'AITA for stealing my own cat back?'
"AITA for stealing my own cat back?"
I got my cat Pebbles from a humane society when she was two months old. She is now five years old and soon to be six. I love her with my whole heart.14 months ago, I had to move to an apartment that didn't allow pets in the contract.
I had no choice but to re-home Pebbles and was heartbroken. But my grandma took her for me, so it wasn't so bad because I could visit Pebbles any time. She was safe in a house, all indoors, and well cared for.
Three months ago, grandma died, and of course, that was hard enough, but on TOP of that, Pebbles got grabbed without anyone consulting me and brought to my uncle and aunt's house to live. They put her outside with their other farm cats. I drove out on my day off to see her, and she was looking scared and bedraggled. But they insisted she was okay. I went home heartbroken and angry.
Recently I was able to move into a better pet-friendly apartment with a roommate. I asked if I could have Pebbles back, but my aunt said no, that my cousins (F15 & F18) have grown attached. So last week, during work hours, I took off on my lunch break, drove to the farm while they were at work and school, found Pebbles, put her in my car, and drove home to my new apartment.
It took them two days to even figure she was gone. Then, of course, my aunt called me and asked if I had taken Pebbles. I said yes. She started to yell, so I just said, 'she's MY cat, and I gave her to grandma for a while, not you, and then have Ng up.
I'm legally clear because I took Pebbles back to the vet. I took her to her whole life for a checkup, got her papers up to date, and microchipped her in my name. But my parents called me and told me they were disappointed in me, that it was immature to steal Pebbles and that the girls were heartbroken.
I'm sorry my cousins are sad. I would do it again. Pebbles is my cat, and they weren't taking care of her right. I never wanted to give her up anyway. If I'm the a**hole, that's fine.
Here's what people had to say to OP:
PugRexia says:
NTA). Sounds more like you rescued your cat to me..
bellePunk says:
NTA Your cousins are not sad. They have multiple cats and didn't even notice Pebbles was missing, the adults are using this as an excuse to make you feel guilty. They weren't even taking good care of pebbles, why would you return your cat to people who stole it and didn't take proper care of it?
throwaway7381293027 says:
NTA. As you said, you temporarily gave her to grandma not them. They shouldn’t have taken Pebbles to begin with. If the cousins are attached that’s too bad. It’s been three months ffs. You and pebbles are more attached to each other. Don’t give her back to them. They can go f#$% themselves.
Don't worry, cops will have to pry Pebbles from my cold dead hands before I give her up again lol
Your cousins are not sad. They have multiple cats and didn't even notice pebbles was missing, the adults are using this as an excuse to make you feel guilty. NTA Pebbles is your cat and belongs with you. They weren't even taking good care of pebbles, why would you return your cat to people who stole it and didn't take proper care of it?
Wild-Staple2116 OP:
I wouldn't
Why are you even asking us if you’re fine with being the a&^%ole?
But for the record, I don't think you are. Your grandmother was keeping the cat for you, as far as I understood it. Although the laws in your state might have given your grandmother legal ownership, I think the understanding was that, had she been alive when you finally found a place where you could keep Pebbles, she would have given her back to you.
However, your uncle and aunt simply absconded with Pebbles, with no one’s permission. In my state, if you feed an animal for ten days, you own it. Which may give them legal rights to Pebbles.
But it sounds like either these rights don’t apply in your state, or your aunt and uncle aren’t going to assert them. They might not even know about their rights. But I would say from a moral standpoint, you’re in the right. How attached could your cousins have been if they didn’t even notice for two days? For whatever it’s worth, I say NTA. It sounds like Pebbles is much safer with you.
Oh,I'm asking BC I'm gonna sent this thread to my parent's and aunt to shut them up if I'm deemed NTA