Cat has adopted me, complicated situation

A beautiful kitty found me about 2 months ago. I couldn't imagine she was stray, and I was nearly 100% positive she wasn't feral. After about a week, I started putting food and water out for her, just in case she was a stray and not someone's pet. And maybe a week after that, I finally got a chance to pet her, and was so shocked by how skinny she was (this is a fluffy long haired cat) and it broke my heart! It was so cold outside, and she would meow at the back door ALL night begging to be let inside. I am not allowed pets where I live but decided to foster her for a week or 2 until I could figure out what to do with her. Well as much as I didn't want to, I called my local animal control to pick her up, figuring this sweet adorable lil lady must have family looking for her. Whaddya know, the very next day I got a knock on the door asking if I had their cat! I said I had the shelter come pick her up, and I could tell they were irritated with me. This was a week ago. And last night around 9, who shows up on my porch but the same dang kitty. This makes me feel very upset. This means she wasn't lost when she showed up the first time, but rather she has a home very close by and she was practically starved and dehydrated half to death and allowed to roam (completely declawed mind you) in the frigid cold without being let in. And for these people to come looking for her the very next day she was taken to a shelter just tells me they knew she was here all along. I don't know what else to feel except disgusted with these people. I wish more than anything I could just keep her, yes I know that doesn't seem moral either. What if anything should I do in this situation?? I should reiterate the fact I am not judging people who let their cats roam, but this seems so much like neglect and I love this cat and can't stand to see any animal mistreated. There is a difference between a roaming cat and a cold starving pet who is not let in for the night even in 10° weather. Am I overreacting?

You are absolutely not overreacting!  Poor sweet kitty.  There is cat in my area where the owners let him roam all winter long.  Yet he is well fed, just outside all night in the bitter cold.  I care for 4 feral cats on my property so sometimes he will find shelter there.  

You are in a tough situation.  You could report the family to the ASPCA or humane society for cruelty.  Yet it can often be hard to prove.  Usually the family will keep the cat inside for awhile and then back out they send her.  

If it were me and the cat was starving and hungry, I would let her inside.  Give her food and shelter.  You could put her back out in the morning and see what happens.  I am not saying it's ok to "steal" someone's cat.  Yet I also don't think it's ok to allow her to freeze or starve to death either.  A completely declawed cat is defenseless outside.  

If you can't bring her inside, you could get her a nice cozy warm bed.  If you have electricity outside you can even provide one that is heated.  

I am so sorry you are having to go through this.  The most important thing is that the kitty doesn't freeze or starve.  You could call Animal Control or the ASPCA or your local Humane Society and ask for their help too.

Thank you for caring for this sweet one.

I went ahead and put one of my old dresser drawers out back and filled it with fluff and loosely laid baby blankies, I need to find something better than that if she's going to keep coming round. My problem is that I cannot risk losing my lease due to letting a kitty inside I risked it for those couple weeks because I just could not stand leaving her out there but it's not a great solution to let her in anymore. Especially now that I know she 'belongs' to someone. I think if I do make a call it will have to be to the shelter who released her to her family? I'm not sure, I just do not know where they live or their contact info. I guess I can make a decision after tonight... If she comes back I will have to try to contact someone because it's just not right! She's the sweetest cat I've ever met, truly!

My little 'Gypsy'
I'd 'steal' her in a heartbeat if I was allowed pets lol!

If it were me I would offer these people money to release the cat to you. (Always amazed what people will do for money.) I would then get the cat to a NO-KILL shelter for adoption. If the people do release her to you, be sure to have them sign a dated release.

Cannot believe these morons completely declawed her.

I would advise animal control that the cat is back on  your property.  Sad that by fattening her up, you actually did her  a disservice as if you would have called animal control while she was underweight and dehydrated they may have seen the issue of neglect differently than when it is a cat that seems to be in good health.  Not right to let the cat suffer, but then if you are providing care for the cat, its hard to prove the cat is not being cared for... Tell your neighbors that their cat is crying at your door all night and ask them to consider building their own outdoor shelter for their own cat.  There are many needy kitties out there you can  help.  If your heart is just set on co-owning this cat... then just always be aware it doesn't matter how much you put into the cat, its not your cat.  I don't want your heart to break if your neighbors decided they don't want you to have anything to do with their cat anymore.