The weakness in the concept of “cat ownership” can be crystallised if and when your cat wanders around the neighbourhood and finds a place that he prefers to yours, at least for a while. Then the “new owner” can lay claim to your cat. The weakness in cat ownership is that the cat is a living, sentient being with a mind of his own and no knowledge of ownership or trespass.
Most Brits let their cats roam outside. Many wander into neighbouring homes and feed. They do this regularly until the neighbour forms a relationship with the cat. Perhaps that can lead to the new owner keeping the cat inside to cement the relationship.
No matter what exactly happens, a grey area of legal ownership follows as the genuine and first owner gradually and unkowningly loses possession and title to her chattel, her domestic cat.
Sometimes the wandering cat simply settles in the new home and that is that. At that point, the former owner has lost her cat. She gives up and accepts her cat has gone but has no idea if her cat has been killed or lost.
If then, at sometime in the future the former owner knows what has happened and challenges the new owner on her right to ownership, she may have a weak argument. I say “may” because the first owner should have “title” to the cat but when tested in court it may not work out that way.
Or perhaps, as happened, to Teresa Meehan, her cat returns after being away for four months of frantic searching and discovers that her cat Rambo has been microchipped by a neighbour and renamed Butch.
Butch had ended up at Plymouth Cat Rescue centre and been adopted by someone who had cared for him to a good standard.
Mrs Meehan who was delighted at the return of her cat was then dismayed when the police contacted her saying they were investigating whether she has stolen the cat – her cat!
Posters, headed with Plymouth Cat Rescue were circulated claiming that Rambo had been stolen. The situation had become chaotic, unnerving and serious. Mrs Meehan was in the middle of a dispute over the ownership of her cat.
After much effort and no doubt some angst, and with the help of a solicitor, Mrs Meehan resolved the matter in her favour. Rambo stays with her. The correct outcome.
But a lesson was learned. Wandering domestic cats can time-share homes and then migrate from the former home to a new one. This is a de facto change in ownership and at some time in this process, even a judge would have to concede that there had been a transference of ownership by the actions of the parties albeit unwittingly.
So sorry to read your sad news Michele x
R.I.P Sophie.
We were devastated to lose our Bryan to cancer at only 10 years of age too, cats lives are short enough already. It’s only fate that decides who this deadly disease strikes, we lost our dearly loved mother to the same, not that long before Bryan.
At least we can spare our cats the agony of slowly dying from cancer, by setting them free before.
Thanks Dee.
I’m so sorry Michele.
It never gets easier.
R.I.P. Sophie.
Thank you for your kind words Michael. I know how recently you experience bereavement yourself, so I hope I haven’t brought back unhappy memories for you.
I must admit I was so shell shocked by the speed at which Sophie went downhill that I didn’t ask the vet about potential causes. Came away in such a state that I didn’t realise I’d forgotten her carrier until I arrived home.
The vet (not my regular one) allowed me to be present for the x-rays and ultrasound. Apparently it’s rare for cats to develop primary tumours on their liver, as generally they spread there from other organs.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate between the young or the old, so I think a lot of time it’s purely bad luck or maybe even a genetic disposition.
I am sorry to hear this Michele. My condolences. May she rest in peace. Ten years-of-age is not, as you say, a good age. Was it bad luck that she got cancer or could the vet point to anything? It looks like bad luck.
No worries Michael. I don’t know how you manage all the admin and article writing, it must keep you very busy.
On a sad note, I had to have Sophie euthanised today. She stopped eating Thursday and was at the vets all day yesterday and this morning. She was very jaundiced and her liver test results were off the charts. Ultrasound scans revealed she had cancerous tumours on her liver. She was only 10. I’ve never lost a cat that young before and it was totally unexpected.
RIP my feisty one. ’twas heaven having you here with me.