Neighbors and Cats

So, looking for insight, this seemed like a fun place to post.

We recently inherited this cat. She wandered into my parents home and made herself at home. They couldn’t get rid of her! I offered to take her in. Our cats love other cats. Our baby loves cats. I was sure someone would want her when they met her. She’s fine with us for now.

She can get past the fence, so far our neighbors, 3 homes in both directions have said that she visits frequently, sometimes comes in if the doors are left open. They love her. She doesn’t eat their food, she doesn’t pee anywhere but the litter box. She’s never been a problem, she’s extra friendly, and she always comes home.

Yesterday someone is never met brought her to the door. I laughed and told her she was our cat and tried to grab her, the woman stepped back, and told me I needed to explain why she was left in 32 degree weather over night. She then explained cat safety to me. And gave me the numbers to several shelters and requested my number and said she had been worried for WEEKS about this cat being left outside and how NEGLECTFUL I was as an owner and I bit my tongue until she put the cat down and finally left after 30 MINUTES.

I have a two year old son and two cats aged 6 and 7. All three are very happy, as is this new kitty. I come from the country where almost all cats are barn cats or at least indoor/outdoor cats. My older cats spend more time indoors in the winter but they still go out, and occasionally don’t come in before we go to bed, and they sleep behind the shed or under the netted gazebo. It’s never even occurred to me that this might upset someone. They’re my cats. They’re well loved, fed, snuggled. If they don’t come when I call them and I go to bed they’re stuck until morning. They won’t die. They have an outside bowl, they have pillows. They are ANIMALS!

Is this seriously neglectful? This woman told me that she would take my cat to the human league if this happened again. I just feel like this scolding was way unnecessary and over the top and I’m scared to let my cats out now!