Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

I accidently stole a cat

67 replies

MemyselfandI2019 · 10/07/2021 11:40

I accidently stole a cat. The cat started to visit me at the start of first lockdown and I think he may of been about 6months old. He was full of fleas, had worms (I could see them in his poo) and kept stealing food off my kitchen side. We have a lot of strays in the area. I put a paper coller on him and no one rang. I flead, wormed and started feeding him. He was a scrapper, got injured so I took him to the vet. No chip, so vet chipped him to me and I paid about £300 in vets bills. I thought nothing of it and accepted that I now have a cat (I couldn't leave it out injured and PDSA wouldn't see him during the pandemic as not life threatening). I'm not a cat person and am actually allergic to them. Anyway, turns out the cat did have a home (found out through friends a couple of months later and owner had proof) so I hand delivered him back to his actual owner along with chip details and change over ownership forms. The owner did not offer to reimburse me vets fees but I didn't really mind as he needed treatment. Cat still visited multiple times a day, slept in the shed overnight but I did not feed him (to encourage him to not visit).

Fast forward a couple of months, I have a call from a vets who say they have my injured cat.....erm I don't have a cat anymore but it turns out I do as the actual owner didn't change the details over (I should have checked tbf) so I contacted owner to explain about the cat in the vet. They reluctantly agreed that I could keep the cat as he seems to prefer it here but owner was really upset. I had him treated, vaccinated and neutered and now he never leaves the house, he's like my shadow. But I feel so so bad that I have essentially stolen someone's cat (twice) and I'm finding it hard to bond with him because of the guilt (silly I know as its been nearly a year since he officially came).

OP posts:
ItsNotNormalLove · 13/07/2021 12:25

Thanks for the gorgeous photos OP, that is one happy looking cat!

Confusedcatlady1 · 13/07/2021 13:48

What a lovely story. It sounds like a match made in heaven.

Original poster
MemyselfandI2019 · 15/07/2021 10:14

Thank you for reassuring me that I did the right thing! My ex left last night and the cat stayed with me all night and just cuddled into me. He's my boy and I'm so grateful we found each other. I never thought I'd be a cat lady!!

OP posts:
MrsVeryTired · 15/07/2021 10:26

That looks like one very happy boy Smile
Agree with all, you didn't steal him, you rescued him

Notaroadrunner · 15/07/2021 10:31

At 6 months their cat should have been kept indoors until neutered. They were disgusting 'owners' given they allowed him out to roam and end up infested with fleas and worms. They do not deserve to be pet owners. Do not feel remotely guilty. The cat is yours and for a non cat person you sure have done a great job in being a fantastic cat owner.

viques · 15/07/2021 10:35

I think the cat has voted (more than once, vote early vote often as they say) and it’s a landslide result! Congratulations .

viques · 15/07/2021 10:36

Ps I do like the way your floor tiles match the cat!

EmpressSuiko · 15/07/2021 10:41

OP that cat could have died if it wasn’t for you, the previous owners clearly had no love for their pet and openly neglected it. You shouldn’t feel guilty for giving the cat a warm and loving home!

RickOShay · 15/07/2021 10:45

He’s a beautiful boy Smile.
I think you really needed each other. Sometimes the world turns just right.
Wishing you both many happy years together Flowers

NeedNewKnees · 15/07/2021 10:54

My neighbours stole my cat and I try to be mature about it but it made me angry and upset.

What you did is NOT stealing a cat, it’s take care of an neglected animal.

Stealing a cat is regularly feeding, providing treats etc to a perfectly healthy cat. In our case, cat was pissed off with rescue kitten’s arrival and childless older couple offered a quiet home with Dreamies on demand, kept him in their house at night etc etc. While I paid pet insurance, all medical treatment, vaccinations etc and fed him healthy food.

You fed and cared for a flea ridden neglected animal who wasn’t even chipped, and paid for his medical treatment. That’s been an owner, not a thief. Good on you!

MaintainingPositivity · 15/07/2021 11:02

He's a very handsome cat, congratulations OP!- I bet he is delighted that he has selected such a lovely new home.

I'm a big believer in cats voting with their feet. My eldest teenager has spent the last year or so in a hormonal arsey mood, our DCat has basically ignored him. Teenager is now coming out the other side & DCat won't leave him alone.

They know 😻

Reallyreallyborednow · 15/07/2021 11:24

I'm a big believer in cats voting with their feet

It depends. I’ve known some people actively feeding, encouraging, keeping cats in, not letting them return home etc. That’s stealing.

Otherwise if it’s not your cat don’t feed it, and don’t let it in the house. If you think it may be a stray or neglected then check for a chip and look for owners. If no result then it wouldn’t be theft- which is what the op did.

AlfonsoTheMango · 15/07/2021 11:42

I may be the only person on this thread who is happy that my cat voted with his feet and went to live with a new family.

Background: I adopted a feral rescue and tried to keep him indoors most of the time. He was neutered, chipped, insured, had his worming / de-fleaing treatments, had loads of toys, his own bedroom etc. But he was bored and lonely.

He used to go out the bedroom window to explore and return a few days later.

Then one day, he didn't return. I called him and he responded - he is a very talkative cat - so I knew that he was ok.

A few days later, a neighbour posted a message in a local noticeboard about a cheeky cat in her garden who was playing with her cats and children. It was AlfonsoCat! I immediately went over with a cat carrier but my now-former cat made it clear that he was happy in his new home and that he wasn't going anywhere.

The neighbours asked if they could adopt him because they loved his cheeky personality and how well he fitted in so I happily said yes. He is now part of a clowder: he and his siblings eat out of each others' food bowls, swap beds, sleep in a pile and watch the local wildlife together.

Notradespeopleareavailable · 15/07/2021 11:42

What a lovely tale (and gorgeous cat!) King clearly knew what was best for him. So glad you've kept him and are now his legal 'owner' (insomuch as cats can never be truly owned as they are far too grand for that).

Lindy2 · 15/07/2021 11:54

A cat has more sense than to willingly stay with a bad owner.

Poor cat had fleas, worms, was hungry and was not chipped or neutered.

These things are the very basics in pet care.

Please keep and love your cat. You have rescued him and he needs you. You've done a good thing not a bad thing.

longtompot · 15/07/2021 12:02

He is gorgeous, esp the tongue blip photo😻 I agree, he chose you over his neglectful previous home. He knows what side his bread is buttered and sounds like he has chosen very well. Enjoy your boy, sorry, King Smile

longtompot · 15/07/2021 12:05

@AlfonsoTheMango

I may be the only person on this thread who is happy that my cat voted with his feet and went to live with a new family.

Background: I adopted a feral rescue and tried to keep him indoors most of the time. He was neutered, chipped, insured, had his worming / de-fleaing treatments, had loads of toys, his own bedroom etc. But he was bored and lonely.

He used to go out the bedroom window to explore and return a few days later.

Then one day, he didn't return. I called him and he responded - he is a very talkative cat - so I knew that he was ok.

A few days later, a neighbour posted a message in a local noticeboard about a cheeky cat in her garden who was playing with her cats and children. It was AlfonsoCat! I immediately went over with a cat carrier but my now-former cat made it clear that he was happy in his new home and that he wasn't going anywhere.

The neighbours asked if they could adopt him because they loved his cheeky personality and how well he fitted in so I happily said yes. He is now part of a clowder: he and his siblings eat out of each others' food bowls, swap beds, sleep in a pile and watch the local wildlife together.

Aww lovely story. You are a good cat owner allowing him to be somewhere he was happy.
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread