'Don't say anything and keep the kitty': Neighbors leave their 6-week-old kittens outside meowing for help, teen sneaks out to rescue them and never hears back

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 18, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Good meowrning, friends and felines. If you know anything about kittens, you know that they should be with their mothers until they're about 12 weeks old. Any sooner than that, and you have to do the mothering for them. It's also crucial for their mental and social development. But, life isn't purrfect, and oftentimes kittens are separated from their meowthers too early. Sometimes it happens naturally, and other times, hoomans are the cause.

After hearing the meows of a poor kitten outside, one teen went to check out the situation. He found a 6-week-old kitten crying for help, all alone on their neighbor's property. He did as any of us would, and took the cat in to start caring for it. A few days later, he found another one around the same age - it seemed that their neighbors were leaving these kittens outside to fend for themselves. The kitten formed an emeowtional bond with him, and the neighbors never said a thing. Scroll down to read more about these adopted (stolen?) babies below.

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  • 01

    Neighbor left 6-7 week old kitten outside

    'They didn't care enough to take him inside'
    via Laura_O from Pixabay

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    A few days ago my grandma got woken up by the sound of a kitten meowing very loudly outside her window, she left it be hoping the owners would let him inside but after over a hour
    via u/TapeMan56
  • 03
    they didn't. (Multiple people where home) She woke me up and I went outside to see if I could find it, when I do he took to me right and away and brought him inside and fed him, the poor thing ate a lot. Pretty
    via u/TapeMan56
  • 04
    much acted like he was starving. A couple days later my grandma told me that she seen another kitten that looks identical to him in there window. Should I take him back over there or not? He
    via u/TapeMan56
  • 05
    has bonded with me to the point that he almost never leaves my side while I'm home. My grandma doesn't think I should but a small part of me feels a bit guilty.
    via u/TapeMan56

  • The cat distribution system works in meowsterious ways. Sometimes we can't understand it, but all that matters is that the cat was brought to him, and unless someone else comes to claim it, it's now his responsibility. 

  • 06
    brandy_renee If you have the means to care for it, they obviously weren't and if they haven't been looking for it...
    via u/brandy_renee
  • 07
    Znmm2 Anybody who would leave a kitten like that alone defenseless outside at that age is cr I and incredibly irresponsible. I would not take him back because he could ☐ie.
    via u/Znmm2
  • 08
    pwolf1111 Keep him. I think your neighbors found the one kitten and that's all they wanted. Don't say anything and keep the kitty.
    via u/pwolf1111
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10505673216
    via Ralchev Design

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    Er tioniSelectioni This is kinda how I ended up with another kitten years ago. I had two brothers from a friends whoopsie litter and heard yowl meowing outside
    via u/Er**tioniSelectioni
  • 11
    my door. Opened it expecting one of my tabbies and in saunters this little black thing and goes straight for the food and starts eating.
    via u/Er**tioniSelectioni
  • 12
    Mine were about 6-7 months old and this kitty was a bit smaller than them but they were fine with him.
    via u/Er**tioniSelectioni
  • 13
    He polished off the leftovers from my stew and I knew he was mine. This stew is a family recipe and all of my pets have loved it so I took it as a sign.
    via u/Er**tioniSelectioni
  • 14
    Ended up calling him little orphan Oliver and he was a wonderful kitty
    via u/Er**tioniSelectioni
  • 15
    Finallyd nLDnat5 Anyone who dumps a baby animal outside is a . Don't feel one shred of guilt and you just enjoy your new cat OP
    via u/Finallyd**nLDnat5

  • Through one way or another, the kitten is now in his care. They're going to grow up to be best friends and purrfectly inseparable. Congratulations on your new cat(s)!

  • 16
    Cindy LouW The cat distribution system has selected you.
    via u/CindyLouW
  • 17
    linusstick Keep it. If those people left it outside they don't want it. What cr■lty. I take care of two feral cats and I always wonder their story and who would just put a cat outside and leave it. I'd probably egg their house, too, but that's just me
    via u/linusstick
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10505673472
    via Zemfira

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    ChlorroftheMask_ Keep him, they didn't care enough to take him inside. He's too little to be left out in the cold at night. If I had a kitten that little I would make sure he was inside in my bed with me.
    via u/ChlorroftheMask_
  • 20
    CrazyOldBag GET THAT BABY CHIPPED ASAP!
    via u/CrazyOldBag
  • 21
    Chardan0001 I found a kitten sort of similar to this. It was late, cold and hiding under a car, could only hear it's mews. Took him in, he ate tons but also seemed to be highly social so I couldnt rule out he escaped.
    via u/Chardan0001
  • 22
    I searched the local cat communities looking for someone who had lost him, but nothing came for two weeks (I wasn't about to post I found a
    via u/Chardan0001
  • 23
    cat and await chancers). Then I started to think that even if they came forward, the fact they let him out or escaped but seemingly didn't search for him they dont get to have him.
    via u/Chardan0001
  • 24
    I couldn't rule out him being a stray of course, but he certainly adapted to home life instantly.
    via u/Chardan0001
  • 25
    Sneezekitteh Kittens are supposed to be kept with their mothers until at least 8 weeks, preferably 12. It's a bad idea to let them outside before they've been vaccinated.
    via u/Sneezekitteh
  • 26
    Powerful_Put5667 I would certainly put up some found flyers locally regarding the kittens. If they were outside and someone hasn't been looking they do not care. Still it's the right thing to do. If you can keep them then enjoy.
    via u/Powerful_Put5667

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neighbors adoption teenagers kitten animal rescue sneaky adopted feline cat rescue meow forever home Cats loving cute kittens animals rescue
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