Six weeks ago one of my neighbors brought a kitten to my house and asked if it was mine. I said no but since the neighbor was going to release the cat back on the street I said I'd take it. The kitten was about 3 or 4 weeks old, not even old enough to be away from its mother. Its eyes hadn't even changed yet. I took the kitten in and fed it with a bottle at first, dewormed it, treated it for fleas (it was loaded) and took it to the vet. Now six weeks later the neighbor warned me that the kitten's original owner is threatening to go to the police because they stole their kitten. Can they legally take this kitten back from me now?
2007-08-08 01:11:31 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
I don't legally think they can do anything to you. Especially with a kitten that young. I know in my that if you feed a stray cat for 15 days it is technically yours and you must care for it and if it dies of neglect, it is your fault, if they can prove you cared for it. So, with that, and the fact you took a stray off of the steets and cared for it, vet and medication, then it is legally yours. However, if they do someone manage to take you to court, don't let them have the cat, fight for the kitten, they probably don't deserve it. Afterall it did take them 6 weeks to look for a missing kitten, thats not responsible. And you could fight the fact that you took care of the kitten and are willing and wanting to give the little guy a safe and loving home as an indoor cat.. Good luck! andI hope it works out.
2007-08-08 01:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by Jessica 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh what a crappy situation! Unless your neighbour can prove that they tried to find the original owners and that they found the kitten and did not just take it then they probably can just take it back from you. It's not really fair though since you have had it for most of its life and taken care of it. If they go to the police then the police will decide what happens to the kitten and that will be that. Make sure that your neighbour has proof that they found the kitten, I mean they could have given the kitten to an animal shelter but then the poor thing would probably have just died. I hope it works out well for you as I am sure you are attached to the little cutie by now.
2007-08-08 08:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by SmEllY! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell them to prove it is theirs, otherwise they cant, if you have a vet bill, and they dont, then probably not, but if I were you and you really love the kitten, I would let it stay at a friends house for awhile and tell them that it ran away, and then take it back after awhile..... thats just what i would do, i mean you took care of him for that long, and it took them all this time to look for him and figure out where he was? 6 weeks? they should have put an ad in the paper if they cared so much. If I were you I would get a collar made that has your address on it with her name, etc. hope things are ok..
2007-08-08 09:37:46 · answer #3 · answered by Turdly B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frankly speaking i think the original owner has the right to reclaimed the kitten. I understand that you may have developed a relationship with the kitten and do not want to give the kitten up. But you must understand that the original owner may felt sad and miserable for losing the kitten.
I would suggest that you explain what actually happen and offer to give them back the kitten. They may offer you visiting privileges. But I must say, it was very kind of you to treat the kitten so well. Well done!
2007-08-08 08:45:28 · answer #4 · answered by SharpNBlunt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Going to the police is way too extreme! I suggest that you try to work out a deal, I mean you pratically raised it, and they obviously don't care about as much as you do. This is a tough situatio for you, so I can't exactly say yes or no, but I think that you should figure out where the safest place for the cat is, then if the neighbor takes the cat back, then talk to a vet, and maybe they can get the neighbors to give the cat back.
2007-08-08 08:40:54 · answer #5 · answered by M M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them to prove it is theirs, otherwise they cant, if you have a vet bill, and they dont, then probably not, but if I were you and you really love the kitten, I would let it stay at a friends house for awhile and tell them that it ran away, and then take it back after awhile..... thats just what i would do, i mean you took care of him for that long, and it took them all this time to look for him and figure out where he was? 6 weeks? they should have put an ad in the paper if they cared so much. If I were you I would get a collar made that has your address on it with her name, etc. If you really dont want them to take it, you can say that your friend in Illinois gave it to you when she was at your house visiting, I'll cover for you!!! I'll send you my number if you want lol! anyway I hope this helps... Heather
2007-08-08 08:18:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell them to prove it is theirs, otherwise they cant, if you have a vet bill, and they dont, then probably not, but if I were you and you really love the kitten, I would let it stay at a friends house for awhile and tell them that it ran away, and then take it back after awhile..... thats just what i would do, i mean you took care of him for that long, and it took them all this time to look for him and figure out where he was? 6 weeks? they should have put an ad in the paper if they cared so much. If I were you I would get a collar made that has your address on it with her name, etc. If you really dont want them to take it, you can say that your friend in Illinois gave it to you when she was at your house visiting, I'll cover for you!!! I'll send you my number if you want lol! anyway I hope this helps.ok.........
2007-08-08 11:06:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No judge in the country would take that kitten away from you! The owner ABANDONED it. Abandoned property belongs to the person who retrieved it. You loved and cared for and nursed the kitten when it was ABANDONED by it's original owner. Tell those scummy neighbors of you to call the police so they can tell them a point or two about the law which is on YOUR side! And I hope if they take it to court it goes before Judge Judy or somebody who will humiliate them in public before declare the kitten yours.
2007-08-08 08:31:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can't do a thing as long as you saved the vet paper work. If you didn't, go the vet and get a copy of it.
If they keep pressing that they want the kitten back tell them they will have to pay all that you put in it...so add up everything you have spent [it's best if you have receipts to prove it] I bet when they hear how much they would owe you, they'll give up trying to get it back.
2007-08-08 09:26:59 · answer #9 · answered by Marlou 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they cannot take it back. You have cared for this kitten, nursed it and now after all you have done for it, the owner wants it back?
Do you not think its a little weird that the owner wants the kitten back after you have done the hard bit?
Say no. Legally they cant threaten this. Why did they not approach you after a few days?
2007-08-08 08:23:29 · answer #10 · answered by Black Star Deceiver 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋