'Next time I rescue their cat, I have a new cat': Neighbor keeps rescuing the same cat over and over again from her neglectful family, until they finally snap and decide to keep the kitty for themselves

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Dec 12, 2025 11:00 AM EST

Being adopted by a stray cat has to be one of the most special feelings ever. The honor that you feel. How lucky you feel. Being chosen. Of course, a nice stray is not always a stray. Oftentimes, cats who are very happy to be around humans are cats who have been around humans before. They're not afraid, and so they bond harder. And sometimes, the nice stray that you find actually belongs to someone else, and the right thing to do, heartbreaking as it might be, is giving the cat back to its owner. 

That's what the woman in this story did. She rescued a stray cat, found out it belonged to her neighbor, and did the right thing - giving the cat back. She did that once, she did it twice, and the third time… Well, let's just say that at some point, if a cat is being neglected at home and keeps running away, maybe the cat shouldn't be with the people who don't seem to care about it. 

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  • 01

    "I used to look for strays. Now unwanteds are finding me!"

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  • 03
    This is a notmycat and maybe a nowmycat in one. I've been feeding a stray for months. I called a rescue and we've had a trap out for her to get used to. Today she decided she's fine with me, jumped on my lap, purred at me, rubbed on my face, and was fine being carried.
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  • 04
    So I dashed her inside and into my bathroom. She's skinny and matted and HUNGRY. The rescue is sending someone over to scan for a chip. But either way, long or short term, I was distributed another cat.
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  • 05

    "Rescuing the same cat, again"

    10/24/24 Update: Guess who walked through my backyard last night? It took less time than I thought it would. And I've not been texted by his humans asking if I've seen him. It's not SUPER cold here, but it's an uncomfortable mid to high 40sF at night here. Time to rescue my cat for the last time. He cannot have put on good warming weight in the week he's been home.
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  • 06
    Update: He's going home again soon. Their son is quite attached to him. Which I get. SO STOP LETTING HIM OUT. There won't be a third time. Next time I rescue their cat, I have a new cat.
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  • 07
    This cat went home to his family last November. They were so happy to see him. I was so happy he was going home. I'd see him walk through my yard on my backyard camera and not think much of it. His route goes through my property. But I wished they'd keep him inside.
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  • 08
    A few weeks ago he meowed at my child and came out of hiding, so we fed him some treats, then said goodnight. I texted his mom to see how all was going and she said he'd run away from home again and they couldn't trap him.
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  • 09
    Tonight as I got home and started to make some food he meowed at me from outside. I went out, gave him a few treats, and he let me scoop him right up. He's spending the night in my bathroom, and I've offered to keep him.
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    I know he has a loving family, and they will be so relieved he's ok, but I can't help but think he'll be better off here. So, CDS group, wish him luck that he either goes home and they figure this out, or they surrender him to me. He's not a good outdoor cat. He is SKINNY. He likely needs pounds put back on. Not ounces.
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  • You did the right thing giving the cat back to the family the first time. You probably even did the right thing giving her back the second time. But the third time… that' a pattern. And it's not just any pattern, it's a pattern of neglect that simply could not be ignored. 

  • 11

    "Rescued the same cat, again. Again."

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    He's back. Hungry and matted. Not as skinny as last time, but skinnier than the first time. I'll weigh him tomorrow.
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  • 15
    He accepted treats last week, then came back and seemed to ask for some (he sat on my front porch and one of my cats growling at him let me know he was there). I went out of town for a few days, saw him in the backyard tonight and went out and called him. He came right to me and started eating and letting me pet him. So I brought him in.
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  • 16
    I brushed him, used scissors and a trimmer on the bigger mats, and brushed him some more. He ate a half can of food (at 180 calories in the whole can, and cats needing about 20 calories per pound, that's the equivalent of someone on a 2000 calories a day diet going into a stranger's house and eating 1000 calories while nervous. He was that hungry).
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  • 17
    He's in the bathroom chilling, and I'll brush him more tomorrow. I've gotten head butts and purrs, and he was so happy to be brushed he rolled toward the brush and rolled off of the windowsill. Luckily I caught him. LOL.
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  • We can only say this: thank goodness that this kitty found you. We don't know what would have happened with her in the hands of owners like that if kind people like you were not around to pick up the pieces they leave behind. Thank you for doing this for her, and we wish you both many, many happy and healthy years together. 

  • 18

    "Update to Rescued the same cat, again. Again."

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    m OCKEY LEA
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    I felt guilty, so I did text his family after several days. They said they'd come over that night, or the next day. And then ghosted me. That was over three weeks ago. By my state's laws, he's now been abandoned in my care.
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  • 21
    So today I took him to the vet and I've established care for him. He's healthy, and even with the POUND he's gained, he's still slim and a good weight. "He has enough food" was BS. He's 11.5 pounds and not an ounce of fat on him. He is mine. Fuck his old family. I care about him.
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aww wholesome cat adorable adoption heartwarming cute adopted story Cats rescue
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