We need advice ASAP.
Early Aug. a stray kitty started coming around. Tremendously undernourished, filthy, covered with fleas. Ear tips raw, I assume from flea bites. We fed her. A couple weeks later (mid Aug.) she showed up with 4 kittens, they all took up residence first in a brush pile near our house then in our garage a few days later. I gave all the kittens flea baths as, like mom, they were loaded with them and put up fliers all over town to adopt them out, and took mom to the vets. On Sept 1 we had the mom spayed so there would be no more unwanted kittens and the vet said she was likely to come into heat again any day. Today, Sept 8, over 2 weeks since we put up our first fliers, we received a phone call from people that live near by (about 500 feet) saying the cat and kittens are their barn cats and they want them back.
I hate to give any of these cats back as the mom was obviously very neglected and the others most likely will be too. Do I have the right to tell these people they cannot have the mom back unless they pay the vet bills, including the spaying? The lady who called said they didn't have any intention of spaying her so they don't want to pay for it.
The lady is coming by tomorrow to pick up the kittens.
Can you advise us as to what rights we have concerning these animals. Our intentions were to keep the mom as a pampered house kitty and find good homes for all the kittens, they have been put on a waiting list for a local animal rescue org. In the mean time, we would give them all proper care including shelter, shots, keeping them free of fleas, and getting each neutered or spayed.
BTW, neither mom nor kittens were forced to stay here except, of course, after the spaying where mom is recouperating in the the house.
hairballmom
Early Aug. a stray kitty started coming around. Tremendously undernourished, filthy, covered with fleas. Ear tips raw, I assume from flea bites. We fed her. A couple weeks later (mid Aug.) she showed up with 4 kittens, they all took up residence first in a brush pile near our house then in our garage a few days later. I gave all the kittens flea baths as, like mom, they were loaded with them and put up fliers all over town to adopt them out, and took mom to the vets. On Sept 1 we had the mom spayed so there would be no more unwanted kittens and the vet said she was likely to come into heat again any day. Today, Sept 8, over 2 weeks since we put up our first fliers, we received a phone call from people that live near by (about 500 feet) saying the cat and kittens are their barn cats and they want them back.
I hate to give any of these cats back as the mom was obviously very neglected and the others most likely will be too. Do I have the right to tell these people they cannot have the mom back unless they pay the vet bills, including the spaying? The lady who called said they didn't have any intention of spaying her so they don't want to pay for it.
The lady is coming by tomorrow to pick up the kittens.
Can you advise us as to what rights we have concerning these animals. Our intentions were to keep the mom as a pampered house kitty and find good homes for all the kittens, they have been put on a waiting list for a local animal rescue org. In the mean time, we would give them all proper care including shelter, shots, keeping them free of fleas, and getting each neutered or spayed.
BTW, neither mom nor kittens were forced to stay here except, of course, after the spaying where mom is recouperating in the the house.
hairballmom