Kind couple wants to adopt a stray cat momma who spends hours a day in their home, but their neighbor has "claimed" the cat for herself because she fed her milk, now the couple considers stealing her: '[I found] her kittens… on my neighbors patio'

Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor

Jun 27, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

As people who feed stray cats on a pretty regular basis, we know the bond that can build between a human and a cat - just because of that one kind action. That's truly all it takes. Be nice to a stray cat, and the cat will show you love like you have never expected to get before. When that happens, it's not just the cat that bonds with the human who fed it, the human bonds just as hard. It's no surprise that, often, these stray cats will adopt the humans who fed them and that the humans are very happy about it.

That is pretty much what happened here - this couple fed this stray cat, let this cat come into their home for hours at a time. They bonded with this stray cat. Even their house cats bonded with it. The couple was preparing to adopt the cat, until one day, they found out that their neighbor, apparently, "claimed" the same kitty, and now… they have a dilemma to face.

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"[Am I wrong] for considering taking my neighbor’s cat when I move?"

via Unsplash / Nihal Karkala - nihalkarkala

^{This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
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via Unsplash / Nihal Karkala - nihalkarkala

^{This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
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via Unsplash / Nihal Karkala - nihalkarkala

^{This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
Steal her. That is the conclusion that we have come to. And yes, it would not be the nicest thing to do, but it's also not the nicest thing to “claim” a stray cat while unable to take care of it and feeding it foods that can be harmful to it. If this neighbor doesn't agree nicely, then do the right thing and help the momma.
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via Unsplash / Nihal Karkala - nihalkarkala

^{This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
When it comes to the kittens… it's not an easy question. We are not wholly sure that the kittens will still be dependent on their mother. For all we know, they might already be roaming by then. We'll wait and see. But yes, if they are still with their momma, don't separate them. Or, at the very least, don't leave them to fend for themselves.
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