Cat Ownership Questions

Question

My girlfriend and I had a cat before we broke up, the cat's chip was registered under my name. During our time I can feel the cat likes my girlfriend more than me, so after the breakup I gave the cat to her while there are no documents/contracts saying this. It has been 2 years, and she is the primary caregiver to the cat although I pay for the insurance. She is rehoming the cat but having difficulties. Can she sue me for animal abandonment during the breakup? I'm a bit paranoid. Thanks

Answer

When people “share” an animal and then break up, it is common for one person to assume full or at least primary responsibility for the animal. The person giving up rights would not normally be charged with abandonment. I hope this all works out well for the cat who should have a loving, stable, and forever home.

New York’s abandonment law states: “A person being the owner or possessor, or having charge or custody of an animal, who abandons such animal, or leaves it to die in a street, road or public place, or who allows such animal, if it become disabled, to lie in a public street, road or public place more than three hours after he receives notice that it is left disabled, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both.”