Couple saves a hurt cat from the street, discover it belongs to their neighbors, who in turn accuse them of stealing their cat and refuse to pay back the medical bill: ‘We thought it was a good deed'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 28, 2025 4:00 AM EDT

Even if sometimes we act out of a pure heart and kindness, the outcome of our actions is not at all what we expect it to be, and we just have to deal with it. We can only control what we do, and not how others react to it, so we must try our best and hope that the next time will be better. Hopefully, even after an unfortunate interaction, people do not stop doing kind deeds for others; they would simply continue to hope they are met with kindness in return in the future. 

That is the advice we would have given the couple in the story below, after they did what they thought was a kind act, but were met with the opposite of gratitude. After they saved the life of a cat they found out in the street, they assumed they were going to keep it. But when they found out that the cat actually belonged to their neighbors, they at least expected the neighbors to be grateful that they found and saved their cat.

What ended up happening was a series of events that proved that these neighbors are not great people. Keep scrolling to understand what we mean by that…

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  • 01
    "They let their domestic male house cats roam free"
    via nullplus

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 02

    We saved the neighbor’s cat, returned it, now they think we took the cat and gave it away.

    In December 2024, we saved what we thought was a feral cat after a hit and run. It was a $1600 bill, but we paid thinking we could keep the cat and add it to our growing
    via VelaVet
  • 03
    family. Fast forward a few days, and our neighbor reaches out (spoiler: it's their cat). They let their domestic male house cats roam free, and one of them
    via VelaVet
  • 04
    had crossed the road at a bad time. At first they're cool- they offer to pay for the bill, and want to come and pick up the cat. When they show up, suddenly we're told it's
    via VelaVet
  • 05
    Christmas and they can't pay the bill, and honestly we were treated pretty poorly. We gave the cat back since it's Christmas and it was a big part son's life, plus of their
    via VelaVet
  • 06
    it's just not good to hold a pet hostage in the long haul... In the following weeks, we tried to see what would work for our neighbors: monthly payment, periodic installments,
    via VelaVet
  • 07
    whatever to make it easy and fair, and even said we'd cover a portion of the bill to make it easier. In the end we got nothing, and made the decision after around 4 weeks
    via VelaVet
  • 08
    to waive the bill and just cover it. We decided to save the cat and took that responsibility, we couldn't have forced the neighbor to pay, even though I would have loved to. We'd
    via VelaVet
  • 09
    swept it under the rug and let bygones be bygones. However they continued to let this cat outside in its frail state, and then suddenly a couple of weeks later this cat is gone again. Shocker.
    via VelaVet
  • 10
    As time went on their other cat was showing up in our yard. We would say "you need to keep this cat inside, otherwise something will happen to it on our property and we will not.
    via VelaVet
  • 11
    be liable" given that the last situation was pretty frustrating. Well we were told that we were coaxing the cat over (we did set out food before we knew it was their cat but stopped once
    via VelaVet
  • 12
    we realized it "belonged" to someone), and if the cat wasn't doing any damage to our property to leave him alone. Thankfully this one stopped showing up.
    via VelaVet
  • 13
    Fast forward to today, I see a post suggesting that someone took their cat and gave it away - basically pointing the finger at us when we saved the cat, returned it, footed the bill, and
    via VelaVet
  • 14
    gave advice to keep it from getting lost or ki ed... and here we are. Honestly it grinds my gears that we performed what we thought was a good deed and then suddenly are made
    via VelaVet
  • 15
    out to be the antagonist in the whole ordeal. I've pretty much decided to wash my hands of the whole thing, and let them think whatever they want, as I've
    via VelaVet
  • 16
    gotten pretty tired of trying to take the cordial route and explain that we've done nothing to this cat and want nothing to do with them, it was their negligence that caused the cat to go MIA.
    via VelaVet
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10510609152
    via SVproduction

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 18
    Total headache- any advice? Live my life and let it go? EDIT: Thanks for all the kind words and affirmations. It's truly a frustrating experience
    via VelaVet
  • 19
    for my wife and myself, as we only acted out of kindness and grace every step of the way. The post was strategically vague and we were not named directly. For now we are
    via VelaVet
  • 20
    moving on with our lives, and if the blame is laid on us directly then we'll take a direct approach. So I'm off to take some Tylenol and get on with life. Thanks again!
    via VelaVet
  • 21
    SnooWords4839 In the future, if you save an animal and it isn't microchipped, get it chipped in your name.
    via SnooWords4839
  • 22
    Glittering-Dust-8333 YES! Let it go. There's no telling what happened to that cat. (They could have been the ones who got rid of it and are blaming you out of spite.)
    via Glittering-Dust-8333
  • 23
    You did right by the cat and gave it love and care during it's short life. (Clearly not getting it elsewhere!) YOU are the ANGELS. Feel good about making his life a little better. Best wishes!
    via Glittering-Dust-8333
  • 24
    Keyspace_realestate Yes, live your life and let it go- some people will twist the narrative no matter how much good you do. You acted with compassion and integrity, and that speaks louder than their misplaced blame.
    via Keyspace_realestat

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