I found out after I started feeding him that the original owners still lived near to me, My ex-neighbor asked me when I moved in if I wanted to adopt him because the original owners had abandoned him. I never heard anything else than that until nearly a month after taking him in so I was going by that info. from the ex neighbor.

With the weather you're having I wouldn't hesitate to take the cat in and I would continue feeding him since you've been doing so for some time now. (I remember when all this started :)) I suggest you write or email these folks and explain to them that the cat is older now and won't do very well left outside most of the time, especially in the winter, and I would let them know you would be happy to own the cat if they'd be willing to give him to you. If they're not open to that idea, ask if they be willing to share ownership/feeding/caring of him. That way if he's not at their house then he's at yours. (If they hadn't posted fliers in the neighborhood or knocked on doors during all this time, they certainly weren't missing him.)

You can also call the Humane Society and ask for advice. The owners not keeping a pet indoors in this type of weather are being cruel and neglectful. I wouldn't worry about them calling the police since the police most likely won't do anything. The owners probably know this and know that once anyone looks into the issue of 'ownership' the original owners could be found neglectful.

If the owners are still difficult to deal with after trying to work something out, then get their email address and tell them you'll let them know everytime the cat shows up.

Sounds like they're the type that just think of the cat when they have nothing else to gripe about.

PS.....try to stay calm during communication with them.

Yes, out of the blue they remember the cat for some reason. I didn't mind taking care of him until I got accused of keeping him from them and that they were going to call the police. So now I want nothing to do with them because they have had trouble and police at their house in the past and one of my neighbors warned me not to go over there. I don't want them coming around my house either. I do have the girls cell number so I can call or text when I see him at my house. Its hard for me to ignore him, I had planned to do it before and I caved. But now since the girl was so rude its changed things. I don't want to have trouble with the neighbor and they don't want to share ownership. Think I will call the humane society as well. Thanks annztoo.

!. Call the Humane Society ASAP.

2. Keep feeding the cat and let him in if it is cold. You don't want to punish the cat. Don't call them and don't let them into your house. Don't even answer the door. You haven't seen the cat. Let him out in the AM or when it warms up.

3. How do you know it is their cat? Is he microchipped? These people sound crazy.

4. You can get a restraining order to keep them away from your house.

I will let him in if I see him outside in this weather. Theres been a warning for days not to let your pets out. So its a matter of life and death. I know its their cat from my neighbors, and the girl posted pictures of her and the cat when she was much younger online. This girl doesn't live with her mother, she just wants her mother to take care of him and I have a feeling she could care less. I did tell her I would call the humane society if I saw him out in this weather, hopefully they take it seriously. The humane society did say they could do a wellness check but then they will know its me that called, and I don't want to start trouble. Thank You.

Only you know what you are comfortable doing. Good luck. You do not have to put up with them on your property or calling your phone. You can feed any stray you want on your porch.

salti - I really did want other perspectives. I was on the fence about letting him in, but see now that that's not possible due to the neighbors recent actions.

I am sorry for the cat. Please call someone.

Katrina - I totally understand your situation. I would keep feeding the cat and letting him into your house. It's clear the cat doesn't want to be with them.

Salti - One of the purposes of a forum is to socialize with other like minded people. That includes just talking it out. She did ask "what would you do?"

I am sorry for the cat too, but I received an email this evening from the mother that was accusing me of all kinds of things. Apparently her daughter has been lying to her all along saying things about me. I told her she needs to have a talk with her daughter and that I never said or did the things she was accusing me of, and not to worry I would not be letting the cat into my house again. Hopefully it ends there. I have been told these people were crazy and that's why I was on the fence about it. Last night with the wind chill it was -37 so I thought if he got out of their house he would freeze to death. But I am done with it now, after her email. Over the last few months I texted the daughter several times to come get her cat and shes been telling her mother I won't answer the door or phone and I am keeping the cat away from her! She told her mother I was calling her mother an fu...king pycho. I don't even know these people and they don't know me. I did call the police to told them what is going on and if they contact me again in such a manner I want to make a report. Bizarre.

Surely you plan to let him in if he shows up during the weather you're having?

The cat has learned you are a safe haven and food supply, so he is most likely going to continue to return. Do you know if he's micro chipped?

I don't know if he is micro-chipped but he doesn't even have a collar. I put one on him before I knew they were claiming him and he came back without it on. I later found out online that the daughter said someone put a collar on him and she took it off. I was just trying to protect him so people would know he belonged to someone. I am hoping they don't let him out. I made him an outdoor shelter a few months ago out of a Styrofoam cooler. I found the directions on the neighborhood cat website. Its on my deck. Its designed for feral cats to keep them in freezing temps. I lined it all inside with mylar and put straw in it. It faces my door and its pretty windproof. I thought he would go back to their house if he got too cold. The mother was telling me in the email that she takes good care of him, but I can't say whats going on for sure. I know he thinks I am safe, I feel really bad about it. I have been feeding him Fromm grain free food and he quit scratching his skin like he used to all the time when I first began feeding him. But these people want to make trouble, the girl has already called the police about me yesterday and no doubt told them lies as well. They should be thanking me for feeding their cat but this is what they are doing. I did call the humane society and one of the investigators for animal cruelty is supposed to call me. I will check for him tonight though. I could let him out in the a.m. before I go to work, the temps are easing up tomorrow, the high is supposed to be 15. I just don't want to bring trouble on for myself, since I live here and so do they.

I'll be interested to hear what the humane society says. There's no law against feeding a roaming cat, nor giving it protection from the elements. If you had made the cat an indoor cat and refused letting them pick it up, then that would be another story.

Personally, I'd welcome them calling the police so you can tell your side of the story.....if it actually led to that. Have you actually had the police show up or call you? I would be shocked if they did......

No I called the police yesterday because the mom in her "letter" told me they had made a police report on me so I called to see if it were true. The daughter did call them and I am sure she lied like she did to her mom. They talked to her but didn't make a report. They really didn't want to hear it, they have much more to attend to. The humane society hasn't called me back yet but they were concerned and said they would do a wellness check. I have no idea if this family takes care of the cat, I know what the neighbor who moved off said, I saw that the cat chose living in their garage, even in the winter over these peoples house. I know he tries to escape everytime the door is opened and head to my house. But that's all I really know. They say they take care of him, but I know my neighbor fed him at least 8 years. They say that whole time he was also going to their house to stay and eat. So I just don't have enough information to know for sure.

These people are not providing care or love to the cat. If they did the cat wouldn't run to you to be fed and loved at its every opportunity. Thank you for your care of this poor kitty.

If I were you I would let the cat decide where he wants to be. Cats have a way of doing that. Just my 2 cents.

I still can't get away from the fact that it is their cat. And after the letter the mom wrote if I let him back in I am just instigating trouble. I feel sorry for the cat, but I also don't feel right taking him back in. If I see him out I can call for a wellness check at the humane society. My daughter knows the people who do it so she can also vouch for what has been going on. She thinks as well that a cat decides where he wants to live, and of course they do, but they are the owners. Thanks for your input, it is sad when a pet doesn't have a good home.

Is anyone taking the cat to the vet, do they have any vet records? Do you have vet records? I believe that you are supposed to have a cat vaccinated against rabies...I'm not sure if it's the law or not. If you have been taking the cat to the vet, I'd think that you could be considered the owner. I mean, how do you know they are the real owners of this cat other than they say they are. I really don't think that they have any legal claim to this cat if they have not been taking the cat to the vet or keeping him safe. A picture of the cat with the girl doesn't really prove anything.

It's strange that after 8 years these people decide to raise a stink about who's feeding their cat.

I'd keep feeding him and letting him in when the weather is bad. If they wanted him they'd keep him in the house, but there's a reason he keeps leaving.

I'd also keep copies of any communication they send you, but I wouldn't answer any emails, texts or calls unless they're trying to work out a solution.....which they'll never do.

Don't expect a quick wellness check from the HS.....even in extreme weather. With the weather you're having the HS probably has a lot of neglect cases to handle and since they know at least two households are feeding and keeping an eye on this cat, your case won't be at the top of the list.

At this point the cat's well being is more important than the 'owners' rantings, so it'll be up to you to keep him safe if you see him out in the weather.

I know that if someone (a rescue usually) finds a dog, they will require proof of ownership before they return the dog (or cat) back to the owner. Proof of ownership means vet records/vaccination records.

Funny that the mom brought up having vet records in her email and said she has taken him to the vet regularly. The daughter mentioned the same thing several times to me over the past few months. I have not taken him to the vet, the daughter told me she was going to take him in for his yearly check up previously. The mom told me in her email how she got the cat because he was going to be put down because the Humane Society had an overfill. Neighbors have verified that the car was hers originally, but the neighbor who was feeding him for so long told me when this original owner's son was born she found out he was allergic to cats so they basically just quit feeding him. I don't know if that's true or not. Its a problem when you don't know who to believe. Someone going for a walk had posted his pic online last summer and asked if he was anyones cat, I responded and said I had been feeding him and was going to try and get him used to my house before cold weather hit, that's when I found out these people were still around, in fact only 5 houses down from me I found out. I figure they could have said nothing when they read that online if they didn't care. But I don't know what to make of them when my neighbor fed him so long. He was right there in my neighbors driveway when it was warmer, they knew where he was and as far as I know they didn't come get him because he lived in the neighbors garage, but then they claim he was coming back and forth from their house to the neighbors all that time. That's part of why this is such a conundrum. I guess I will take a wait and see approach. So far the cat has not been back outside so that's a plus.

Thanks Sylvia, I haven't seen the cat but I know its just a matter of time. The neighbors fed him over 8 years that I know of so I don't expect anything to change. I am hoping I don't have to go that route legally but knowing my rights would be good. I am going to see if the humane society knows what they are.

I can’t say what you should do, but if it were me, the next time I saw the cat, I’d bring it in, feed it and let it do whatever it wants to do. If they approached me again, I’d put the monkey on their back and tell them that if the cat is theirs, to prove it. If they can prove it, then they need to explain why they haven’t cared for it over the years and didn’t come looking for it sooner. Until they can do that, they need to leave the issue alone or I’d be the one filing a complaint (for harrassment). If they threaten to call the police, I’d tell them, please do, that I would welcome the opportunity speak with them. Outside of that I wouldn’t engage with the daughter or the mother at all.

Just because someone calls the police on you, doesn’t mean that you’re instantly in the wrong. If you explained the history of the cat, have people in the neighborhood who can vouch for it and that you’re insisting that they prove ownership because (if it is theirs), they’ve grossly neglected it for years, I suspect the police would agree. In some places, feeding an animal that’s assumed abandoned for a long period of time can be the determining factor as to who the owner actually is.

I’d give them a couple weeks to respond and then I’d name the cat, get it microchipped and get it it’s shots. Then there will be no more questions regarding ownership.

Your heart is in the right place, the kitty deserves to have a loving home and he obviously knows he will have that with you. I hope you’re able to work it out.

Sylvia, I promise I didn’t copy you! I responded before reading all the replies to see where my thoughts landed amoung other posters; I can’t believe how close our responses are! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks the burden of proof is on them.

Great minds, right, LOL?

Totally! (or an aquired wisdom that comes with age!) LOL

My cats have been indoor cats since I lived in this house. No one knows how many I have, except the nice woman across the street who feeds my pets when I go on vacation. Microchipping is a good idea, IF the shelter didn't already do it. (Current cat was microchipped at the shelter. First visit to the vet meant the pet was registered to me.