'I can't even think of sending her back to a house that didn't even look for her': A month after a 30-year-old woman adopts a sweet stray, her next-door neighbors claim it's theirs, leaving her in the middle of a catstody conflict

Six and a half weeks ago, a fearless feline boldly barged into a townhouse, staking out the future "cat room" like she owned the place. The hoomans wanted to keep her but first tried vet checks, microchips, flyers, and Facebook alerts to make sure they weren't poaching a neighbor's whiskered wanderer. When the legal seven-day window passed, they fully embraced their new furry overlord: spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, and with a custom playground of climbing, scratching, and nap spots. She earned a name, a throne, and complete access to all rooms, following her hoomans like a tiny shadow with impeccable timing.

It seemed like fate as the hoomans were planning on adopting a cat anyway. But fast forward to today: the alleged owners appear, the literal next-door neighbors, claiming the cat is theirs. Cue the dramatic side-eye and twitching tails. These new pawrents have proof they did all the right things, while the neighbors seem to have done very little except claim ownership with a photo of the cat.

Legally, the hoomans own her, but they can't help feeling a pang of guilt. They don't want to fight with their neighbors, but don't want to give her up to a home that didn't bother to look for her. For now, the cat is enjoying her kitty kingdom while her hoomans figure out the catstody situation.

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The cat clearly chose you and is legally and morally yours, but letting the teen spend time with her could be a sweet compromise. Everyone gets cuddles without giving up the purrfect new family member
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If you’re willing to hand the cat back, maybe make it conditional. They cover all the vet fees and supplies. That way, the kitty stays cared for and everyone shares responsibility fairly.
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It’s a tricky spot. Clearly their cat, but you’ve already adopted her. Maybe a joint catstody arrangement could work, sharing cuddles, treats, and responsibilities without losing the purrfect balance.
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