Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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

Need to vent - so upset

14 replies

Fanacapan · 26/11/2022 15:45

Long story but I really need to vent somewhere! During lockdown we had new neighbours move in two doors up. Just over a year ago one of my two cats started visiting them and going missing for a few days at a time. He was 9 and I had him and his sister from kittens. I advertised him missing on local FB a couple of times but he always came home eventually. I found out he was visiting the neighbour and contacted them to say he was ours, well loved, chipped, vaccinated and insured and definitely not a stray and please stop feeding him. Messages went backwards and forwards, her children loved him, they couldn’t put him out in the rain, etc etc. I retrieved him a few times but eventually I just couldn’t keep him home, and I asked them to shoo him away and not let them in their house but they just wouldn’t. Anyway, fast forward I haven’t seen him at home for more than a year but see him most days in their window.
This morning I took a call from the vet, he had been brought in very ill, at deaths door in fact and asked for my permission to put him to sleep. They suspected cancer in his chest as he could barely breathe. He had obviously been ill for some time and they had done nothing, they found him collapsed in the garden this morning and took him to the vet and left him there, the vet contacted me from his chip.
The neighbour didn’t even bother bringing him home or letting me know, despite seeing me on the drive this morning, probably on her way to the vet!
I am so angry and upset, he must have suffered so much just because the neighbour wouldn’t bring him home.
I have arranged for him to be cremated and will bring his ashes home, RIP Henry

OP posts:
Beees · 26/11/2022 15:50

Holy shit your neighbours are absolute monsters! No wonder you're so upset!

I'm so sorry he suffered unnecessary and that they have been so uncaring. I would be able to stop myself going round and asking them why they didn't let you know and why they didn't get him treatment sooner.

I'm so sorry for your loss and am at glad you will be able to bring him home where he belongs.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/11/2022 16:01

That’s unforgivable of her. All of the fun and no care for him when he needed it.

People like that are scum.

Notanotherusername4321 · 26/11/2022 16:03

I know it’s too late now but just in case anyone else is in a similar position a neighbour doing that is theft, you can report it to the police and there are legal consequences to stealing someone’s pet.

I am very sorry for your loss o/p. Bad enough they stole your cat, even worse they didn’t treat him with the same care you would have.

countrygirl99 · 26/11/2022 16:05

Barstards.
But I'm afraid the police would do jack shit as I know from experience.

wildpeaches · 26/11/2022 16:20

RIP Henry.

I wouldn't be able to hold back from telling the neighbours how utterly horrible they are.

Omgiache · 26/11/2022 16:34

I am so sorry to read this.. that is terrible if them especially as they knew he belonged to you.

Some people are just complete idiots.

DuchessDandelion · 26/11/2022 16:35

I'm so so sorry, op. Not only for the heartbreak of losing your beloved cat but for what the neighbours put you through - selfish and cruel bunch of people.

TokyoSushi · 26/11/2022 16:37

Oh OP, and Henry, so sad Flowers

Fanacapan · 26/11/2022 16:49

I did talk to a PCSO, they said it is incredibly common and there’s little they can do except ‘have a word’, because basically cats are little shits who go where they please.

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 27/11/2022 04:32

Would the RSPCA prosecute them for failing to get an animal medical attention?

thelobsterquadrille · 27/11/2022 10:38

That's horrendous, I am so sorry.

thelobsterquadrille · 27/11/2022 10:40

Notanotherusername4321 · 26/11/2022 16:03

I know it’s too late now but just in case anyone else is in a similar position a neighbour doing that is theft, you can report it to the police and there are legal consequences to stealing someone’s pet.

I am very sorry for your loss o/p. Bad enough they stole your cat, even worse they didn’t treat him with the same care you would have.

The police can't really do anything apart from have a word with the neighbours.

It's one of the many downsides of our "right to roam" laws, unfortunately. If cats are let out to do as they please, you have to accept the negative consequences as well as the benefits of it.

I'm not at all saying the neighbours are right but letting your pet out to roam unattended just isn't very safe.

jonnyjannoo · 27/11/2022 10:52

Oh my OP, this is horrendous. I'm so sorry this happened to you and your family.
I'd absolutely be getting the police to go round and "have a word".
Id like to think that id go round and calmly confront them to tell them them that they have behaved despicably causing awful suffering for Henry and have devastated your kids and you. What id more realistically do, as I'm a wuss, is write it in a letter. Id also be asking for any costs incurred at the vets, not because it's about the money, but they have to take some of the responsibility after steeling your lovely boy.

Sorry for your loss FlowersFlowers

Witchofthedales · 27/11/2022 10:58

That's bloody dreadful, the cheeky twats! I hope they're footing the vets bills.
I'm so sorry for your loss 💐

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread