Roommate Neglects Cat...help!!

an13

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I know this isn't a legal help site but I am scared and at my wit's end.

I have had cats my entire life. I am now in college, living in a Chicago apartment with two other co-tenants. I do not currently have a cat, though my roommate, K, does, and it is clear she does not care for him.

My other roommate, A, and I have been clear from the beginning: the litter box needs to be cleaned, he needs to be fed and groomed, but mostly, he needs to be loved. A and I have been providing most of the love for this pet, which of course does not mean she is neglecting him based on that alone. However, she is bad at giving him food and water regularly. She insists on giving him a feeding schedule but stays out late/all night without asking us to feed him, or sleeps in late so he waits hours for food. She also does not clean the litter box nearly enough, so he will pee elsewhere (I also suspect he may be sick--he hasn't been to the vet in years). He also vomits and it will stay around for weeks without her removing it. These are just the basics...

I have been trying to figure out what to do for months. A & I care for the cat as much as we can, but we are college students with jobs and this is not our pet. Illinois has strict animal cruelty laws but I have been warned that we may be held responsible because we share the lease with her. And even if I report it anonymously or find the cat a new home, she will know I did this and retaliate. She is not a kind person and I would not put it past her to steal/damage my things. Again, I am in college. I cannot afford to move, sue, buy new stuff, etc. But I also cannot allow this to go on.

I recently returned from visiting my family for a month. K is gone, and left us to give food and water to the cat. Not a big deal, we already do this. Her mom is supposed to come clean the litter box, but she didn't leave her keys with her like she said she would so her mom hasn't been here. She didn't tell us this until yesterday, three days after she has left. It is now day 4 without the litter being cleaned. Because it is already rarely cleaned properly and the cat pees elsewhere, our place smells terribly of ammonia. There is vomit on the floor that was there before she left. None of this really surprises me, unfortunately...but this is too far. I am so terrified for this cat and for myself.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Can A and I be held responsible though this is not our cat? Can we get just our roommate evicted, or at least make sure she is unable to resign the lease (it is up in August)? I plan on taking action as I know she moves out. I cannot risk my safety, so I will continue to provide for the cat until that time. I need to know my rights, however.

Please help. I am worried and desperate.
 

margd

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What a horrible situation.  Bless you for stepping in and watching over this poor cat.  I am not a lawyer so while I have some common sense thoughts about your legal responsibilities, I don't know if they're actually accurate.  There are several ways you can get free or very low cost legal advice for something like this.  

1.  Call the closest Legal Aid office to you.  You should be able to get their number from your state's website, by googling Legal Aid, or by calling 211.

2.  Law schools often hold free legal clinics.  Find the closest Law School and call their information number and find out more.

3.  Many regular lawyers offer a free hour of consultation, in hopes clients will then hire them.  You can probably get your questions answered in 30 minutes or less so it wouldn't cost you anything.  This is something you can find with Google.

My common sense thought is that you would not be held responsible for the neglect if you were the one who reported it.  You might be held partially responsible for damage to the apartment unless the lease specifically states the cat belongs to your roommate.

I do have one suggestion.  Ask your roommate if you can simply have the cat.  You'd be surprised how many times neglectful owners like this will relinquish ownership because they see the cat as too much trouble.  Maybe they are gung ho at first, but once they actually have to do a little work or spend a little time and money, the novelty wears off fast.  I realize you can't keep this poor baby yourself but you could find a home for him, or failing that, take him to a no-kill rescue or shelter.

I think you either need to take over full responsibility for this cat while you are living with him or see that he finds a home elsewhere.  This is neglect and the cat deserves better.  And I wouldn't wait on it.  This poor cat is suffering.  

One last thing:  I am absolutely furious at your roommate.  I'd do whatever it took to get her off the lease once "her" cat has found sanctuary elsewhere.

Kudos to you for caring and stepping up to the plate.  Please let us know what happens with this sweet boy.  
 
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foxxycat

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I have stolen cats before. 

I networked with other cat lovers and we came up with the story that the cat ran away. she never questioned it. she didnt want me to have said cat for whatever reason. I worked at a thrift store and the cat lived there. cat was injured and i cared for it. she didnt want me to have it because jealousy. so her mom said no more pets. so the ladies at the store got together and said the door was open and cat ran away. problem solved. I took her home and cared for Krash for 4 years. 

Try to see if you can "find" a catlover to take the cat out of the home. you can say it fell out the window or door left open or something. stick together and get that cat out of there. look up low cost spay neuter clinics as they usually will give vet services-you dont have to tell them what this person did but maybe get him looked at. is he neutered by the way? if not then this is perfect opertunity, un neutered boy cats roam. just say he heard a cat and took off and you couldnt find him. 

i am sure with facebook you know who loves cats in your circle=see if you can set up temporary fostership until you move to another place next year. There are people out there who will do this. you need to start looking at other options. 
 

howmany

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I live foxycats suggestion make him go "missing "while she is gone ( you could offer to help poster if she could be bothered to make and print some .Then buy some cleaner/solution for cat oder and say nothing until she or you move out . As for the lease I have had roomates and it can be supper uncomfortable but I have said So this hasn't worked for us I don't think or I don't want to continue on like this or I was hoping to live with blah blah and so be you want to find new roommates to take over the lease or should A and I tell xyz that she can move in...
 

kittensncoffee

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I do not know about this from a legal standpoint. But just from a kitty lover standpoint, please care for the cat while its in your home. I know the cat isn't yours but it's not the poor kitties fault at all either. Mostly here's a bump maybe someone knows more. Poor kitty and poor you for being in an unfortunate situation. Good luck
 
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