[UK] Is letting a neighbour's cat inside the house considered theft?

Hi everyone,

We have a typical story with a roaming cat that doesn't belong to us but which absolutely insists staying around at our place.

Context

In the morning, when any of us (we are 2 couples in a shared house) gets out of the house, the cat is waiting by the door and gets in the minute the door is opened.

Other times it moans by the front or back doors for a while until it is left inside. During the summer we keep our door to the garden open, and we often find the cat inside the house (not the case in the winter, such as now).

Sometimes I'm taking the cat out just because I don't want any trouble with our neighbour - who I can tell is growing impatient with us letting the cat inside - but my housemates keep feeding the cat and play with it, to the cat's enjoyment. I take it that this lovely animal is fond of the people in my house.

This has been going for a year now. The owner is also often not around for days or sometimes weeks, as she works in another country as well.

Considerations

Now, I like animals; but I'd rather I don't encourage this particular cat to come by our place, simply to avoid the drama. My housemates disagree. "If the owner doesn't want the cat to come by, she shouldn't let it out. We're not taking the cat from the street nor calling it to come inside."

I really like my housemates and I also like the cat. But I personally prefer having peace of mind.

I would like to learn what the law is in such a case as she'll told us - well, me of all - that to let someone else's cat inside can be considered theft. I did some googling, but nothing clear came up.

If it's not illegal, I'll let them start a drama with the neighbour. If it is illegal, I want them to consider this if they still want the drama. They might be able to afford it.

Any help appreciated.

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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/akgfo0/uk_is_letting_a_neighbours_cat_inside_the_house/