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Law and Cat Order: The Kitty Dispute Spills Over
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 15, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 15, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The law moves slowly. Last year, we posted about a disputed Russian Blue cat who wandered from her Lower East Side apartment, only to be rescued and adopted by a new owner. The original owner of Oliver, Chavisa Woods, is fighting the system, trying to get her cat back, but it turns out there is a 111 year old law that says owners only have 48 hours to notify Animal Care and Control that a cat is missing - if they don't, then all bets are off. The loophole, though, that a judge sided with, is that the 48 hours should only begin when the cat is listed as missing (yes, it's all very confusing), and it's hard to say whether Oliver was registered. Now, Oliver is known as Gatsby, under the care of an owner for over a year who is unwilling to give up the kitty. Oliver/Gatsby was lost while Woods was away for a day, and her roommate's friend left a door or window open; it was only after the cat had been with new owner Jane Doe (not a real name, of course) that Woods found out Oliver was okay - though named Gatsby.
The NY Times notes that rescue groups may be unwilling to claim and keep cats - and that potential adoptive parents may be unwilling to adopt - if the 1894 is reversed in some way. This is very Solomonic (or however you spell the adjective that refers to King Solomon). Even though you can bond with a cat in moments, if you were any kind of cat lover, you'd be sympathetic to the cat's original owner. We just hope for the best - it seems there are two very passionate cat owners here.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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