A neighbour asked me for 5 weeks this summer and a week recently to take care of her old cat while she had to be away from home.. The cat was sick and I cured him. Once the cat felt better it somehow escaped from my home and the person who found him and called to return him found out he was somebody elses cat who had already reclaimed him but my neibour had refused to give him back. The cat seems to long to go outside, scratches often the door he was used to have a garden with his old owner and spend time outside. On the other hand my neighbour keeps him all the time inside . To whom should I give the cat back? Its original owner for 15 years or my neighbor?( the original owner knows I have him and wants him back). Thank you.
2006-10-11 14:22:20 · 14 answers · asked by Tina 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
The original owner took a layer to get her cat back but my neighbour refuses to give it back.Right now my neighbour doesn't know the lady gave the cat back to me and asking me to give it back to the owner. If she knew I still have him she would hate me.I have been having sleepless nights for conscience problem!
2006-10-11 14:34:59 · update #1
give it back to it's original owner, think about it i would be in tears if i knew someone gave my cuty pie to some person that my cuty pie doesn't know and like! Plus the original owner has a certificate that says she or he owns the cat and that would be illegal to like steal a cat! so if you give the cat to some person who doesn't own it that would be like stealin.
2006-10-11 14:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by miajj16 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Tina...because cats are considered by the law as property the original owner has to produce some type of documentation (e.g. neuter certificate, vaccinations, medical, purchase papers that indicates something about the cat to verify him for those 15 years) which will prove he/she is the owner. Since he/she has a legal representative involved it would be best if you asked the original owner if you could speak with the attorney and ask what would be advised. I wouldn't do anything until after hearing from the attorney so that you yourself is not legally involved to be safe. It's a matter of 1st owner vs. 2nd owner words against one another which only the law can decide. But since the cat is staying with a neutral party (you) the attorney can best advise you what SHOULD be done even if it's not in the best interest of the cat rather the legal right to whoever can prove they are the owner.
2006-10-11 22:21:52 · answer #2 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The original owner, however, if you and the original owner could work a deal, perhaps have the sheriff accompany her to your house to collect the cat, your other neighbor couldn't be angry with you; if she wanted, she could pursue through the courts, but you'd be out of it.
If having the sheriff is too much. Have the real owner write you a demanding letter. Give the cat to her, and the letter to your neighbor who doesn't really own the cat. Either way, YOU are out of it, and stay clear of your neighbor; you've got a real nut case living there.
2006-10-11 21:30:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say let them duke it out over the cat...lol
seriously, I think that they are going to need to go to court about this or something.
Which one has the proof that the cat is legally theirs? Like Vets reciepts or pictures or something?
Sometimes a pet will be removed from one home because they are neglecting it and put into a shelter and adopted out...you need to check with the local shelter to make sure something like this has not happened because 15 years or not, if they were neglecting or abusing the kitty and it was removed then they do not need the kitty back....so please call the shelters and find out if this is what may have happened before any decisions are made.
Not saying that that is what happened though...
I just re read your posts and see you have added that the lady had a lawyer....If that is true then you need to see some documents about that as proof.
2006-10-11 21:38:07 · answer #4 · answered by lunarbuni 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boy that is hard.
I would say the original owner. But it might be better to get the neighbor and the original owner in the room together and see what the cat decides.
Good luck.
2006-10-11 21:28:13 · answer #5 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should give it back to the original owner. Animals know their human parents and will mourn for them. Have you ever heard of a cat or dog traveling hundreds of miles to get back "home"? They will, because they love their families. This cat can't speak in words, but does speak in actions. Only you can help this cat. It wants to go home.
2006-10-11 21:47:30 · answer #6 · answered by mom of 2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you should give it back to the original owner. But make sure you know for a fact they really owned the cat. And make sure they were good owners too... If they werent then check out your neighbor's story. If he keeps trying to run away maybe they were bad to him... Good Luck! ^_^
2006-10-11 21:27:09 · answer #7 · answered by b4by_1n_4_bl3ndr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When your neighbor gets home tell her of the problem and let them make the decision. Tell the neighbor how you feel. I feel the original owner should have their cat back.
2006-10-11 21:27:14 · answer #8 · answered by Teacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Without a doubt the original owner.
2006-10-11 21:25:48 · answer #9 · answered by tcmoosey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origonal owner for sure, the cat has been with that person for a lot longer, and I guess it is their cat anyway.
But you should still let the origonal and the current owner work it out.
2006-10-11 21:39:17 · answer #10 · answered by vice84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋