'She spends more time with us than my neighbor at this point': Stray mama cat paws her way into family's heart, causing a cat custody conundrum as they prepare to move to a new furever home together

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Jun 25, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

This pawsitively sweet stray saga starts with a charming little lady cat who began visiting one couple's apartment in March. Though initially cautious (especially the resident boy cats), she slowly made herself at home, snuggling, snoozing, and meowing her way into their hearts. Suspicions of pregnancy arose, and a post-vacation surprise confirmed it: the kitty had kittens! But the feline family wasn't revealed until a vet visit weeks later that showed she'd been nursing all along. Following her paw prints, they found the babies on a neighbor's patio.

The neighbor, who admitted to feeding the cat but had no vet involvement, casually offered them two kittens and seemed unfazed by the mama's well-being. Despite claiming the cat as "hers," she hadn't chipped, spayed, or planned long-term care. Meanwhile, the kitty kept curling up with her chosen family day and night.

So now the family has a dilemma: adopt the cat and move her with them out of state, or leave her behind in a questionable environment. If a cat keeps pawing at your door, spending all her time in your lap, and bonding with your household, she's probably already adopted you. Sounds like this kitty already picked her furever family.

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  • 01
    'I really began to think she wanted to be with us and have her home be with us'
    via vectorarts / Canva

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

  • 02
    A sweet baby angel girl kitty has been coming to my apartment since March. We (my bf and I) currently have 2 male cats that were on the fence about this cat so we took it slow introducing and slowly allowing the kitty into our home as she was interested to see everything. After a few weeks of
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 03
    she would've brought us the babies because she was becoming so comfortable in our home, staying for hours at a time. Since the end of May, our boys have really taken to her and have become more welcoming and tolerant of her and she will now spend multiple hours multiple times a day sleeping, playing, eating and snuggling us. I really began to think she wanted to be with us and have her home be with us.
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 04
    her consistently coming to us I began to think she was pregnant. We went on vacation for a week and when we came back she still came to visit us (now morning and night) after a week of us being home it seemed like she had babies but I didn't venture to find them honestly thinking she lost them because she was so small and living outside... I also figured
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 05
    Fast forward to this week, we decided to take her to the vet to begin the process of adopting her, at the vet I learned she did in fact have a litter and that up until recently she was nursing. They urged me to find the babies and make sure they were safe and taken care of. I managed to follow her and find her kittens... on my neighbors patio.
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10521219328
    via ddcreativohn from Pixabay / Canva

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

  • 07
    So obviously this threw a wrench in our plans for adopting her. I wrote my neighbor a letter regarding the kitty and asking what her involvement was. She seemed to claim the cat saying that she fed her milk and that she was an outside cat. She offered
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 08
    me 2 kittens to which I politely declined. She told me she works overnight and that she doesn't have time to take the cats the the vet but she appreciated me taking her to get her shots (I spent $120 on her and was not even asked how much it was or offered to pay back).
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10521219584
    via Michal Collection / Canva

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

  • 10
    After talking more to my bf about it (and literally crying for hours. about it), we talked about our options. I think why we're mostly considering taking her is because I believe we are really the only ones feeding her and she is very much domesticated even tho she primarily lives outside. There's no indication of ownership, she's not
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 11
    chipped and there was no mention of getting her spayed however she got mad at me when I told her she was hanging out with our boys (she accused my cats of getting her pregnant tho they are fixed), I was planning on getting her spayed and chipped in the upcoming weeks. The kittens will be 12 weeks at the end of July and we move out of state at the end of August, for more context of situation.
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 12
    Just wanting to know if I would be the a hole if we took her. We just have grown to love her and she spends more time with us than my neighbor at this point. I just want to make sure this sweet baby gets the care she deserves.
    via u/DuckInteresting6057
  • 13
    pootertron Nta for taking her. BUT if you don't take the kittens too, you're an a h le. No reason to leave a litter of kittens without their mom.
    via u/pootertron

  • Keep the whole clowder together! She picked you, and those kittens deserve a purrmanent home too. Pack the toys, grab the treats, and move as one big happy furmily! 

  • 14
    Worth-Season3645 NTA...Personally, I do not think you would be TA for taking this catches you move since, even though neighbor said it was hers, just because she feeds it, does not make it hers. It is an outside, feral cat.
    via u/Worth-Season3645
  • 15
    But I would hope you would not just leave her kittens there and try to find homes for them as well.
    via u/Worth-Season3645
  • 16
    Leviosapatronis NTA. Take the cat back to the vet, get her fixed and microchipped. Try to find a home for remaining kittens. And when you leave the Cat goes with you. Obviously the woman has not taken her to the vet cause she can't afford it
    via u/Leviosapatronis
  • 17
    Catz_2224 Please just take her with. No one should own a cat if they say it's an outside cat. Unless you live on a farm. They don't deserve this sweet girl. You and all your boys do.
    via u/Catz_2224

  • The neighbor can’t just claim the cat like that. She’s an outdoor explorer with no chip or real care. Cats choose their humans, and this one’s clearly made her heart with you!

  • 18
    HuckleberryWhich4... Warning to you. If she has paperwork from ever taking her to a vet, even once, that predates you doing so she could try and come after you for stealing the cat.
    via u/HuckleberryWhich4751
  • 19
    Do I think she probably has "adopted" this cat the same way you have (just found a stray and started feeding it), yes. I think mom and babies would be better off with you taking them, getting mom spayed and babies re-homed yes. Just food for thought about the legal aspect if she has ANY vet paperwork.
    via u/HuckleberryWhich4751
  • 20
    Same-Use6244 I think you should take her. But my concern is for the kittens she had. What will become of them. Please if anything get her spayed so that she doesn't produce more. I'm also in agreement with the commenter saying you should get her microchipped and officially make her yours.
    via u/Same-Use6244
  • 21
    SillySpiral1196 NTA as long as you take the proper steps to legally claim her. You already have a vet bill. Did you have to give her a name to have her seen? If the name is on paperwork, that is good. If not, name her and get it on paperwork with her vet.
    via u/SillySpiral1196
  • 22
    Take her back to the vet to be spayed and chipped as yours Document your care of her with the vet. Get whatever work up or other vaccines the vet recommends. Have them document her approximate age, her coloring, etc.
    via u/SillySpiral1196
  • 23
    Collect a folder of photos of her in your home with your cats and you and your partner. Also, and this is just extra, notate for yourself and your partner any unique features she has. A skin tag here, a scar there, whatever
    via u/SillySpiral1196
  • 24
    they may be. Identifying features that make her uniquely her. (I know these things in the event my dog ever goes missing, I can prove that I know THIS dog is MY dog)
    via u/SillySpiral1196
  • 25
    Then tell the neighbor that you have taken ownership of "Cats name" and you are happy to provide the proof. Ask her for the kittens since she will now be an indoor cat and she needs to care for her young. Obviously separate the babies from the other cats and get them adopted before you move.
    via u/SillySpiral1196

  • It’s always smartest to keep things legal and have proof the cat’s yours like vet records or a chip. That way, no one can pawsitively dispute who really owns the fur baby. 

  • 26
    PlantSufficient6531 Take the cat and the kittens. At 12 weeks they can be separated from the mom, but it would be nice if the kittens weren't left outside like the mom. (Take them to a shelter or find a rescue that can take them in).
    via u/PlantSufficient6531
  • 27
    If your neighbor isn't doing anything to actually take care of the cat (vaccinations, spay/neuter, annual vet checkups) I wouldn't consider them the 'owner' This cat has chosen you and your family as her home. Please do her the kindness of bringing her with you.
    via u/PlantSufficient6531

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neighbors kitten adopted moving forever home Bad Neighbor Cats rescue
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