I did the wrong thing, but for the right reason.

You did the right thing, please don't feel bad. People like that don't deserve to have animals


The wrong thing (well technically) would have been to go up to your neighbours and kick their butts! (i wouldnt complain) god that's shitty

I think u did the right thing, I would have done the same thing, and I would actually do exactly what u are doing somewhat, Irresponsible pet owners that just gets me mad What is wrong with people these days, around here the news and everyone else repeatedly says DONT LET UR ANIMALS OUT it is TOO COLD FOR THEM !!! People these days, I swear they dont have brains

Mason went down last night to check on him and he was curled up sleeping on the pool table.
Mason picked him up and put him down on the floor...God forbide anything happens to that pool table...Mason love it more than he loves me

He told me that he took him off so that he didn't claw the felt, but he said that he looked at Joey is declawed
So that's another reason why he SHOULD NOT be outside.
I'm starting to really dislike those people more and more.

I just went down and he looked up at me and meowed...his food bowl was empty I took down more food, some canned food and fresh water, cleaned out the litter box he ate, pooped and then jumped up on the chair and was giving himself a morning bath when I came back upstairs.

Mason said he's going to try to stop by and see their Son sometime today.
Joey's so called "family" are both in their 60's and their Son is our age..he was a year or two ahead of us in school.

So we shall see what happens.

I understand your husband's need to check with the family.

However.....I am mean. With a cat in that position, freezing, no food, no water, outside and declawed....he has no "family" . YOU are his family because you came to his aid, fed him, watered him and gave him a warm place to stay. I would keep him. His so-called "family" don't deserve him.

Originally Posted by Graciecat

Thanks everyone, it makes me feel better to know that you would have all done the same thing.
Even though I knew in my heart that any of you would have done the same thing.

My Husband took a walk down to their house when he put the garbage out.
He told them that he'd seen Joey on our front porch earlier.
She told him that Joey went out last night and never came home so she just figured he'd found somewhere warm to sleep probably in the houses that the other neighbor had built for the strays to sleep in.
Mason told her that the strays had all found homes and they weren't sleeping outside any more...we took Elliott in the beginning of November and the people who built the houses took the female in early in January.
The Woman down the street brings the other male in when it gets cold....that's Charlie he's very old and has been outside all of his life apparently people have tried to make him an indoor cat over the years but he just will not stay indoors, he will however sleep in Cathy's laundry room when it gets very cold.

When Mason told her that she said that she was sure Joey was probably in on of the cat houses all by himself and if he got cold enough he'd come home.
HELLO you jerk don't wait for him to come home, go look for him and bring him home.

I can't remember who it was now that asked if I'd talked to them about Joey.

When his owner told me this summer how old he was she said that he got out and she couldn't get him to come back in for a few days.
When she did bring him back in she said he had fleas and her whole house got infested so she got rid of the fleas in her house and on Joey and told me she wasn't going to go through that again so she was going to make sure he didn't go out again...that lasted for about a month and he was back out again and again he got fleas.
I swear some people don't have the brains God gave a house fly!

So if she went to bed last night and didn't know where that poor little old guy was then I don't feel one bit bad that she doesn't know where he is now.
Mason agrees with me, he said Joey can stay here until it gets warmer.
I'm going to go down tomorrow and ask her if she's seen Joey yet.
Maybe that's not right, but I figure if she doesn't seem concerned after a couple of days then she doesn't care about him at all, then we'll just take it from there.

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I AM RIGHT WITH YOU

Originally Posted by KittenKiya

I understand your husband's need to check with the family.

However.....I am mean. With a cat in that position, freezing, no food, no water, outside and declawed....he has no "family" . YOU are his family because you came to his aid, fed him, watered him and gave him a warm place to stay. I would keep him. His so-called "family" don't deserve him.

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I totally agree!!!! He deserves to have a wonderful retirement with loving people and a good home!

Originally Posted by KittenKiya

I understand your husband's need to check with the family.

However.....I am mean. With a cat in that position, freezing, no food, no water, outside and declawed....he has no "family" . YOU are his family because you came to his aid, fed him, watered him and gave him a warm place to stay. I would keep him. His so-called "family" don't deserve him.

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I couldn't agree more! These people have already had several "chances" to take care of this sweet boy. They don't deserve to have him. I would keep him if it were me. I mean, if they don't ever come over to visit you, they would never know. I don't think they deserve to know. God bless you for helping this sweetheart!! You are his guardian angel!!

I am still tryimg to figure out what you did that was wrong. Taking this poor old fellow in out of the freezing cold was absolutely the right thing to do. I wouldn't let him back out unless he asks to go. I doubt he would want to leave a nice, warm place with good food to go back to someone tht probably has no time for him and does not give him proper care. I doubt they would even care.

You did exactly what I would have done!!

that poor old kitty! what are they thinking? it's been below zero for almost 2 weeks for us now. they are still running warnings every news cast- if it's below 20 degrees: DO NOT HAVE YOUR ANIMALS OUT. i mean come on. do people really need to be told when it's below zero with a below zero windchill that your cat and dog should not be out? the severe lack of common sense and compassion boggles my mind sometimes.

Originally Posted by Moz

I think you did the right thing. I don't understand how people can throw a senior cat outside in the freezing cold.

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Exactly!! I wouldnt let them have him back, not yet anyways. To me that is just cold and heartless to throw him outside like that. At least hes warm and safe with you.

I would have taken the old kitty and I would never tell the owners. I have done that with some farm cats (mousers) whom I thought were leading a rough life. All of the strays I have taken from the cold have become indoor cats and never go near the door when it is open.

I am currently feeding a middle aged stray kitty using a heated dog bowl and an unmounted, heated bird feeder. The temps have been dropping to as much as -10º (and that's not wind-chill), plus there are coyotes in the area. I think the kitty spends the night wedged deep under a house deck where there is little wind and the coyotes can't go (although coyotes will hunt, mostly for rabbits, in early morning or dusk). I'll trap the kitty sooner or later this spring. Younger cats have fantastic survival power.

GracieCat
I would have done what your husband did. Talk to them about the situation without letting them know I had Joey. It doesn't sound like they plan on keeping him indoors during the cold weather. Why aren't they concerned? Do they not care for the cat?

Another person here that thinks you have done the right thing- I'd keep an eye on the weather (and their reaction on his return once it warms up) before saying anything however

I don't see anything wrong with offering shelter to an animal when it has been left out in the cold like that. Eventually you'll have to let him out, either because he demands it, or it's warmer again. Or his owners get wise, and demand his return. That happens. We were sued several years ago because I took in a kitten whose owners put her out to fend for herself when they went on vacation. They lost, but it was time-consuming, aggravating, and expensive.
He'll most probably be back the next time he's cold or hungry, demanding entry to his "second home". You can encourage that, if you feel it's best for him. While he's with you now, give him a large, thick towel or an old throw blanket to curl up on/under. Don't wash it after he's "done" using it. If you think he might come seeking shelter when nobody is home, make up a temporary shelter out of a large Styrofoam cooler, newspapers, and a smaller cardboard box for outside your house. Cut cat-size doors in the side of both boxes, put layers of newspapers on the bottom and sides of the cooler, add the cardboard box, aligning the doors, put more newspapers on top of the cardboard box, and close the cooler lid. Put the towel/blanket inside so he has someplace to wait till you get home. It's a fairly inexpensive "fix", but obviously only enough to tide a cat over until he/she can be brought inside. If you do use it, be careful, as squirrels, etc., might decide to take a nap in there.

Originally Posted by Zea mays

I would have taken the old kitty and I would never tell the owners....

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The problem I see with that, is if they have a child who is very close to the kitty. S/he might be terribly upset and sad if her/his cat is missing!

The reason I say this, is because when I was growing up, my cat was SO important to me! (We were neglected/abused children, and Kitty-Cat was my sweet companion who was always there for me.) The people don't sound very thoughtful and loving, so if they have kids, there might be much grief if kitty doesn't come back home.

Just a thought.

Cheers, from
SwampWitch

Mason just called me a little while ago.
He said he stopped and talked to the Son of Joeys owners.

The Son told him that he's taken Joey from his Mother several times over the years, she said it's not his Dad that puts Joey out it's his Mom...something we thought was the case.

His Mother has birds and she claims that Joey upsets them, their Son said Joey has never so much as paid more than a passing interest in the birds.
He said now that Joey is older he mostly just sleeps and eats.
He told Mason that he's the one who takes Joey to the Vet for check-ups because his Mother says Joey is old and probably won't live long anyway so she doesn't see the need to "Waste" the money

While Mason was there Tom..the Son called and talked to his Dad...it seems his Dad has told him different times that he should just take Joey and find him a home because no matter what he says or does Mom keeps throwing him out.
His Dad said he'd hate to see Joey go, but he knows it would be the best thing for him.

Tom didn't tell Dad we had Joey, he told him that he had seen him outside on his way to work...he drives down our street everyday on his way to work...and had taken him to his house.
Tom can't keep him full time either, he said Joey doesn't get along well with other cats and he...like us...has little kids and he said the chaos of a house with other cats and kids just seems to be to much for Joey.
Dad told Tom to find Joey a home and Tom told him that he already had but just wanted his Dad to know.

We can't keep Joey full time either...but Mason is going to talk to his parents later to see if they're willing to give Joey a home...they've always had indoor cats and they had to have their 20 year old cat put to sleep right before Christmas.
They've been talking about driving the 30 or so miles to the shelter to adopt and older cat...so Mason thinks they'll take Joey in....if they want older that's for sure what sweet old Joey is.

He actually let me pick him up this afternoon...this cat hissed at me every single time he laid eyes on me...that is until yesterday.
That just goes to show you the poor old guy might not like me, but he knew I was going to help him.

I'll keep you posted as to whether or not my In-laws take Joey.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and for your advice.

ETA: There are no little kids involved...their only child is older than Mason and I.

Awww....I hope it all ends well for poor Joey!

My hat goes off to you. The world needs more people who will go the extra mile to save and care for animals. They are all "Gods" creatures and should be cared for as such.
I hope the in-laws take him. He sounds like he would be very contented in a house with older people.
I await your reply on Joey's new home.