I need advice on finding a home for a cat.

[OnionPatch]

A couple of years ago we took in a male cat, about 8 months old who appeared in our backyard, emaciated and covered with burrs. We found no owner and liked him so we kept him and hoped our other two cats, who weren't crazy about him (to say the least) would adapt over time.

It's been two years and my other two cats (females) hate him more than ever. One of them fights with him and bullies him. The other one, an older one, hides from him most of the time and has seemed depressed since he's come. (Both are females.) I have to have litter boxes all over the place because they're all afraid to use them when the others are nearby. I also have two dogs and this is a very small house. I can't just keep them separated.

Lately things have gotten even worse and my old cat is having health problems, I believe because of the stress. I think for the sake of my other cats I need to find my boy another home, and he'd probably be happier as well.

He's a handsome cat with a long coat of the type called "black smoke". He's really playful and lovable. He loves dogs for some strange reason. He gets along great with mine.

I think someone would love to have him but the problem is that he's very shy of new people. How can I ever find him a home if he won't come out and meet any would-be new owners? I've wanted to put an ad up where I work but I don't know what to do if someone wants to come and see him. He'll just hide under the couch from them even though, given time, I'm sure he'd be friendly with anyone who was nice to him.

Any advice is appreciated.

"

[Curmudgeoness]

1. Well, you can't make him not be shy

so if you want to post ads, you should be sure to state that he is very shy with strangers but is very affectionate when he gets to know you. That would explain the hiding under the couch if that happens.

And if it is possible, if someone wants to meet him, could you have someone hold him on their lap when they come? Or is there anything that would tempt him to come out?

[OnionPatch]

2. Yes, I would definitely be upfront about it.

I was thinking maybe I could hold him on my lap while the person comes in. But I might end up with shredded thighs.

I think he survived in some rough country before he came here. He'll probably always be skittish.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I think that you should use the sob story

in any ads you put up.....hard life, showed up in poor shape but is now in good health, had a rough time before he found you. If you notice, the hard luck stories always seem to have a lot of people wanting to adopt that pet.

Anything that works. Good luck.

[OnionPatch]

11. Lol. True. They do get to people.

He did have a hardscrabble existence before he found us. The first time I saw him he was in a branch of a tree, about ten feet overtop of my flock of chickens, looking down on them like he was ready to pounce. He was only about a quarter of their size but I guess he was desperate enough to try anything. The poor little guy did have a hard time. I wonder who would dump such a sweet and beautiful animal. But they do it all the time. Most of our pets were originally dumped in the park next door. Wonderful animals, all of them.

[flamin lib]

4. Are you near DFW Texas? nt

[OnionPatch]

5. No, I'm in southern California.

[KC]

6. He's really

beautiful. I hope you're able to find someone to adopt and love him. Has he been neutered? Just wondering if that would help with your female cats

[OnionPatch]

8. Yes. He's neutered.

We neutered him shortly after he moved in. He really is a sweet cat. At least to me, lol. And the dogs. It's so strange the way he loves dogs. He must have had a nice dog friend at his former home. He wasn't totally feral so I know he had a former home.

[LisaLynne]

7. Have you tried that Feliway suff?

It's like a scent thing that calms them down. It made a world of difference with my cats when I brought in a young, male jerk of a cat. Hey, he's got a lot of personality and I love him, but he's a jerk.

Other than that, I'm sorry you have to make this difficult decision. Is there a no-kill shelter locally that you can work with? They may have advice and techniques for you to try and that may be a better way of finding a home for him than an ad.

Good luck!

[OnionPatch]

9. Maybe I'll try some of that. Thanks.

I've thought about working with a no-kill shelter. It seems to me that if he were in a kennel he might get used to nice people coming to visit him. I'd even pay for his keep. I don't know if a local place would do that tho. I might start calling around.

[ginnyinWI]

10. another vote for the no kill shelter

If you turned him in to the one i volunteer at, you would fill out a profile on him, give his medical history and vets name. You would sign away ownweship and be asked if you could donate something toward his care. We get a lot of shy cats and would be able to help him become more social. He'd be tested for FIV and FeLV, given a standard parasite treatment and be micro chipped. So a potential adopter won't have those worries. And we screen people so we know that they are allowed to have a pet where they live and that it is ok with the other adults in the home. All this helps keep the pet from being bounced around. There is a low adoption fee of $25 for an adult. A cat who is pretty will find a new home fairly quickly like maybe 3-4 weeks if he is a shy one. And people who go to shelters to get a new pet seem to be the very nicest, most kind hearted and generous people!

[hamsterjill]

13. Please DON'T post on Craigslist and other sites like it.

There are people who scour the ads for "free to good home", etc. animals and those animals wind up being abused or used for dog bait.

Please check out carefully whomever wants to adopt him. Even check out the shelters carefully. Unfortunately, things are not always what they seem and the victims can't pick up the phone and say, "Mom, I want to come home now".

I wish you the best of luck, and thank you for caring enough about him to be diligent in finding him a place!

[OnionPatch]

14. No, I would not do that.

Thanks. I've always heard its a bad idea to put ads in the classifieds like that. I want to be sure he's going to a good home.

I think it will be best for him, for my other cats and for the household in general if he finds another home. But it has to be a good home. I love the little guy and I'll only rest easy if I know he's in a better place.

[hamsterjill]

16. Bless your heart!!!

Thank you for being aware and concerned. I appreciate that you have his best interests in mind, and I wish you the best!

[winter is coming]

15. Would your vet let you put up a small flyer?

I've known a vet or two that let people put up index cards describing animals they hoped to acquire or place. Kind of makes sense, as so many pet owners have "SUCKER" written on their doors in invisible animal language. The strays seem to have a way of finding them.

[japple]

17. Try Black Cat Rescue. Even if you don't live anywhere near them,

you could post a picture and his story on their fb page or website. Good luck. He is adorable, gorgeous, and there's probably someone who is looking for a kitty just like him.


http://blackcatrescue.com/

[OnionPatch]

18. Thanks. I'll look into that.

I haven't heard of them but will check it out.

[RebelOne]

19. Check out the pet rescue sites at Yahoo.com.

You should be able to find rescue groups in your area. I have found homes for cats that have been dumped in my yard.

http://dir.yahoo.com/science/biology/zoology/animals__insects__and_pets/organizations/humane_and_rescue_societies/