'They can be mad if they want': Neglectful neighbors let their cat be an indoor-outdoor one after having a baby, leaving him to fend for himself, until a woman rescues him, thinking he is an abandoned stray

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jun 16, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Adopting a cat is a big responsibility, and beyond that, it is a life-long responsibility. For the entire length of the cat's life, the cat is going to depend on you, and it is your job to take care of it, even when things get hard, even when it might be inconvenient, even when you have a baby and suddenly your time is taken up by that. You cannot just abandon your cat. And that is exactly what the people in this story did. 

This couple can claim all they want that they simply turned their indoor cat into an indoor-outdoor one, but the way that they are treating it points much more toward abandonment. An indoor-outdoor cat cannot be so emaciated that it looks sick. It cannot be that a neighbor rescues your cat, thinking that it's a stray one. It is your responsibility to take care of the cat, and if you can't, then the last thing you should do is throw it outside to fend for itself. 

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  • 01

    "Thought I found a stray cat"

    "We recently let our cats be indoor-outdoor because we have a new baby."
    via Unsplash / Tatyana Rubleva - lisoglazka

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

  • 02
    I was out for a walk with my husband last Friday. As we were coming home, a block from our place, it was almost fully dark. I saw a small black cat sitting next to the curb. I had never seen the cat before and strays are very uncommon in our area. So I approached the cat and it came to me after a brief hesitation.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 03
    It was covered in horrendous mats, was bone skinny, had no collar. Despite all that, was incredibly purry, talkative and sweet. Head butting me, wanted all the pets and to sit on me. I sent husband home for a can of food while I sat with kitty. When husband returned with food, kitty scarfed it down.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 04
    I got kitty to follow me home. using the plate of food as a bribe. I propped our gate open for him and put out some blankets. My two indoor cats could see the cat through windows and completely freaked tf out. OMG so much drama, yowling and screeching and redirecting on each other.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 05
    I called the vet for an appointment. I figured I would scan for a microchip and maybe get the mats removed if possible. Well, jokes on me, no appointments for over a week. I couldn't leave Kitty in my yard with my two losing their sh 24/7.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 06
    So I took Kitty to the emergency vet. They scanned for a chip and found one. Called the owner.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 07
    Turns out kitty lives two blocks from me and I know his owners and I've even petted him once before. But they had always kept their cats indoor only so it never occurred to me Kitty could be theirs. Plus, he was in such poor shape with the mats and being so skinny that he was unrecognizable; it was reasonable to conclude he'd been abandoned.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 08
    So I texted them. The response? "We recently let our cats be indoor-outdoor because we have a new baby."
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10517381888
    via Unsplash / Tatyana Rubleva - lisoglazka

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

  • There is “letting your cats be indoor-outdoor”, and there is abandoning your cats, and this story is definitely the latter. People who have indoor-outdoor cats, for whatever reasons that they may have, still care about their cats, often bringing them in at night, always checking on them and making sure that they are around and okay. This is not that. 

  • 10
    I brought Little Dude home to their doorstep. I said mats this bad are very painful and they needed to groom him, that I had an excellent mobile groomer if they wanted his info.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 11
    Uncomfortable laughs, excuses about oh we are just so busy with the new baby, we haven't gotten him to the groomer in a few weeks. I said I get it, but I thought your cat was abandoned and I was ready to take him to the shelter, which no one wants. Plus we have coyotes and bobcats and owls and he would be a sitting duck.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 12
    If they don't take care of those mats, I will take care of it myself. They can be mad if they want. I'm not leaving this poor sweet boi in pain. He literally can't lie down because of the mats.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 13
    All because of a baby. I hate people, heartless breeders in particular. I really do. TI;DR: neighbors put their cat outside because of a baby and let him get in such rough shape I thought he had been abandoned and took him to the e-vet.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10517381632
    via Unsplash / Tatyana Rubleva - lisoglazka

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

  • 15
    tortie_shell_meow He's not indoor outdoor if he's skinny and bony. They flat out abandoned their cat. Report them.
    via tortie_shell_meow
  • 16
    eastbaypluviophile OP He is chipped and their info is in the chip. The emergency vet wouldn't even let me leave with him until they had spoken with the owner and received approval. Taking him and rehoming him can't happen. No reputable rescue would do it.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 17
    I will continue to watch for him and feed him when he shows up in my yard. If they don't address the mats in a timely fashion, then I will. My cats hated him on sight and I'm not able to bring him inside. I wish I could. He is 13 years old and deserves better for his golden years.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10517381376
    via Unsplash / Tatyana Rubleva - lisoglazka

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

  • We understand why you brought the cat back, although a part of us wishes you would have just kept him. Now… we hope that a lesson has been learned. We hope that seeing their kitty so hurt will help them understand that something about the way they are handling the cat has to change and fast. 

  • 19
    harbinger06 Sounds to me like they kicked their cat out and the microchip ratted them out.
    via harbinger06
  • 20
    eastbaypluviophile OP We live in a fussy HOA community and they are renters. I need to read the CC&Rs to see if outdoor/free roaming cats are forbidden. If so, that makes it easier.
    via eastbaypluviophile
  • 21
    I am pretty sure my little chat with the husband registered with him, he knew without a doubt I was judging him for his cat's condition and that I would be watching. I did not see the bb today but I wasn't home much. I will continue to keep an eye out.
    via eastbaypluviophile

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wholesome cat neighbors adorable drama cute story Cats rescued rescue
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