Cat got loose and now we cannot obtain vet records.

Question

So, my girlfriend has a cat. She had moved out of her house and asked a friend to keep him. He got out and was outside for about 6 months. People found him and got him neutered and got a rabies shot. Now this was his first time to the vet and the lady won't give us his records. I feel she's trying to extort us, what should I do?

Answer

If I am understanding your question correctly, the cat got lost, a Good Samaritan found the cat, took care of the cat, and got the cat veterinary care, all at her own expense. It is unclear how you know who had this cat and why this cat had not been to a veterinarian when in your girlfriend’s care. It is also not clear if your girlfriend now has the cat, what efforts the finder made to locate the cat’s “parent” (your girlfriend) and what efforts your girlfriend made to locate her missing cat.

Depending on all of the facts, a big thank you to the person who cared for the cat might be in order. After all, many lost cats never get rescued and cared for or reunited with their families. It would seem fair that this Good Samaritan should be paid for the expenses she incurred if she returned the cat to your girlfriend (although I don’t support failing to provide such records when returning an animal). A lawsuit can be commenced to try to get the records but reimbursing the finder for the expenses may be a more expedient and less expensive path. More importantly, I hope your girlfriend finds a more reliable cat-sitter and that the cat is doing well.