Question

We live in an area where cats are frequently abandoned. One pregnant cat, took up residence in our barn. She had no collar and no one responded to postings so we decided to keep her. She was very skittish and would not come in the house. We set up a birthing box in the barn, but she had her kittens elsewhere. We searched and finally found them across a very busy highway in someone else's country home. They come down once a month. Found the 3-4 wk old kittens and took them home. They refuse to return them. Can we get them back?

Answer

People who believe that their animals are being wrongfully withheld can sue to try to get the animals returned. Proving ownership of animals left on someone else’s property would be an uphill battle, particularly when the person claiming ownership never took possession of the animals. Perhaps the people who rescued the kittens recognized that they needed essential care to save their lives. I hope the cat you decided to keep is indoors now so she is not running across a very busy highway.

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