Woman Adopts Kitten From Shelter Only To Be Contacted By Previous Owner
"She said she saw a post on Facebook"
Pets hold a special place in our lives, often becoming more than companions—they’re family. For many people, the process of adopting a rescue animal is deeply emotional.
It means offering a safe home to a creature that has endured hardship, neglect, or abandonment. At the same time, pet ownership carries responsibilities, such as ensuring an animal’s health, safety, and long-term security.
Conflicts sometimes arise when a rescued pet has a murky history, leaving both new adopters and previous owners grappling with what’s right. Who does the animal truly “belong” to—the one who originally owned it, or the one who stepped in to provide care when no one else did?
That’s the dilemma one young woman faced after she adopted a six-month-old kitten from a shelter. The kitten had been found abandoned on the road, injured from a dog bite, and required medical attention.
The shelter cared for her, arranged for spaying and microchipping, and eventually placed her up for adoption. The woman, 21, fell in love with the cat immediately and eagerly brought her home once she recovered.
But just days later, she received an unexpected message from someone claiming to be the kitten’s original owner. This person said the cat had gone missing after slipping outside and insisted she wanted her back, even offering to pay.
Despite being shown photos, the adopter refused, telling her that the cat was legally adopted from the shelter and she had no intention of returning her.
The OP asks:
RedditA 21-year-old woman recently faced this situation after adopting a six-month-old kitten from a shelter.
Once the kitten was spayed, microchipped, and healed, the woman finalized her adoption and brought her home.
Shortly afterward, the woman received a message from someone claiming to be the kitten’s original owner.
This person said the kitten had slipped outside while she was moving homes and had gone missing for a month. She even provided photos and offered to pay to get her cat back.
The OP refused, explaining that the kitten was legally hers through the shelter and she would not return her.
This situation raises a tough question: once an animal enters a shelter system and is adopted out, should a prior owner still have any claim to them? On one hand, losing a pet can be devastating, and it’s easy to imagine the pain of finding out someone else has your cat. On the other, the new adopter took on the responsibility at a critical time, offering stability and safety
The kitten wasn't chipped
RedditThe story of how the kitten got out doesn’t hold water.
Reddit
She lost all rights
Reddit
Founding information like that...
RedditGrounds for getting blocked...
Reddit
Doesn't really make sense, does it?
Reddit
In cases like these, many believe the shelter adoption process creates a clear line—past ownership ends when an animal is surrendered or abandoned. At the end of the day, the priority should be the animal’s wellbeing, and in this case, the kitten seems to have found a stable, loving home.
