I’ve lived in a flat for almost 12 months now and I met this cat the day I viewed the property, since that day he has spent every day and night at mine, and we are so in love.

The issue is that for a while my neighbours thought the cat’s owners had died, but this was wrong; I then met the owner who I told I was moving out and wanted to take the cat, and he said no. But he hasn't been caring for his cat for a year; he had no idea I want feeding, housing and flea-treating his cat. What's the legality of this, as the cat was very underfed and full of fleas when I first met him? Surely I can take him away from this man, don't I?