Neighbors let their cat roam unsupervised in below freezing temepratures, woman across the street deliberates if she should offer to buy her off: 'I just want what's best for her'

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jan 19, 2026 1:00 PM EST

Adopting a cat is not buying a doll - it's a life-long responsibility.

Some people really ahve a hard time grasping this concept, and we honestly don't understant why. It's not so hard to understand as it is hard to do - when you adopt a cat, it's not like you buy a new outfit, it's not like you purchase a new toy to play with. A cat is a living, breathing being. A cat is  creature with thoughts, feelings, and very high emotional intelligence. And they're meant to live with us, their care-takers, their hoomans. If you bring a cat home only to leave it our of your home in dangerous temperature drops… just don't get a cat.

This situation is really unthinkable for cat people, for feline lovers - but this exactly what one woman had to deal with. A "fancy" type of cat was raoming her street in this winter's weather - she assumed the cat was lost because of the circumstances, but she discovered the angering truth: the cat actually belongs to a neighbor across the street. The investigation into the situation made her seek advice with the online feline family and ask - should she offer to buy the cat from them, for her safety?

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  • 01
    BAMADI
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 02
    A year ago I found a ragdoll cat outside with no collar or ID, I took her in for the night assuming a ragdoll cat shouldn't be outside and she escaped so I could take her to the vet to check for a chip.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 03
    I live in a pretty dangerous part of town where ally cats are commonly found deceased or get stolen a lot and I didn't want someone's pet to get hurt.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 04
    She was chipped and the vet told me the owner said she's an outdoor cat and gets depressed being indoors.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 05
    I left it and assumed I'd woudlnt see her much. Turns out she's my across the street neighbours cat, and started coming by anytime I came home or she heard me outside.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 06
    She'd obtained a collar since her trip to the vet (covering so you can't see info) and I'd hangout with her outside and give her some pets (this cat is incredibly friendly and went belly up for me the night I took her in), she would come to me with burrs covering her fur and for the first little while I left it assuming the owners would cut it out but weeks would go by and the burr mats would get worse so I started cutting them out for her.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 07
    I would also bring a bowl of water out for her and she would chug that down.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 08
    Now it's winter time, temps can get to about -15c even dropping into -30s during a cold snap.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 09
    I live in a basement suit so my window is on the ground level, somehow from the first visit she had in my plc she learned this window was mine and will now show up outside of it and meow to get inside during cold temps.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10597666304
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508

  • This is such a heartbreaking sight, and we're sure every cat person would agree. Seeing a cat, any cat - belonging to someone or not - stuck outside when temperatures drop below the freezing mark, is like an impossible situation. As if you're looking at something supernatureal, that shouldn't exist. How is a situation in which a cat is stuck outside in these conditions even possible? Our brains cannot comprehand this. But knowing this cat actually belongs to someone who let that happen, who enabled this situation, makes this not only heartbreaking - but angering. It's hard for us to accept someone would knowingly let a cat, whom they are resposible for (for their safety, their health, their well-being), outside in these weather conditions, makes us angry.

    But at least we know that this meowgnificent cat gets to spend some time inside this kind neighbor's apartment - with a roof over her head, with the warmth of the house' heating, and the comfort of human affection. We low-key wish for her to just… stay there.

  • 11
    I've let her stay in my house a few times now when it's incredibly cold because it seems like she's desperate to get into somewhere warm.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 12
    Now obviously this means she's learned the window is a means of entry to my plc, and frequently comes over in search of water / warmth or grooming troubles.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 13
    She dosnt strike me as an outdoor cat as everytime she's with me she hates going outside and typically I will put her outside just for her to walk back around to meow at my window (there's also 4 ground level windows and she will go to everyone to check where I am I've seen her paw prints in the snow) I don't want to take someone's pet, especially one as affectionate as her but I've bonded with her as it seems I'm the only one paying attention to her needs as an outdoor cat (again this is a ragd
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 14
    I would love to adopt her but I don't know how to go about talking to the owners, any advice or insight would be appreciated.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 15
    I just want what's best for her, if that's with her family or me it dosnt matter I just want her to be somewhere loved and safe!
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 16
    Xanambien This is how I asked the in-laws for my wife's hand in marriage.
    via Xanambien
  • 17
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 This is frying me Im ooo
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 18
    Public_Job9786 I'm sorry, that's a really tough situation. If they seem reasonable, I suggest you ask them how they feel about her coming indoors, and explain she does seem to want to come inside your home and that you don't mind in the slightest. Let them know you're very thankful they are nice people who have even gone so far as to chip her. And you just want to let them know where she is encase they ever wonder. I do worry they would be spiteful and try to keep her away if you ask. But you kn
    via Public_Job9786
  • 19
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 Unfortunately I hardly know them at all but I was able to find them on Facebook based off their names I got from other neighbours. They don't have a single photo of her anywhere so idk how long they have had her but they are (just from their posts of Facebook) they are pretty.. let's say spicy individuals- so I'll have to tread with caution if I offer to buy/adopt her. And I'd rlly be willing to pay any price they'd ask lol
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 20
    Hairy-Violinist-7508 OP I would also like to add she is so friendly that I'm almost concerned someone WILL steal her lol. She's a gorgeous cat and does not run away when strangers come up to her, lets anyone pick her up and like I said will go on her back / belly for me. I care about her enough to know stealing her would be wrong but there's other ppl who would take her kindness as a sign they've been chosen by the CDS
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 21
    Edits for information: -The vet told me she was a ragdoll, she is not my cat so I can't know 100% but I've been treating her like that. -I have never fed her, only occasional treats for when I send her back outside I knew that feeding her could be a contributing factor so I never did that.
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 22
    -The owners are spicy, I know their Facebook and while I don't think they are bad people you can glean from their social media they woudint take kindly to someone "accusing them" of neglecting their cat (I would be gentle but yenno what I mean)
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 23
    -When I first met her she had a lot more matting and burrs. Since I know that's common for her and I see her At least daily I always check her out for and lumps and bumps so I tend to be the one grooming her. Im not sure how nice her coat would be without my interference
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 24
    howmanyis2manycats I don't know a ton about specialized breeds, but I believe that ragdoll type cats were literally bred for being docile, friendly, and sociable (take this with two cents and a grain of salt).
    via howmanyis2manycats
  • 25
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 This why they call them ragdolls, because they are so docile and submissive they arnt rlly mean to be outside or they could get themselves in trouble
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 26
    masteroftwigs So I had someone ask to take my cat. They texted me from my number on his tag asking if they could take him with them out of state. For context he is a very friendly cat who was indoor outdoor and had a track record of befriending neighbors. He also loved food,
    via masteroftwigs
  • 27
    so for some reason they decided to feed him which of course caused him to come by more and more. It really annoyed me because he was getting fat from the double meals and I didn't know who was feeding him but I knew someone in my neighborhood was. They told me they had an amazing bond with him and thought they would be better owners because he loved
    via masteroftwigs
  • 28
    spending time there. I was in college at the time but was a lurk and spent a ton of time at home so it wasn't like I wasn't there he just loves food. I had other neighbors feed him at other places I lived too but they didn't try to take him, its been a thing. Luckily I've lived rurally for the past 9 years and he's 12 now living his best life supplementing his diet with mice.
    via masteroftwigs
  • 29
    Not saying you're feeding this cat and they might not be giving it the proper care, who the hell lets a cat out in -15 degrees! Just wanted to share my story with a somewhat similar situation.
    via masteroftwigs
  • 30
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 I've purposely never fed her for this reason, I do give her water and she's had some occasional treats from me because when I took her in initially I had them for her. But Ive never give her meals Edit to say the treats I give her are actually to make her leave my house, she gets treats when she goes OUTSIDE LM 00
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 31
    blkstr52 Have you tried pspsps?
    via blkstr52
  • 32
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 I have.. this is how I ended up in this situation. I've pspsps'd myself into the cat distribution system
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 33
    Weezibel Completely unrelated to your question, and This is going to sound weird, but are they sure she's a ragdoll? She looks so much like a Siberian, which many people confuse with ragdolls. I'm a cat groomer, and have many ragdoll and Siberian clients, and personally love siberians more. But just something I thought looking at her. Like she looks exactly like a purebred Siberian. They are some of the most friendly kitties ever. Whether Siberian or ragdoll, I'd honestly just let her inside and
    via Weezibel
  • 34
    OP Hairy-Violinist-7508 Honestly the vet said she's a ragdoll but who knows what she could be. I know those two cats are very similar and friendly so it's possible she's a Siberian!
    via Hairy-Violinist-7508
  • 35
    QuantumEmmisary Make an offer to buy her? Tell them she keeps coming around, you've fallen in love with her, and you'd be interested in making her part of your home if they're willing to sell her.
    via QuantumEmmisary
  • 36
    hce692 You're a better person than me because I'd just open my door for her and then never open it again Ragdolls have 0 survival instincts
    via hce692

  • We definitely understand that comment - and honestly? We'd maybe do the same. This cat really needs help, which she's obviously not getting from her actual owners. You know what? She doesn't need “owners”, she needs human friends. And her current “owners” are clearly not her friends.

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cat neighbors adoption cat adoption cold weather feline winter Bad Neighbor Cats
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