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Original poster

Neighbours kittens

767 replies

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 01/08/2014 09:38

We've recently had new neighbours move in next door. Towards the end of last week two kittens appeared in their garden, I'm not sure whether they'd just got them or had been keeping them inside for a few days.
One of the kittens kept popping its head over our fence and watching DCs playing.

Yesterday when I went to take the bins out the same kitten was sat on my path mewing. As soon as she saw the open door she was in the house. I ushered her out the back door, but she spent the rest of yesterday coming back in, or playing with the DCs toys in the garden. Every time something made her jump she ran to me and hid under my long skirt! By about 6.30 she was clearly hungry, had jumped up and eaten some scraps in my kitchen and drank DSs milk, so I shooed her back out the front door where I'd found her as she just didn't seem to want to go over the fence back to her own garden.

She was v v thin and seemed confused about where home was. Yesterday she was coming in the windows from the garden and mewing a lot. What do I do if she comes back today? It's obviously more interesting here as neighbours are out most of the day and we are home from lunchtime onwards most days and have a garden full of toys and balls etc which she spent hours playing with yesterday. I'm worried about how thin she looked but don't know a lot about cats or kittens so don't know how normal that is. Any advice would be v much appreciated!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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idlefolly · 20/08/2014 22:29

I was just thinking about this while brushing my teeth...yes, we need an update OP!!!

Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 20/08/2014 22:59

Still no sign of neighbours. I had a good nosey in their kitchen window on way out yesterday and there definitely isn't any other food in there that I didn't spot that night, I couldn't see any water either. Just two small blue bowls both empty. We were at home today and I've tried to teach that cats to come in for food when I rattle the bag rather than yelling "puss puss puss" down the garden which will rather ruin the blasé "I don't want your cats" vibe I plan to give off when neighbours turn up.

I was forced to sweep the floor with Tortie this evening as he kept pouncing on the brush and then clinging on and refusing to be shaken off, so I decided to carry on sweeping and he maintained his death grip the whole time Grin

I will post again as soon as the neighbours are back, I promise. So if I don't post it's because nothing has happened rather than the opposite. Still amazed they aren't back though, truly stunned.

OP posts:
Scarletohello · 21/08/2014 00:35

Been gripped by this thread, so hope it turns out well for you and the kitties! :)

Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 21/08/2014 23:17

Look what's cuddled up next to me ...

OP posts:
ProcrastinatorExtraordindaire · 21/08/2014 23:57

Hmm, not sure they are comfortable really...

Wink
Greenkit · 22/08/2014 07:41

I dont want to get all down on you about the kittens, they are obviously happier with you and it looks like they would have suffered if you had left them.

However, you have essenally stolen those kittens from your NDN and they could bring in the police (Of course they would have to explain leaving them for all these days without food and water) You cant just get them chipped and then they belong to you. If the neighbours have proof of purchase you could be forced to hand them back over to them.

idlefolly · 22/08/2014 08:24

They've been rescued, not stolen, there's a big difference! They would certainly have died if OP hadn't stepped in.

Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 22/08/2014 08:37

oh I didn't realise Id stolen them, Id better go and stuff them back through the window...

How exactly are they going to know Ive had the kittens chipped? how are they going to know they live here? They may see them around the house sometimes but they cant see my backdoor or back windows, all they will see is the kittens in my garden sometimes, but they also go in several other gardens so thats hardly conclusive.

I highly doubt they will go to the police. If they do they have no proof of anything, and they would have to explain that they left two kittens locked up without food or water for two weeks.

you know what, if this is the only law I ever break, I'll consider myself lucky. Clearly I should have stood hand wringing about the potential theft charges while watching them slowly starve to death.

OP posts:
Greenkit · 22/08/2014 09:37

I am not having a go at you, just telling you how it is, you have permanently deprived your NDN of their property, namely their kittens, and therefore it is theft. Your course of action would have been to contact the RSPCA or the police to say they had been left home alone without food or water and they would have rescued them.

I guess you could have offered to take them in once rescued.

You cant just take something, name it as yours and make it so, although I can understand why you have.

Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 22/08/2014 10:50

I'm sorry but from where I'm standing you are having a go. If you've read the thread you'll see that I didn't just leap at the first chance to "steal" them, I started the thread because I didn't want to do the wrong thing.

I can tell you now that the police would have laughed at me if I'd rung them to report two kittens home alone. Yes I could have reported to the RSPCA but for reasons mentioned upthread I didn't. At present the neighbours are still away, at present all I've done is taken them in and fed them until their owners return. If you think that's something the police would take seriously then I suggest you may be misinformed.

To establish theft of property the police would first have to find evidence that these particular kittens belong to the neighbours, this means microchip or collar with name and address. They would then have to find evidence that I both have the kittens in my possession and also that I have an intention to deprive the owners permenantly of the kittens. Neither of those things can be proved at this point, so you are incorrect that the police could turn up and force me to hand them back to neighbours.

I would never have taken them from the house if they were happy and fed. I too them because they had no access to food or water, I'd been at home for several days and no one had been in to feed them. The neighbours left on the sat and it took me until Tuesday night to post and then go and get them. If I hadn't got them they would have died. If the RSPCA had been called what could they have actually done? I used a screwdriver to jam open the child locked window, I doubt the RSPCA would have been authorised to do that. So they'd have faffed around trying to get hold of the neighbours. Meanwhile the kittens would still have been in there, starving and scared.

Your posts have really hit a nerve because I was just trying to do what I thout was best. You have accused me of theft. Where do you stand on morals? Because if I hand the kittens back when the neighbours return, knowing there is a strong chance that they won't be fed, cuddled, played with, given adequate health treatment, what sort of person does that make me morally? Honestly, answer that question. I would lose all respect for myself if I popped round and handed the kittens back into an environment where they will suffer just to ensure in on the cautious side of the law. Sometimes what's legally best, and what's morally best are different, and you have to weigh up which decision you can live with.

OP posts:
Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 22/08/2014 10:56

And also what's best for the kittens. Is it really going to be good for them if I call the RSPCA now, they go into a shelter and wait there for me to either get them back again or for a new family to take them. They've been through enough. They are 4/5 months old. They have huge amounts of love and care in this house, they feel safe here, they want to be here. I don't see who it benefits to take them away from that now, at this point.

You have no idea (unless you are the neighbour) how the neighbours will react when they get home. They were happy for the kittens to spend large portions of time here anyway, they were happy for me to feed the kittens. You are talking about theft and the police but I can say that I'm pretty certain the neighbours won't be reacting like that. I've made a judgment based on the people, the kittens and the situation. I'm here, with all the facts to allow me to make that decision.

OP posts:
NewEraNewMindset · 22/08/2014 10:56

The neutering aspect needs addressing ASAP.

Haffdonga · 22/08/2014 11:07

As I see it you can't have stolen the kittens because they are perfectly free to return to the NDN's house and garden whenever they wish. You haven't removed them because they are still there ! When the neighbours come back the kittens may well choose to wander between both houses and spend time wherever they are comfiest, living between houses.

However, if I were you I would keep very quiet about how the kittens actually became liberated - as you said before, it could have been one of their feet on the child-lock. Perhaps it would be better to get the posts removed where you suggest otherwise.

NewEraNewMindset · 22/08/2014 11:22

Sorry im using the 'new and exciting' mobile site that actually fails to tell you how many pages the thread has. So I made my neutering comment after reading page 1, then once posted saw there was actually nine pages!!

I am so shocked and disgusted that your neighbours went on a long holiday leaving two kittens on their own in one room with essentially no food or water. I pretty much can't drag my jaw off the floor, what the absolute fuck?

I have no idea how you are going to deal with the fallout of this OP? Assuming you do get to keep the kittens what is to stop them buying two more? It terrifies me that this is happening all around the country and there is little being done.

Greenkit · 22/08/2014 11:46

Im not saying you havent done the best thing for them, but by microchpping them in your name you have taken them from your NDN and claimed them as yours. If they move they may well want to take their kittens with them, where do you stand then.

How do you know they dont have proof of ownership, all it takes is the person who gave/sold the kittens to them to say so.

I know your intentions were honorable, but you should really have done things properly. Reporting the neighbours to the police and RSPCA first.

Original poster
ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 22/08/2014 11:58

I haven't chipped them yet. The vet apptmnt for fleeing, worming and jabs is next week. All I've done is taken them in and fed them. I'm probably really overreacting to your posts but you've actually upset me. I'm having a hard time ATM, and am feeling quite fragile. Please understand that I've not "taken" them. The neighbours are ok with me feeding them when they are around, if the kittens go back next door that's fine, there will always be food and cuddles at mine if they need/want them. I'm not a bad person, all I've done is given them shelter and food while their owners are away.

If they don't want them back/neglect them again then I will keep them. If they chose not to go home or keep coming back I will keep them. But we aren't at that stage yet. Can you not see that?

OP posts:
WithernseaWoes · 22/08/2014 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Greenkit · 22/08/2014 12:47

I dont want to upset you.

I know you are doing the best for them, and I have read all of the thread, I just didnt want you to spend, time, money and energy and love if the NDN come back decide they are no longer happy with you feeding them and take them back.

I do believe you need to report them regardless as they have been very cruel. Maybe if you talk to them they will let you have the kittens?

wantacatplease · 22/08/2014 12:49

Thecatneuterer has spoken! We all know you've done the right thing by the kits. Some people aren't brave enough to do the right thing.

ZenGardener · 22/08/2014 12:53

So you haven't seen anyone pop round to feel them? That's awful!!

I think you are really lovely for taking such good care of them.

Ps. I love black & white cats

Tinkleybison · 22/08/2014 13:59

I've just read the whole of this thread from the start - love it!

We'll done to you OP, please keep updating Smile

msrisotto · 22/08/2014 14:26

I'm so glad you were there to rescue them. Loved the story, hope the neighbours are ok about it.

wantacatplease · 22/08/2014 14:43

We have to remember that these kits would be dead if they were left the way the neighbours left them. They really don't care about them at all. The OP is not dealing with rational, reasonable people at all. I think she's handled the situation amazingly. There are lots of us who would've turned a blind eye.

timtam23 · 22/08/2014 14:59

Greenkit the OP has explained at great length earlier in the thread why talking to the neighbours would at best cause ructions and at worst could backfire spectacularly for both her and the kittens

Police/RSPCA involvement is unlikely to have made anything better for the kittens compared to what the OP has done

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/08/2014 16:06

The police wouldn't be interested in an un chipped kitten, unless they have receipts (doubt it) who's to say they aren't yours and the neighbours tried to cat nap them?.