TO2K, I get where you are coming from, I really do. BUT, if someone doesn't even come looking for their cat when it has been missing overnight and the cat has to be brought to them, and then it is out the next day, well, something's wrong. Now, I agree tht we shouldn't just take someone's pet just because we don't agree with how it's family is treating it, barring physical abuse, but we do have a responsibility to protect these creatures, also. I say take the kitty in, but let the owners know that you have the cat because you want to protect it. Most times, these people will just let you keep the cat, they aren't really interested in it anyway.

When Mac was poofed, I followed up and asked about his old family and if they were concerned about him (he would have gone back if they were upset at his disappearance). They never mentioned him or asked about him at all, so I knew they had done the right thing. One of their neighbors asked them where their cat was and they said, "Who knows, he probable just wandered off somewhere." I never felt bad about keeping him after that.