YMMV / The Abandoned

• Values Dissonance: Being a novel published in 1950, that's a given:
  • Early on in the story, the townsfolk either coldly reject or outright physically assault Peter as he runs through London in desperation for shelter. On top of that, the people (with few exceptions like Mr. Grims) are generally unsympathetic towards stray cats roaming the city^note In the book's defense, this is portrayed negatively but it can be even harder to swallow for modern readers. Nowadays, long after the advent of animal welfare concerns, someone who dared to inflict harm upon a cat (or most any other animal) would likely be fined (if not jailed) and most certainly vilified by their peers.