Gave cat away, now a stray

[mylittlenugget]

I feel so awful and I just don't know what to do.
A few years ago I was given a cat by someone, and fell absolutely in love. I was his second owner (not including the person who owned his mother as well) before he was even a year old.
Then due to unforeseen circumstances I had to rehome him. I cried for a few days but tried to tell myself it was for the best. Then that owner rehomed him again and I was upset again.
I haven't really thought much about him lately as this was a few years ago and I figured he was fine.
But a week ago I saw a post from a local vets that a stray cat had been bought in and the attached picture was of my old cat! I cried and my partner got very upset as he looks so ill and like he hasn't been looked after for months.
I gave them as much information as I could and contacted the last owner I know of to try and find the current one but as far as I'm aware he's still at the vets.
I'd love nothing more than to pick him up and have him again but I'm due a baby soon and he was always a little vicious so I can't imagine what he's like now he's not been cared for. I'm also not allowed pets where I live but I could get around that in a way.
I know there isn't anything I can really do but I feel so awful about it and keep looking at the pictures of when I had him and the picture of him now and my heart breaks. Thankfully I know that this vet won't put him down but they'll try to rehome him if his owner isn't found after a certain period of time so that's reassuring but I can't help but feel like he's had such a horrible time of it he'll just get passed along again

Oh the poor thing, but this isn't your fault and you mustn't beat yourself up about it (especially with a baby on the way, you don't need to feel stressed). The cat is now in the best place and I am sure due to the recent problems they will ensure they do their due diligence so he goes to a long term home and minimise the risk of another rehoming. You have helped by calling the vet and there is nothing more you can do. Cats are resilient, he may have had some rough times but also probably had great adventures and will now be ready to settle into a lovely new home.

I really hope he does find a lovely forever home. I know he wouldn't be happy living with me because he wouldn't get enough attention but it's so hard being rational.
I'm considering phoning the vets again just for an update but I'm not sure they'd tell me anything or if they'd then ask me to take him and I'd struggle so much to say no.

I think if you ring them and make it clear due to circumstances/baby that you can't take him, but are concerned and was wondering if you could have an update, I am sure they would be fine about it. To make you feel better, could you take an active role in trying to find his forever home? Might make you feel better and help him too? I'm not sure the usual process with this type of thing, but maybe worth a look?

Unfortunately this is all too common with private rehoming situations (including cute kittens people claim to find "good homes" for...).

Most vet's work with their local cat rescues and he will hopefully now be rehomed responsibly through a charity who will do the appropriate checks to make sure his new home will be his forever home.

Thank god he's with the vet and he can be rehomed. Sounds like he's had a crap life and deserves better than to be passed around from one 'owner' to another. Looking at pictures ans crying won't help - I'd leave him alone to be rehomed with someone responsible who will commit to him and look after him.

I'd love to help find him a new home but I don't trust my judgement since the last owner I found (and I was reassured by different people would care for him) was such an awful choice.
Hopefully now he's older and not a little kitten he'll find an owner that actually wants him and not just a social media toy.
I know crying doesn't help but I can't especially help it when I feel so awful and responsible for messing his life up. I can't do anything to help anyway can I so don't see what harm I'm doing.

People have to re home pets all the time and most of the time it's fine, you had no idea it would end this way. Don't beat yourself up too much, he's in a good place now