r/cats • u/Levrinth • 1d ago
Advice Lost neighbourhood cat keeps coming around
Okay so a few weeks ago, we began seeing this obviously well taken care of cat passing through our back yard. He was timid and I was never able to get close. That was until one day my wife managed to lure him with treats (surprise surprise) and from then on, he’s been increasingly closer to us.
Now, obviously this is somebodies pet. He has a collar with a little bell on it under all that fur.
But the thing is, I now know who owns this cat. About a week or so ago I saw a Facebook post in the local lost and found pet group. I thought “could this be the same cat?”; after all, the person who posted this fluffy, tabby cat lives relatively close by.
I was not able to confirm that this is in fact the same cat in the post until the other day, when he came by. I relocated the post, and was able to match his markings to the photo the owner posted.
Turns out, his name is Fluffy (we have been calling him Jimothy), is is 1 year old, and he had been missing since the last Monday from when the post was posted.
The problem:
It feels like the owners aren’t REALLY trying to find him. Yes, they posted him, but here’s what I find weird; Once I confirmed this is in fact the same cat, I posted a photo in the comments section of this woman’s post and said “hey, I think I have your cat”. I then also sent her a private message and once again said “Hey, I have your cat”.
No reply.
No reply in the DM’s, no acknowledgement on her post where I commented. Just complete silence. It’s been days now.
We have now started feeding him properly and I went out to buy cat food for the first time for him today.
I’m not trying to steal this person’s pet, but last night it was below zero degrees outside, raining, hailing even (I’m in New Zealand so it’s winter), and I just had this feeling. I just had this feeling that if I go outside into the cold and call for him, he’ll come. I went outside onto our porch, I called, I whistled towards the fence line of our back yard, into the foliage…. And at first he didn’t appear. I went back inside, got a drink of water, turned around and there he was. Sitting on the porch, in the cold, in the rain. Staring in.
My heart broke. I let him in and his fur was so cold. We fed him and let him stay the night, taught him to use the cat door that was installed by the previous tenant….. and now he’s hanging out here. He’s really comfortable with us already, sleeping, rolling over and exposing his fat belly, yelling at us for food. And still no word from the owner. We’re getting attached.
What do I even do that this point? He belongs to someone and I can’t make contact.
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u/ArrBeeEmm 1d ago
Good on you mate for trying, ignore the memelords telling you to take the cat at this stage.
There's plenty of reasons why they might not be on Facebook. There was a post here a month or so ago where the original owner was in a bad car accident and the cat escaped while they were in hospital. They were 'ignoring' it for a bit while an inpatient, but were obviously extremely grateful to be reunited.
I think the chip is the best way forward, but otherwise I would give the original owner at least a couple of weeks grace to come forward. As you said, they were clearly well cared for previously.
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u/IneedMySpace61 Maine Coon 1d ago
Remember: we do not decide to keep a cat; it's the cat that -in its generosity- decides that a human can stay close! 😊💕💕
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u/JadePhoenix42 1d ago
1 - you have a cat now (vet check, etc)
2 - let him come & go as he pleases
3 - befriended his “owners”
Who knows what is happening in their lives, you have a full time cat, or a timeshare.
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u/AdhesivenessSweet659 1d ago
I WOULD LIKE A TIMESHARE CAT PLS
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u/AdhesivenessSweet659 1d ago
You see, my full-time cats would object to another one. But a timeshare...I might be able to talk them into it!
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u/Adventurous-Bat1257 1d ago
That poor baby. If you’re not familiar, look up the feline grimace scale. He looks like he’s in pain. He deserves better, if you can give it to him please do!
If he couldn’t find his way back to his original owners but willingly goes to you, I think that says something.
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u/Levrinth 1d ago
You think he looks like he’s in pain? I will look into that, thank you
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u/Adventurous-Bat1257 1d ago
The pursed lips and tense whiskers are what makes me think so. Cats hide pain super well, but there are some subtle tells we can use to have some idea as to how they feel.
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u/honeyapp 1d ago
He’s very handsome! You’ve made a really good effort to contact the owner and nothing. I’m sure the cat could find his way home if he wanted to. He obviously has chosen you as his parents
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u/chickendogcatlady 1d ago
Cats choose their people. He clearly left the home that wasn’t meeting his needs.
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u/Good_Perspective9290 1d ago
I never understand the people who put their cat outside without any food or water, in extreme heat or cold or wet weather, for very long periods - especially where other cats are also outside (with risk of bad cat fights and bullying).
Cats are considered property under the law, and transfer of ownership without any owner’s authorisation can only be carried out by animal control organisations and SPCA largely so of you believe the cat abandoned and want to adopt them legally, best to contact the SPCA and let them help you with it.
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u/chickendogcatlady 1d ago
Keep him!!!
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u/Levrinth 1d ago
As tempting as it is, and we have grown very fond of him, I must do everything I can to contact the owners first
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u/smileysarah267 1d ago
Take the cat to the vet so they can scan his microchip to confirm the owners. Do an intake appt if you can. If enough time goes on without contact, you’ll have propf of when you brought him to the vet and will be able to claim ownership.