Hello all,

It would be great if anybody could shed some light on my problem.

Roughly two years ago my girl friends parents moved into a new house, the previous owners of the house had moved aboard, but left their cat behind so my girl friends mum started to look after him (he was skinny and unable to jump very well).
The adopted cat didn't get along with cat they already owned, they started to fight and spray on the furniture etc, so she suggested that I adopt the cat.
So I took him in, and went to the vets got him his jabs and a check over (he had muscle wastage on his back leg).
The cat settled in put on weight begins to get stronger (climb trees etc). A year on I took him to get his jabs again and thought I would get him chipped.
Here's the problem when the vet scanned him he already had a chip from the previous owners that left him behind when they moved abroad, who I have heard have now moved back to England again (The neighbors of the original house told my girl friends mum).
I was told by the vet I would have to right a letter to get the information changed on the chip. I am worried that they will contact the previous owners that left and neglected him and they will want to claim him back. I've had him for 1 year and 7 months, and he is now strong healthy and happy.
Has anybody had any similar experiences and could offer any advise, thanks for the help

Hi

I doubt very much they would claim him back now. Did you know that legally no one actually owns a cat? I find it totally bizarre but apparently according to the police you can't claim ownership of a cat even if you have paid for it.

Well done for turning him round so much. I think he is as good as yours.

Izzie

__________________

Thanks for the reply Izzie, do you think I should go ahead with it all then (changing details) do you know what would happen if there was a dispute about who the cat should live with etc?

Thanks Again

Well they left the cat there didn't they, i bet your vet would back you up, i definitely think you should change the details. I very much doubt they would want him back now, they haven't even probably given him another thought, if he meant that much to them they would have homed him properly.

Im not sure what would happen if it was disputed maybe citizens advice could tell you.

Izzie

__________________

I am 99% sure the previous owners don't give a monkeys about the cat, as you don't just leave a cat behind when you move house, and he was skinny and could'nt even jump onto a low chair.
Anyhoooo I going to do a bit more research just in case, thanks for the help

Hi,

Well a bit of research certainly won't hurt will it? Glad to be of help to you, I think its great what you did. Let me know how you get on.

Izzie

__________________

this must crop in with the various rescues on a regular basis - perhaps the nearest branch of Cat Protection could advise you of the legal position?

Hi,

Great idea Trigger, it must happen lots really.We have tons of cats that go missing over here, I wonder when people will finally get the message and start keeping their cats in.


Izzie

__________________

Hi Trigger,

That is a good idea, been going around in circles on the internet I've tracked down the phone numbers for cat rescue and RSPCA so I'll give them a buzz next week see what the say,

Thanks the help

The microchip cannot be changed without previous owners letter or signed form.
If the previous owners wanted him back when contacted, they would be allowed.
I work for a rescue and a member of staff nursed back to health a small persian cat in terrible condition. She wanted to keep him, but the previous owner claimed him. Even as a rescue we had no right stop the return of the cat despite it's condition. The RSPCA do, and we have to report cases like this to them.

The previous owners could state they lost him, not left him.
When stray cats and dogs are brought to us, we scan them, if they are chipped, we get the detaild and contact them. If we cannot contact them, due to house move or whatever then we leave the search with the microchiping people to investigate.

If the cat is happy and well then I would not upset matters trying to change the chip just yet.

You will be surprised how previous owners who did not give a damn, crawl out the woodwork.

The microchip system is not fail proof and we currently have two people claiming they both own the same dog, the microchip has them both down as owner at differant times, and the current owner unreachable!

If puss is happy I wouldn't want to get into a microchip mess!
xx