I wish I could have taken a picture of Tanya's face when she handed Midge back to me: A cat owner's legal fight against her thieving relatives concludes with a court order, police escort, and the happy return of her cat, midge

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 17, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

We thought cat rescues were complicated, and now we find out that cat thefts are even more so. Now, it is not that we have seen all too many cat thefts that we can generalize, but there seems to be a strange trend in that the thieves are always closely related to the feline's pawrent, and almost always have an entitled complex to enable their abhorrent behavior.

And this cousin, Tanya, is absolutely abhorrent. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending, and it goes to show that a cat pawrent will never relent, will never give up, even in the face of familial pressure. Because there is one thing common to all of us cat lovers, and that is that once we have bonded our soul to a cat, we will move heaven and earth to make sure that they are ok and taken care off to the highest standard possible.
 

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  • 01
    So I (21F) have a beautiful brown cat, Midge. She's still a baby and is 10 months old. I found her outside of my work when she was about 2 to 3 months old and immediately fell in love with her. We've had the best time together and
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 02
    her being my first pet since moving out makes me even happier. My cousin Tanya(15F) visits me a lot since we live in the same city and I enjoy having her, she also really like cats, but since her father is allergic they don't have any at home.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 03
    She really loves coming over to see Midge and I'm glad to be able to provide her with Midge's presence. School recently started, and before I go back to full time student I've been having to work almost 45 hours a week to afford my lifestyle for the next couple months.
    via catcatyeahidk

  • Well, this all sounds sweet and simple enough. A soul cat, a family member who comes to help out when the pawrent needs to tend to their life. It sounds like a rather idyllic situation. Even more so that the cousin’s father is allergic to cats, surely that means she would have no interest in taking the cat home to her allergic father…

  • 04
    Since I was busy I let her have the responsibility of taking care of Midge. Such as feeding her, cleaning her little box, etc. It was going really well and I didn't have the chance to take her home since I was going to be at work. I gave her my spare
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 05
    key to lock up and scheduled an Uber to take her to her house. When I came home 8 hours later Midge was gone.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 06
    I called Tanya and she swore Midge was home when she left, but after a couple hours my brother called asking when I gave Midge to Tanya. I was confused and he sent me a SS of Tanya kissing Midge on her Instagram story. I knew then she
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 07
    tabby cat running thourgh grassy field
    via DoraZett via Adobe Stock

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

  • 08
    blocked me from being able to see it and was shocked she would do this to me, as well as lie. I had a spare key to their house and went right over and took Midge back when they weren't home.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 09
    When I got home Tanya called screaming at me over the phone telling me I broke into their house, and stole her property. I laughed and asked how Midge was hers. She told me since she took care of her she deserved her since I wasn't home, and
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 10
    she had to "save" Midge. Her parents, were also pretty upset, since I did go into their home without permission and told me I didn't deserve Midge from what Tanya told them. They told me they decided my uncle will take allergy
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 11
    medication for Midge and I needed to give her back. Of course I said no Tanya ended up calling my mom, lying to her that I abuse Midge. My mom called angry, telling me how I could do this to Midge and if I don't give
    via catcatyeahidk

  • Ok, that escalated quickly. What kind of upside down topsey turvey world is the Tanya living in? And how in the heckin heck is her father going to live the rest of his days popping allergy pills like they are candy, just so that his entitled daughter can keep a cat that is not hers in the house. Madness that is what it is.

  • 12
    her to Tanya and her family, she will disown me. Tanya texted me this weekend that if I apologize she might forgive me, her parents have been texting me all weekend they'll press charges since I did go into their home, and will
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 13
    take Midge then. I don't know what to do. I love Midge so much and my mom gave my aunt and uncle permission to go to my apartment and take her. I know this cause Tanya texted me this I'm assuming to scare
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 14
    me. I am. I'm so scared one of these days I'm going to come home and Midge is going to be gone again.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 15
    I took a lot of peoples advice and got Midge microchipped yesterday. As well as I had a conversation with my mom that we resolved together. My landlord still refused to change my locks. Despite all this, today this morning Midge was taken.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 16
    tabby cat looking off the left
    via Svetlana Rey via Adobe Stock

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

  • 17
    I called my aunt and uncle and they just laughed and told me "Try, we can hire a good lawyer." I called police and explained the situation, showing proof I had ownership of Midge. When we went to my relatives house police asked for her back but of course they refused. What
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 18
    made me even angrier was my cousin inside the house, door open holding Midge with a eating grin. Even though I had all this evidence my relatives slammed the door demanding a warrant.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 19
    Police suggested I press charges and take it to small claims court (I am), but they couldn't do anything right there. Going home without Midge was so upsetting. I had to pull over cause I started crying.
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 20
    Small claims court came around and my attorney was very confident and helped me out so much. She was very helpful and knew from the start we would win. I provided the judge everything. Yes, everything you guys commented as proof I own her. Photos of her as
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 21
    a baby, proof I have paid for all vet bills since she was a baby, and proof I had Midge chipped. My landlord also helped. Although a lot of people were upset with him and telling me to move out, he was remorseful that his decision had
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 22
    consequences. I have forgiven him as his apology came with security footage of my aunt and uncle going into my apartment and taking Midge. We have been NC since the case, they have been silent (most likely
    via catcatyeahidk
  • 23
    embarrassed). To end this on a good note, I wish I could have taken a picture of Tanya's face when she handed Midge back to me.
    via catcatyeahidk

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taken relatives thieves cat face court legal cat pictures reddit story fight cat story cat owners wish happy return police
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