I'm not too sure where to post this, but we consider our cats a part of our family so I figure the family board would be the most likely place to post this.
First, let me say I'm a big cat lover and have three. If one of my cats got lost I would hope some kind person would help him find his way home. That's exactly what I'm trying to do with a stray kitty.
Yesterday I was at a vet buying some cat food when a lady came in with an adorable little black & white kitten, appeared to be about 3-4 months old. She said it was a stray she had found. The vet scanned it and found an ID chip. They were able to find the owner's phone numbers and name. Well, the lady was quite adamant she wouldn't keep the cat, saying her daughter was allergic to cats. The vet tried to give her the names of some shelters, and tried to explain that they weren't equipped to accept strays and didn't even have an empty cage. She said if he didn't take the cat she would "take it back where she found it and dump it". Well, I couldn't stand to hear that. I offered to take it. I figured I would have it for a few hours until we could contact the owner.
Well, here I am, a day later, still with the cat. I must have left at least 30-40 messages on the owner's answering machine, along with numerous numeric pages. No answer. Also, another number given was the owner's mother. After several calls, I finally got ahold of the mother. She said her daughter had lost a kitten about a week ago. She gave me her daughter's cell. I've called that upteem times with no response to my messages. I did a google on the mother and found her email. Sent mother an email explaining that no one had responded to my calls, would she please contact her daughter? No response. I left a "final" message that I couldn't keep the cat after today. If I didn't hear from someone to make arrangements I would have to take the cat to a shelter. I really don't want to do that, he's a cute little thing, and I feel I took on the responsibility of taking care of him until I could return him to his owners. However, I have three other cats and have to keep this kitty locked in the bathroom. Also, I don't know anything about his health background or if he's had his shots. He appears healthy, however, I really can't take the risk of exposing my kids and other cats to an unknown. I'm trying to locate a no-kill shelter. He's young, cute and healthy and should be adoptable. However, I do want to give the owner's a chance. But if they don't respond, what can I do?
Also, the story just isn't adding up. When I spoke with the mother she indicated that the cat had been lost for about a week. This car is in too good shape to have been lost for a week. He's quite clean, not dirt or fleas, and wasn't even hungry when I brought him home. Perhaps the original owners didn't want him and gave him to the "lady" who brought him in to the vet? Perhaps she changed her mind and decided she didnt want the cat and tried to "dump" it at a vet, not knowing it had an ID chip? BTW, she disappeared quick as a flash when they told her they found the chip and the owner's name--didn't seem glad to have found an owner. Perhaps that's why the original owners' aren't returning my calls? If indeed the original owners don't want the kitty I might be doing it a favor by finding it a new home. If I insist and they pick it up they might just dump it (although it seems they care about the animal or why did they bother to have an ID chip put in?) Well, I'm getting quite concerned and annoyed waiting for someone to call me back about this little kitty. I feel I took on the responsibility of caring for it until I could return him to his owners, however, how far does that responsibility go? Well, opinions, please!
First, let me say I'm a big cat lover and have three. If one of my cats got lost I would hope some kind person would help him find his way home. That's exactly what I'm trying to do with a stray kitty.
Yesterday I was at a vet buying some cat food when a lady came in with an adorable little black & white kitten, appeared to be about 3-4 months old. She said it was a stray she had found. The vet scanned it and found an ID chip. They were able to find the owner's phone numbers and name. Well, the lady was quite adamant she wouldn't keep the cat, saying her daughter was allergic to cats. The vet tried to give her the names of some shelters, and tried to explain that they weren't equipped to accept strays and didn't even have an empty cage. She said if he didn't take the cat she would "take it back where she found it and dump it". Well, I couldn't stand to hear that. I offered to take it. I figured I would have it for a few hours until we could contact the owner.
Well, here I am, a day later, still with the cat. I must have left at least 30-40 messages on the owner's answering machine, along with numerous numeric pages. No answer. Also, another number given was the owner's mother. After several calls, I finally got ahold of the mother. She said her daughter had lost a kitten about a week ago. She gave me her daughter's cell. I've called that upteem times with no response to my messages. I did a google on the mother and found her email. Sent mother an email explaining that no one had responded to my calls, would she please contact her daughter? No response. I left a "final" message that I couldn't keep the cat after today. If I didn't hear from someone to make arrangements I would have to take the cat to a shelter. I really don't want to do that, he's a cute little thing, and I feel I took on the responsibility of taking care of him until I could return him to his owners. However, I have three other cats and have to keep this kitty locked in the bathroom. Also, I don't know anything about his health background or if he's had his shots. He appears healthy, however, I really can't take the risk of exposing my kids and other cats to an unknown. I'm trying to locate a no-kill shelter. He's young, cute and healthy and should be adoptable. However, I do want to give the owner's a chance. But if they don't respond, what can I do?
Also, the story just isn't adding up. When I spoke with the mother she indicated that the cat had been lost for about a week. This car is in too good shape to have been lost for a week. He's quite clean, not dirt or fleas, and wasn't even hungry when I brought him home. Perhaps the original owners didn't want him and gave him to the "lady" who brought him in to the vet? Perhaps she changed her mind and decided she didnt want the cat and tried to "dump" it at a vet, not knowing it had an ID chip? BTW, she disappeared quick as a flash when they told her they found the chip and the owner's name--didn't seem glad to have found an owner. Perhaps that's why the original owners' aren't returning my calls? If indeed the original owners don't want the kitty I might be doing it a favor by finding it a new home. If I insist and they pick it up they might just dump it (although it seems they care about the animal or why did they bother to have an ID chip put in?) Well, I'm getting quite concerned and annoyed waiting for someone to call me back about this little kitty. I feel I took on the responsibility of caring for it until I could return him to his owners, however, how far does that responsibility go? Well, opinions, please!
I would ask this on the Community Board. It will get more responses over there. I hope you can find an answer.
we took the dog with us for safety and he hung out with us for a day or two. We called the local police and left word with them where we could be reached since the dog had no collar. I was prepared to do a full search if we needed to to find his owners. 
aw:
If there is some sort of emergency preventing the owner from contacting me, then you think "grandma" would have said so. I called her back and left a message and also an email, telling her that I had no luck contacting her daughter and would she please try. Well, if there was some problem with the daughter answering you'd think Grandma would at least know. I did speak with Grandma last night, so I know she's aware of the situation. You'd think at least she'd phone or email me back. 
If I don't watch myself I'll end up having a fourth cat! 
My daughter is already giving me the "silent treatment" because I've told her we can't keep the kitty. 
Its not like I don't want to! Four cats is just one cat too many! 
