I trust that you gave both McGrath and McIntyre a nice reward.

Just reading everyones comments.... my brother hand picked this cat for his girlfriend and is the owner napalm is referring to. Unfortunately no matter how you look at the situation, it's not an easy one. When I was told this story, I tried to put myself in his shoes and determine how I would feel to see one of my puppies that I thought was no longer living, in the arms of someone else...he was excited to see mr. Grey alive, as I would be, but also wanted his kitty too ;) to my understanding this cat was not intended to be an outdoor cat, but was persistent in wanting to be outside as my own cats often try to do. I will say, for the record he did get mr grey back and said that the lady in the article was very nice about everything; although I'm sure it was hard to do win kids and all; she did the right thing, and it was a happy ending for this little guy. Now if they can just keep him inside and out of trees....

Sorry rickwantsmoney, I love a happy ending also, unfortunatly, police and humane society won't do anything to assist, but pick them up after I catch them. Someone refered to them as "it" on a sunny day 10 - 12 sun on my patio and when spring hits, the evenings are a meowing orgy.
Until pet owners take responsibility and the city step in, to rid the green belts and enforce the law, I have to protect my kids from the ferrel cats.

Napalm, the owner (that you claim it to be) should be ashamed.
Obviously this person cared nothing for his or her pet, to let it roam the streets.
I am glad it finally found a home where it will be SAFE and CARED FOR properly.
People who let their animals roam are irresponsible.

It is illegal to let your cat roam also. If it gets shot, that is due justice...

You would be better off to see if you can legally catch it in a live trap, then have the humane society deal with it.

sarah: my thoughts exactly it is illegal to shoot any animal in the city limits even if it is a bb gun, or a bow/arrow.

happycamper: I thought it was illegal to fire a gun within city limits. I consider that worse than a cat wandering outside.

I should know better than to read the comments after a "feel-good" story. Shame on me! *sigh*

Living on the green belt in Janesville we have dozens of cats in our back yard. I have caught several, mean ones, the Humane Society had to put down others are friendly and, I assume, were someones house pet.
The bird population (song and phesant) has declined because of them and our sand box is full of crap. Target practice never ends with them now, unfortunatly I'm not the best shot but,the coyotes have an easy dinner.
The circle of life continues.

Well I agree most house cats are declawed, and should be inside only cats, they can and do however still catch and kill mice quite easily...My last 2 furballs brought me those "gifts" whenever a mouse had the misfortune to get in the house.
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Point is the cat got out, and a wonderful person too the time and energy to help. This is supposed to be a feel good story, not one to create controvery...

LOL...

DOnkeykong- What kind of name are you making for yourself?I think myself and pbrman have had a disagreement or two, but calling him a tool? Let's leave personal attacks out of this and stick to the story. Or at least say something nice if you reference someone?Or else we might as well ALL go climb up a tree.(It's hard not to post this without seeming like a hypocrite =)

Napalm- The only difference between inside cats and your barn cats is that most inside cats are declawed. Ever try to kill a mouse or bird as a cat without claws? Of course not =) But I bet it would be difficult or near impossible.
That said, why did this even make the news!? Someone came up with the theory of "natural selection" for a reason ;p

donkeykong - a sharp tool at that. Which one are you? The anvil or wood wedge?

WOW THIS LADY SAW A SITUATION THAT TROUBLED HER AND ACTED ON IT. SHE GAVE OF HER TIME, MONEY AND EMOTIONS. SHE NOW WILL GIVE THE CAT BACK TO THE OWNERS AND SHE WILL BE LEFT WITH ONLY THE SATISFACTION THAT SHE DID THE CORRECT THING AND WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. WAY TO LADY GO! WE NEED MORE HUMANS LIKE YOU.

Napalm - "Its not cruel to let them live in their natural habitat." Say what!? It's a cat! Their "natural habitat" is in a house, being fed on a daily basis, and napping wherever it feels like. They're not mountain lions, they have fallen under the domesticated animals category for several hundred years now.

While my kitty is a inside cat, I had her micro chipped just in case she sneaks out. And although she gets every convenience known to a well loved, pampered, some say spoiled house cat, She still has the urge to run for the door at times. Perhaps it is because she was a stray drop off when she was a kitten and sometimes feels confined to being inside all day. Do I let her out NO, but she could easily sneak out sometime so I chipped her so that if someone found her she could be brought back home.
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To say that the owners should not be reunited with their cat because at the time someone called them they happened not to be home, and therefore shouldn't get the cat back???? What the heck. has anyone thought that maybe the people were at work, etc... Is there someone home 24/7 at all of your houses. And please remember that with some of the past/current conflicts at the humane society , some people may feel that they are better off by not reporting their cat missing, and hope that it comes home on it's own, or someone finds it and turns it in to a vet to check for the chip.
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We need more of the facts first before we rush to judgment and take away a owners right to their pet.

Wow, we can say what we want about humans, but you say something negative about a cat, and everybody becomes unglued. That shows a lot about you people. In Vietnam, they eat these things.

On the farm when we had cold nights like this it wasn't surprising to find cats that were layed on by the cows in the morning. They don't stand up very well under 1400 pounds.

A few morsels for the peanut gallery

@Napalm-The chip in the cat placed it's owner on the South Side of Janesville. Calls were made to that person but not returned. I hope for TC's sake, he remains where he is. Instead of chipping cats, irresponsible pet owners should be chipped to prevent animal neglect.

While cats love to be free and hang out outside hunting and what not. Statistics show that indoor cats live a longer healthier life. I know a lot of farmers with stray cats on their farms. They live a rough life with many possible cruel perils. Machinery deaths, sprayed with chemicals while mousing in the fields, starvation, etc. Outdoor cats also are at a much greater risk of being exposed to FIV or "cat aids".

Saying all cats know how to climb down a tree if they can climb up one is a pretty obtuse sentiment. If 10 different people were chased up a tree, would you assume all of them would make it down on their own once the adrenaline rush was over and the individual's possible fear of heights kicked in? People are unique, so are cats.

Umm, cats that live inside stink? I guess mine are mutants then because they have never stunk in the years I have had them. Nor do they feel the need to go outside since they live a wonderful life getting free food and care, and don't have to worry about getting hit my cars, attacked by other animals or people, or catching diseases. All this and love besides. Gosh I'm a terrible cat owner since my cats don't stink or wander loose outside!

Why don't you go and arrest him, carlitosway? Let me know how that works out for you.

The friend was probably like so many other cat owners who think the cats have a right to roam the countryside, destroying millions of songbirds and small animals in Wisconsin alone. Some come home and some don't, they are shot, eaten by coyotes, hit by cars, killed by dogs, and on and on.

What a great story and if the cat is the friend of napalm Maybe the friend need to get a cruelty and neglect charge as apparently they did not report it missing and left it outside alone for days. And they should also be charged with animal at large. PBR have another one.

Napalm - you didn't ask your friend that same question? I would have left it in the tree. It would have been owl food soon enough.

Kudos to both of these animal-loving good Samaritans! Jeremy, I hope the publicity brings you some well-deserved business. I'm making note of your name and business should I ever need your services someday.

If your friend cares about the cat why is it let outside..

Maybe your friend should have been out looking for her lost cat instead of waiting for someone else to do dirty work.In the words of Adam Sandler you get out and find that ------- cat.

PBRMan, I'd love to see TC claw your eyes out.

Of course you don't see squirrel skeletons in trees, either. On my four properties I've seen three dead squirrels in the last year alone -- flat on the ground. I assume that's where a cat ends up if it starves or freezes to death.

Hey that's my cat ! Just joking .
I'm a sucker for happy endings .

SuperDave - I like dogs, therefore you are wrong...

PBRman you are clearly a sick person.

I would have to agree with the firefighters.
PBRMan: Clearly you know nothing about animals. And please don't tell me you like dogs, so therefore I'm wrong. Jacob Pabst himself was a huge cat-lover!