WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

Our neighbors have an "outdoor" cat named Cinnamon. Cinnamon wanders the neighborhood day and night in search of food, shelter, etc. because these people barely take care of their human children, nevermind the care of a cat. They constantly allow her to get knocked up and depending on when her babies are born, they either die, become prey for another animal or simply disappear. The other day one of her six week old kittens wandered into our yard and meowed it's head off until I found it and fed it. When I brought the kitten back, the owners daughter told me to leave it in the bushes; they won't let them in the house (meanwhile the house is full on banjo playing W/T). Cinnamon has been sleeping/living in/under my front deck for about a week now and WONT leave. I would love to take her in as she is the sweetest/most loving little thing ever but John is extremely allergic and my Mom already has four cats (one of my own). She's already made mention that she will take Cinnamon if someone within her population dies off, she just can't take another (my Dad is in poor health and it's enough of a toll on them to take care of the four). I just don't know what to do. The other night while it was storming, the poor thing huddled in the corner of my deck looking for shelter. I haven't seen anything of her babies and I suspect she's PG again. Should I call Suffolk ASPCA? Would they do anything about it? Technically, they aren't "abusing" her and I'm sure if push came to shove, they would deny owning her. She's underweight but not starving as many of the neighbors in the area rotate feeding her/her kittens. A few have taken in her litters. I've thought about taking her to a no-kill shelter, but I'm sure they are so overcrowded as is. John thinks I shouldn't get involved and if I stop feeding her (which I can't do while she's howling at my front door to be let in/to get food), that she'll eventually "go back" there. I'm also afraid that if my Mom breaks down and does take her, it's considered "stealing" because it's well known that she's "their" cat.

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

What's that place on LI that everyone always mentions...Little Shelter

eta How will they know if you take her, it sounds like they don't know where she is anyway, half the time, right!

Message edited 7/9/2009 1:36:04 PM.

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

The complication comes from the fact that Amber LOVES the cat and is friendly with the granddaughter (who lives in this mess). Occasionally she comes over and I'm afraid that Amber in passing will mention "My Mommy took Cinnamon XYZ"...she's not real good at keeping her mouth shut or NOT mentioning stuff she shouldn't. I just don't want some legal ramifications over a cat. Plus they don't seem like the most balanced crew. John has spoken to the father 1 or 2 times and when he mentioned in passing that we were getting married the guy actually said to John that he expected an invitation since our kids are "friends". When John explained that it wouldn't be happening (due to space limitations), the guy got insulted and called his granddaughter home..

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

I would personally spay, trap and neuter her. She clearly isn't "their" cat. That's the least you could do. She can't just keep being allowed to have kittens. Then after fixing her, i would probably start taking care of her at the very least, while she is outside. What dirtbags to say the least.

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

Re: WWYD - Neighbors not caring for cat..

This is how "Wrangler" (he was named Skittles by his owner but we found him sleeping in our Jeep) became "ours".

I doubt he ever spent any time in his original owners home after we had originally thought he was a stray ... he was outside or in our house (I think even one other neighbor let him in during winter).

I have no advice because someone else actually neutered him, we never spoke to the owners after the initial "CAT FOUND" flyers we put up, and when Wrangler became very ill, I rushed him to the ER and ultimately had to make a heartwrenching decision to have him go in peace.

GOOD LUCK