Top News

This woman got the shock of her life when she found out what her neighbours had left behind when they moved out.

Moving home is a stressful time. You have to gather all your belongings and pack them into a van, making sure you don't leave anything behind, as there's a chance you won't be able to come back and collect it. This can be made even more stressful if you've got kids or pets, as they can't pack for themselves, so you'll have to do it for them.

Finding out that you've left something at your old house can fill you with panic, especially if it's something important like your wallet, or food that might go mouldy before the next people move in.

But one woman on social media recently claimed her neighbours left behind a little more than just some milk in the fridge. In a video on TikTok, Jeeno said her neighbours had recently been "kicked out" of their property, and filmed the back of their house from her garden, showing the windows were boarded up.

Shortly after they left the property, however, Jeeno began hearing noises from their garden, and soon realised what they'd managed to leave behind at the property - their pet cat.

She said: "My neighbours got kicked out two days ago, and they left their cat behind."

Jeeno filmed herself giving the cat some chicken and setting it up in her own garden with blankets and a cardboard box that it could relax in. She was initially concerned about bringing it inside because she has a dog already, and said she had contacted the RSPCA for advice on what to do.

The RSPCA were unable to visit her to check on the cat that evening, so Jeeno eventually "snuck" the animal into her house as she didn't want it to be outside in the cold all night.

The next day, Jeeno posted a second video to update her followers on what happened with the cat. She said the following morning she called Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, who told her she would need to see if the cat was microchipped before proceeding, as this would change whether the cat could easily be reunited with its owners.

The RSPCA then arrived at Jeeno's house to check the cat, and told her that it wasn't chipped. This meant it was now classed as a stray, and Jeeno had to go to the council to find out their policy on stray cats.

But when Jeeno and the RSPCA employees spoke to the council, they were able to obtain the contact information for her neighbours - who were eventually reunited with their pet.

She said: "The council gave the RSPCA the contact details for my neighbours. They contacted them, and within a couple of hours, my neighbours came to my house and got the cat."

It can be hard to tell if a cat is a stray or simply an owned cat roaming around outside. The RSPCA states that, as a charity with limited resources, it cannot respond to calls about healthy stray cats, and it will only help animals suffering from cruelty or neglect. However, they have shared some tips if you find a stray, feral, or lost cat:

• Check to see if the cat is wearing a collar or tag with the contact details of the owner - only approach if the cat is calm.
• Ask around locally. Cats roam over a wide area, and sometimes they can be mistaken for strays even when they have owners.
• Contact the local vet to scan for a microchip.
• Advertise on social media and ask around locally.
• Register the found cat on Animal Search UK.

If you cannot find an owner, you can rehome a stray cat yourself. If you're unable to keep the cat, a local animal rescue charity may be able to help, and the RSPCA recommends contacting reputable organisations such as local RSPCA animal centres or Cats Protection.

For more information, visit the RSPCA website.