'By me taking him in, it would meant taking him away from her': Entitled neighbor blocks stray cat adoption to keep her bond, even if the stray isn’t technically hers

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Jun 24, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

This cat tale is full of claws-out drama. A kindhearted person tried to do the right thing by giving a sweet, abandoned tuxedo kitty a safe and loving forever home. The cat showed up daily for food, pets, and naps on the porch, clearly hoping for comfort and care. 

Enter the real catastrophe: the neighbor. She openly admits the cat is not really hers and even said she tried bringing him inside but it did not work out with her 18 other cats. Still, she refuses to let anyone else give the cat a better life. She insists the cat wants to stay free, as if he told her himself. To make things stranger, she even suggested calling a cat psychic to ask the cat what he wants.

The person trying to adopt the cat pointed out the dangers of life outdoors, but the neighbor would not budge. Her demands for constant updates and threats to take the cat back left the situation stuck. Now the cat still sleeps on the porch, and this would be pawrent is left heartbroken, wondering how caring could be met with so much resistance.

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  • 01
    'She even insisted on contacting a cat psychic/communicator to ask how the cat truly feels'
    via Arina Krasnikova 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
    One day I saw an older male tuxedo cat near my house, I went to pet it and it was super friendly. Days passed it would keep coming to my house, so I would feed it everyday and pet it everyday. I really adore the cat and it is very affectionate. It has a collar with a phone number on it, I just
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 03
    assumed it is an outdoor cat which the neighbour allows it to be free for a while. However it was concerning when I noticed that this cat would be sleeping at my house car porch all the time, not returning to his own home. One day the neighbour came to my house to look for the cat, so I chatted with this neighbour. Turns
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 04
    out this is an abandoned cat by a previous owner, and she mentioned that technically this isn't her cat but she put a collar on him just in case anything bad happens to him.
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10520594432
    via piyato / Canva

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

  • 06
    It has been around 2 months and day by day I love this cat even more and is thinking of adopting him, bringing him into my home and providing him with good care. I contacted that neighbour by asking her politely if I could adopt this cat. That neighbour stated
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 07
    being really defensive and rude, even went to the lengths of personally attacking me by saying the cat wishes to be free and is happy like that and other neighbours adore this cat. She said that by me taking him in, it would meant taking him away from her and other neighbours and they would miss him and be upset about it. I replied back by saying
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 08
    it's irresponsible to let a former house cat like him roam free, there are dangers of cars, bad weather and diseases out there. I just want him to be safe in my home. This neighbour previously had told me that she has 18 cats and a dog, and she tried bringing this tuxedo cat in but he doesn't get along well with her other pets. It just sounds like she's cat hoarding at this point. She even insisted on contacting a cat
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10520594688
    via Janus Pienkowski's Images / Canva

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

  • 10
    psychic/communicator to ask how the cat truly feels, and whether it wants to be free or be adopted. This sounds ridiculous at this point and I told her to drop it since we're arguing at this point. She said even if she allows me to adopt him, she will ask me for constant updates on the cat and if she finds out that I'm not taking good care of him, she will take him back
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 11
    immediately. I ended the convo by saying I will not adopt this cat anymore and she can do whatever she wants and whatever happens happens. She has severe trust issues and kept emphasising on the fact that I do not have experience of taking care of a cat,
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 12
    but I told her I'm serious about this that's why I approached her to talk about how I can help provide care for him. I do not wish to speak to her anymore as I'm afraid she might actually harass me as we live near each other.
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 13
    This cat would always want to follow me back inside my house, and I allowed it to come in one day and it seemed to love it, immediately touring the house and even started loafing. This looks like a cat wanting to be loved, wanting to have a safe home.
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 14
    I just feel so heartbroken that I tried my best to talk to that neighbour only to end up in disappointment. I can only pray and hope this cat is healthy and fine everyday out there in the neighbourhood streets. I feel very lost on what to do but I can only let it continue to be like this, since I doubt that the neighbour will bring in inside.
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 15
    Edited: thank you everyone for your support and advice, I have read every single one for your comments. Perhaps part of me is still hesitant and afraid of causing more drama with this neighbour as you'll never know what she can do to me and my family. Legally it may not be her cat but she's so delusional that she claims that it is. I will take more time to think about this but kitty still remains at my car porch for shelter and food.
    via u/Limp_Woodpecker632
  • 16
    Big-Quality-4820 Buy a new collar, rename your new cat, add her name & your contact info to a collar tag. Welcome your new cat. Take your new cat to the vet to see if it's even chipped. If not, have a chip with your contact info implanted. Say hello to your new family member.
    via u/Big-Quality-4820

  • Just get that sweet kitty a new collar and microchip and problem solved! He clearly wants a forever home, and it sounds like you’re ready to give him the love he deserves.

  • 17
    sophatelli I don't think there's anything she can do if the cat ends up in your home. It's also not her cat and while it's nice of her to have taken care of it, it's not up to her if the cat chooses somewhere to live.
    via u/sophatelli
  • 18
    ckh69 Please just bring this baby in quietly. He has a tough life out there.
    via u/ckh69

  • This poor baby doesn’t deserve to be out on the streets! He clearly wants love and safety. Bring him inside and give him the cozy forever home he’s been waiting for!

  • 19
    Danicia Stop talking to that neighbor. Bring cat inside. Adoption complete!
    via u/Danicia
  • 20
    KetoLurkerHereAgain This is a very selfish person and you should just take the cat inside and, bingo, your cat. This kitty already feels at home in your home and has adopted YOU.
    via u/KetoLurkerHereAgain
  • 21
    pwolf1111 Bring it it. Take that collar off. Take it to the vet and get it chipped. Bingo it's your cat. Never listen to someone with 18 cats. Especially if they feel leaving one to elements is ok so she can "pet" it. Just keep him. Say nothing.
    via u/pwolf1111
  • 22
    Ancient-Factor1193 Consider installing a cat door so the kitty can come and go freely. If kitty starts hanging in your place all the time, that's their choice. You just gave them the option of shelter and comfort, and love. She wants the cat without being actually responsible for it. You want to be responsible. Get them vetted.
    via u/Ancient-Factor1193
  • 23
    nofishies I didn't take the cat in, he just chooses to sleep here and hang out... 24 hours a day.
    via u/nofishies

  • If the cat chooses to spend all his time hanging out by your house, that’s his decision! She can’t control where he feels happiest. Cats go where they want to go!

  • 24
    Literally_Taken Why can't you adopt the cat? The neighbor doesn't own it. They said the collar is for safety, not ownership. Tell the neighbor you'll let the cat decide. All you have to do is leave the door open. If the cat willingly moves in on his own, he's yours.
    via u/Literally_Taken

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neighbors abandoned Cats stray rescue adopted pawrents Bad Neighbor
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