'The thought of leaving and never seeing him again absolutely breaks my heart':12-year-old tabby Rupert finds love and peace with chosen neighbors who must decide to take him when they move or leave him at his neglectful home

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Jul 20, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

This purrplexing predicament has all the makings of a modern feline fairy tale. Rupert, a 12-year-old tabby, has unofficially relocated himself next door, ditching his official home full of chaos, screaming kids, and barely-there flea care. His owner, though lovely, is overwhelmed and has long accepted that Rupert prefers the quieter, comfier life with the neighbors and would probably give a paws-up if they asked to take him permanently.

Now, as the couple is preparing to move just five minutes away, they're torn. Should they take Rupert, who clearly adores them and their two cats, or leave him in the only territory he's ever known? He's grown close to their little feline family, even if he sometimes turns into a spray machine indoors. Still, compared to the loud kids he hides from and the outdoor flea life he endures, their quiet new home might just be a catnip dream.

He may not have come with adoption papers, but emotionally? Rupert already chose his humans. Seems like it's time to make it official and pack the cat.

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  • 01
    'Would it be kinder to leave him here, or would it be best to take him with us?'
    via @AriAssault / Canva

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

  • 02
    Hi, Super long post I'm sorry, but there's a lot of background to this! Me and my boyfriend have been renting a house for the past 4 years. We have a neighbour who's absolutely lovely, but a
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 03
    single mom to two extremely loud kids both with behavioural issues. She has two cats, one who has essentially been adopted by the other neighbours, and the other cat, Rupert, who's roughly around 12 years old.
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 04
    When we first moved in, Rupert stole our hearts immediately and basically came and lived with us. Our neighbour was fine with this (we asked). She is really overworked with her kids and so doesn't really have much time for the cats. Rupert would spend all day/night with us and just go back to our neighbours for food.
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  • 05
    Over the past 4 years we have had to remind her to put flea treatment on when he's had fleas, had to remind her to deworm him when he's literally had worms crawling out of him etc.
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  • 06
    2 years ago, my partner and I adopted two kittens. Rupert absolutely loves our cats, but started spraying in the house to mark his territory so we had to stop him coming in as much. When he and our cats are in the garden, they lie down next to each other and Rupert follows them around, they're good
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  • 07
    friends. Our cats aren't 100% comfortable when he's in the house at night however, but perfectly content when they're all outside together.
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  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10532002816
    via Maximilian Brandl

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

  • 09
    Throughout our 4 years here one thing is very clear. Rupert absolutely hates the children he lives with. When he hears them coming he flinches and runs. They are so SO loud constantly. He will not go anywhere near their garden whilst they're out there, and spends all of his time sleeping in our garden away from them.
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 10
    Rupert once again has fleas, and we've had to stop him coming in for quite a while now as I don't think our neighbour is flea treating her house and our cats keep picking up fleas from him. I've put flea treatment on him out of my own pocket but he still has them. He spends most of his time
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 11
    sleeping in our garden, and is always desperate to come in to our house waiting by the door 24/7. We can't let him in because he sprays (he's neutered) and has fleas but he always looks so sad.
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  • 12
    Now to the current problem, me and my partner are moving to my dads who lives 5 minutes away to try and save money for a house. Obviously our cats are coming with us, but what about Rupert?
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 13
    He loves us so much and when we go outside he's purring and rubbing up against us straight away. The thought of leaving and never seeing him again absolutely breaks my heart, and I feel like he'll be so sad not seeing our cats and us, and he'll just be left with his owner who's too busy to look after him properly and children who he is scared to be near. He'll constantly wait by our door for us to come back, it feels like abandoning my own pet.
    via No_Quarter_4980
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    Cheezburger Image 10532002304
    via Damedeeso / Canva

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

  • 15
    I know that my neighbour would agree if we asked to take him with us, but he's lived here for around 10 years and knows these gardens and his territory, would that be cruel to him? To take him somewhere new that he doesn't know? Would it be kinder to leave him here, or would it be best to take him with us?
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    If he came with us I'm worried the spraying problem wouldn't stop, but I know that we would take such good care of him and always make sure he's safe and happy. He's just an old kitten who wants a quiet home with food and toys, which we can give him!
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  • 17
    So really my question is, do we take Rupert from the home he's known for 10 years when we move? Or do we leave him here where he's familiar with his surroundings, but in a home where he doesn't want to be? Thanks for reading and any advice would be so appreciated.
    via No_Quarter_4980
  • 18
    Car... Please take Rupert. He's obviously very stressed and to say it kindly, neglected in that house. He obviously feels comfortable with you because you show him love, which he doesn't seem to be getting at his other home.
    via CartoonistNo3755
  • 19
    I think the spraying will stop when all 3 cats are in a new territory, because technically none of them can claim the new one as their own, no "we were here first" type of thing. Everyone has a clean slate. I would just hate for someone to move into your new place and he come looking for you and they not treat him well. Also too with his age, I say maybe
    via CartoonistNo3755
  • 20
    it's best to keep him indoors moving forward and maybe you can just take him outside on a leash, or get a catio for him. If he does spray in your house, the catio may be a great option for him too. To be safe from predators but still be able to be outside and no fear of him wandering off.
    via CartoonistNo3755
  • 21
    There are a lot of catios on Amazon for roughly $200- 300 - big sizes too! I can send you the one we have. But please take Rupert.
    via CartoonistNo3755

  • Take Rupert! He’ll be so much happier with you, and you can give him the love and care he truly deserves. He needs a fresh start and you’re it!

  • 22
    T_Mackie Take Rupert with you! Please don't leave him behind. He'd be so sad and lonely as he's picked you as his family now. The spraying could be a territorial thing because he was "there first" so it might not be an issue when you get to the new place.
    via T_Mackie
  • 23
    Evinshir From the sounds of it your neighbour will be happy for you to take a stress off her plate as well. It's a lot to be juggling kids and two cats.
    via Evinshir
  • 24
    Rupert will possibly stop spraying once he's settled in a new environment- but you can always talk to a vet or cat behaviorist for any tips to help if it continues in the new home. The new home will also help your cats settle with Rupert living in the house with them too.
    via Evinshir
  • 25
    DiabeticBea I'd take him with. Once you're in the new house I suspect the dynamics will change. It happened for me.
    via DiabeticBea

  • When you move, Rupert will probably settle in more with the other cats. A new space might help him reset and feel more at ease with his furry roommates.

  • 26
    Krick_t I'm team Take Rupert.
    via Krick_t
  • 27
    After-Leopard If it doesn't work out at the new location you can always talk to your neighbor about bringing him back. We took over caring for an out door cat and brought her a few miles away from her home. . She adapted just fine. She knows her current territory and how to get back home and she loves her family.
    via After-Leopard
  • 28
    SLOpokeNews Talk to the neighbor and if they agree, take him.
    via SLOpokeNews

  • If your neighbor agrees, there’s no reason not to take Rupert. There’ll be an adjustment period, but overall, he’ll be so much happier with you than staying where he is.

  • 29
    hanji_meowmy Take him with you. The stress he would get from moving to a new house with all of you is significantly less than the stress he would get from learning you guys have left him where he doesn't want to be.
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  • 30
    MoistGovernment... Take Rupert. He picked you. He's not safe or happy there. Spraying can be managed vet can help. He's better off with you.
    via MoistGovernment9115

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Cats neighbors pets advice cat owners feline pawrents moving
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