I know this sounds weird, but its a very serious question. What do I do if I want to keep my cat when I leave the home I'm in and go to my best friend's house to live? Her parents are fine with him living with us, and he is MY cat.
My grandma only complains about him and how he whines when he needs to be fed and how sometimes she has to clean the litter box, and its just annoying! She often says things about getting rid of him, but I know when all of this happens she'll suddenly want him. He does have papers, he is a pure bred traditional Siamese (He's thicker out of the two, and doesn't fit the Cat Fancier's Association definition of a Siamese)
Here's the catch, I think I could get him, but he was given to me by my grandma's friend. He has papers, and I'm afraid they'll take him from me. Hes so loving, and talks to me and I just love him to bits and with how he is around strangers I couldn't imagine him be as happy without me as he is now.
Could the original owner try to get him? He was technically a gift, so I think I can take him when I leave. I'm just worried I won't have my baby.
Can they take him from me?
Backstory: He is a gift to me from my grandma's friend. My grandma is just the manipulative and selfish type that would take him just to be that way. To him, I am his and he would be so torn up to not have me. You should hear him crying when I leave, cats can cry!
I am getting a job, and I already feed/clean him everyday. I do take the most care of him, and other than meowing (Which is a Siamese trait) hes a wonderful cat. No scratching, and hes already met the pets that are already living there and likes them all.
I do remember your previous questions (including the MIAs), so I do "get" it. However, your welfare is the most important aspect right now. I appreciate your commitment to your cat.....& hope/pray he'll be able to stay with you....whatever may be in your future.
1st step: who has legal ownership of the cat, who's listed on the paperwork? Who pays for the care of the cat, both food & vet bills? That's your starting point..... Peace.
if he is your cat he is your cat. take him with you
If your name is on the papers and he was given to you as a gift then legally he belongs to you. Make sure you have the papers in your possession and all of his belongings that you paid for and a cat carrier. If there's anything that your grandmother paid for, I would leave it behind. Otherwise, he's legally your property unless you're not listed as his owner.
I would casually mention to your grandma about taking him with you and seeing how she responds. If she makes a comment like "what makes you think he is going with you" then I would just take him when you leave and not mention it to her again. He was a gift from her friend to YOU, not her. Are you able to go to her friend and have them write a letter confirming he is a gift from them to you? Good luck!
Who pays the vet bills and takes him to the vet? Who buys his food? I'm not as up on cats (never had a dispute about cat ownership), but with horses, a simple bill of sale should suffice. This would basically be a note or letter, with the signature of grandma's friend, stating that she gave the cat to you (it would be better if you paid her some small amount of money, like $10) and that she recognizes you to be the rightful owner of Mr. Fancy Pants, registered Siamese (list his color, gender, age & other identifying characteristics). Get it witnessed, and you keep the original and give a copy to grandma's friend.
Legally, that probably will work. However, that won't necessarily make Grandma happier. So, in addition to the above, you probably should talk to her about it.
I don't get it either. Who is going to take him from you? Your grandma? If she doesn't like him, why would she take him from you? Weird.
I just had to look at your post when I saw the heading.
No offense, but it was evil curiosity. Sorry.
I'm not an evil person, it's just that I know a couple who got divorced and it was written into their divorce that they were to share custody and visitation of their bird. The husband even paid "child support", by court order, for the bird.
Hey....to each his own.
Does your grandmother know you're moving out? Have you talked to her about taking the cat with you?
I just want to say that you don't want to burn any bridges. Be prepared for Plan B if you have to take the cat back. He may love you, but some cats don't tolerate moving to new environments well.
Best wishes.
I do not "get it" if it's your cat, it's your cat.
pets are properrty, not people. He has papers. To whom is he registered? That is the lawful owner. What's going to happen if you just pick up the cat and walk out? Will someone call the police? Have you talked to your gramma about keeping the cat when you leave? And reminding her it was a gift to you? I would be sure you are the one feeding, changing litter box and paying for food, if you want her to recognize that you love this cat enough to take care of it by yourself.
From experience...if you do take your cat with you, and he is an inside, outside cat, you need to cage him for aleast 10 days without letting him out. Move the cage to different areas, inside and outside until he is used to the new surrounding. If you fail to do this, your cat will run off and be insearch of his old home. I understand you wanting to take him with you...I would live in my car before I gave my animals up to strangers. Good luck there, sweetie!!!
Ok. I get to ask the hard questions. Can you afford to take care of him. Feed him, take him to the vet for shots. Clean out the litterbox? Change his water every day. Is the new place you going to cat friendly. did you cat pick up habits like scratching furniture that is going to piss off the new home. Will they keep him inside and safe? if you are planning to keep him in your room you will need to clean that litter box every day, change the water ever day and feed every day. If you believe you can do it and it was a gift toyou then its your cat.
Your cat was a gift, take his papers and take him. I sounds like you are leaving your grandmother's home under poor circumstances. Is there more to this then cat custody?
Blessings...
