Why Does This Stuff Still Surprise Me

Irresponsible, careless, I-don't-care-about-my-cat people!! A Waste of oxygen and space.
A neighbor down the hall rescued a little kitty during one of our major ice storms last month. A sweet little hyper girl she named Sophie. I met her briefly as I was going up the stairs to my apartment Sunday evening. Sophie was running and playing out in the hall (unattended) and the girl's apartment door was open. She came out when she heard me talking to Sophie.
Now, I'm always on the alert when it comes to the way I see people treating their cats. i didn't like the fact that she left Sophie out in the hall by herself. Although there are only three apartments in the back of the house where we live; our other neighbors have two huge dogs that they take out three or four times a day--what if they didn't like cats and attacked Sophie? You know how fast things like that happen...
Anyway--I just took my trash out and opened the door and there was Sophie!! Alone in the hall--no food--no water--her meowy gone off to work without putting her back inside the apartment!!
What would you do??? I put out water and food for her. Now I'm planning on bringing her inside my apartment and leaving her meowy a note telling her where she's at. Does this sound reasonable to you guys? Anything about that plan that you think would be seen as an insult or being a nosy neighbor?
I honestly could ask her if I could have her but I just can't love another cat yet.

How would the apartment manager/landlord view the hallway smelling of cat pee and other residents finding cat poop out there?

Though chances are this morning was not intentional. The woman could have been in a hurry and cats being cats, Sophie snuck out since she's used to being allowed out there.

Instead of making an enemy, I'd try to make friends with the owner and try to encourage her to be more cautious with Sophie. She may be a bit naive and not have realized that the people with the dogs may not be able to always handle their dogs or that someone could want to hurt Sophie.
Honestly, that she rescued Sophie in the first place really does show that her heart is in the right place. Many people wouldn't have bothered.

If you think she would be receptive, give her the address to TCS. (of course this means you need to be careful what you say on here, though if she has a computer and internet there's no guarantee that she doesn't already lurk here ...)

I know how mad I would be. But you know, I agree. Try to be nice to this person and then you will be able to keep a better eye on the kitten.

As they say.."keep your friends close and your enemies closer". Not to say she is an enemy, but to help the kitten, you have to have access and a fair relationship with the girl.

Offer to help keep an eye on her when she isn't home. Let her know you care about the kitten. But don't insinuate she isn't capable. Honestly, some people just have no sense. I don't understand how they get through life sometimes!

You have her "number" so to speak. But if you befriend her, you only help the kitten.

I am so glad you keep an eye out for the cats, Cheryl. Give Turtle a skritch for me!

I would bring Sophie in and leave the neighbor a note; as strange_wings said, the hallway isn't a litter box and the apt. manager probably wouldn't look too kindly on it being used as one.
It sounds as if your neighbor has a kind heart, but doesn't know the first thing about kitties. No food, no water, no box? Maybe she's decided that having Sophie isn't really such a good idea after all, but can't bring herself to put her back outside?
As for you not being ready to love another cat yet---yeah, you are. You're already invested in Sophie, IMO. If you're at all friendly with this lady, have a talk with her when she comes to pick Sophie up at your place.

thanks guys. I really don't want to make an enemy out of a fellow cat-lover. That would be crazy!!! I'll talk to her. Yes, it probably was an accident, I'm just so jaded I don't always view people as making "innocent" mistakes.

Lets hope it was a mistake if not she doesn't deserve the cat and I agree your landlord/manager may have a strong opinion on this and may make her get rid of the kitty if she does this a lot. I'd have a word with her and put it in the terms of "did you know your kitty was out while you were at work?". You will make your own judgement from her response. I know you say you are not ready to love another cat yet but what will be will be hun, everything happens for a reason I believe and obviously someone up there or wherever likes you to be their helper.xx

Originally Posted by Bellaandme

That would be crazy!!! I'll talk to her. Yes, it probably was an accident, I'm just so jaded I don't always view people as making "innocent" mistakes.

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A bit like my DH and I accidentally shutting Sherman or Tanna in the bathroom for a couple hours after they slip in and we don't see them.
You may want to watch being so jaded and always prejudging people so harshly. Some day it will come back to you.
Give the women the benefit of the doubt.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

A bit like my DH and I accidentally shutting Sherman or Tanna in the bathroom for a couple hours after they slip in and we don't see them.
You may want to watch being so jaded and always prejudging people so harshly. Some day it will come back to you.

Give the women the benefit of the doubt.

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That's a bit harsh to be honest imo,. She can't help caring.x

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

That's a bit harsh to be honest imo,. She can't help caring.x

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Well I was being honest. Sometimes I'm rather blunt. But it is the truth. If you're always judging people poorly it can come out in your words and body language towards them. Some people pick up on it and it drives them away. I hope that doesn't happen to the OP because if she ends up pushing too many people away she'll have no one left to care for her.

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

That's a bit harsh to be honest imo,. She can't help caring.x

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

A bit like my DH and I accidentally shutting Sherman or Tanna in the bathroom for a couple hours after they slip in and we don't see them.
You may want to watch being so jaded and always prejudging people so harshly. Some day it will come back to you.

Give the women the benefit of the doubt.

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Sorry, but I have to disagree here... How many times have you walked out of your house/apartment and left your cats out?
I, myself, and I am sure most who care, always make sure when opening the door, no cats run out... In a bathroom, inside of the house, they are still safe - not the case when locking them out IMHO.
As caring cat owners, we are well used to carefully opening and closing the doors so this doesn't happen whenever we enter or leave the house.

Originally Posted by Carolina

Sorry, but I have to disagree here... How many times have you walked out of your house/apartment and left your cats out?
I, myself, and I am sure most who care, always make sure when opening the door, no cats run out... In a bathroom, inside of the house, they are still safe - not the case when locking them out IMHO.
As caring cat owners, we are well used to carefully opening and closing the doors so this doesn't happen whenever we enter or leave the house.

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Sorry it was just the way that "always judging people" was put, I don't think anyone here always judges people.x

Originally Posted by Carolina

Sorry, but I have to disagree here... How many times have you walked out of your house/apartment and left your cats out?

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We go out the back which has a small utility room between the doors. So they're not even able to slip out should they try. Others on here have had cats that have went out before in their lives thus try "door darting". I suspect that is the case here because the cat is used to being let into the hallway and that the woman does not even know the cat got out. Such is the case with another member who had a cat slip out into an apartment hallway (they didn't know right away) and the cat ended up dead. No one, at least that I can remember, called them any names or told them they didn't care about their cat because of that unfortunate accident.

It's a far stretch to say this woman does not care for her cat! Saying mean things about a person who isn't here to defend themselves really isn't right.. She may be a good person and I can't understand attacking an unknown strangers character like that.

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

I don't think anyone here always judges people.x

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Some posts in other threads (not this one) lead me to believe that there are a few on here who are extremely close minded and judgmental, but such is the case when you get enough people together...

Originally Posted by libby74

I would bring Sophie in and leave the neighbor a note; as strange_wings said, the hallway isn't a litter box and the apt. manager probably wouldn't look too kindly on it being used as one.
It sounds as if your neighbor has a kind heart, but doesn't know the first thing about kitties. No food, no water, no box? Maybe she's decided that having Sophie isn't really such a good idea after all, but can't bring herself to put her back outside?

As for you not being ready to love another cat yet---yeah, you are. You're already invested in Sophie, IMO. If you're at all friendly with this lady, have a talk with her when she comes to pick Sophie up at your place.

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I'd bring her in, leave a note, and find out what's up.

I have to agree. Give the woman the benefit of the doubt. Cats are cats, and sometimes, esp kittens, can be a handful. I have accidentally locked a cat in a room, or in the closet....and shut Google in a cabinet, because they got in there while I wasnt watching and I just didnt think to check. And 90% of the time I am in such a rush to get out of the house I dont always check and make sure the cats are where they should be. Even though thankfully now the boys are grown and chances are Google is on the sofa and Joey on the bed. But we are super careful about guarding the door to the garage and the outside doors.

Originally Posted by capt_jordi

shut Google in a cabinet

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I have to really watch mine as a few of them will climb into anything. I've had Sherman try to hop into the deep freezer, Tomas try to climb in the dryer and fridge before, and they're always getting into cabinets. Nothing like pulling out a clean glass or plate with cat fur already on it. Oh and Tomas has tried to climb into companies bags/purse... I'm not sure if my less observant DH would notice some of these stunts. I've had Sho get outside in the past because my MIL does not understand the concept of closing a door behind her. Better yet, she'd wait to tell me he got out till half an hour later.

I think it was white cat lover who had a surprise car passenger?

The point: Cats are sneaky!

I agree on giving her the benifit of the doubt, i get that she has let the cat out before with her door open but not fully supervised, but locking the kitty out this time could be a genuine mistake/accident, id take her in and leave a note for the owner, she cant be all bad if she brought her in from a storm and rescued her from what seems a certain death

Some posts in other threads (not this one) lead me to believe that there are a few on here who are extremely close minded and judgmental, but such is the case when you get enough people together... [/quote]

Cheryl has never led me to believe that she misjudges people, perhaps a wrong use of words. Also this is the second time taht this has happened and if the woman can leave the door open and let the cat roam around when there are two big dogs around then doesn't seem very responsible to me. My neighbours have 2 big dogs and I certainly wouldnt leave my door open for my cats to wander out right into their jaws.x

Thanks guys. I do understand what strange wings is saying. Though i try not to prejudge people, I'm human so it may happen. That's why i stepped back, vented a little and came to you guys for opinions. I think I expect people who have cats to treat them like the little treasures they are. I'm such a doting cat lover that I always knew where my cats were. I've had a cooling off period now so i won't be nasty to her when we talk.

I do hope it was just an accident....

Yeah I hope it was an accident too, especially as she was so caring in the first place as to rescue the cat. Hey we all have different opinions on here otherwise TCS would be boring.x