'He ran right over to me and laid in my lap': Cat pawrent of five considers stealing someone else’s cat who keeps conveniently escaping and finding their way to his wholesome house

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Jun 8, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

A local cat-lover is facing a purrplexing moral dilemma after a familiar feline pawed his way back into their life… literally. This same kitty had wandered into their woods last year and was returned home via animal control. But now he's back, sauntering past trail cams set up for wildlife and making himself comfortable by plopping into a stranger's lap like he owned the place.

When his hooman was contacted via the number on his collar, the cat bolted the moment the owner showed up. The man claimed the cat is an indoor-outdoor type who often "forgets his way home" and casually mentioned he usually resurfaces during rainstorms. Despite the many pawsible dangers like bears, coyotes, and bobcats, he brushed it off as no big deal. 

Apparently, the cat has an AirTag, which left the good Samaricat puzzled. How could he be "missing" if he's tracked? After the owner left, the kitty crept back, hungry and skittish, ready to chow down. With five cats already and room for more, this concerned rescuer is left wondering: would giving this whiskered wanderer a safer life make them the meownster?

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  • 01
    'The guy thinks the cat "forgets his way home" 405
    via Lesli Whitecotton from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 02
    WIBTAH for trying to take somebody's cat? So there's a cat, that lives about 10 mins away from us that I already caught once last year and called animal control to bring him home (he only had a flea collar on) last summer.
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 03
    The past few days I've noticed a cat going past the trail cams I have set up to catch the wildlife since we're back in the woods. Well today i saw him & he ran right over to me and laid in my lap and rolled around like we'd known each other forever. That's when I saw that this cat had a collar and tag, I read the name and saw it was the same cat
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 04
    as last year. I figured things happen, cats are escape artists (I have five) so I called the number on the tag and had the guy come over.
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 05
    The guy came back to where we were and the second he opened his mouth the cat bolted out of my hands and into the woods. I had felt very bad but told him I've seen him a lot and I was sure he'd be back. I asked if he gets out a lot and the he says he's an indoor/outdoor cat but the guy thinks the cat "forgets his way
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 06
    home" (the cat is five, so pretty young) he said he'd been missing for a few days but that he'd turn up whenever there was a big rainstorm. He also said he knew everyone from our house to his because people had found the cat so often.
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10514855424
    via Jannick Tessier / Canva

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

  • 08
    I was kind of stunned and just said okay, he thanked me, told me that the cat is neutered, has his shots (points for the guy on that at least) and has an air tag on his collar. That ped me off a bit because you say your cat is missing but you have a tracker for where he is?
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 09
    I'm a firm believer of indoor cats in general but especially in our area. I gently told him if the cat keeps getting lost then maybe he should keep him inside, especially since on the trail cams I've caught bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, hawks, owls, ect. I told him it's dangerous and he could get hurt and I mentioned a scabbed wound on his shoulder. He says this: "Well you know what they say, live by the sword, di by the sword."
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 10
    Once he was gone I went inside got water cat food since he'd been missing for a few days. I shook the dish and he came out slowly looking around like he was trying to see if his owner was gone. After that he came over and started to chow down
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 11
    BILKS
    via yykkaa / Canva

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

  • 12
    Like I said, I have five cats already, I have a decent sized house so there's no problem with space or anything. Normally I don't get into the indoor/outdoor cat debate because there's no sense, nobody wants to change their minds on either side.
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 13
    I know I'd be devastated if someone took one of my cats, but I feel this is different. He definitely cares for the cat, but he didn't seem to care if the cat lived or d d. And with the predators and how hot it's getting I worry, plus awful winters. Animal control won't do anything since it's not considered ab e so that's also not an option.
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 14
    For now I may just set up an outdoor house and leave out some water and food during the day (he's a little skinny) so he does have a safe place if it starts raining or anything WIBTAH?
    via u/Boy-Meets-World-
  • 15
    Rare-Cod-2792 I'm a bit conflicted. I mean the cat is clearly scared by his owner. Not only that, but the cat is left outside in an unsafe environment. I feel like this could go either way, morally speaking. Although legally... you'd be guilty.
    via u/Rare-Cod-2792

  • This is definitely a gray area. Morally, you're in the right for caring, but legally, it could get complicated if the owner decides to make a fuss. Tread carefully.

  • 16
    Allaboutbird Technically, ya - YWBTA. I'd still do it, though. If someone doesn't care if his cat gets mauled by bears, then he shouldn't have a cat.
    via u/Allaboutbird
  • 17
    catsmovieb-holeedit Either way, he seems to be at peace with the idea that his cat may not come home one day, even potentially without ever knowing what/why. So. It's kind of on your heart, I guess.
    via u/catsmovieb-holeedit
  • 18
    Plastic_Idea4697 NTA, this guy is neglecting his pet and knowingly putting him in harms way. I would 100% be taking that cat inside and making it one of my fur babies. Doing that is realistically saving it's life.
    via u/Plastic_Idea4697
  • 19
    I_ile_des_morts YWBTA. If you're concerned about the cat, provide fresh food and water everyday and set up a shelter for the cat so it has somewhere safe to go. I just wouldn't straight up take someone's cat just because you don't agree with the situation (and I absolutely agree with you on your point of view).
    via u/I_ile_des_morts
  • 20
    Josie-32 Let the cat decide.
    via u/Josie-32

  • If the cat keeps coming back to you, that says a lot. Maybe just let him decide where he feels safest and most loved. Animals usually know where they belong.

  • 21
    wanderingstorm NTA Dude got the cat neutered and shots. Ooh the bare minimum. Then he lets it roam the neighborhood to get sick, injured, k lled, or taken. And doesn't care if it does. "Oh well if it gets hurt tee hee".
    via u/wanderingstorm
  • 22
    Yall act like not caring if your pet gets hurt or k lled "isn't ab e". It sure as heck is a form of ab e. It's called neglect and indifference to something that's supposed to be in your care. Forget "feeding it outside" - take the cat indoors OP and give it a proper home.
    via u/wanderingstorm

  • Feeding a cat and giving it shots is just the bare minimum. Truly caring means keeping them safe, loved, and protected… which this poor kitty clearly isn’t getting right now.

  • 23
    sweettransboi It's his choice to let his cat go outside, not yours, whether you like it or not. It is not animal ab e. Leave out water and stuff, sure, but don't take the cat, that's theft and not called for in this situation.
    via u/sweettransboi
  • 24
    Mediocre_Ant_437 I lived in an area with coyotes but my dad refused to be an indoor cat and would bolt whenever a kid came in without closing the door right away. She is almost 9,very feisty and just fine. I don't see a problem with indoor cats but some cats aren't happy being indoors all the time. Seems this cat is the same. Just let it be.
    via u/Mediocre_Ant_437
  • 25
    Herbscrystalsandc... Have you asked the owner if you could have the cat? Maybe he would be open to it? Otherwise I agree with building a safe place in the yard the cat can go.
    via u/Herbscrystalsandcats

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outdoors hoomans adopted advice pawrents Cats rescue woods dangerous
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