Person rescues injured 6-month-old kitten, two years later, someone claiming the cat is theirs demands it back, the cat owner finds a lawyer, finds out the whole thing was a scam for money, and now, 'My cat now has a no contact order'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Apr 1, 2026 7:00 AM EDT

For over two years after rescuing this 6-month-old cat, everything was fine. And then, someone showed up and claimed that the cat is theirs. Everything about the situation was suspicious and a little scary, and apparently, there was a reason for it, because the whole thing was apparently a scam for money. 

When you rescue a stray cat, adopt it, care for it, bond with it, one of your worst dreams is someone showing up and claiming that the cat is theirs. Of course, you do your due diligence. You post 'lost cat' posters, you make posts online, you look for the owners before getting too attached. And you return the cat to their owners because it's the right thing to do, no matter how difficult it is. 

But you should not always give the cat back. If the cat was abandoned outside and required care, there was a reason for that. There was a story there. Sometimes, it really is an accident, and the owners looking for their cats are the happiest people in the world to get their cats back. Other times, something fishy might be going on, and you, as the new protector of this cat, have to do your due diligence in the other direction as well and make sure that the person you're giving the cat to is the right person. 

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for refusing to return a lost pet?"

    Cheezburger Image 10619703296
    via imgur
  • 02
    So over two years ago a cat appeared in my yard. He was skinny, skittish, unneutered, and had a serious abscess on his rump, likely from a cat bite wound. I took him to the vet that night and had him treated. The vet estimated he was about six months old.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 03
    I called the local county shelters to file a found cat report. I also posted on Craigslist, posted his info at local vet offices, and kept an eye out for flyers. He was scanned for a microchip and didn't have one.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 04
    At that point I didn't intend on keeping him and planned to find him a home when he was healthy. After his abscess healed he was still limping and we discovered his hind leg had been fractured and healed poorly. I spent several thousand to fix it and he just sort of slipped into the family.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 05
    To recap...I found a sick cat and spent a good chunk to get him healthy. The cat had no id and no one responded to my efforts to find the owner. I've now had the cat for almost two and a half years.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 06
    Recently someone contacted me on social media claiming to be the cat's original owner. The cat has distinctive markings and he has pictures to back this up. They allowed the cat to free roam and assumed he had been k led when he failed to return home one night. The owner's daughter was very upset by the loss. He wanted the cat back.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 07
    I refused on the basis that I've now had the cat longer then the original owner did, and his lack of responsibility in searching for the cat or providing a form of id. I feel I did my due diligence and I'm now very attached to the kitty in question. I also worry about his future if I did return him.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 08
    I've been told by the owner and some of his friends that I'm a giant a hle for disappointing the daughter and stealing the cat. I think they're the a_h_le for writing their cat off as de d without a search and expecting me to give him up after having him for two years ??
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 09

    "Had my cat for 3 years, stranger now claiming he lost cat as a kitten and is threatening to sue for return"

    Cheezburger Image 10619703040
    via imgur
  • 10
    Over two years ago a stray cat wandered into my yard. He had no tags and no microchip, and had multiple infected bite wounds. He was also unneutered. I had his wounds treated and made a good faith effort to find the owner. This included posting flyers, giving a description and contact info to the local vet offices and shelters, and posting to the community Facebook page and places like Craigs list and the forum for the local paper. No one came forward.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 11
    After his initial wounds healed we discovered his hind leg had been broken and had healed wrong. He needed a major operation to fix it and was neutered at the same time. Though I had originally planned to find him a new home...well, after months of physical therapy and bonding he wasn't going anywhere.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 12
    Fast forward to a few months ago. Someone contacted me on social media claiming to be the cat's original owner. The cat has a distinctive marking and he does have photos that appear to be the same cat as a kitten.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 13
    He claimed that they allowed the cat outside and one night he didn't return. They assumed he was de d and per the man himself made no effort to find him. The cat was less then six months old when he disappeared and less then a year when I found him. The man claimed his daughter was devastated and wants the cat returned.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 14
    I did not confirm the cat was the same animal (since I can't know for sure), but I did say if it was the same cat I've now have him for longer then the original potiential owner (6 months vs. Almost 3 years). Due to this and the fact that he had no tag or chip and the owner never searched for him, I don't feel I have to return him.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 15
    I have not contacted the man since, but he continues to message me at least once a week and is now threatening to take me to court. (I have not replied.)
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 16
    Is this something I need to worry about? Should I look into getting a lawyer? If he did try to sue for cat custody would he have a case? Considering the time line, it's likely the cat's leg was broken while in the care of the owner and my vet is willing to testify to that. Would that increase the likelihood I would win if he tried to sue?
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 17
    I'm really not willing to give up this cat. I've paid over 5,000 getting him healthy, but more important then the money is the simple fact that I love the furry little j . I don't want him going back to a home that neglected him and let him roam without even the most basic care.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 18
    I don't believe the man knows where I live...my social medial was pretty locked down as far as personal info in the first place. I don't actually know how he found me though, and that makes me nervous. If he continues contacting me is there anything I can do legally to to discourage that?
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 19

    "I 'stole' an abandoned cat; situation has escalated and person knows my address"

    Picture of a cute calico cat.
    via Unsplash / Linda Gerbec - lsgerbec

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

    cute crows hanging around in nature

    Picture of a cute calico cat.

  • 20
    Recap: years ago I rescued an injured stray cat. The cat had no id or chip and I made a good faith effort to locate the owner. I ended up fostering and eventually adopting the cat and spent a good bit of money to repair his broken leg.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 21
    Earlier this year I started getting messages on social media from someone claiming to be the cat's original owner. They admitted they never searched for the cat after he disappeared, but did have pictures of a kitten with the same distinctive markings. They wanted the cat returned. I refused because they
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 22
    didnt have firm proof it was the same animal, I've now had the cat substantially longer then. they supposedly did (six months vs 3 years), and the cat's injuries would have occurred while under their care if they did indeed originally own him. On advice from the good people here I blocked further messages.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 23
    Yesterday I got a letter in the mail demanding return of the cat. Previously they were only contacting me on social media, which did not have my home address or any identifying information.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 24
    I don't know how they found out where I live but I'm now very worried they might try to steal the cat. I have home security and the cat is indoor only and chipped. I'd like to think the guy wouldn't be dumb enough to break and enter, but clearly he isn't firing on all cylinders to begin with.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 25
    Should I file a police report? Can I even do that if they haven't broken any laws? The letter didn't contain any specific threats, just demands. Is there anything I can do legally to discourage further contact? Could a lawyer do something like a cease and desist letter?
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 26
    I have no idea why this dude wants the cat he wrote off as de d years ago back so din badly but kitty is happy and healthy and sassy and not going anywhere. I don't want to spend my life afraid to run out to the store though, so any advice would be much appreciated.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 27

    "LA was right...it was a cat scam (update to pet theft accusations)"

    Picture of a cute calico cat.
    via Unsplash / Juan Pablo Jou-Valencia - jjouvalencia

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

    cute crows hanging around in nature

    Picture of a cute calico cat.

  • As if you haven't gone through enough with this cat. Honestly, we love that you stood up for yourself so quickly and so fiercely. We don't know what would have been our immediate reaction had we gotten a call with someone claiming that our rescued cat was theirs, especially if they had pictures. We would like to believe that we would have responded like you, but we don't know. And then on top of all of that, to be so afraid - for yourself and for your cat - to worry constantly, only to find out the whole thing was a scam for money? We don't know if we would have been furious or crying furiously over all the stress we had to go through. Good on you for keeping your head on your shoulders the whole time. And shame on the scammers. 

  • 28
    Recap. Years ago I took in an injured kitten. Earlier this year I was connected on social media by someone claiming to be the original owner. They demanded return of the kitty and I ignored them. They then escalated to sending letters to my home.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 29
    Some LA posters thought it might have been a scam. I was sceptical because they hadn't asked for money even after things had dragged on for a while. Well, I guess they were playing the long con because I just got my first letter suggesting a few hundred dollars might just assist the "owner" to move on from their loss.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 30
    As a bonus, it was sent on letterhead from a nonexistent lawyer's office. If I don't pay the cat fee they plan to sue. My favorite part is that they don't specify for what, exactly. They're just going to sue. You know, like lawyers do.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 31
    I'm still kinda worried they might try to steal kitty and demand a ransom (kitty is indoor only, chipped, and rarely left alone...on days I do have to work in office I've been taking him in with me.) But yeah, I'm thinking this is one of the weirder catfishing schemes on record.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 32
    I tried to tell kitty about his custody dispute, but he just yawned in my face and joined his big brothers for a celebratory afternoon nap. Though he did hack up a hairball on my pillow yesterday...paying someone else to take him is starting to look pretty tempting.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 33

    "(Update) The exceptionally stupid ending to the cat scam saga-cat now has a no contact order"

    You all thought it over. So did I. But no! Turns out this story really could get weirder
    via Pettheftthrow

  • All through it all, all the stress you went through, all the worrying, the most important thing was still exactly as it should be. And that is that your cat was home, safe, with you, unaware of any of it. He doesn't know that you might have saved his life through this thing. And it's a good thing that he doesn't. You're a great cat mom. 

  • 34
    Recap- years ago I took in an injured stray cat. The cat was did not have a collar or chip. A good faith attempt was made to locate possible owners. After owning the cat for several years I began receiving messages on social media from someone claiming to be the original owner. They demanded I return the cat and I refused and blocked them.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 35
    Eventually they escalated to sending letters to my home on letterhead from a nonexistent lawyer's office. The letters demanded I pay hundreds for the privilege of keeping the cat or they would sue (for what exactly was unspecified.) At this point it was clear this was a scam, albeit a bizarre one.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 36
    Someone on the bola thread suggested reporting the letters to the local bar association. I ignored the first two but when they kept arriving I went ahead and did so. I assume the bar association took some kind of action because the next letter I received was basically the scammer raging 'how dare you'. This was the first letter that contained an actual threat against my safety.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 37
    So, to cut this already way too long story short, I filed a police. report. After some additional letters my cat now has a no contact order. Okay, okay, it's in my name, but we all know it's really for the cat.
    via Pettheftthrow
  • 38
    I will say the threats were of the more creative, less actionable sort, but I'm hopeful this will truly put an end to it. This is honestly the single dumbest thing I've ever gone through. My cat continues not to care.
    via Pettheftthrow

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