Roommate Left Cat

[Pen'sMomma]

I hope that this is the right place to post about this.

My roommate went to rehab and left her cat and didn't plan for the care of her cat before leaving. There are other people who share the house with us but the care of her cat has fallen on me. I do not want to care for this cat nor do I have the time or money to. I do not know how long my roommate is away for and this isn't the first time she left her cat. But when she left before it was for a week and the cat had no food or litter and I had to provide it. This time around, the cat has food but no litter and isn't getting the attention it needs and is locked in her room all day. The cat has bitten me(to the point of breaking skin and bleeding) and another roommate in her owner's absence. No one was touching her. It was not due to overstimulation from touch. She literally just walked up to my one roommate and bit her.

I don't want to just take the cat to a shelter but I am not sure about what to do and it's been two weeks now. I haven't been able to find a fostering program that would take her and I am getting so frustrated that I have been sucked into this thing that has nothing to do with me. Any ideas before I have to take her to our local shelter?

 

[LTS3]

Can you get in touch with the roommate and / or his / her family? Maybe friends of the roommate? If you can, do so and ask how the cat should be taken care of and by whom until the roommate returns. I would not just take the cat to a shelter and then have to try to explain to the roommate later where the cat went and why.

Are you or another roommate at least checking in on the cat every day and making sure that the cat has food and water and a clean litter box? Can you go to the store and buy more litter?

 

[loveskitty]

the cat sounds desperate and the bit is a cry for help. I would get the cat to a shelter and explain the situation and when the roommate gets back ( if she ever does) point the way to the shelter.
but until then do what you can the cat isn't to blame.

 

[loveskitty]

the cat sounds desperate and the bit is a cry for help. I would get the cat to a shelter and explain the situation and when the roommate gets back ( if she ever does) point the way to the shelter.
but until then do what you can the cat isn't to blame.

I realize my advice is different from the mods. But I have been a roommate and if there are stains and animal damages like smell and scratched paint and problems in the carpet then all roommates lose their security deposit.
Animals don't go on auto pilot.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

LTS3
I don't have any of that information so cannot reach out to her friend's or family. I feel like she left knowing that we wouldn't just let her cat starve to death so then she's getting free pet care and is taking advantage of me. I tried calling her again today and have talked to some folks who have fostering programs and the issue has been that I am not the owner which is making the only option to take her to the shelter.

I am still waiting on one place to call me back but I cannot be in this situation where I am sucked into her issues and the cat can't be isolated like this. The cat gets fed and has water but is not getting the attention or care it needs because we don't want to enable the other roommate and I refuse to be in some codependent thing with her where I am caring for her cat a second time and pretending it is fine. And then the other three roommates don't care so they aren't involved. At this point, I feel like the shelter is better than that room plus I won't continue caring for the cat and the only person caring for her doesn't do so regularly enough.

 

[loveskitty]

you are o.k. to stand on your rights and very humane to care. users know how to manipulate people. Do your best to place her and hold a roommates MTG to put on record that without support you are not mandated to take care of this animal. I feel bad for kitty but keebles coat money.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

She attacked me again today. I brought her a toy from my room and threw it and was talking to her to get her to play and instead of chasing the toy she tore at my legs and dashed under the bed. I might have found someone to take her into their home but I am afraid to tell them about the aggression...

 

[amethyst]

Honestly, since you have no way of contacting the owner's family or friends and the owner has basically just left it, I would treat it as an abandoned cat. You have no legal obligation to care for this other person's cat, and depending on where you live, she could actually face charges of animal neglect if you report it. I don't know where you live, but in most places it's illegal to just abandon an animal.

 

[LTS3]

The cat may only be aggressive because her owner isn't around and she's scared of you and your roommates. When the roommate was around, was the cat ever let out of the room? What about your own cats? Do they seem interested in the cat by sniffing under the door? Cats are pretty territorial and may be aggressive towards other cats and people who smell like other cats.

Is your roommate expected to return home after rehab? If she is, how would you explain to her that you took her cat to a shelter where it may have been adopted out or euthanized? Are you willing to put up with possible hostility when you tell her where her cat is?

I'd still try to get in contact with the roommate. Call the rehab place and ask to speak with her or ask them to have the roommate or her family get in contact with you regarding the cat. What about rent? Who's paying for the roommate's half of the rent while she's away at rehab?

 

[Pen'sMomma]

The cat may only be aggressive because her owner isn't around and she's scared of you and your roommates. When the roommate was around, was the cat ever let out of the room? What about your own cats? Do they seem interested in the cat by sniffing under the door? Cats are pretty territorial and may be aggressive towards other cats and people who smell like other cats.

Is your roommate expected to return home after rehab? If she is, how would you explain to her that you took her cat to a shelter where it may have been adopted out or euthanized? Are you willing to put up with possible hostility when you tell her where her cat is?

I'd still try to get in contact with the roommate. Call the rehab place and ask to speak with her or ask them to have the roommate or her family get in contact with you regarding the cat. What about rent? Who's paying for the roommate's half of the rent while she's away at rehab?

I do not have any information about her or the facility. But honestly, she should feel bad about leaving her cat. She abandoned this animal and it is being neglected and I'm supposed to feel sad for her? I don't even know how long she was locked in the room before the first day that I went in there. So her cat could have died. Besides that, her cat is not my responsibility. I am not the cat's owner and no shelter will take her because I am not the owner so I've been told to call animal control.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

The cat may only be aggressive because her owner isn't around and she's scared of you and your roommates. When the roommate was around, was the cat ever let out of the room?

The aggression is new; this isn't the first time we have interacted with the cat. She's not afraid of us and she scared my cat away a week ago so now my cat doesn't go downstairs anymore. Prior to this the cat always stayed in the bedroom.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

Honestly, since you have no way of contacting the owner's family or friends and the owner has basically just left it, I would treat it as an abandoned cat. You have no legal obligation to care for this other person's cat, and depending on where you live, she could actually face charges of animal neglect if you report it. I don't know where you live, but in most places it's illegal to just abandon an animal.

This is what the shelter told me. They said that I can't surrender her but the landlord would need to call animal control and report it. Even the manager at the shelter was like " you can't just take care of it?" As if that's my job and I should agree to indefinitely care for this animal. I'm going on a trip in two weeks and I've secured care for my animal ahead of time. She has been talking about rehab for a month so she knew for an entire month that she may be leaving but didn't make plans for her pet. That's not my problem and it's extremely unhealthy for me to make it my problem. But people trying to guilt me into remaining in this situation is making everything worse. I helped her one time already when she did this. That was enough... Sorry for the rant I'm just so frustrated.

 

[catsknowme]

no....it is not your responsibility. I was touched that you went and bought that poor kitty a toy, even though she went on the attack. It sounds like both you and she are sensing the betrayal and manipulation of the owner. Broken people do that - they leave chaos in their wake. And it may well be that AC will come get the cat & destroy her - she probably senses Doom approaching and is in fight-or-flight mode. Her tragic situation is every cat foster's nightmare which is why we ask that cats be returned.
On the other hand, at least she won't be put out on the streets, searching constantly for safety & being chased off by ferals (who are only defending their pitiful food sources), hoping to be found by a loving rescuer and not by mean people, and risking injury or illness without access to vet care.
What is especially frustrating is your roommates' lack of sympathy for you as well as the cat....very callous and empty-hearted of them. Cats sense resentment and anger so that explains her biting. Life has dealt her a cruel hand; I was hoping that a rescue group would take her in for you but whole communities of people like to foist all the unwanted cats onto the few good people who will care so all rescues are constantly full.
Please keep us updated on how things are going! We are here to support you no matter what you decide.

 

[Kflowers]

Not a lawyer, but some places consider anyone who takes care of an abandoned animal the animal's owner. (I think PA and Mass, but could be wrong.) This is important if you want to be able to tell the shelter you are her owner, so you can give her to them. You will need to check the laws in your state, county, city and see where you stand.

 

[BlueJay]

Since it sounds like you have to contact the landlord about animal control anyway, could you ask the landlord if they have any contact information for your roommate's family? Like an emergency contact or something?

Also, if it has happened before, it will likely happen again, maybe when the roommate is living alone or with roommates that will do nothing to help the cat. It might starve to death or get sick. I think it would be more humane to call animal control, even if it is euthanized, that is likely to be better than what will happen to her if your roommate abandons her again.

Have you tried leaving a message with your roommate? Letting her know that you will be calling animal control in x days might prompt her to respond.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

Thanks for your responses and questions. I just wanted to give an update about the situation. My landlord is now aware of the situation and has total care of the cat. she has said she may contact animal control but hasn't yet. I'm hoping my roommate reaches out to let us know that she is coming back or when she is coming back because no one wants to call animal control or take her to a shelter. I feel better now that this responsibility isn't weighing on me and with distance from the situation I can see it a bit differently; I feel bad for the cat and my roommate. I think that what she did was wrong but I feel less bitter now that I am not caring for the cat.

The last time I saw the cat she being less social and she completely destroyed the toy I got her(I don't know if it was from aggression or boredom) and I don't know if she has been aggressive towards the landlord. I haven't seen her outside of the bedroom and haven't seen her since my landlord began to care for her.

A place that rehomes cats that I contacted a couple weeks back reached out a few days ago and if my roommate decides she doesn't want the cat or isn't coming back I will pass the info along to my landlord.

 

[Pen'sMomma]

Not a lawyer, but some places consider anyone who takes care of an abandoned animal the animal's owner. (I think PA and Mass, but could be wrong.) This is important if you want to be able to tell the shelter you are her owner, so you can give her to them. You will need to check the laws in your state, county, city and see where you stand.

Everyone I spoke to needed proof that she was mine and proof that she had vaccinations. At this point, though, it is in my landlord's hands.

 

[Kflowers]

I'm sorry they are making it so hard for you and the cat. Neither of you deserved this roommate.

 

[Diana Faye]

It doesn't sound like the cat got proper care when the roommate was around, and is seriously taking advantage that others will pick up her slack.

Maybe others can chime in as to whether or not my idea is bad or not, but if I were in your shoes (and unable to take over myself), I'd probably find a place that could care for it and lie to the roommate that it got out.

That's just me- I have no sympathy for someone who chooses to have an animal and doesn't bother to care for it. She might just run out and get another one, but maybe she won't be as trusting to leave it in the care of other people. And I would sleep like an angel knowing the cat had a safe and happy environment.

 

[inkysmom]

I realize it's easy to judge from a computer screen but your roommate shouldn't have any animals of she's going to treat them like this poor cat.
If I'm going away or have a medical issue and need to have surgery I spend weeks and months in advance making plans for who will care for each of my animals. I have a first choice plan and a backup plan in case the original plan falls through for some reason. Everybody would have my family and best friends phone nynumbe on ccase of emergency. That's three extra people who if I was unreachable would have the ability to either make phone calls to get my pets into emergency foster care or have the means to take them in themselves, at least temporarily. That's on top of my first and second choice plans.
I can't even fathom just disappearing for an unknown amount of time with no one caring for my cat left locked alone in a room, twice. With no emergency phone numbers or bothering to call anyone.
Of it's a rehab for substance abuse there are strict rules about no phone calls, but if you tell them your animal is locked alone on a room with no one to feed or care for it, most staff will allow supervised phone calls to avoid animal cruelty charges.
It's good that you called the landlord. The landlord can call the next of kin emergency number who hopefully knows where the roommate is and can get a message to her.
The roommate should not have this poor cat anymore nor any animal. She should focus on her own recovery and learning to be a responsible adult. I would ask her for financial reimbursement for all the supplies you provided caring for the poor cat. I hope the poor cat finds a good loving home, either with family or with a rescue.
If I was abandoned in a room all day and abandoned, I'd start biting too. She sounds like she was trying to get attention and was scared. Hopefully she won't be truly aggressive in a loving consistent home.