Neighbors Cat

[Cheffy817]

So my neighbor rescued a young female cat from a barn. She is not fixed. So she went into heat and they put her outside. She got pregnant, and they would only put out small bowls of food. So I started to feed her and take care of her. She was infested with fleas so I treated her for that. They did not make any attempt to bring her in. She would scratch at my door at night and come in with my other 2 cats. She had her kittens in my house. They never asked if she had kittens, never tried to get her in the house. She would lay in my yard all day and still no attempt to bring her in. Now they know she had kittens and they want to bring the kittens in their home to get the scent in the home to get Mama back in their house. The kittens are 7 weeks old. So after all this time she said the kittens came out of her cat, they are hers. I have been taking care of the Mama,and the kittens. Believe me it's not cheap. I don't know what my legal rights are if any. Please help.

 

[KatKnapper]

Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Well I don't know if that is true...but try and take away from me the cats and kitten I rescued that were abandoned or unclaimed and I will see said person in court.

Frankly in your situation, I don't think they care about the mommy. They want the kittens...and probably for the $$ they think they can get by selling them. Hey, if you're going to throw dollar bills out your door into the wind and they blow down the street or into a neighbor's yard, do you think you could go and claim them back?

I best get to the point before you get a novel. Get both mommy and the kittens (when there of the minimum age) spayed and neutered yourself or get an adoption/rescue place to accept them, and they will have them all fixed, immunized and re-homed.

In my opinion they gave up their legal ownership when they kicked the little girl to the curb. Proof of this is in the time that passed before they came looking for her. To kick the female out and allowing time to pass to point that she not only gets pregnant, but has a litter of seven weeks old? Thats abandonment in my book.

 

[JessixaLuci]

seems like the neighbor abandoned the cat, if it was taken to court you would most likely win because firstly, they didn't get her fixed, secondly didn't feed her the right amount of food, thirdly, made no move to take her back and look after her, looks like the neighbor just wants to kittens back to sell them for money.

 

[Kieka]

I know in my area possession of an animal is based on who pays for food and medical expenses. So get receipts and get her to a vet and she should be legally yours (assuming the neighbor didn't already take her to a vet or get a microchip). Best idea is call a local rescue and ask them because they would be aware of the local laws.

By the way, the logic of bring in kittens to bring in mom is flawed. But that is a whole other issue.

 

[Cheffy817]

seems like the neighbor abandoned the cat, if it was taken to court you would most likely win because firstly, they didn't get her fixed, secondly didn't feed her the right amount of food, thirdly, made no move to take her back and look after her, looks like the neighbor just wants to kittens back to sell them for money.

Thank you

 

[Elfilou]

Don't give them the kittens. It's unsafe IMO and there is no guarantee that she will accept that and stay there; cats go and stay where they feel safe and where they receive love, food and attention.

My advice is to contact a local shelter and ask them what your options are. You don't have to surrender the cats if you don't want to, but it's most likely that they will be the "vulnerable cat advocate" (so to speak) that you need behind you if this escalates. They can give you advice, vouch for you to authorities as someone who was responsible enough to contact them, and who knows what more they can do for you.

Get all of them neutered please, and thank you for taking care of kittens and momma to the best of your abilities. It's more than most would do.

 

[Norachan]

If she had kittens 7 weeks ago she will need to be spayed now. She'll go into heat and get pregnant again very soon. I suggest you try to get her spayed this week and ask the vet to chip her and register her as your cat.

They will have a really hard time trying to prove she was there cat first of all. As far as you are concerned you took in a stray, fed her, took care of her kittens and then did the responsible thing by having her fixed and chipped.

I don't think they really care about the cats. They just want to try and sell the kittens. (They have no idea how hard that will be, people have trouble giving them away.) I doubt they'll take the matter any further if you have proof that you've paid vet bills for this cat.

 

[Cheffy817]

Just got home to a note in my mailbox from police department about the cat "situation"
Really? They still have made no attempt to make it right. She screams through the walls, they came out of my cat they're mine. "I'm gonna get what's mine."
So now it just escalated.
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Gather all of your documentation on any and everything you have spent. Call and find out local laws about animal mistreatment and abandonment. If the situation meets that requirement, send the woman a letter via certified mail stating that you have spent X amount on the animals in question, and will be happy to answer her in court, should she choose to do so. BE SURE TO GET RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. Also report to the proper authority (animal control not regular police department) that the cat was essentially abandoned. Detail everything you told us here.

And above all, KEEP US POSTED! I'm worried that she is escalating like this. She sounds a bit unbalanced.

 

[Kieka]

The cops (at least in my area) wouldn't send a letter or waste time on cat ownership issue. They'd either send an officer to knock on the door, tell the person to call animal control, tell to person to file a theft report (because animals are property) or tell the person to file a civil case. I'd personally contact the police department and ask for the person whose name is on the letter to find out if it is a real person. If it is a real person what is the legal standing for the letter being sent by them. My feeling is maybe the woman contacted a friend to send a letter to scare you (only because I know someone who did that, where it wasn't a matter for police but they sent a fake police letter or paying a lawyer for a demand letter hoping it will scare someone into doing what you want).

I restate that you need to gather whatever proof you have of monies spent and talk to your local animal control about legalities in your area.

 

[Cheffy817]

Gather all of your documentation on any and everything you have spent. Call and find out local laws about animal mistreatment and abandonment. If the situation meets that requirement, send the woman a letter via certified mail stating that you have spent X amount on the animals in question, and will be happy to answer her in court, should she choose to do so. BE SURE TO GET RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. Also report to the proper authority (animal control not regular police department) that the cat was essentially abandoned. Detail everything you told us here.

And above all, KEEP US POSTED! I'm worried that she is escalating like this. She sounds a bit unbalanced.

 

[Cheffy817]

Thank you for the quick response. I will be calling the humane society tomorrow.
She is a little unbalanced (or maybe alot)

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Keep us posted. Thinking back, this isn't our first rodeo with a situation like this. Nor the second, I'm sad to say. People don't care for their animals, then get snarky when someone DOES. Beats me.

 

[daisyd]

I agree with with others - she just wants the kittens to sell , she doesn’t even want the poor muma cat by the sounds of it as she keeps on about the kittens only ! I wouldn’t think police would get involved! If she hasn’t had the cat microchiped then how would they know she’s hers ! Some people are sick ! Best of luck x

 

[tinydestroyer]

I agree that it seems unlikely that the police would send you a letter. Unless, that is, they are trying to give you a heads up by giving you advance notice to get your paperwork and proof in order. Who could blame them after meeting your crazy neighbor? Side note: the only time I've ever heard "I'm going to get what's mine" is a) in movies and b) related to money, not cats. Likely she sees the kittens as a quick buck.
Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[Cheffy817]

Well the police officer isn't in again until Sunday. But I was told she said she was selling them by another officer. So I guess we'll see what happens this afternoon.

 

[Cheffy817]

 

[Cheffy817]

This is the lid that she used to put food in

 

[talkingpeanut]

Can you get the cats microchipped in your name? She won’t have any evidence that they are hers if you have all vet records and registration.

 

[Cheffy817]

Well everyone, the police just called me. Asked a few questions, so I told him the TRUE story. I guess she told them that Mama was indoor/outdoor cat and she just had kittens. I had to explain that I have been taking care of her for at least 7-8 months. And the kittens are 8 weeks old Wednesday. He was kinda shocked. I told him I have receipts from all the food i have been buying. She told him that I was the one that wanted to sell them. IMAGINE THAT!
Well needless to say he told me that Mama and kittens are mine.
I just want to thank everyone for all of the advice and support.
You guys are great.