Is there a law about taking in someone elses cat repeatedly when the owner says not to?

Question

I own a cat and the people up the street from me let her in and feed her after repeated stern warnings. We are now considering police involvement. They call us all the time to tell us she is on their porch even if we just barely let her out cuz we allow her to go out. We have told them at least a hundred times. They don't listen. And lately they have let her in and called me to go and get her. They had me enter their house to get her. I am so upset. My cat is 8 years old. I don't know how much longer she has. They created this problem by letting her in a couple of years ago. If anyone knows please tell me.

my cat has been going outside for years. she lets herself out from under our house she is litterboxed trained but prefers to go outside. the people say we should keep her in cuz they say Oh it is cold. when it is 50 degrees tops. i meant in the law book involving police like what would they do if i called them about this? Cats have, in my neighborhood free reign. well almost. they threatened one of my family members with police cuz the cat was killing WILD birds in their yard. Thank you.

they are the ones that complain and want the cat in at ALL times. thank you.

My Cat Has A Collar.

Answer 1

Hi there...in all honesty, it's best to contact your local animal control office to learn how the law best protects you, your cat and what offences may have been committed either against the other party or yourself. Most animal control agencies have laws stating that all animals must be controlled by either keeping them indoors or leashed when outdoors. Failing to do will result in fines and/or confiscation of the pets. This law varies from each municipality and it's difficult to know without knowing where you reside.

Here's an animal law database where you can do a search for animal laws and your rights: http://www.animallaw.com/LawSearch.cfm

Answer 2

I own two cats. I'd never let them run the neighborhood. Regardless, if these people don't want your cat in their house they have to be the ones not to let her in. Tell them to throw her out of the house when they call you. Also, they might just call animal control who would get her and then contact you, assuming your cat still has her tags on.

At 8 years of age, vets would consider your cat "old" although most cats live past 15 years so she's just barely hitting middle age. Even if the "unwritten" rules of your neighborhood are to let all cats run endlessly, that doesn't matter. What a judge and animal control looks at is what is on the books and you are bound by that, not by what you think your cat should be able to do.

If you have a yard have you considered building a "run" for her to play in? That is like a cage outdoors where the floor of it is grass and the rest of it would be chain link and would give her room to be outside, smell and browse, but not go too far.

Answer 3

Cats are odd regarding the law. You cannot truly own a cat. Yet you can own a cat. It's a weird law because of understanding a cat's nature to not be "owned".
Next you have leash laws. You may be found in violation of those laws. I am not sure how it pertains to a cat, but other animals are to be on a leash or otherwise restrained in public. Even bears, which are much stronger than the handler, are on leashes. You might try diplomacy. Try a third party mediator. Otherwise, keep the cat inside. It is your cut, but it isn't. Again, it's a weird law. If the cat so chooses, then you will no longer be the owner.

Answer 4

Au contrair! You are the one who created the problem by letting your cat roam around the neighbourhood. I think calling the police is a good idea. They will probably give you a fine for neglecting the cat. Once it is outside your door, it is considered a stray so don't be surprised if she just disappears one day. If she isn't adopted by your neighbours or someone else, she will be hit by a car. Either way you certainly do not care about this animal enough to look after it properly so maybe you should just let your neighbours keep it.

Answer 5

Police involvement will not help. There are no laws that can help you here. Perhaps when your owners let the cat in they thought it was a stray. Anyway where an animal recieves food, it will go there repeatedly. Ask your neighbors if they can restrain from leaving food outside, eventually your cat will realize there is no food there! Also always make sure your cat has fresh food.

Answer 6

Just don't let your cat go out. Your cat seems to like the attention it gets from the other people who feed her and let her in. You've already told them you don't want the cat in their house but they're not listening, just keep your cat indoors for now. Bringing in the police is just a bit too extreme, for something like this that can easily be solved another way.

Answer 7

on account that animals are technically sources is is legally stealing. whether, a cat isn't a chair or something inanimate, this is a residing, respiratory creature with desires and emotions. whether this is definitely being mistreated (this would desire to actual be validated previous the shadow of a doubt), then i could have no undertaking taking the animal. It does not additionally be a query if this replaced into somebody's youngster, and the neighbor could be counseled as a hero for stepping in. this would desire to be the comparable if the youngster is a cat. whether in case you're worrying approximately criminal worry, tell your buddy to shelter kitty on the sly, and phone animal administration or the SPCA or Humane Society, etc., and enable them to appreciate what's happening.

Answer 8

you seem to have a delema.
you also want it both ways. if your cat is in danger or is not being left alone perhaps you should keep the cat in the house or only let the cat out when you know you will not be getting problems with the neighbors.
the police will just say keep the cat in and i agree.

Answer 9

i take it your cat has a collar with a phone number tag on it... good idea.

i'd write your neighbors a formal letter stating that you want them to leave your cat alone. use a bunch of legalese speak to make it sound official, and give them a signed copy (make sure it says that it's a copy, so that they know that YOU have a copy of the letter, too). if you know any attorneys, have them help you write it so that you don't sound threatening or angry.

as for whether it's legal or not, i don't know... you might want to call a law office and ask them. look in your Yellow Pages... a lot of offices offer a free consultation over the phone. good luck, and be glad that your kitty didn't fall into worse hands. ;)

Answer 10

You will have to stop letting your cat out and keep it indoors at all times.

Your neighbors can actually cause you more problems with the police than you can cause them.