'This old boy is a fighter': Person Rescues a Neglected, Sick Cat, Then Two Weeks Later, His Family Shows Up, Demanding to Have Him Back and Threatening to Call the Police

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jan 3, 2025 10:00 AM EST

So, okay, the indoor-outdoor cat predicament is a real one, and it's one that we discuss on a pretty much constant basis in our lives. Should you let your cat outside or shouldn't you? Of course, we're leaning toward one answer, which is keeping them inside for their own safety, but circumstances happen where that might not be the correct solution. That's not the problem in this story. Or at least not the whole problem. There's a difference between letting your cat out sometimes and neglecting a cat completely. 

When the person in this story rescued this cat, it looked like a stray cat, and that should tell you enough. Even the rescue to which she brought the sick lonely kitty couldn't distinguish it from a common street cat. So, when the cat's "family" came looking for it two weeks after it was rescued, complaining, demanding it back, threatening to call the cops… we understand why the rescuer was worried they did the wrong thing. But they didn't. They absolutely did the right thing by saving this cat. 

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  • 01
    "My neighbors come over, tell me they've seen the cat near my house and want to know where he is. I say, rescue. They tell me it's their cat."
    via Cintya Marisa, cccintyaaa
  • 02
    r/AmltheAsshole ⚫ 20 days ago saw2004onlinefree AITA for taking a "stray" cat to a rescue
    via saw2004onlinefree

    Okay, so this is not the first time that we have come across a similar story, and usually, it's a conundrum. Some people do actually let their cats outside, and that's part of the cat's day-to-day. That doesn't mean that they're abandoned. Usually. Sometimes… Not this time, for sure. 

  • 03
    so basically, i have lived in this house for two years. there are a ton of stray cats around, mostly ferals. i have been taking kittens to a rescue when they pop up for the entire time, no problem.
    via saw2004onlinefree

    If the shelter you brought this cat to couldn't tell that it was someone's cat, if it looked like any other stray cat… then he was definitely being neglected and mistreated in there, and you certainly did the right thing by saving him and bringing them in. We're on your side, no matter what happens next in this saga. 

  • 04
    there has been a tomcat outside for a long time, i know him and feed all the cats. he has always been more social than the others, but he is clearly neglected. the things i noticed off the bat is just the immense matting in his fur and how underweight he is for his size. he has fleas and all that as well. indistinguishable from the other ferals, just a little friendlier.
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 05
    i see this cat outside every day, at all hours. eventually i can pick him up and he follows me around all the time. i was grappling with taking him in, and ultimately couldn't. however the rescue i work with tells me they have a space for him. excellent. i take him there about two weeks ago.
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 06
    the day after, they send me the vet report. he is underweight and dehydrated, has FIV, fleas, and heartworms. he has rotting teeth that need to be pulled. he has to be sedated and completely shaved down to get him clean at this point. prognosis not good, basically managing symptoms and hoping he doesn't die. but he is with a foster somewhere, and comfortable.
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 07
    cut to yesterday. my neighbors come over, tell me they've seen the cat near my house and want to know where he is. i say, rescue. they tell me it's their cat. i tell them i'm sorry, there was no chip, nothing. the cat is extremely sick and did not look cared for (tried to phrase it nicer but...).
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 08
    they want to know where it is, i honestly have no idea. the interaction got aggressive quickly, and ended with them threatening to call the police. i basically said, okay. no cops showed up, didn't think they would even if they did call (my area sks so). but i feel a little bad. in my opinion, they were not taking care of him in an appropriate way and it kills me to see animals treated this way, but they claim he's been theirs "forever" but he's "hard to get inside" (was not my experience). but,
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 09
    Tiresometruth • 20d ago • NTA. Feral cats are a nuisance and a danger to wildlife, especially songbirds. People should be cognizant of the effect free-ranging pets have on others and on the environment and not let them roam unsupervised. Bringing it to a shelter was the correct thing to do.
    via Tiresometruth
  • 10
    saw2004onlinefree OP • 20d ago yes i am of the same opinion but typically respect people's decision to have indoor outdoor. for more info i live in an extremely urban area and it is just plain unsafe for an outdoor cat of any capacity though. every day there is a new de d animal on the road. makes me cry every time, especially when it's one of "my" ferals i feed regularly
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 11
    Sohailian • 20d ago NTA - that's what the cat would say, so I'm following the cat's lead. I hope the little fella makes a full and great recovery. Please update us.
    via Sohailian
  • 12
    saw2004onlinefree OP • 20d ago some info on the cat's condition to help everyone feel maybe better. basically the FIV is incurable/untreatable. there are ways to manage the affects, this will be most apparent if he is around other cats that are sick, since his immune system is completely shot. but in a safe and healthy environment it should be manageable.
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 13
    the heartworms are also untreatable, the vet said he'd never seen heartworms in a cat before in his practice. the "treatment" is that cats are typically a little too warm to house the heartworms like a dog would, and they will hopefully die off over a period of time. however they largely affect his lung function, and during flare ups he can receive steroid treatments to help fight through it. i think this old boy is a fighter through and through and can make it. i've grown to love him so much. h
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 14
    loved to sit by the firepit and crawl into people's laps and purr his fluffy orange head off. he also took great care of the street kittens, and encouraged them to interact with the Food Bringer, which made it easier to snag the babies before they went feral. thank you all for your replies, i'm feeling better about the whole situation for sure. i love this rescue and what they do, and i know he is just in kitty paradise rn with one of their fosters before he finds a forever home, even if he does
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 15
    NapalmAxolotl • 20d ago Supreme Court Just-a [145] NTA. You did the right thing, which is obvious from the vet report. If you had known he was theirs, it still would have been the right thing to do! If you're going to feed and support these "community cats", can you at least get the toms neutered to reduce the long-term population of ferals?
    via NapalmAxolotl
  • 16
    saw2004onlinefree OP • 20d ago yes! i am woking with a separate agency to tnr the ferals, though this is trickier since i work quite a bit. the tnr program is all volunteer so the timing is difficult due to limited hours. i think they are amazing doing what they can though.
    via saw2004onlinefree
  • 17
    DevilsAdvocate 7391 • 21d ago ⚫ A h le Enthusiast [7] NTA. That cat was clearly being neglected, and you did the right thing by bringing it to the shelter. Those people clearly aren't responsible enough to own a pet, and I hope that the cat is okay, wherever it is!
    via DevilsAdvocate7391
  • 18
    Ancient List • 21d ago If a CAT RESCUE cannot or will not distinguish the cat from a stray, then I think it says a lot.
    via Ancient_List
  • 19
    Neenknits 21d ago • P rintendant [52] "He is yours? Had I known that, given his poor condition, I would have called animal control to report you for neglect, rather than bringing him to the shelter for treatment, as a stray". NTA
    via Neenknits
  • 20
    akasha111182 • 21d ago • NTA. If they wanted him back that badly, they could have started calling rescues themselves. If he was in such bad shape, which it sounds like, they didn't care about him FOR YEARS until someone took "their property" away from them.
    via akasha111182

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