"My cat has been ‘adopted’ by someone else": Orange cat "rescued" by feline-obsessed neighbor, she refuses to give him back despite knowing she is stealing someone's cat

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 14, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

This is why it's impawtant to get your cats microchipped, fam. You never know when someone might try to "rescue" your cat and never give them back!

We understand wanting to help every cat in need, we do, but the word "need" is purrfectly crucial here. If the cat is loved, has a home, and is well-fed, that cat doesn't need your help - it's just adventurous. There are plenty of cats that do need your help in shelters or hiding behind dumpsters are your local movie theater (that's where we found our furst cat).

A worried pawrent got a call from a vet saying that someone found their cat (thanks to the microchip), but was trying to adopt them despite knowing they had an owner. The pawrent tried to convince them to give their cat back, which then prompted tears on the other end. The kicker? She still wouldn't give the feline back. Scroll down to read the full story below!

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    via sthefu
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    In his 15 years, my cat has always liked to wander outside and hasn't really ever been fond of other people but recently he has been going missing for days at a time. I had no clue what was happening and was scared he had been hurt - however, I had a
    via sthefu
  • 03
    phone call from the vets yesterday and they told me that somebody had called in asking if my cat was a stray and if they could adopt him, despite him clearly being well-loved, microchipped and well fed by
    via sthefu
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    me; the vet told me not to worry and to give the lady a call just to politely declare that he's my cat and I don't want her feeding him.
    via sthefu
  • 05
    I called the lady and she told me that she has been keeping my cat, feeding him and spoiling him with treats and new toys/cat bed/scratching post, etc. I politely reminded her that he's my cat and he is loved at home and I would like her to stop, this
    via sthefu

  • This is very sweet of her, but it's also pawsitively selfish. You can't just take part of someone's family, even if you do love them! There are lots of other cats for her to love and could use a real home, not a different one.

  • 06
    led to her crying down the phone saying that she loves my cat and even asking to 'share' him and stating that she'd like to put him in a cattery while she goes abroad.
    via sthefu
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    via betyarlaca

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

  • 08
    This baffles me as she won't back down, now I haven't seen my cat since Tuesday evening as she's clearly trapping him indoors. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
    via sthefu
  • 09
    MrsFace69 Tabbycat I'm guessing if she staunchly refuses to return the cat, you'll need to go through small claims court and have proof of ownership and all that; I've seen a few of these cases on Judge Judy over the years.
    via Mrs**sFace69
  • 10
    This cat would be an indoor cat or supervised very carefully outside afterward if it was me.
    via Mrs**sFace69

  • Once we got the cat back, he wouldn't be allowed outside under any circumstances. Not because we don't trust him, but because we definitely don't trust her. If she wasn't willing to give the cat back once, she will be even less likely to do so another time.

  • 11
    MarsGirl24 Tortoiseshell I went through the same thing. My cat was a formerly stray rescue and was really used to a lot of supervised outdoor time when I lived in the country. We moved to the suburbs and she would sprint out the door sometimes just because she wanted to go exploring.
    via MarsGirl24
  • 12
    I called my local police's non emergency line, just to see if they knew anything about the legal side of our situation. Basically my neighbor intentionally kept our microchipped cat in her house, knowing she belonged to us. I was thinking of filing a civil suit
    via MarsGirl24
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    for the surrender of personal property. The sheriff's office told me that Texas doesn't really have a law about this situation, but our city does have an ordinance stating any animal not on a leash can't be considered personal
    via MarsGirl24
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    property. The civil suit would've been legit but since my neighbor didn't trespass then cut the cat off a leash, local police can't do much. Generously, a police officer offered to go talk to them, sorta like a mediator. This worked really well and we got her back!
    via MarsGirl24
  • 15
    Rolln Rye74 find where she lives and go over with an officer. then, tell the lady there are lots of cats in shelters that would love to be spoiled by her.
    via RollnRye74
  • 16
    Artistic-Arachnid274 The vet called you so you have a microchip then right? Open and shut case f that lady.
    via Artistic-Arachnid274
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    BUT why the h I would she want to put him in a cattery if she really wanted to share him. What a horrible person.
    via Artistic-Arachnid274
  • 18
    Sweaty_Mushroom5830 Yeah my Sister's cat was stolen by someone from the neighborhood who took him (he was super friendly) and kept him inside and took his tracking tag off so they knew that he had an owner and also he had my sister's phone number on his collar and we never saw him again, Miss you Maxie boy
    via Sweaty_Mushroom5830
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    TheWaywardOak My aunt ended up catproofing her back yard because of something like this. One of her cats kept sneaking off across the train tracks into another neighborhood. The lady that was feeding him there got annoyed and started making threats when the cat started to tear up her screen porch to get inside.
    via TheWaywardOak
  • 21
    an_edgy_lemon Why would she need to put a "shared" cat in a cattery while she's gone? She doesn't want to share him, she wants to steal him.
    via an_edgy_lemon
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    If she doesn't back down, you'll probably have to get the authorities involved.
    via an_edgy_lemon
  • 23
    Consistent-Buddy-280 You might need to clarify where you live OP, since there are a lot of people giving you conflicting advice regarding police.
    via Consistent-Buddy-280
  • 24
    UK: This would be a police matter, as cats are considered property. Doesn't matter if it's an outside cat, especially if it's microchipped. USA: I guess you listen to that cop guy who's been posting loads of comments about how they'd probably end up euthanising your cat ( btw?).
    via Consistent-Buddy-280
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    Elsewhere: I guess you could Google and find out how it's dealt with where you live.
    via Consistent-Buddy-280
  • 26
    FrannyFray American Shorthair You let the vet know, make a copy of his microchip information, and go to the police. Unfortunately, after this, you might need to reconsider letting your cat go outside anymore. This lady sounds a little deranged.
    via FrannyFray

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refuse neighbors stealing adopted feline Cats animals obsessed
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