Kitten moral dilemma

[TrogL]

I think I found the owners of the kitten I found hiding behind the engine block in my van. They had put up a sign in the local 7-11. They described the kitten perfectly. It belongs to three little kids and was lost October 1st. Today is October 23rd.

The kitten has become part of the household. My kids (who visit every weekend) will be upset to find it gone. Hell, I'll be upset. I've spent money on it and I've got it halfways trained. It's a friend for my other cat when we're gone during the day.

I've already left a message (phone number only).

I'm concerned, however. :wtf: was a ten week old kitten doing running around loose?

What I'm hoping is that they gave up and got a new kitten for the three kids and I can keep Pretzel/Pixel for myself and the three kids can be told that it's OK and has a new home.

What should I do?

[Maple]

1. You already

did it.

[indigo32]

2. Right and there are many more kittens that need homes

go to the pound.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. The age of the kitten is the crux of the biscuit, so to speak.

If it were an 8-month-old adolescent that managed to sneak away and not be found, I could understand. But a kitten that's barely weaned? Sounds to me like you're a much better provider for the little fuzzball than this family was. Don't mean to be judgemental against these people but just stating my opinion. I'd say you've done the right thing and the children of this other family can bond with a new little kitty, and hopefully take better care of it this time.

[JewelDigger]

4. The kittens aren't yours to keep (unless the owners agree)

face it all honestly! Just talk w/them and say that you'd like to give them a home....the 'owners' will prolly be happy! Let the 3 kids come and visit - let the kittens 'go back to their old home for a lil while....win/win for everyone I think. You most likely will have some 'new friends in town' if you handle it all well :-)

[TrogL]

5. one kitten

[SOteric]

6. What a cutie pie!

[corarose]

21. A 10 week old kitten doesn't wander away

They were careless and the kids might have been playing with him in the yard and went into the house.
That kitten could have been a road pizza and you rescued it. You have had it longer then they have had it and you are attached to it.
It's not like you found an adult or a several month old kitten.
You RESCUED a baby and it's yours ethical or not.

Buy them another one from the pound or if the cute little guy is pure breed buy them another one of the same breed.

I am mean but it would be hard to part with that kitten and your Cat is use to it now. It was too young for them to be so attached to the little guy anyways.

Yes, I am a bitch but I use to be a Dog Groomer and people would dump pets everyday.
Sorry to say this but that Kitten is yours.

[Sequoia]

34. Yes, they do

they're small and can get out of cracks and all sorts of things. If those kids put up a sign it means they care. Would you take candy from a baby? Call them and ask them when they saw the kitten last and under what circumstances. If you don't do this and keep the kitten one day someone will keep someone or something dear to you. Karma you know. Do the right thing, don't be selfish.

[Kat 333]

7. You're right ...

"Moral dilemma" describes it purfectly. It's their kitty. Could there be any doubt that you should return it to his home ? Well - why was the kitty running loose. Was that their habit to just let it roam the neighborhood ? Guess I would ask them wtf is up with that. Then go from there ? So sorry you have to deal with this.

[TrogL]

8. My worst fear

is that's it's from the really low-rent housing develoment across the street and the three kids are brats. It also means it's a bloody miracle the kitten survived 'cause it had to cross four lanes of heavy traffic to make it over.

[MissMillie]

26. If it's theirs, return it.

Cats get loose sometimes, despite their owners best efforts to keep them safe.

How would you want to be treated if it were you that had lost the kitten?

[radwriter0555]

30. I second it. You've done a good thing, and they care enough to

put posters up. So pass the kharma on, return that kitten to them.

You can get another kitten at the shelter and will have saved TWO lives.

[REP]

9. Keep The Kitten and Don't Call

Obviously the little brats are unable or unwilling to take proper care of the kitten, and their moron parents aren't any better. All I need know is that they let a 10 week old kitten outside and didn't get around to putting up signs until three weeks later to know that that entire family should not be trusted with the care of helpless animals, ever. I'm so judgemental because I am sick and tired of cleaning up after this kind of moron. There's no moral quandry at all for me - they failed at the basic responsibility of caring for a young animal, and there are no "do overs."

[roguevalley]

10. Keep it and save a life. That kitten was meant to be yours.

I am serious.

[Bertha Venation]

24. damn right

I totally agree w/ you, rogue.

[WillParkinson]

11. I agree with REP!

You take better care of it than they do, apparently. In order to make sure it stays safe it's better off with you.

[TrogL]

15. Am I having a bad day making myself understood?

I thought I said "my worst fear is that the kids are brats". I don't know. The note is in very neat handwriting with correct spelling and grammar so who knows whether it's white trash or not. I was dithering about the worst case scenario.

The note wasn't posted three weeks later. I don't know when it was posted. I don't normally go in the 7-11 and I especially don't go near where the notice board is because that's where the cash machine is and it charges $1.50 service charge so I normally go someplace else so it's pure happenstance that I saw the notice at all. For all I know, it's been hanging there since the first and I never saw it.

Be that as it may, I posted signs all over my complex and on the lamp post outside and nobody called.

[patdem]

27. If you LOVE the kitten you must put his 'worst case scenario' out

and KEEP THE KITTY.....BECAUSE HIS WORSE CASE SCENARIIO IS HIS DEATH WARRANT!!!

[kyrasdad]

12. cats

Last mid January, I went to the store to get some chips for the DVD I was going to watch (Triple X with Vin). It was 17 below zero and had been no warmer than 10 above for a week. On returning home, I backed into the drive and started walking into the house when I heard a meow. I laughed thinking my dogs stupid cat got out on the enclosed back porch again and wanted in. Nope... under the back of my car was a half frozen, 3/4 starved to death kitten. Over the next two weeks, and few hundred dollars, the 7 week old lost two inches of tail to frostbite, the tips of both ears, put on some weight from his original 12 ounces (yes, you read that right) and became part of the family. Around the beginning of February, my loser next door neighbors kid mentioned that my cat (who I named Xander after XXX) looked alot like his kitten he lost... on NEW YEARS DAY... I told him I got him from the SPCA and left it at that...

Moral of the story... if they call back tell them he got lose, got eaten by your Rotweiller, whatever... he's yours now...

[yellowdawgdem]

13. I'd keep the kitten

Sounds like you will give it a good home, and I'd just forget about the rest of it. There's no telling what sort of people had the cat before, and no sense worrying about it.

[Brewman_Jax]

14. Stand your ground

The kitten has a good home. The gods have smiled on you. :)

[ploppy]

16. Keep the kitten

She is meant for you.

[ploppy]

17. Keep the kitten

She is meant for you.

[TrogL]

18. I got wakened at 6 a.m. by a purrfest

(formatting)

Big cat curled up against my stomach, little cat attacking my feet (presumably the cover-mouse).

So I had some time to think about things a bit before I had to get up.

Plan A

• Point out that the cat's been here for nearly a month, which is probably longer than it lived at the other place. It considers my place home and if it gets away again, it will end up back in my engine compartment waiting for another rescue. Not good.
  
• It's been adopted by a mama cat. Both with be heartbroken to be separated.
  
• It's been adopted by my three kids. They will be heartbroken to be separated.
  
• I've spent money on it, given it's been weeks and my notices were ignored.
  
• The cat looks like some sort of persian/tabby/tortoiseshell cross. This is unlikely to be a valuable cat.
  
• Offer to let three original kids visit. They will likely end up being or are already playmates of my kids.
  
• Offer to provide a new kitten if they don't have one already.
  

Plan B

• In the unlikely event the cat actually is valuable and/or had high purchase price
  
• In the event the original three kids would be heartbroken at not having that specific cat rather than a replacement
  
• in the event the police or lawyers get involved
  

then

• return the kitten
  
• possibly get replacement kitten from pound
  
• if cat shows up again, all bets are off
  

[Don_G]

20. Go With Plan "A"

Keep the Purrfest, toe-tickling kitten and your morals intact.

[corarose]

19. Buy them another one

Call them up and ask them if they have found their kitten yet and offer to buy them another Kitten.

[WilliamPitt]

22. Keep the kitten

[Bertha Venation]

23. KEEP IT

Keep it, keep it, keep it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

29. Welcome to DU!

I love your nickname!

We're kindasorta neighbors. I'm in PG County :hi:

[TrogL]

25. Update

Found out my step-daughter just had kittens. Her cat I mean. Apparently they're relatively cute and ready for homes. So I've got a backup kitten regardless of what happens.

Reminds me of an exchange at work. The boss, Reg, was your basic psychopath.

TrogL: I just broke one of the [things we sell].
Cow-orker: Reg is gonna have kittens.
TrogL: Ooh, can I have one?
Cow-orker: Maybe you'd better see what they look like first.

[JVS]

28. Eat it!

I bet it is tasty, like veal!

[soleft]

31. I found my beloved Beamer under similiar circumstances

When I found him (trapped behind a riot gate and then in a BMW engine) he had an eye infection, worms, and an upper respiratory infection. My suspicion is he was part of a litter of a store owned cat, but if I had seen a missing poster for him along my travels, I would not have given him up.

[TEXASYANKEE]

32. Tough call.

My first/gut reaction was "keep the kitten, don't call the people." But they did put out a poster, meaning they have some level of attachment to the kitten. After a bit more thought, I guess my advice would be to call them and offer to get them a replacement kitten. Kudos to you for rescuing the little furball!

[geniph]

33. Because it is so young, and you've had it so long

it's not fair to the kitten to make it change homes again. If they call you back (and I doubt they will), then explain that you've spent money on the cat and become very attached, and offer them a new, younger kitty that isn't attached to you already. Unless they paid money for the kit (which I doubt, most people that buy purebreds don't let 'em outside), then they'd probably be thrilled to get a brand-new kitten. Most people don't even want older kittens, they want babies. I personally don't think a kit should even be removed from its mama before 12 weeks or so - they're mostly weaned before that, but the ones that stay with mama longer develop fewer bad habits and tend to be healthier.

[TrogL]

35. Another update

No return phone call, so I've given up.

Mama cat has become even more attached, she's now giving it daily baths and they sleep together on the couch.

I went saw my step-daughter's kittens (more about that on a different thread) and they're cute as a button and there's still three left. If I'd stayed much longer, I'd have adopted a second kitten.

My kids were surprisingly matter-of-fact about giving up the kitten, which surprised me, but when I raised the issues above, they agreed that letting the other family have a step-daughter-kitten was a better solution.