Q: Do we have claim to our cat, even though her adoption papers are in the name of our roommate?
My friend and I, along with our roommate, adopted a cat. The adoption papers are in the roommate's name, but we equally split the cost of the adoption fee, vet bills, and our apartment pet fee. Our roommate is now moving out and says she is going to take the cat. Can she legally do this? Or can we take her to small claims court? We also have one instance that would serve as evidence for her neglecting the cat--she failed to schedule a vet appointment by the date set by the veterinarian following the cat's surgery.
A: The cat is property. Cats are not actually "adopted" under Alabama law. The documents which transferred ownership of the cat probably show that she owns the cat. UNless you can show that you own the cat, you are probably out of luck.
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