An elderly couple has been left mortified after they received a letter from a nosy neighbour which accused them of "animal abuse" because they allow their cats to sit outside on the "hard ground". Fay Massey and Brian Helliwell, both 72, received the letter on August 5, and were stunned to read that their neighbour had been "monitoring" their driveway, where their six cats often like to sit.
The neighbour - who posted the letter anonymously - claimed they had even been in touch with several animal rights charities to report the couple for "abuse", as they said leaving the cats outside instead of giving them the "comforts of a home" was akin to leaving a child on the driveway all day. But the confused couple has insisted their "free-spirited" animals are free to come and go from the house as they please via a cat flap - as is the case with many felines across the UK.
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Since receiving the letter - which claimed the cats looked "depressed" - the avid animal rescuers have been worried the nosy neighbour might try and have their cats taken away, so have issued a plea for the anonymous letter-writer to come forward so they can show them what their home looks like and can prove their moggies are well cared for.
Fay, from Wigston, Leicestershire, said: "We couldn't believe this letter that came through the door. It just came out of the blue. I don't understand why this person is saying they've seen cats on the front and they don't look healthy and they look depressed. How can they say that when they don't even know the cats?
"You can't keep a cat in. We've got the cat flap, it's never shut so they can come and go when they like. That's what cats are - free spirits. They do what they like. If we didn't care about these cats, why would we be taking them to get checked and paying the vet bills?
"It just wound us up knowing the way we are with animals for a person to have moved here for a couple of months and say 'I don't think you're looking after your animals' because they're sitting on the front. I'll fight for my animals but they can come in the house and stop overnight if they want to see how the cats live."
In the letter, the anonymous writer claims to have been "monitoring" the couple's driveway for some time, and says the cats have no "personality" and look "depressed" because they spend "all day" sitting outside.
Part of the note read: "I often drive by at different parts of the day and see them all sitting there instead of the comforts of a home as they should be. I can't see any personality in these cats, they look depressed due to them being on hard ground all day. How would you like it?
"Cats are family and not possessions, you would not have young children on your driveway all day. This is no different - if you disagree, then being a cat owner is not for you."
But the retired couple disputes the criticisms raised in the letter, as they insist their moggies have set feeding times for all of their animals in the morning and evening but the cats also have 'constant' access to food and water throughout the day.
Brian explained: "The person that's sent this doesn't know anything about cats - you can't lock any animal up, especially cats. That's abuse, locking a cat up in a house rather than letting it roam.
"It was quite a strong letter. We're really annoyed about it because it does seem like a personal attack. If they're not willing to stand for it, why don't they come and identify themselves? We will welcome any rescue coming round to check our house and animals."
The couple are keen animal rescuers and currently have five rescue dogs as well as their six cats, and frequently work alongside animal rescue charities, fostering cats and dogs until they find their forever home.
After receiving the letter, Fay and Brian contacted the police as they found the mention of "monitoring" their property was "bordering on harassment or stalking", and they have been advised to put up a poster asking the anonymous person to come forward.
Fay said: "The letter was posted in the pillar box across the road which is about ten doors down. The person has put it in the pillar box knowing that we live ten doors away because they've put our address on the letter. But they still put it in the pillar box across the road because obviously, they don't want us to see them on the camera on the door.
"We've been to the police station and they're saying we can put a poster outside asking this anonymous person to please come to our house and we will accept you in and show you how we live with the cats. Even when we went to the police they said they don't understand why they sent this letter to us when cats are free spirits.
"I wish this person would come to the house and they can see for herself how the cats live."
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