'What a short-sighted loser': Former feral feline gets adopted by cat-adoring couple who spends weeks nursing him back to health, only to be confronted by neighbor's disappointment

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Oct 28, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

We love our neighborhood cats. In those meowments when we're out of the house, away from our own purrfectly precious kitties, they wholesomely ask for our love, and we give it willingly. We even give them extra food whenever they decide to pay us a visit. We would adopt them if we didn't have a full house of felines already (no, seriously, we're at capacity). We have taken some of them in for a quick TNR (trap-neuter-release) to help make sure we don't end up with more strays, but we don't have any right of ownership over them. Heck, we don't even have the rights of ownership over our own house cats. All of you fellow pawrents out there will surely agree with that - we all know that they own us.

If one of our neighbors decided to open their hearts and homes to one of the neighborhood fur babies, we would be happy for them. Sure, we would miss their outdoor companionship, but we know that they are better off with a stable family that loves them. It's what we wish for all cats in this world.

And yet, there are some people who want to have their cake, and eat it too. Below, you'll find a story of a disappointed neighbor who complained over a couple taking in a stray feral feline who was well-known around the neighborhood, and after noticing some health issues, decided to awwficially adopt him and keep him inside. That, apparently, was unacceptable to said neighbor who would rather them live outside, unhealthy, just so they could have the perks of a cat without any of the responsibility. 

To this purrson, we say this: "Grow up". Get your own cat, or next time, step up and do the work yourself. You don't just get a cat's love for nothing. It requires work, but it's worth more than anything you can buy in this world.

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    Cheezburger Image 10568134400
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  • 02
    I posted on here about taking in a skinny neighborhood stray that I was feeding who kept trying to get into my house.
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  • 03
    I took him to the vet, got him dewormed, checked for a microchip, and then got him neutered.
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  • Oh, dear. This cat is 90% legs, which is absolutely adorable. Who needs braincells when you have long, luscious legs like that? He looks quite pleased with his new indoor life, and we wish him and his hooman family many, many years of happiness to come!

  • 05
    More recently, he developed a bacterial skin infection, and then I took him to the vet to get THAT taken care of (and, his days of going outside are pretty much over!).
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  • 06
    So, hes been inside with. us for over a month and a half. This morning, my husband was talking to a couple of the neighbors and one neighbor mentioned that Mango used to come by their house and was really friendly.
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  • 07
    They said they liked him and missed seeing him, and they seemed disappointed that he lived with us, now.
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  • 08
    My husband explained how I noticed some concerning medical things while we were feeding him as a stray (it cleared up with his deworming and neuter) and put a bunch of time and money into getting him fixed and healthy, and had grown attached to him.
    via SeaCalm4121
  • 09
    But this neighbor still seemed annoyed/disappointed to find out we took him in. It is so strange to me that the neighbor was sad we gave him a good home and would have preferred to have him worm-ridden and roaming the neighborhood!!
    via SeaCalm4121

  • This is just selfish. They care about their happiness more than the life of the thing they supposedly care about. But they don't really care about the cat; they just want some head bonks and love every once in a while. They're not true cat lovers. If they were, they would have adopted him themselves.

  • 10
    Sorry for the rant, but I needed to get it off my chest to a group who would understand!!
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  • 11
    (Photos of a very loved former-street kitty!!)
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  • 12
    Interesting-Behavior You did what's best for the cat. The neighbor can be annoyed all day long.
    via Interesting-Behavior
  • 13
    III_Following_7022 The kitty is infinitely better off in your home being taken care of. The neighbor should be happy you are willing and able to do this.
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  • 14
    ConfusionHelpful4667 It is the Orange ones that seem to have so much personality. Our neighborhood Orange dude retired to live with us. This one talks... he does not miss the thig life.
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    jbadaro I think your neighbor can go F themselves. You gave this cat a clean bill of health and a home. They should have done that if they really wanted what was best for this lil baby instead of their self gratification of just getting pets in when they so pleased.
    via jbadaro
  • 17
    FoxyDe ession What a short-sighted loser. I mean I like getting visited by the strays too but it isn't as if there's some sort of share ownership between the neighborhood. This person is probably uninformed about what risks outdoor cats face
    via FoxyDe**ession
  • 18
    and wants the cat to be put back outside once its healthy, as if thats its natural place as opposed to a death sentence. If they want a cat so bad, they can adopt one or visit a cat cafe or just ask to come over if they really want. Selfish and irritating
    via FoxyDe**ession
  • 19
    Talk AboutTheWay He is beautiful and leggy!
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    404purrnotfound He looks happy to be indoors and loved. Your neighbor is being ridiculous.
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  • 21
    dragonpunky539 Why didn't the neighbor just ask to come by and visit if they missed him so much? They could buy you a little window perch for him so that they can see him when they walk by. That response is so odd, I'm sorry you're dealing with that negative reaction after you've done so much to help this cat who's supposedly beloved by your neighbors.
    via dragonpunky539
  • 22
    Also, I'd recommend getting him microchipped and registering the microchip with your information (many people forget to register unfortunately). Not to be a worry wart on reddit, but people try to steal/harm other people's pets all the time, better safe than sorry. Thank you for doing so much for him and showing him love
    via dragonpunky539

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neighbors adoption neighborhood-drama animal rescue nursing adopted feline cat rescue feral cats forever home Cats loving animals rescue
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