Original Owner Looking For Animal Back After 2+ Years.

A few years ago (2024), I moved in with 2 roommates. There were 2 cats that my old roommate, Guy, had from when they were kittens. My other roommate, Jake, told me before moving in that Guy "couldn't handle the cats anymore" and was going to re-home them. Jake said he was interested in taking care of them. When I moved in, Jake wasn't really taking care of them from my perspective. There litter box appeared to not have been changed in weeks. I took care of cleaning the litter box and that was the start of me taking care of these cats. Guy would always "throw" the cats out of his room when I first moved in and really had no interest in their continued care. Guy moved out a few months later and left the cats with me and Jake. We took the cats to the vet after Jake found out the cats were last taken to the vet in 2021. Come late 2025, Jake and I had a discussion about wanting to keep the cats and suing Guy if he were to come and reclaim them due to the lack of no care provided by Guy. I would also like to note now, given the context, that I have primarily fed them, gave them water, groomed them, and changed their litter box. I have spent close to $2,500 on cat expenses, taken them to the vet 2 times each, and have grown a strong bond with the cats. Now come late 2026, after 2+ years of continued care, Guy wants the cats back and Jake claims we "fostered them". I am looking to see if I have any legal foot to stand on if I inevitability go this route if we are unable to come to an agreance.

Location: New York