Unfortunate miscommunication forces feline foster mom to give back cat they've taken care of for over a year to the original owners, she's left blindsided and wracked with debt: 'I’ve covered nearly all [the] costs'

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 14, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Happy Meownday, feline fam. We're writing about this post below to share some impawtant life lessons with you, but first, let's give you a little summary of what to expect. 

A feline foster mom decided to look after her friends' cat for an indefinite amount of time. Weeks turned into months, and months turned into a year. She, of course, became purrfectly bonded with the cute kitty. But then, when they came back, they expected her to return the cat to them, even though she already felt like the cat was hers. 

This is the first life lesson that we hope to impart to you: cat ownership is not based on emeowtions. Just because she cared for the cat, and even paid for expenses, the cat had a microchip with her friends' names on it, and they have documentation of ownership. This is all that matters. If they have a microchip, they legally belong to someone else… even if you rescued them off the street. Scroll down to read how an unfortunate miscommunication forced her to give back the cat she fell in love with below.

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  • 01

    Can they take back the cat I’ve been taking care of for over a year in UK?

    'Since I had not heard much from them for over a year... I thought they no longer intended to reclaim it.'
    via Thomas Faull

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

  • 02
    I agreed to temporarily look after a cat in mid-2024 while the couple owners are going back to China, that guy found a job in China, the girl still got one year left study in UK. So the owners said it would be for 1-2 months, and I accepted without any written agreement. After
    via Mousse3528
  • 03
    they broke up in August, the female owner told me to communicate with the male owner from then on. He asked how long I wanted to keep the cat, and since I had already grown attached, I said I was happy to continue caring for it.
    via Mousse3528
  • 04
    In November, I had a 2-week work trip to China. I informed them in advance and asked if they wanted to take the cat back, but there were only two weeks left before my departure, which wasn't enough time to arrange travel paperwork. My flatmate cared for the cat during my absence.
    via Mousse3528
  • 05
    They didn't mention taking the cat back again until this July, when I proactively sent them an update and recent photos. They then asked for the cat back. Since I had not heard much from them for over a year — their last - message asking about the cat was in February - I thought they no longer intended to reclaim it.
    via Mousse3528
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10529156608
    via GabrielPevide

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

  • 07
    Since taking on care of the cat, I've covered nearly all costs, including food, vaccinations, vet bills, flea/worm treatment, and litter. They only paid for one vaccine (£100) and bought food
    via Mousse3528

  • They did an ameowzing thing of caring for this cat for so long. Treating it like their own pet and paying for it… but the cat wasn't theirs to begin with. They should have contacted the owners to have them pay for the cat's food and treatments.

  • 08
    once. In August last year, my lease ended. I found a pet- friendly house with a garden outside London to ensure a better living space for the cat. It increased my commute to over an hour.
    via Mousse3528
  • 09
    They have now begun contacting me intensively across multiple platforms (calls, texts, and social media). I've asked for all communication to be in writing, but they have continued. I feel overwhelmed by the sudden demand and volume of messages.
    via Mousse3528
  • 10
    I understand the legal ownership may remain with them due to the microchip. However, I would like to ask:
    via Mousse3528
  • 11
    1. Do I have any legal grounds to request reimbursement for the costs of caring for the cat during this time? 2. If the cat caused damage to furniture or carpets in the rental property, can I claim compensation under involuntary bailment?
    via Mousse3528
  • 12
    3. Does their continued contact after my request to communicate in writing only qualify as harassment under UK law? Thanks for any guidance.
    via Mousse3528
  • 13
    More details: 1. They went back to China, and I'm still in the UK - so they didn't take the cat with them but now expect me to return it to them.
    via Mousse3528
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10529157632
    via corelens

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

  • 15
    Divine Decadence85 21h ago Legally, the cat is property. It comes with extra responsibilities and costs, but that doesn't change the fact. No life decisions you've made because of looking after the cat are relevant. They were your choices.
    via DivineDecadence85

  • It's terrible to speak about cats this way, but in the eyes of the law, it's true. Cats are property, even if in their eyes we are their property, but cats don't rule the world (yet). Once they do, they might trade us around like property! They will remember who treated them well, though. Maybe we'll get lots of treats!

  • 16
    They've maintained the position that they own the cat and offered you an opportunity to buy it from them, so you can't claim it was gifted to you.
    via DivineDecadence85
  • 17
    LaterM... 21h ago Edited 20h ago • You agreed to look after the cat on a temporary basis. You should never have paid any vets bills or gone above and beyond with living accommodation... it's not your cat. Unfortunately you made those choices, but it doesn't change the fact that it's not your cat.
    via LaterMayB
  • 18
    So yes, they can take back their cat because they're telling you the temporary period you agreed to look after the cat is over.
    via LaterMayB
  • 19
    What you could do is politely ask them to reimburse you for the cost of the vet bills and any significant purchases you've made for the wellbeing of the cat.
    via LaterMayB
  • 20
    RobOfBlue • 21h ago What is the relevance of the trip abroad in November? What did you do with the cat?
    via RobOfBlue
  • 21
    You haven't put this very clearly. Ultimately ignoring all of that, if you had an agreement to temporarily home their cat they have every right to demand it back. If you didn't have any agreement that they would pay for food, vet bills etc. then you won't be able to claim any of that back.
    via RobOfBlue
  • 22
    NoAimElaine • 20h ago "One of them told me to deal with the other going forward. He asked how long I'd keep the cat, and I said I was open to anything." Just that alone gives you no ground to stand on sadly.
    via NoAimElaine
  • 23
    • Pristine_Use_2564 21h ago Literally the most you nay get here is a recoup of costs in small claims, which is almost not worth the hassle in the grand scheme, as others have said, the cat is their property regardless of time spent caring for it unfortunately.
    via Pristine_Use_2564
  • 24
    What a nasty situation to find yourself in, I'm really sorry! Not to sound heartless, I am a pet owner also, but could you firstly see if they would still accept a buy out, and if not, maybe look letting the cat go back and look at adopting a rescue cat that needs a loving owner with a nice spacious house just outside London?
    via Pristine_Use_2564
  • 25
    Ground_Better ⚫ 20h ago . No legal standing to keep the cat. Its a shame, but you shouldn't have paid vet bills/assumed the cat was yours. Once it started impacting your life and finances you should have given the cat back, or told them it was going to a shelter ect
    via Ground_Better

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miscommunication foster debt cat owners feline cat parents Cats animals
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