. Ds kept the cat in with them until she had her kitten (there was only one, vet thinks there were more but they died earlier in the pregnancy) and the cat will be spayed as soon as the kitten is weaned. The neighbour hasn't asked if they've seen his cat so they feel no guilt at all in doing this. The cat must be about 5 or 6 so this is definitely not her first litter. She's a lovely little thing and it's just not fair on her to keep having kittens.

DemelzaandRoss · 21/10/2023 13:27

I would definitely take the cat to your home & look after it.
Should the owner knock on your door, asking about the poor animal just say he/she kept coming into the house & you assumed she didn’t mind as the cat was always outside crying.
Please don’t let the cat suffer for one more minute. Let us know how you get on.

Trampley · 21/10/2023 13:28

Get it microchipped ASAP.

Your cat.