Late-working person brings in the neighbor's cat at 2AM after finding him frozen on the fire escape, sets to find the feline a foster family since this isn't the first time he's abandoned outside in the cold.

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jan 8, 2026 1:00 PM EST

We don't understand people who adopt a cat only to ignore them.

If we're honest with ourselves (and with you), we think we could never understand these types of people. Even if you bring us some contradicting arguments, we don't think anything would suffice to change our minds on the subject. Now, don't get us wrong, we know adopting a cat is a big responsibility. It can truly change a person's life. And sometimes the adoption comes as a surprise (especially when you seem to be randomly assigned by the CDS). But whatever the situation is - we can't understand people who adopt a cat only to let them wander around in freezing temperatures, and more than once.

Look, we get that. We once forgot our cat was outside on the balcony before we closed it. It happens to the best of us. But the minimum required of us, as cat pawrents, is making sure the cat is safe inside before we go to sleep. And this is exactly what we did, preventing the situation of a cat stuck outside on a balcony for an entire night. Really. The minimum. Is this really too much to ask of cat pawrents?

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  • 01
    First, lets set the stage., I live in Upstate NY, it gets cold here. Also I live on the third floor of a downtown apartment building.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 02
    Outside my office window is our fire escape, which is shared with the other unit on our floor.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 03
    fire escape in new york
    via 400tmax

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

  • 04
    Last night, as I finished up work at around 2am, I saw a cat on our balcony.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 05
    cat on a fire excape, looking down to the camera through the slits on the metal bars
    via Juniper_Berry

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

  • It's one thing to think about the stray cats who need to brave this winter's blizzards. It's like a fist closes on our hearts when this thought crosses our minds. Thinking of cats outside during the winter is a sad thought as it is.

    And it's a whole other thing actually seeing a freezing feline outside in the cold - and literally just outside of your apartment. It's a situation no cat lovers could endure - not without trying their best to help the kitty, at least.

  • 06
    I am calling them Torchy. Torchy belongs to our neighbors, but this is the second time seeing him I outside my window.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 07
    Last night it was 9°F, and Torchy was showing early signs if hypothermia. I brought him in, let him steal my body heat, then made him a warm shelter and fed him.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 08
    cat sleeping on a cozy blanket
    via Hatdieubaokhanh. com from Pexels

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

  • 09
    I would have let him stay in but we have 5 cats already. I am thinking I will not allow this to happen a fourth time, because if I see a half frozen torchy on my fire escape again, I will take more drastic actions.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 10
    TL;DR My neighbors let their cat out on our third floor balcony in dangerously cold weather and im planning to make sure it doesn't happen a fourth time byfinding kitty a foster family.
    via EvilBetty77

  • Let's put it like this: If you're a cat pawrent, you went through all the trouble of adopting a cat, raising them, sharing your space with them, but after that you just… sort of forget them outside? You're not in a position to be a cat pawrent. That's it. Period. You can't just let your cat roam in below-freezing temperatures. It's absurd. And definitely if you simply “forgot” to bring your cat back inside after you let them out. When you're cozy and warm between four walls, under a roof - don't you wonder where your cat is if you haven't seen them before you go to sleep in your fluffy blanket, protected from the cold? We know that we, as cat pawrents, always wonder where our cats are. It's a basic demand of someone who wants to raise a cat.

  • 11
    fire escape in new york
    via aitecheyedigital

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

  • 12
    solardune if this is a jump to conclusions. Is it possible that Torchy wanted to go out and was perfectly capable of returning home? Is there a cat flap? Open window? Do you know? I wouldn't go straight to stealing. Maybe the cat likes to wander. Talk to your neighbours first.
    via solardune
  • 13
    OP EvilBetty77 He is on the fire escape, so no cat flap involved. And I doubt peiole are leaving their windows open in single digit temperatures. He wasnt out there when I checked this morning. So he must have been let back inside. But he was trying to get into my apartment to keep warm so I dont think he could get back into his own.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 14
    cat napping on a heating radiator
    via VeraOsco

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

  • 15
    Wild_Course2034 Damn. Try talking to your neighbors first? Does the baby look neglected too or is it just that he was outside?
    via Wild_Course2034
  • 16
    We have a cat that is an epic escape artist and he'll often do it when the weather is quite terrible. We honestly do all we can but sometimes he just does his thing and I often think if someone saw him soaking wet and cold they'd also hate us. And I'm not home only 3 hours a day 4 times a week & we have 3 layers of kittyproofing on all doors and windows and he still manages to escape? I've now added cameras and we have a neighbor who will take him in if she finds him outside.
    via Wild_Course2034
  • 17
    All this to say, sometimes people do their best and cats still do stupid things. Talk to your neighbors or yeah
    via Wild_Course2034
  • 18
    OP EvilBetty77 He seems healthy, but that can change quick when youre on a metal balcony in o degree weather with no shelter.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 19
    Wild_Course2034 If he has the ability to go back inside through a window or a flap it might be a choice. Cats don't always act in their own best interests
    via Wild_Course2034
  • 20
    OP EvilBetty77 looks at her big fluffy idiot yeah that tracks. Im not sure if that was an option though. Im not great with heights, so I didnt go out on the escape to see if the window was open.
    via EvilBetty77
  • 21
    cat looking outside of the window, the view is snowy and wintery
    via Arpit Srivastavas

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

  • 22
    stevenr21 Talk to your neighbors first and let them know
    via stevenr21
  • 23
    Ambitious_Dragon_13 our cat escaped through the front door and was outside for a month in temps between 5-20 F. yes, super cold, and ideally we would have had home inside where he was warm with us, but he was fine when we finally found him and got him home. eventually that same cat totally left (lol, we tried hard to keep him inside, but he was an outdoor cat at heart,
    via Ambitious_Dragon_13
  • 24
    he escaped several more times and became more and more difficult to bring back inside) and lived outside in the new england winters for many years. it is very lovely that you snuggled this little buddy, but if you kept this cat without checking in with your neighbors about the situation
    via Ambitious_Dragon_13
  • 25
    Madds 933 Instead of stealing the cat, why not approach Torchy owner and see what the situation is.
    via Madds933
  • 26
    They may overwhelmed, or just don't think cats need warmth. Some people assume since they have fur they'll always be warm. You're a kind person for helping Torchy.
    via Madds933

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Tags

cat neighbors kindness cold foster cold weather new york winter Bad Neighbor Cats
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