Neighbor steals my cat, what do I do?

Question

To set up the scenario: A new neighbor moved in to her mothers house the next street over. My cat wanders outside and the woman saw her and took my cat as soon as she saw her. She made no attempt to find us. We were contacted as soon as we offered a reward on some signs. She has been taking her and locking her in their basement ever since- we only get her back when we interrogate her. She says she doesn't have her but when we threaten to call the police the cat miraculously turns up five minutes after we leave. I would call the police but by the time they got the warrent to search the house they will probably sneak her out the back door. What should we do??

1) It's an outdoor cat
2) Restraining her to the indoors would drive her mad
3) Putting a collar on an outdoor cat has the potential for strangulation

Answer 1

Im not sure what to do about the police, but to keep the cat away from them, or to keep them from taking it again, either keep it inside for a while or get a collar and tag for it. Sorry i cant be of help with the police situation.

Answer 2

Count your blessings up to this point. You are lucky that your cat is being taken in by a neighbor and not a "buncher" - what is a buncher? Someone who steals animals to sell them into medical research. A good book to read on this is Stolen for Profit. People prey on the wandering, the unattended, and the Free to a Good Home ads. If not a buncher, someone else could just decide they like your cat and drive off with it. The police will tire of this eventually and look at you as the owner of the cat - the question of the day is why is your cat out at all? You say it just wanders out. No earthly being just wanders through a closed door or window. Apparitions do that and your cat is not a ghost that I read of. Take proper steps to ensure the safety of your pet and again, count your blessings. Better to be in the neighbor's house than splattered across the road. Maybe the instances with the neighbor is someone trying to get your attention - wake up and smell the coffee. Today the neighbor's basement, tomorrow maybe you never see again.

Answer 3

Outdoor cats can adjust to indoors just fine. We've done it three times, they're all indoor cats now.

Short of having the cat on leash or building an outdoor pen, you're going to have this happen over and over with the neighbor and eventually if the lady gets ticked off enough she may hurt the cat.

You need to make up your mind about what to do and stick to it. Let her have the cat, keep it indoors, contain it in a safe spot, give it away. Pick one and follow through. The only thing you can affect is your own actions.

Answer 4

Microchip her firstly. Then go do a statement at the police about the happenings to date so there is a record. A little visit by them to her may be in order since she keeps doing it without explanation to you.

Now, hereine lies a problem, depending on the law in your area. You can't just let them roam where they want. And you're lucky she hasn't called Animal Control on you. If the animal is on her property, you're in the wrong. A collar with tag also makes your case stronger. As anyone can tell you, get a break-away clasp on the collar and you're fine, no possible strangulation.

Tell her you have rigged up a camera to catch her nabbing your cats, just "as proof for the next time" if you really really feel you have any case at all. Or say you'll call the cops to come out to you, then have family members stand with video cameras all around her (not on her property but like on the road, and on your property) so you can film her letting them out. Perhaps remind her theft of an animal is an offence.

Do yourself a favour and have her fixed if she is not already.
And I hate to say but you will have to keep her indoors until the woman gets the idea.

Answer 5

I'm not sure where you are located but here our local shelter and vets can put micro chips under the skin between the shoulder blades. For a small fee when the pet is lost they can find the pet through the micro chip. If the cat is found in the same location every time then I'm not sure but maybe you can press charges against her for stealing. Does the cat have identification tags? Tags can be taken off, the micro chip can't. Sorry that's the only thing I can think of that might help. Maybe a call to your vet or aspca could give you more legal sided help.

Answer 6

OK this is what u do let the cat out and get a video camera . and when she takes it make sure u put it in the house that it can record everything and go over and say "i see u have my cat there " and be very nice about every thing. and when u get ur cat back run back to ur house and turn off the video camera. write down every time this happens.(when the lady takes the cat) but make sure she knows that the cat is out to walk around get some air and to that a crap.and if she still takes it say i told u not to touch the my cat!say i will call the cops if i have to. If it goes on any longer. i say go to court . and be like I'm sorry the cat is just out to take a crap and what not, and i don't know if I'm going to see it again.i don't know what she has been doing with it. Hope the lady stops taking your cat.

Answer 7

Contact the police. Better yet, contact the Humane Society, which has officers for animals. You need to act on your suspicions about your neighbor. The police may interrogate her about why she took in the cat. They may let her go with a warning. In the meantime, keep the cat inside or get an enclosure.

Answer 8

Since I do not know where you live, first make sure there are no laws against letting your cat roam free. If it is against the law to let your cat roam free it is pointless to call the police and tell them about your neighbour.

Seeing as how your neighbour seems bent on kidnapping your cat, you may want to consider keeping her in doors.

Finally if the problem continues call your local animal shelter and ask them what to do about the problem.

Answer 9

When your cat comes back home try putting a colar with a bell on it and then after your cat comes back home again try finding some supplies for making your cat an indoor one.

Answer 10

Stop letting the cat outside. End of problem.