Person Refuses To Return Lost Cat After Eight Months Of Bonding With It

"I can't stand the thought of me giving her up and living with out her."

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• June 13, 2024

Finding a stray cat and taking it in can be an incredibly rewarding experience. This is especially true if the cat is friendly, gets along well with other pets, and quickly adapts to its new home.

However, complications can arise when you later discover that the cat is actually microchipped and belongs to someone else. This situation poses a moral dilemma: should you return the cat to its rightful owner or keep the cat you've grown to love?

Imagine you’ve taken in a disheveled, skinny cat that appeared on your doorstep. You provided food, shelter, and love, and soon, the cat became a cherished member of your family.

She bonded well with your other pets and adjusted quickly to her new environment. You even scheduled a vet appointment to ensure her health and planned to have her spayed, believing she was a stray.

But during her vet visit, you find out she’s already spayed and microchipped, meaning she has an owner somewhere. Now, you’re torn.

You’ve invested time, care, and affection into this cat. She’s become a part of your daily life, and the thought of giving her up is heart-wrenching.

This scenario is more common than you might think. Pet owners who find strays often face this dilemma, balancing their emotional attachment with the ethical responsibility of reuniting lost pets with their original owners.

Just take a look at this...

In October 2023, a stray cat arrived, and OP bonded quickly with it. She seemed young, with a sparse coat hinting at life on the streets.

They let the new cat eat with their old one and use the litter box, but she's also free to go outside, like their other cat.

They checked PawBoost within a 20-mile radius, going back 4-5 months, to see if any owners were looking for a cat like her.

No matches found on PawBoost; even similar-colored cats had distinct faces, confirming their belief she was a stray.

She responded to her name within a month. They tried to get her spayed earlier, but the local clinic was fully booked until May.

They took her in, got her vaccinated, and discovered she was already spayed and chipped by a previous owner.

Mom opposes checking the chip; surrendering may be the only way to contact the previous owner.

The cat, around a year old, has been with them for 8 months since October, likely half or more of her life.

Dilemma: revealing cat's chip info opposed by family and SO. They're wondering if keeping the kitty without action makes them the jerk.

Scroll down to see what people had to say...

Seems they're stuck in a moral hairball. Returning the cat could prevent a "pawsitively" messy situation!

Returning the cat could be the purr-fect redemption.

Next time, maybe they'll chip away at the problem sooner.

Time for a "paws and ponder" moment! The cat's got a return address waiting.

Double trouble! It's time to "paws" and return the cat to its rightful owners.

Caught in a "cat-astrophe"! Time to rethink outdoor adventures and avoid "purr-plexing" situations.

"There's a family out there somewhere grieving."

"She does not belong to you."

Oopsies.

"Please give it back."

YTA all the way?

"Not your cat."

Sometimes, the heart wants what it wants, even if it’s a bit of a cat-astrophe. Balancing love and responsibility can be tricky, but remember: every kitty deserves a happy ending, whether it's with their old family or the new one that adores them.

Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

Sophia