Rescuer finds friendly tuxedo cat stranded in the rain, shelters him overnight and learns he may belong to a neglectful household, considers giving him to a kind couple instead of returning to possible owners:'I don’t believe it's a good environment'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 26, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Stolen or rescued? Maybe it's a bit of both…This individual was put in a tough spot when they found a tuxedo cat shivering, alone and stranded in the rain atop a neighborhood hill. No tag, no form of identification to return the cat to its owner, so they took him in for some temporary shelter, food, and cuddles until their owner was discovered! Multiple posts on Facebook, from offers to take him in to multiple shelter suggestions, yet no one claimed direct ownership just yet, only the intention to do so…

But after a few hours of rescue-bonding, a certain household, let us call it: The House, is suggested to be the highly likely owner of the cat. The problem? Well, The House is clearly an unsuitable environment for any cat…Their garage is always left open, putting their pets in danger, and the household as a whole just radiates N-E-G-L-E-C-T…Would it be so unethical if they gave the cat to the seemingly loving and kind couple who offered up their home instead of attempting to find out if it belongs to those who occupy The House…?

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  • Maybe giving this cat to another family will spare it from 9 lives filled with danger and neglect? It might be unfortunate for their previous owners, but it's known that any caring pawrent would do whatever it took to get their little, furry baby back, and it is painfully clear that its owners have most definitely lacked that type of urgency. 

    Sometimes a lesson is the most effective push for change. 

  • "I want to contact the nice couple who have been wanting a cat and lie saying I didn't find their owner"
    via Engin Akyurt

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for stealing a cat

    It's a rainy night, it's been raining for a few days now, I was taking my dog for a walk and i heard nonstop meowing.
    via CristalS2
  • I approached to make sure the cat wasn't hurt, he wasn't which was a relief. I give him some love and attention he is a very sweet cat without a leash.
    via CristalS2
  • I walk away and he stays following me. Little dude follows me all the way home, I took him in because he's a tuxedo cat and it's late and raining.
    via CristalS2
  • i don't want him to get sick or worse get ran over. I post in my neighborhood community a little "is he anyone's?" shout out with a couple pictures attached.
    via CristalS2
  • I already have two other cats and i don't know what this cat has on don't have on him so i keep him in my bathroom with a litter box some food(he was really hungry he finished the bowl) and some water with a blanket for sleep.
    via CristalS2
  • Cheezburger Image 10557934336
    via wildlittlethingsphoto

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Morning comes i start getting a few replies from the post, one says "good luck finding him a rescue none of them are taking cats rn" another says "me and my husband have been wanting a cat for a while,
    via CristalS2
  • if you don't find his owner we will gadly take him" and the other one says "me and my husband go for walks and sometimes different cats will follow us around and eventually go home.
    via CristalS2
  • we suspect he is from *this address from the neighbor community* that leaves their garage open so their cats can come and go. I would try reaching out to them."
    via CristalS2
  • (this is not exactly how those comments were worded i summarized them so it could all fit on the post). So here's how i'm torn in which decision to make.
    via CristalS2
  • I don't want to return him to that house because where we live there's A LOT of d dly di ss for cats from ticks and all, most places will not let you adopt if you plan on keeping the cat "indoor/outdoor",
    via CristalS2
  • it's been storming for days and they still let their cats out and about, little guy was a hill and a block away from home meowing like crazy.
    via CristalS2
  • I don't believe that's a good environment for any cat to be in, it is bad "parenting". I want to contact the nice couple who have been wanting a cat and lie saying I didn't find their owner so that they can have him because I know he would be taken care of.
    via CristalS2
  • AITA for not trying to contact the possible original owners?
    via CristalS2
  • Cheezburger Image 10557934592
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • ComputerCrafty4781 ΝΤΑ You posted that you found a cat, including pictures. No owners came forward or even made any effort to find the cat. (If they even
    via ComputerCrafty4781
  • noticed it was missing.) No missing signs? No social media pleas? No knocking door to door? Therefore, no owner was found. Rehome with your best judgement.
    via ComputerCrafty4781
  • Keith-Steve-Howard NTA Why is everyone assuming the home in question is the home of the cat? They said they suspect it belongs to a neighbor because they have other cats. That doesn't mean it's their cat, this is just a guess based on what another neighbor posted online. This cat is just as likely to be a stray.
    via Keith-Steve-Howard
  • Tenzipper Report to the local animal control, with pictures, so they can try to find the owner. If, after whatever the animal control people say is a reasonable time, you don't find any owner, it's your cat.
    via Tenzipper
  • Notorious_Rug YWBTA if you did not exhaust all avenues to find the owner, including asking the persons who live at the house that keeps their garage door open and take the found cat to the vet to be scanned for a micro-chip (vets will scan for a micro-chip for free).
    via Notorious_Rug
  • I have cats. They're indoor-only. They do not wear collars (they are micro-chipped). I would be devastated if one of my cats got out (accidents/sneaking outs happen) and one of my neighbors took it upon themselves to just take my cat, going by the assumption it must be a stray just because it doesn't have a collar and ate a whole bowl of food (I'm sure at least one of my cats would eat a horse trough full of food, if allowed/offered).
    via Notorious_Rug
  • thereisonlyoneme YTA Our cats are indoor only. Like you, I feel strongly that cats should not live outdoors. That said, we all have our opinions and I am sure there are people who disagree with how I care for my pets. Should they have the right to take my pets from me?
    via thereisonlyoneme
  • BelleMakaiHawaii NTA take the cat for a "chip read" if nothing comes up, rehome the cat, "outdoor cats" deserve better
    via BelleMakaiHawaii
  • amioth 13h ago • NTA for taking the cat into your house, but you should take the cat to the vet to see if it has a chip or if they know the cat. And alert local shelters that you found him in case his owners are looking for him and go looking there. A Facebook post and taking the comments as the only options is not the only thing you should be
    via amioth
  • doing. Most younger people aren't even on Facebook, and even if you are you may not see every single post or be in the neighborhood groups. And just bc a cat is outside doesn't mean it's allowed to be, I have an escape artist myself and I'm incredibly anti outside cats. He just doesn't agree with me.
    via amioth
  • notrightmeowthx YTA. You know there's a high chance the cat belongs to someone else. You are therefore obligated (including legally, I believe) to at least check with them. You should also have a vet scan for a chip. Just because kitty got caught out in the rain (very possibly by their own choice) doesn't mean they are neglected, and nearly all cats will wolf down a bowl of fresh food if given the opportunity, it doesn't mean they were starving.
    via notrightmeowthx

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