abandoned cat now "taken back"- advice needed

Hello all. I have a dilemma which I would love to hear others advice on.
About 2 weeks ago I had a cat show up near where I feed the outdoor cats on my neighborhood. Very skittish but after a few days it was obvious he was someone's pet. he became pretty attached to me. Brought him inside to check if he was neutered. Ended up finding a microchip. after an hour was spent tracking the chip we found the owners. owner lived halfway across the city. Odd story and odd but came to my house to get the cat. bad vibes- I asked if the cat had been dumped and he said "well maybe let's talk". proceeded to come in my home and tried to persuade me to keep the cat. at first I said no because I have multiple outdoor cats that have all been dumped and didn't need another. but then after him talking and making weird excuses about why the cat was in my neighborhood- "he had fleas we had taken him to play at the nearby dog park" "I gave him fresh air over by your house" and then after searching high and low on craigslist, etc it was obvious no attempt was made to ever find him. the guy says he was relieved the cat "ran away from him" as he didn't want it. BUT he wanted to take he cat home for the weekend to see him again. At this point I'm now trying to keep the cat with me because I'm scared for the cat. I end up finding out the cat was from a local humane which takes them back if owner didn't want them. This organization has no posts online about a missing cat of theirs. And their posts insinuate the adopter had actually originally taken 2 cats in. I've been suffering anxiety now for 2 days. I attempted to call the rescue twice to inform them of the situation. I want the guy to give me or them the cat back but he was so creepy and asked about coming back to visit the cat and be my friend. Any advice?? I felt I had to give him the cat back "for the weekend" as it was legally his. I want to ensure the cat is away from him but don't want him coming around my house. He now has the cat and hasn't said anything to me about asking me if I want it now that the "weekend is up". Please advise!!!
I'm afraid this cat will end up on the streets again or dumped/dead. The cat hated him and did not want To leave with him at all!
I'm torn up over this!!

This certainly is a difficult situation.  Since you know the rescue where this cat came from, I would keep calling and be sure to leave a message if possible.  If you can't leave a message maybe you could go in person to the rescue and explain the situation.  He dumped the cat and admitted it to you.  You might be able to involve local law enforcement as dumping an animal is often punishable. You did the right thing as legally the cat does belong to him.  It wasn't easy and I can understand your anxiety over it.  Just keep trying to help.  You have done so much.

You are in my thoughts and  will send good vibes your way.  Please keep us posted.

Most rescue  groups have a contract that gives them the right to reclaim the animal if it is not being cared properly according to the terms of the adoption contract.  In this case, I would have accepted his offer to keep the cat when he didnt want it.  If nothing else, I could have returned it to the shelter it came from.  I would not have allowed the cat to go "visit" for a weekend (law or no law), but that ship has sailed. Did he leave you his name and number?  Do you have his address? If he agrees to bring the cat back, have someone there with you.  Take the cat back to the rescue group, tell them what happened so far and say you are concerned the cat may be dumped again somewhere else and the owner should not get the cat back.  Then if he comes back looking for the cat and wanting to be your friend, tell him you took the cat back to the humane society and that you have a jealous boyfriend and you cant be his friend,

At this point I would leave it up to the humane society. You really don't want to get involved with this person any more than you already have. Keep trying to call them and let them know what happened. I don't know what their contracts say, but I know anyone who adopts from the shelter where I volunteer has to sign a contract giving the shelter personnel permission to do unannounced home visits after the adoption.

Do not under any circumstances, let this person come into your house. He is creepy, and a liar.

There's something wrong here from the start.  The cat lived with this guy 'halfway across town' and it 'shows up in your neighborhood?"

Please, please think of your safety first.  

If he contacts to return the cat to you - then meet him in a public place for the exchange.  Do not invite him anywhere near your home!

If you have a friend or friend of a friend who is a big guy - take him with you during the exchange and act like boyfriend/girlfriend.

Should he show up at your home - you go outside to talk to him.  Take your phone with you and have a code-word to text a close neighbor or friend to come and be with you should you text them this password.

I may be going overboard here - but - this guy creeps me out and I'm only reading it 

I agree w/ all the posters!   All of his "excuses" scream B.S. to me!! Taking the cat to the dog park?  Took him to your neighborhood for fresh air?!  I mean come on, did he think you would buy that?

I agree w/ the creep factor, & great idea to have a male friend w/ you, ( as big as possible, lol)  if you meet him again.  The jealous boyfriend is a good one too!!

This man sounds dreadful. I've no time for people who dump their pets.



Aleocat, we're all worried for you and this cat. Please keep us updated on what happens.

Depending on where you live and the shelter responsible, little may be done.  Lots are overrun.  So you may have to stay on them to do anything and by the time they do, it may be too late.  I would say take a big guy with you and introduce them as your boyfriend or husband even.  Have him tell this creep after the cat is handed over that he is to have no further contact with you or the cat.  But seeing as he already knows where you live and your number, the damage is done.  Who's to say he won't just show up anyway, cat or no cat.  This guy obviously has issues.  I would report him at least to law enforcement so they are aware.

Thanks for all the replies! The creepy guy told me last week he took the cat back to the humane society and I was hysterical because I figured he probably just dumped it again.
Well I finally got ahold of the rescue today. the "cat adopter" showed up at the rescue contacts personal house without notice this past week and returned the cat after the weekend with a variety of strange explanations that didn't add up to them as well. The rescue organization never knew the cat was missing even though the man had told me they did know. This man told the rescue when he returned the cat that that the cats had gotten outside while taking it "on a walk" which they assumed was that the cat disappeared In the persons neighborhood for a day or two. When it was really weeks and halfway across town. they were very distressed to learn the entire story as well and both of us question the persons overall mental stability as well as logic behind why the cat was on the street when he could have been turned in to them no questions asked. I just can't understand why someone would dump a cat/ "purposely" lose a cat then not even try to find it BUT then want it back for a weekend!!. The kicker was the man had already gotten rid of cat food, cat carrier, litterbox, and flea meds. Sure didn't sound like someone who wanted his cat to come home but still wanted the cat again for those few days.
I probably should've just offered him the homing fee and convinced him to leave the cat with me last week instead of him ever taking it home. I just wanted him out of my house once he started lingering and once he left realized what a bad spot I had left the cat in. ( I did have 2 adult men in the house with me the whole time who were extremely uncomfortable with the exchange as well).
The rescue seems to believe he wanted a kitten and then dumped it when it was grown.

The whole situation has been very distressing. The odds that someone who cares about cats actually finds it and gets the microchip read are already so low and for the owner to act so bizarre in response was almost devastating!
I thought id be returning a long lost cat to a family and then after finding the owner I end up spending the weekend in tears and wishing I hadn't even tracked the owners down!

I'm just so relieved that the cat was turned back in to the rescue rather than dumped again.its scary that this person could have solid vet references and home visit and then do something like that. the man will be added to a do not adopt list as well.
hopefully nobody else has to go through this type of experience when they're trying to do a good deed!
luckily this story has a fairly happy ending (although the cat still needs a home now). But it could have ended badly on multiple counts.
thanks everyone for the support and advice!!

I am very glad this sketchy man will be added to the "do not adopt" list. People that adopt cute baby animals just to dump them when they grow up are just another part of the scum of the earth in my opinion. What did he think, that it was going to stay a kitten forever? Some people, seriously. Also very glad for your safety and how you handled the situation, stressful or not. You did well! 

What a frightening experience! I'm glad it turned out well for you and the cat in the end. This man should be added to the Do-Not-Adopt list on all the shelters in your area, as you said his motives for wanting a kitten in the first place are very suspicious.

Some people just think of animals as a toy or an accessory, don't they? I had a nine week old kitten dumped outside my house a few weeks ago. The sweetest, friendliest little thing you've ever seen and obviously terrified about being outside on his own. Someone must have noticed that I have cats and thought it would be OK to dump him here. How does anyone have a kitten for such a short time and then just decided to throw him away like an old toy? I can't understand these people at all.

Thanks for all you do to help the stray cats in your neighbourhood aleocat, we need more people like you in the world.

Glad both you and the cat are safe.

I agree with everyone, & am so glad to hear the news. Yes, he should be on ALL the shelter/adoption list for that, to not adopt out to!

You did a good job! 

That's so frustrating that people dump cats on people(in areas) they know will take care of them. it makes me happy to know that there's so many out there who have the same issues and who ultimately do the right thing as well!