Hi, I have purchased a home and moved in in Sep 2017. The old owner had a cat which she 'apparently' couldn't find on her move out day.
Her daughter came back about a week or two later to see if we got the cat. At that time we only saw the cat during the inspection day a month before (Aug '17).
About a month later after moving in the cat returned to the property and wanted to stay in the house. It was very skinny and we let her eat and stay as she pleased. We also let the real estate agent know that the cat was around and told him to tell the owners that the cat has returned. We wanted to give it back before we got attached to her.
The cat was not a special breed and looked over 2 years old. We feed her regularly and even installed a cat door in the laundry after the real estate agent haven't got back to us, (it was obviously an outdoor cat as the previous owners didn't have a way for the cat to get inside the house). She looks much healthier now rather then when we saw her on the inspection day before moving in to the property. She responds and comes when I call her to come to the house too now. She even comes out and greets me when I return home in the car regularly.
The other day now 10 months later the owner (daughter of the previous owner of the property) of the cat came and said she was expecting a parcel but it was coming to her old address. I came out to check the mail but it wasn't there but 3 of the 5 letters were for her mother (they still haven't changed address for many things even after 10 months). She asked if she could leave the number so I could contact her when her parcel came.I said it was fine and wrote down her phone. At the end she asked me of I have seen a dark cat around as they couldn't get her when they moved out as she 'doesn't come' when they call her and is hard to get.
I have since given the cat a new name (I don't know what they called her) and she regularly comes and responds to it.
I am an animal lover and I was happy to take care of the cat and not give it to the shelter after all this time the owners haven't really attempted to retrieve their pet.
Is it actually legal for me to keep her as during her questioning of the cat I have told her that I only saw it occasionally.
I would be grateful for any advice for this situation!!
Her daughter came back about a week or two later to see if we got the cat. At that time we only saw the cat during the inspection day a month before (Aug '17).
About a month later after moving in the cat returned to the property and wanted to stay in the house. It was very skinny and we let her eat and stay as she pleased. We also let the real estate agent know that the cat was around and told him to tell the owners that the cat has returned. We wanted to give it back before we got attached to her.
The cat was not a special breed and looked over 2 years old. We feed her regularly and even installed a cat door in the laundry after the real estate agent haven't got back to us, (it was obviously an outdoor cat as the previous owners didn't have a way for the cat to get inside the house). She looks much healthier now rather then when we saw her on the inspection day before moving in to the property. She responds and comes when I call her to come to the house too now. She even comes out and greets me when I return home in the car regularly.
The other day now 10 months later the owner (daughter of the previous owner of the property) of the cat came and said she was expecting a parcel but it was coming to her old address. I came out to check the mail but it wasn't there but 3 of the 5 letters were for her mother (they still haven't changed address for many things even after 10 months). She asked if she could leave the number so I could contact her when her parcel came.I said it was fine and wrote down her phone. At the end she asked me of I have seen a dark cat around as they couldn't get her when they moved out as she 'doesn't come' when they call her and is hard to get.
I have since given the cat a new name (I don't know what they called her) and she regularly comes and responds to it.
I am an animal lover and I was happy to take care of the cat and not give it to the shelter after all this time the owners haven't really attempted to retrieve their pet.
Is it actually legal for me to keep her as during her questioning of the cat I have told her that I only saw it occasionally.
I would be grateful for any advice for this situation!!