Neighbours cat has moved in

[Brnreg]

Hi so I took what I thought to be a stray cat in at the start of April, he was in very bad condition (matted fur, very skinny, bald patches) and seemed starving so without hesitation I wanted to take care of him I was certain he was stray due to the condition he was in. I bathed him a few times over the weeks as he needed it. He made himself home here instantly and would still go outside and do his business but never left sight. I took him to the vets a few weeks ago to get him scanned for a microchip and it turned out that he belongs to a neighbour a few doors down, the vets returned him back to their owners and within 2 days he was back here. The neighbours never put anything on Facebook for their missing cat or even called for him outside, and I’m certain he hasn’t been going back there apart from when they collected him from the vets, they’re clearly not bothered about their cat they neglected his care and I understand that he isn’t mine he belongs to the neighbours but I can’t just turn him away he wants to be here and needs the affection, he’s so loving and gentle and he’s attached to me I just don’t know what to do!

Keep him.

Congratulations you have a new cat.

Joking aside have you spoken to them? They may be happy to “sign him over” as it were. This happened to us, when we found out the cheeky sod who kept coming through our cat flap lived next door we spoke to them about what was happening but that we liked him but obviously he’s their cat so what do they want to do? They weren’t bothered about keeping him at all so we adopted him.

RSPCA and adopt him.

People that can't care for pets, shouldn't have pets.

Our cats are members of our family and are given every advantage that we would give our own child. We'd think nothing of dropping £10k on our cats if it helped them have a better life. I think if this cat can be given a better life, it should be. It clearly wants it!

The poor thing clearly decided to stay with you (and apparently there are reasons for that), so I suggest talking to them about keeping it. Ideally, they will be willing to change the owner's details on the microchip.

If the cat has chosen you then there's really not much the neighbours can do about it bar keeping them locked inside.

The cat sounds like he would be much better off with you, please keep him 🐈 ❤️

He's decided he's yours now

Or should I say you are his? You never do truly own a car do you? They own you

Congratulations on your new cat!

Do you mean take the cat to the RSPCA then adopt it from them?
I am fairly sure the RSPCA would scan for a chip then return the cat to its owners. If they didn't do that then the OP would have to pay an adoption fee to get the cat back.

Yay edit button, wrong post went to the wrong chat!

Keep the cat. Do the neighbours know about you? If not, great. Don't tell them.

Keep him, or at least make him an offer he can't refuse ( food, love and a cosy bed) give him the freedom to go home if he wants, he might visit previous people but they obviously aren't bothered so voila you have a new cat.
Happened to me. Visiting cat ( neighbours) used to visit a couple of times a week. Eventually she came in in such an emaciated,state, skin condition obviously been fighting, I took her to the vet for treatment. Although I didn't expect any help the rspca paid for her skin treatment. She wasn't chipped so she has been with me since. She does go out and about a bit and probably visits the neighbour but he isn't bothered.