Story of cat

[ilovetegocalderon]

I know I told everyone that I've been cat sitting. Well, I kinda left out the part that the owner, who's extremely irresponsible, has been sleeping on my sofa because he got evicted and had no where to go. (my fiance wasn't too pleased with the idea but i have this thing with turning away ppl and leaving them to fight for themselves on the streets of NY). Anyways, this guy has finally found a place and is leaving on saturday, problem is, he cant take his cat. Here's what a jerk he is though, when i asked what he was gonna do with the cat he said "ill probably just let him loose outside." UGH!!!!!! I said no way and that i would watch the cat for awhile...but i have a feeling awhile will turn in to forever. But to be honest, even though i've kinda grown fond of the cat i really dont want him. im really not a cat person. But this cat takes forever to warm up to people, he's been discarded in the past. His first owner was this other guy's roomate. He went to prison and so this guy ended up watching him. the cat was seriously depressed when his first owner "abandoned" him. one time, when i really was cat sitting, without the owner, the cat got depressed again because he thought he had been abandoned again. i know this cat will be devasted when his new owner, who we'll call G leaves on saturday and he realizes he isnt coming back. but at the very least, i will be there to comfort him. but in the end, i know G wont take him back and i REALLY dont want to keep him. (not to mention my rabbits cant roam around as much because he's there.) but i think he will be just sooooooo incredibly depressed if i give him away or take him to a shelter and i feel awful about it.....i just want some advice on what everyone thinks i should do.....it's really tearing me apart.

 

[Jess_sully]

Aw, what a sad story. It seems like that cat has had a tough life so far. Do you know how oldhe is, by chance? The only advice I could give you is either you can giveit a couple more weeks and see if you don't change your mind about keeping him. I understand that you feel obligated to keep him because you feel sorry for him, but if you really don't want him, that's understandable too.You shouldn't feel trapped tokeep him,I mean, you're nice enough to have hadhim for as long as you have, right?The next best option is finding a good rescue. Many rescues in my area place cats in foster homes where they get lots of loving care until they are adopted. There are probably a few in your area, too. It sounds like a shelter may not be a good option for this little fellow, because his health would likely go downhill if he were too depressed. Well, good luck to him (and you) on your decision.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

Thanks. He's about a year old. Very playful. The other thing is I'm sure he'd get lonely staying with me. I'm hardly ever home and my apartment is small.

 

[Jess_sully]

ilovetegocalderon wrote:

Thanks. He's about a year old. Very playful. The other thing is I'm sure he'd get lonely staying with me. I'm hardly ever home and my apartment is small.

Depending on the particular cat, they can be pretty social, so he might do better in a different home with more human attention, or with some other kitty friends If you don't find a shelter or rescue that you like, you could always put ads up for him? Since he's young, he might be easy to place in a new home.

 

[Snuggys Mom]

Petfinder.com has a rescue group tab at the top of the home page. Click on the tab and the groups are listed by state.

http://www.petfinder.com

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

Thanks guys. I really feel so bad about this....he'll be okay though right? As long as I rehome him somewhere nice?

 

[Cait]

Aww. I'm sure he'd be just fine in a new home once he got adjusted. It could take a bit, but eventually he'd be just comfortable with a new family. He adjusted to G just fine, I'm sure he can adjust again... Only thing is, the new people who get him might not understand what is going on, so you may want to request to be in contact with whoever adopts him, so you can let them know his past. Or atleast have the rescue write it down in his file.

Of course, you may just change your mind, heh. But don't feel obligated... Relationships like that don't work out too well.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

Thanks. I just don't want him to feel like no one loves him or that there is something wrong with him because people keep giving him up.

He really is a sweet cat and very playful but it takes a loooong time for anyone to see it because it takes him forever to warm up to ppl. Poor thing.

 

[m.e.]

Cait gave good advice - whoever takes him should be aware that he acts differently in new situations and it takes some time for him to settle down. A good home will be patient with him

Not to mention, if they can see how he acts now (in a relaxed and comfortable environment) they'll get a better idea of what he's really like.

Just as an example, I rescued a pregnant cat and ended up keeping two of her kittens, while the other two were adopted out to seperate homes. One of those kittens ended up coming back to us after his home situation didn't work out. He was a year and a half old and suddenly in a very new and strange environment.

He was nervous, he hid around the house, he hissed at us, and generally acted very scared, and even a little mean. I thought, Have we made a mistake? What have we done taking this unsocialized cat in? I was really concerned. And keep in mind, I still have his mom and sisters. I had seen this cat be born, and I had been there every day of his first two months in this world. I figured I knew what his temperment would be like. But this cat was not the cat I was expecting.

But you know, he calmed down. He warmed up to us. The hissing stopped. In fact, now he's our friendliest and most laidback cat. Change is hard on a cat. Patience, patience, patience is the most important factor in making it work.

Good luck!

 

[Nes]

Take him to the shelter.

I know it's hard, I had to give up my puppy's mom and one of her puppies (again irresponsible ex-roomate) but I know they went to REALLY good homes with people that just LOVE them.

Nes.

 

[heavenlyshelties]

I suggest you call around to your local vets and groomers. Tell them the situation and most likley you'll find someone who will take him in. Groomers especially (not petsmart or petco but indivsual owner shops) will take strays in under certain circumstances because they can keep the animal in their shop ( cats mostly) and use them as a store pet or they have lots of people who come in and usually someone will end up taking the animal home. I have placed two abandoned cats overa two year period with two different grooming places with no problems. Take a few days to call around.

Good luck.

 

[naturestee]

Wish I had seen this before!

There's a slight chance- a very slight chance- that my sister could take him. Is he neutered? I don't know if she could because she already has 3 cats in a small one bedroom apartment. Also, she lives in Brooklyn and doesn't have a car.

If you do need to take him to a rescue, my sister loved the one that she adopted her cats from. The name escapes me at the moment but they got some publicity because they helped a lot of Katrina animals. Anyway, the foster cats are kept free-range in a large house. They get lots of attention and care, plus the socialization with other cats. They were very helpful to my sister and when her new kittens showed signs of upper respiratory infections they had their vet treat them for free. She was really impressed with them overall. And it's a no-kill, of course.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

naturestee wrote:

Wish I had seen this before!

There's a slight chance- a very slight chance- that my sister could take him. Is he neutered? I don't know if she could because she already has 3 cats in a small one bedroom apartment. Also, she lives in Brooklyn and doesn't have a car.

If you do need to take him to a rescue, my sister loved the one that she adopted her cats from. The name escapes me at the moment but they got some publicity because they helped a lot of Katrina animals. Anyway, the foster cats are kept free-range in a large house. They get lots of attention and care, plus the socialization with other cats. They were very helpful to my sister and when her new kittens showed signs of upper respiratory infections they had their vet treat them for free. She was really impressed with them overall. And it's a no-kill, of course.

Oh wow, this sounds great. he isn't neutered though.....i live in queens on the border of brooklynand work in manhattan but i have a car so nothing would be too out of the way. if your sister cant take him do u think u could get the name of the shelter from her?? that would be great!

 

[naturestee]

I'll email her and find out. I'd guess that she can't take him due to her small apartment and because he's not neutered, but I'll definately get the name of the shelter from her.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

ok thanks. i cant believe u have a sister so close to me? to visit nyc ever?

 

[naturestee]

I haven't been to NYC yet, but I will eventually find the time/money to go visit her. She moved out there two years ago after she finished her law degree. She's a public defender at the Brooklyn office. It's what she's always wanted to do- both the job and moving to NYC, so I'm extremely happy for her.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

naturestee i sent u a pm

 

[naturestee]

Ok, like I figured she can't take another cat. She adopted hers from North Shore Animal League on Long Island. She also said there's a no-kill cat shelter called Kitty Kind that's based in Petco in Union Square. It's a foster program. They don't take drop-offs, but you could contact them to see how to get cats into their program.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

Hmm, well I NEVER go to long island (it's where that incident happened that i told you about) BUT I have heard of Kitty Kind and I pass Union Square every day on my way to work. I'll give them a call. Thanks!!