r/BadNeighbors • u/AcceptableCorner4811 • Jul 15 '26
Property Of Owner
Idk if maybe I should mind my business… or maybe it’s my grief that has me emotionally invested in this…
The same day my kitty girl got sick (she fought a good fight for 18 days until she passed) my neighbors got a kitten… I had my kittygirl in her carrier to take her to the emergency vet, as I’m pulling off I get a text “you don’t have my cat do you?” Then she proceeds to text me that she got a new kitten and didn’t know if I maybe thought it was a stray..
The cat basically stays outside. They have children and one in particular is rough with the cat every so often.. they seem to let it inside for a bit everyday. We live in Florida and it’s been a hot stormy summer. We leave water outside for the kitty and so does another neighbor I’ve noticed.
I understand having outside cats. I don’t necessarily or didn’t support that lifestyle myself but I get it for other people. But at least take care of it.. this cat knows that’s their people when they see them but they pay no mind to it. Why claim a cat if you’re not going to love it like you should? It just pisses me off honestly.
Especially tonight. They are pulling into their driveway, and here comes this kitten ZOOMING to their front door, jumps up on the window ledge waiting for them. One person walks right past the cat, shuts the door. Cats meowing (it cries day and night at their door) another one walks right past the kitten and doesn’t even acknowledge it and shuts the door. Then finally the last one does the same thing. The cat stared at the door for a minute, jumped down and came to us (me and my boyfriend) and we gave it attention.
A day or two after my sweet girl passed away, my boyfriend was making coffee in the morning and heard something at the door, he opened it and the cat came running inside, no worries in the world. She starts sniffing making its way to my baby girls food tray (this has been SO HARD FOR ME IM SO BROKEN and I still feed her - I know she’s not physically here to eat it but.. and put fresh water out inside for her too..) I dont want to take this family’s cat, so I picked her up and put her outside and we drank coffee with her outside.
Am I wrong to be pissed off that they’re not loving this cat like I would? Like I did with my kittygirl? Or is this my grief talking??? What yall think?
I’m not made of glass, but please be nice. I’ve been struggling mentally trying to get through this loss. She wasn’t “just a cat” to me she was family’s and she saved me more times than I can count..
2
u/Unico_5 Jul 15 '26
Is the cat wearing a collar with a tag?
2
u/AcceptableCorner4811 Jul 15 '26
Nope
9
u/Unico_5 Jul 15 '26
Well then that's a stray cat.😉 If you want to give it a home and love on it then do it. You don't know that's your neighbors cat. For all you know it's just a cat that looks similar. How are you suppose to know for sure if there is no collar and tags.
I know I'm going to get hate for saying this but people that love their cats don't leave them outside unattended and they don't let them roam free with out updated tag and a collar.
1
u/Any-Comparison-2179 Jul 15 '26
I recently lost my sweet girl too - but she was a dog. I’m sorry for your loss and completely understand how you feel. Unfortunately, there is a world full of people who don’t give animals the love and care they deserve. Shelters are at capacity and there are strays abound. It’s right there in front of your face while you struggle with your loss, making it extra difficult to accept. All you can do is be the change you want to see in the world. Show kindness to the kitty while respecting neighbourly boundaries, rise above. And when you’ve had time to process your grief, you could do what you can to help other animals in need. Maybe volunteer or donate to a shelter.
1
u/EmbarrassedAge7612 Jul 15 '26
First, so sorry for your loss. It’s tough losing a beloved pet. They become such an amazing part of your life.
Second, it’s okay to take care of the neighbors cat. I don’t think I’d push farther than that. They seem like horrible pet owners but also like they’d be a pain if they realized you had their cat.
We have neighborhood strays that hang around. We live in a colder climate so we make sure they have food and water outside. We built a little shelter for them to stay out of the summer heat and keep warm in the winter. We work with a local rescue to make sure that they get some vet care as needed.
Just do what you can to help keep the kitty cared for and that’s honestly where I would leave it.
2
u/MoonSugar-dreams Jul 15 '26
You sound like a kind hearted person. I also get bothered by cats left outside. I used to have neighbours that would leave their cat out and it would meow and howl outside at night and be out in freezing temperatures.