Court orders cat to be returned to original owner

The tribunal ruled Chloe must be returned to Miss Quah by the end of next month, but the cat was handed over this afternoon. Photo / Supplied

A public, and at times nasty, tug-of-love battle over an adored pedigree cat has come to an end, with a court order that the chinchilla persian be returned to its original owner.

Social media sensation Caitlin Davidson, known as Caito Potatoe to her almost half a million followers, today returned the cat - via an intermediary and an Auckland vet clinic - to Grey Lynn woman Joyce Quah.

Miss Quah had asked the Disputes Tribunal to order the return of the four-year-old cat, after the purebred ended up in the care of 18-year-old Miss Davidson. This week the tribunal agreed the cat - whom Miss Davidson claimed she found walking the streets of Auckland, named her Darling, and then refused to give up - must be returned to Miss Quah.

"I'm getting my baby back," an emotional Miss Quah told the New Zealand Herald this afternoon.

"I'm sorry I'm rambling now, but I'm just so happy. It's the best Christmas present ever."

The tribunal ruled Chloe must be returned to Miss Quah by the end of next month, but the cat was handed over this afternoon.

She wrote on the Friends of Chloe Facebook page, which has more than 2200 followers, that a "middle person" would collect Chloe from Davidson and drop her off to Ms Quah at a vet clinic in Pt Chevalier.

Miss Davidson's father, Tom Davidson, said in a statement they were disappointed in the decision, but would respect it.

"All we did was rescue a cat, love it and look after it as any civilised person would. However, the way Miss Quah went about claiming this cat was completely uncivilised ... we will miss Darling terribly but wish her a long and happy life with Miss Quah. Thank you to friends and family who have supported us throughout."

Miss Quah discovered Chloe was in Miss Davidson's care after a friend alerted her to the latter's posts about a cat she had found and adopted. The dispute turned ugly when online hate was directed at Miss Davidson, prompting complaints to police although these were not taken further.

Miss Quah said she planned to hold a "Meet Chloe" event next year, so she and Chloe could say thank you in person.