'I don't want to lose my cat': Cat lover tricked into adopting a microchipped "stray" feline from Facebook, now has to decide whether to “do the right thing” and potentially give up the kitty they've fallen in love with

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Aug 5, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Losing one of our cats is something we have nightmares about. Thinking about our spoiled little babies trying to survive in the wild all alone? Terrifying.

And a little funny, in a macabre sort of way. Our cat's idea of "hunting" is waiting for us to put the toy and/or food within eating distance, and then pouncing on it when it's easy to catch. They would not be very good at catching their own dinners. However, the worst part of them being outside is us not knowing where and how they are. On top of that, you have no idea if, or when, they will come back.

This leads us to our main character's dilemma in the story below. They were tricked into adopting a "stray" cat from Facebook, and now after realizing they might belong to someone else, they have to make a pawsitively tough decision - do they check for the microchip and potentially give up the kitty they've fallen in love with to "do the right thing"?

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  • 01

    I don’t want to lose my cat.

    'Imagine how scary it would be to lose him and know nothing when he's gone.'
    via LuckyBusiness

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

  • 02
    Hi guys, I got my cat 8 months ago off of facebook. He was living in someone's garage for at least a few weeks/months and it was getting too cold for him to stay there and they couldn't take him inside. I picked him up and brought him to my
    via 1Celestial_Flower7
  • 03
    apartment where I stay during college. I was told they had made many facebook posts and signs for people who might be missing their cat but no one had reached out to claim him.
    via 1Celestial_Flower7
  • 04
    Fast forward to today and I'm just now realizing that he might be microchipped and I never bothered to check when I brought him to establish care with our vet. After feeling around on his neck/shoulder area I'm pretty confident he's chipped and I have an appointment next friday where I intend to ask about it.
    via 1Celestial_Flower7

  • There are a couple of pawssible outcomes from this. One - the cat is not microchipped at all, and they keep the cat. Two - the cat is microchipped, but the owners don't want them anymore, and they keep the cat. Three - the cat is microchipped and they want the cat back, so they can go and adopt a new kitty into their furrever home. 

  • 05
    The question now becomes what the h I do I do now? I am very much attached to this cat, however I know if I lost my pet I would at least want someone to call me and let me know that he's alive and being taken care of? I have no idea what to do or what's morally correct in this scenario.
    via 1Celestial_Flower7
  • 06
    Mixed BeansBlackBeans • 6h ago . He may have travelled very far from his original location, and that's why posters didn't reach owners. And some people don't use social media. However, it's also possible he's been dumped or abandoned. We found a very badly matted cat last year, and he was found to be chipped, but the owners said they'd moved on already and we could just keep him.
    via MixedBeansBlackBeans
  • 07
    The right thing to do is to make sure that the chip is checked for and owners are contacted if any are found. If he is lost, they'll welcome him back and it'll be a happy reunion! If they don't want him back, or seem reluctant to take him back, you can express your interest in caring for him permanently. :)
    via MixedBeansBlackBeans
  • 08
    erinmarie777 • 6h ago As much as you love the cat, the original owners may have loved it just as much too. But you can't know until you talk with them. I would be worried too but it is the right thing to do. I'm really sorry the people who originally found it didn't check for micro chip first thing. It's free. Though they tried to help the cat, they failed in that regard.
    via erinmarie777
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10537771264
    via Photocreo

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

  • 10
    . IthinkImlostagain • 5h ago You should take him to have it read. They might not give you the information on the chip directly, but they can call for you and you can leave your number. If a certain amount of time passes without a response, you might be able to get the microchip info changed to match yours. If he is chipped and gets lost, your info will not be on that chip.
    via IthinkImlostagain
  • 11
    I would want someone to call me so I know what happened to my cat. Be prepared for them to want him back but they may not even respond or have up to date address/number on there in the first place. A lot of people fail to update them.
    via IthinkImlostagain

  • If it were us, we would get the microchip checked and give it back. We would want someone else to do the same for us, so we can't expect someone to do it for us if we're not willing to do it for them.

  • 12
    g2m933 5h ago • Please whatever you do if he is chipped and they do want him back, pls give him back:( With how much you love him, imagine how scary it would be to lose him and know nothing when he's gone.
    via g2m933
  • 13
    dragonsaknit • 6h ago. Did you ask the folk who was putting him up in the garage how he came to them?
    via dragonsaknit
  • 14
    He may have been abandoned. Have the chip checked and talk to the vet how you have come to get him and what the law says about who is taking care of him.
    via dragonsaknit
  • 15
    If he had been abandoned then there may be no contact number even if there is a chip. And if you can get a hold of the people then they may not want him. And if they seem to want him, then you can plead your case. But I'd say there's a good chance that he'll stay. with you.
    via dragonsaknit
  • 16
    . JayofTea • 5h ago The foster I just adopted out today, when I rescued him off the road we checked for a chip and he had one. It had been updated maybe a month earlier before we took him in, and he'd been outside for about 3 weeks
    via JayofTea
  • 17
    before we took him in as well. We had the vet call them and I texted them too, they saw my text and never responded. So we just kept him. He was an hour and a half away from his chipped location! So I assume they dumped him.
    via JayofTea
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10537771008
    via Dominik Gryzbon from Pexels

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

  • 19
    skibib 5h ago You are a good person for thinking about this. It is the right thing to do because it will bother you forever if you don't at least try to find the previous owners. But if they cannot be found or are unable to take the cat back, you might become the forever owner.
    via skibib
  • 20
    Far_Chocolate_5437. 5h ago Often people don't update the chip info He might still end up yours - vet can help change it to you - if no one answers after a certain time
    via Far_Chocolate_5437
  • 21
    MsMarionNYC • 4h ago The morally correct thing is to go to a vet and have the chip scanned, so the cat's people can be notified and then to return him if they want him returned.
    via MsMarionNYC
  • 22
    AuntieClaire 3h ago . I would've thought that when you brought him to the vet that the vet would've checked for that. Isn't that a normal thing for vets to do?
    via AuntieClaire
  • 23
    Adi_Bismark • 3h ago Unfortunately for cats, and a lot of animals, just because they are chipped doesn't mean the family went through and put their information on the chip, as this is something you have to do AFTER the chip is in place, so it might be that he has a chip with
    via Adi_Bismark
  • 24
    no information, but also, the chip is VERY small, and it's very hard to 'feel' the microchip, as it is about the size of a grain of rice. Definitely get it checked, and if the family that had the cat managed to put their information on it, then unfortunately the moral thing to do is give it back, if they are good owners.
    via Adi_Bismark
  • 25
    Sheylenna 3h ago . You have three scenarios 1. Cat was chiiped, but no info 2. Cat was chipped with info, and the family abandoned it. 3. Cat was chipped with info, and the cat got away, and the family wants the cat back
    via Sheylenna
  • 26
    In the first two, keep the cat.... in the last well, maybe they will allow you to visit....
    via Sheylenna
  • 27
    FroYo Yoda 6h ago Definitely have the vet scan for a chip and see if it was registered. The owners don't always actually attach any info to the chip. After that, it's up to you. I don't find either side of the decision wrong.
    via FroYo_Yoda
  • 28
    Cr280cr 4h ago Maybe if there is an owner you can rearrange something with them.
    via Cr280cr
  • 29
    Phoenix_shade1 · 3h ago The moral thing to do is contact the owners if he's chipped. Think how crushed you'd be if your cat disappeared. If they didn't want him they probably wouldn't have gotten him chipped. If they can't take care of him anymore they will probably let you keep him
    via Phoenix_shade1
  • 30
    burdlurker · 3h ago • I would say what you do is grieve and process the emotions coming up. It's possible that you may have to give the cat back and it's possible that you get to keep it. You may have just become the hero to someone else's story. And if that's the
    via burdlurker
  • 31
    case you could become the hero to another cat since there are so many that need homes. I'm sorry you are going through this. I cried a bunch when I found my cat and went through the process of trying to find out if she was missing for someone
    via burdlurker
  • 32
    else. I think she was abandoned and that may be the case for you as well. You can tell the vet that you are hoping to keep the cat and maybe that will help if it does have a family that is on the fence. Good luck!
    via burdlurker

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adoption microchip animal rescue facebook adopted feline cat rescue forever home Cats loving animals rescue
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