Anonymous wrote:Both cats and dogs should be inside right now. And no cat should ever be an outside cat. You are not fit to have cats if you let them roam.

This is ridiculous. Cats are just fine roaming around when it's not freezing out. People around here are so weird about outside cats. I'm from California, and everyone lets their cats roam.

OP said upthread:

Happy ending to the cat story for those who care! He had gotten out unbeknownst to the family. They came home an hour after my post and said he bolted inside and stayed by the fireplace all evening, hopefully having learned his lesson about sneaking out in wintertime.

Please bring the cat home. If she has been an indoor cat, she will not be able to figure out how to stay warm and may possibly die. Bring the cat home and call humane society. I don't blame the neighbor. Sometimes cats do sneak out from somewhere.

Please bring the kitty inside, if it is safe for you to do so (I know you have allergies). It is dangerously cold for an animal today.

As an aside, I have a childhood memory of seeing a cat outside our window on a very cold day. My parents were not animal lovers but they took the cat in because they knew it couldn't survive outdoors for long. It made a big impression on me.

Anonymous wrote:Both cats and dogs should be inside right now. And no cat should ever be an outside cat. You are not fit to have cats if you let them roam.

This.

It is wildly too cold, and too wet, for a domestic animal to be outside now. Outdoor cats are forced to resort to predation. Outdoor cats are exposed to any number of hazards, ranging from chemical exposure to weather to redneck monsters who set traps to other animals.

We called animal control for a couple dogs that have been loose in our neighborhood without collars. Both our animals have microchips as neither keeps a collar on. They don't immediately put animals down. The chipping doesn't cost much-you might suggest it to your neighbors if the cat is prone to bolting.

Do you have a garage? I have put neighbor's cats in my garage when nothing else worked (I have inside cats so can't bring them inside). Then try dialing the owners. If garage is too cold, then animal control.

Anonymous wrote:For Pete sake don't call animal control... the pet will likely be euthanized. Try to get the cat and keep in your basement until neighbor gets home. If skiddish put out some warm towels. Your neighbor might not know the car got out.

+1. animals are sturdier than you think.

For Pete sake don't call animal control... the pet will likely be euthanized. Try to get the cat and keep in your basement until neighbor gets home. If skiddish put out some warm towels. Your neighbor might not know the car got out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please bring that poor cat into your basement. This breaks my heart.

Mine too. I almost didn't click on this posting because I knew it would, but then I came back and just had to read it.

Please do not ignore this kitty, please keep him or her in your basement. He or she needs to be warm and safe until your neighbor gets home. If you can offer him or her a bowl of water that would be awesome.

Thank you.

Don't be annoying. Read the whole post.

Anonymous wrote:Please bring that poor cat into your basement. This breaks my heart.

Mine too. I almost didn't click on this posting because I knew it would, but then I came back and just had to read it.

Please do not ignore this kitty, please keep him or her in your basement. He or she needs to be warm and safe until your neighbor gets home. If you can offer him or her a bowl of water that would be awesome.

Thank you.

Dog guy here again... I'm such a chicken but I did manage to put a note (anonymous "dear neighbor") in his mailbox. I didn't see his puppy so I think dog is inside. I want to give him a chance before I call the authority or humane society. At least, puppy is ok for tonight. I must say I'm a little embarrassed for not taking any actions until now. Thanks everyone for educating me.

My cat spends some of his time outdoors. We let him in and out. In this weather, he goes out for a couple minutes, then comes right back in. When it is particularly cold out, I make sure he is in as quickly as possible. You can disagree that he should be outside at all, but I do try to make sure he isn't out in weather extremes for too long. He's not a fan and while he likes to see for himself, he is pretty good about coming back in quickly. In normal temps, he generally comes and goes every 2 hours.

An ex neighbor called animal control on us when she saw him out on a day it snowed several years ago. It wasn't anywhere near below zero temps that day, and I stay near the door for him to come back. He hadn't been out all that long that particular day. The animal control lady seemed pretty amused when she met me, actually-she rolled her eyes about the neighbor.

Our dog has been in and out today. She probably stayed in the backyard for 10 minutes at the longest today.

I don't ever leave the animals out for extended periods. I certainly wouldn't leave a dog in the yard all night in these temps.

OP, thanks for sharing this happy update! Want to add that you're a very kind and thoughtful neighbor!

Anonymous wrote:How about dogs? My neighbor keeps his dog outside most of time (w/o dog house or shelter). I worry but haven't said anything. Are dogs ok at 0-10 F degree weather outside?

Your neighbor is a first class jerk. Report him ASAP and I hope his pets are removed from him. It is too cold to leave any pets outside. Even my double-coated Northern breed dogs who love the cold refuse to stay out in this weather.