'Am I stealing someone's cat?' Feline comes into this person's house every day, then one day, she walks in with a note accusing the person of stealing their cat

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Mar 22, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

This could have been a purely wholesome story. It was not the first time that we have heard of a cat walking into a random person's apartment over and over. It's not even the first time that we have heard of a neighborhood cat having multiple homes. Sometimes, if you allow your cat to roam outside of the house, they might find some other people that they like or some other homes that they feel like chilling in. That should be okay. It's one of the risks that you take by letting your cat be an outside cat. But apparently, not everyone understands that. 

This cat has been coming through the window into this person's house on a nearly daily basis. Just because. They chill together. They hang out. Everything seemed fine, until the person the cat has been coming to decided to find out if the cat belonged to someone. So, they put a collar on her, and just like that, without any warning, and with absolutely no kindness and understanding, the cat comes back with a note attached to her collar, accusing the kind person who has been letting her into the house of stealing her. 

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  • 01

    "Am I stealing someone's cat?"

    "I received a note [on her collar] accusing me of stealing their cat"
    via Ekaterina Sazonova - katgo_83 / Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    There's a cat who's been coming into my room through the window. She literally shows up every morning waiting to be let in, very sweet cat, and so I'd let her in for a cuddle. If my window is open and I'm not home, she'd still come in.
    via maetroboomin
  • 03
    After a few weeks, I was concerned about her being a stray so I put on her a collar to see if anyone takes it off, which they came back with a note saying I shouldn't be stealing someone's cat. Fair enough, I wrote back saying collar was a test because I wasn't sure she has an owner. Note disappeared and cat still came by nearly everyday.
    via maetroboomin
  • 04
    Fast forward to today, she took a nap for a few hours in my room, which I let her. I received a note the next day accusing me of stealing their cat, grooming the cat like it's a child so that it comes over, and calling me anti social for letting her in.
    via maetroboomin
  • 05
    So my question is am I doing anything wrong here or the neighbour is being weird about it? And what should I do? I do love the cat but it's not like I'm inviting her to stay. She's also not being fed, nor trapped in my room deliberately like some other posts | see on here.
    via maetroboomin
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10481692416
    via Mehmet Ali Eroglu / Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • The answer is: no. No, you are not stealing someone's cat. This cat is choosing to visit. Clearly, she is still going back and forth between her houses, so.. maybe she's just looking for a vacation home. That happens sometimes. And if this person has an issue with it, then… maybe they shouldn't let her out in the first place.

  • 07
    [deleted] 8d ago Top 1% Commenter No, you are not stealing anyone's cat. You rattled the cat's owner by putting a collar on their cat, but a collarless cat roaming about can be a warning sign that the cat doesn't have a home. You were concerned and so you acted, found out the cat has an owner and all's fine.
    via reddit
  • 08
    Letting the cat into your home for some pets or whatever is not "stealing". Are you supposed to permanently shut your doors and windows to stop the cat from visiting? Of course not.
    via reddit
  • 09
    Direct Surprise2828 I used to have a cat that would go visit a lady two doors down from me. If he didn't come when I called him at 10 o'clock at night, I would mosey on down to her house and collect my cat. As long as the cat is free to come and go at your house, I would not worry about the neighbour.
    via Direct_Surprise2828
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10481693184
    via Natilyn Hicks Photography / Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Paws for a moment and subscribe to our weekly newsletter for exclusively silly cat content!

  • 11
    Kjrsv Roaming cats will oftentimes enter other people's homes looking for food. If you have a cat-flap in a busy area, you've probably come across one or two in your house. What happens is, the cat will view people as friendly and people will pet or feed them.
    via Kjrsv
  • 12
    The cat then returns to the person and establishes a bond with them, then the person who is feeding and petting the cat assumes it's a stray because they don't understand why the cat keeps coming back, and finally the person takes the cat for their own. So the owner is 100% right that this does happen. It is not indicative of a bad owner, but just how outside cats are.
    via Kjrsv
  • 13
    1. The cat came to your house. You didn't pet it and allow it to follow you inside. 2. You don't feed the cat 3. You have no intention of stealing the cat
    via Kjrsv
  • 14
    If the owners are worried, they need to keep their cat inside or provide a sheltered space outside for the cat. Like putting up wire fencing in a back garden the cat can't jump over. They should also make sure the cat is micro-chipped and collered with either a gps tag, or have the cats name and their contact details on it.
    via Kjrsv
  • 15
    You're not in the wrong and it seems like the cat's owners know a thing or two about cats. Sadly they haven't stepped up and taken responsibility to make sure this doesn't happen. Don't feed or trap the cat and enjoy your part-time buddy :)
    via Kjrsv
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10481692928
    via Serhat Beyazkaya / Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • We are glad to see that most of the people in the comments are in agreement as well. The cat is happy, and that is what matters. If she is allowed to go outside by her owner, then she can spend her days wherever she wants to spend them. 

  • 17
    Cosmicshimmer The easy answer to this is for the owner not to let their cat out. This isn't on you.
    via Cosmicshimmer
  • 18
    AlokFluff If I was in this situation I'd literally just keep the cat for myself as an indoor only cat from now on. Every time the 'owner' lets this cat out there on her own they're basically saying they don't care that much if she doesn't ever return. Because that's likely what will happen one day. A car will run her over, probably. It's just insane to let your pet roam out there on its own.
    via AlokFluff

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cat neighbors thread drama stealing cute cats feline Cats
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