I'm reaching out on behalf of a close friend who is heartbroken and doesn't have a Reddit account.

About 11 years ago, my friend rescued a cat and, after a vet check-up, no microchip was found. Since that day, the cat has been a constant companion; every vet bill, every care, every moment of love was shared between them.

Edit: he was a stray who began hanging around the farm, in terrible state. Extremely thin, covered in fleas. Neither they nor the vet were able to track down if any neighbors were missing a cat. But also, a few years ago he went missing and “we put up posters everywhere, and then he returned. But his old owners never contacted us then either.”

However, today, during an emergency visit to a new vet, a microchip from 2010 was surprisingly discovered. The vet immediately contacted the original owners, who promptly reclaimed the cat. To add to the distress, it was evident that the cat was visibly uncomfortable and scared when confronted with these former owners.

The dilemma now lies in understanding the rights at play here. After a dedicated 11 years of guardianship, is there any legal ground that recognizes my friend as the rightful carer? And, importantly, what can be done to potentially bring back this cherished feline friend? All advice or insights would be deeply appreciated.

Edit; my friend is in the UK, near Devon