Person who rescued a sick skinny cat and had him for a whole year suddenly gets a text from her neighbor, saying that he's their cat and demanding him back, but the rescuer refuses: 'I was shocked when they asked for him back'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
May 15, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

We don't know what it is about neighbors being so awful when it comes to cats, but that seems to be a thing. We have heard of neighbors abandoning their cats and leaving them to fend for themselves, which is bad enough, but apparently, it's not even the tip of the iceberg. We have heard of neighbors stealing people's cats knowing that the cats belong to someone else. We have heard of entitled neighbors demanding people give their cats to them because they need the cat more. And today, we come across one of the most entitled neighbors yet. 

It's been a year since their cat has gone "missing", a year since their neighbor found the cat, rescued it, attempted to find its owners and been told by the vet that the cat is in such poor condition, there is no way it belonged to someone else. A year, and suddenly, these neighbors remember that they had a cat, start asking around about it, and once they find it, demand to get it back. The audacity is baffling. 

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  • 01
    I "stole" my neighbor's cat
    via Unsplash / Usman Yousaf

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

  • 02
    About a year ago a cat started coming around to my house. He was friendly, but skinny so when he came around I'd bring him inside, give him some dinner, and let him spend the night.
    via gidieup
  • 03
    The fifth time he did this I found him waiting outside my house on the road. It's a busy road, and cats di on this road all the time.
    via gidieup
  • 04
    It scared me, so I decided to make him a permanent member of the household. I took him to the vet, got him neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated.
    via gidieup
  • 05
    At that time my vet told me he had herpes, which is incurable and highly contagious. They recommended he be kept away from other unvaccinated cats. It's been a year since I took him in.
    via gidieup
  • 06
    He went from six pounds to 12, and he doesn't look fat - he was just that thin. I checked NextDoor for months and nobody was looking for him.
    via gidieup
  • 07
    I asked my vet if they thought he was a stray and they said he was in such bad shape that they wouldn't bother looking for an owner, they didn't think he had one and any reputable vet would have microchipped him.
    via gidieup
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10504515328
    via Unsplash / Usman Yousaf

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

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  • 09
    Well...last week my neighbor sent me photos of the cat out of the blue and asked if I'd seen him because he went missing some time ago.
    via gidieup
  • 10
    I was very surprised, since they had never told me they lost a cat, and they have in the past. I told them I had the cat because I wanted them to know he wasn't de_d.
    via gidieup
  • 11
    I was shocked when they asked for him back. I told them no. I've had him for a year and shelled out a ton of money in vet care. Now they're telling everyone that I stole their cat.
    via gidieup
  • 12
    I asked my vet, and they said legally it was no problem. The cat is registered under my name, and I have vet records. However, the family insists their devastated.
    via gidieup
  • 13
    I didn't think to ask them if he was their cat because we have A TON of stray/feral cats around here. We live in the country. I probably see three feral cats a day.
    via gidieup
  • 14
    I simply can't ask my neighbors every time I see one because I know they don't care and there are so many I'd spend half my time doing it. Am I in the wrong here for keeping the cat?
    via gidieup
  • 15
    I know some of my neighbor's cats by sight, and I leave those alone. I don't let my cats roam because of how quickly they di on the road/to coyotes.
    via gidieup
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10504514816
    via Unsplash / Usman Yousaf

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

  • A year passed, and they just now remembered to check with their neighbor about their lost cat? Yeah, no, you do not owe them anything. We wholeheartedly believe that this cat is in much better hands with you and that this is exactly where he should stay, no matter how much they fuss about it. 

  • 17
    Blowingleaves 17 You were only wrong in telling the owner you had the cat. They were looking for the cat a year later? They are not "devastated" a year later! It's doubtful it's the same cat, or are his looks that distinctive?
    via Blowingleaves
  • 18
    gidieup OP He's pretty distinctive, unfortunately. I don't doubt he was their cat. It's very strange that they're just looking for him now though, after he's been gone a year. I recently learned that someone came to visit them and asked about where he went. That prompted them to look.
    via gidieup

  • By any measure, this is your cat now, and you have no reason to give him up. If you want, maybe you could offer letting them visit him, but not anything beyond that. And if you do, make sure to keep an eye out for their possibly grabby hands.

  • 19
    themagicflutist Yeah op should "take another look and realize it isn't the same cat, oops."
    via themagicflutist
  • 20
    gidieup OP If I could do it over again this is probably what I'd do. I was trying to be forthcoming and it definitely bit me in the bat.
    via gidieup
  • 21
    MyPath2Follow They lost their cat and are only just now asking neighbors? When I thought my cat got out, I went up and down the entire neighborhood and the closest ones next to me and asked everyone THAT day. No way they are devastated a YEAR later and just now looking.
    via MyPath2Follow
  • 22
    gidieup OP This is why I didn't ask around (except on NextDoor). People come looking for their pets all the time. I figured someone would come looking for him if he had an owner.
    via gidieup

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