Who "owns" this cat?

Asked by LC_Beta (1883) December 14th, 2009 from iPhone

I have a bit of a problem. About five years ago, my best friend moved in with me. We adopted two cats together, and although we didn’t formally claim ownership of one or the other, cat #1 claimed me, and cat #2 claimed her. We are both very attached to our respective felines.

About a year later, her health deteriorated so badly (due to her diabetes) that she had to move home with her parents (we grew up in the same town, roughly 500 miles away). She could not take cat #2 with her, because her parents don’t want a cat in their home. She was very upset and promised to send money for cat expenses and that she would take him back when she was able to move out again and get back on her feet.

I took care of both kitties for three years, and loved them both. Unfortunately, though, at some point cat #1 (“my cat”) became so jealous of cat #2 that he started to lash out at him. I did everything I knew of to help them be friendly again, to no avail. They were constantly beating each other up, and eventually cat #2 started disappearing for days at a time. I was constantly worrying over him (I loved him too). I had to start feeding him in the neighbors’ yard because he wouldn’t come home because cat #1 bullied him. I spoke with my mom about the situation and she suggested that cat #2 come live with her, since her cat had recently passed away. I was grateful & drove cat #2 to her house.

Then my father fell in love. He doted on cat #2. My mom became very fond of him as well. Unfortunately, so did their neighbors. The neighbors started feeding the cat as well (knowing that he lived next door) and letting him come in their house. They fed him better food and cat #2, always more interested than food than anything else, decided to stay. He became so fat enormous that his health is a concern. They have a kitty car seat and take him for rides. Their house is covered in cat play things and climbing things (I went over to see the cat once). Overall he’s very fat and happy there, and these neighbor people love him.

HOWEVER:

My parents want him back, and so does my best friend (who still hasn’t moved out of her parents’ house). And the cat-thieves are moving. My parents are sad but resigned, but my friend, who has entertained hopes of being reunited with her baby all these years, is distraught to learn that they are leaving with the cat. I sense that she is a little mad at me about this, even though I fed, cared for, and paid the medical expenses for the cat for all that time.

So, who owns this cat? What should be done? My feeling is that he should stay with the cat-nappers even though they are morally degenerate cat-thieving homewreckers. What is your opinion?