Not sure what to do with my 16 y/o cat

[BillyJack]

Hi everyone,

I don't post too much, but I read this (and a lot of other groups/forums as well). I've got a 16 y/o black female cat. Right now my living situation is "less than ideal" to say the least. I don't know what to do with my cat. For the last month or so, she's been living in various friend's garages or laundry rooms. I make a little "living area" for her at each location with clean cardboard boxes, her carrier with her blanket inside, etc. so that she doesn't roam around too much & disturb her current "host". She actually doesn't really move around too much & seems pretty content. However, I'm running out my friend's patience/tolerance for housing my cat. It's going to be a few months until I am able to get a place of my own again and I really don't know what to do with the cat until then.

I really hate to/can't have her "put down", as been so cruelly suggested by some of my friends/relatives. One said, "just give her to the local animal shelter, you'll never know what happened to her!" (as if "not knowing what happened to her" would be a good thing *sigh*).

So far, all of the animal shelters that I've called ~ even the no-kill shelters ~ either don't have room or won't take a 16 y/o cat. I'm really frustrated at the moment. Do any of you good DU'ers have any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks in advance.

[virgdem]

1. Please don't put her down...

have you tried posting in your State's forum to find another home? If you could find someone to take her until you find a better place, that would be the ideal situation. Also, ask your Veterinarian for advice-they can try to place her either permanently or temporarily until you find a better situation. I wish you much luck in finding a better situation for your kitty.

[TorchTheWitch]

2. Oh what a terrible situation to be in!

I have nightmares that things will get so bad for me that I can't keep my dog with me. The nightmares are bad enough, but you're in the reality with you kitty.

I know with dogs there's all kinds of agencies that can help out with temporary housing like fostering, but I don't know if there is such a thing for cats, but that's something I'd look into. I just don't know what to recommend in how you'd go about looking into it though.

What about boarding like at your vet's office? My vet does cat boarding for when people go on vacations and stuff like that, and also has a whole book full of business cards and letters from people that are willing to do pet fostering, dog walking, and all kinds of related pet help for people. Maybe you could start by asking your vet where to turn for help. They would know at least how to point you in the right direction. Maybe there's even a worker at your vet clinic that would be willing to foster your cat for awhile? I know practically all of the workers at my vet's have taken in dogs or cats either temporarily or permanently - they're animal lovers after all.

Maybe a notice at your local college may find some student animal lovers that would be willing to take your kitty temporarily or at least help you find someone who could?

Damn, I really wish I knew what to recommend, but I just don't know much about cat related temporary homing or fostering like I do about dogs. I would think though that it would probably be easier to find someone willing to take a cat than a dog though since they don't bark or need to be walked or end up biting anyone or need a lot of attention.

I really hope you can get something worked out. It really grieves me to think of anyone having to think about giving up their pet! Surely there is someone out there that would be happy to foster your kitty for awhile, it's just a matter of how to find them.

[avebury]

3. You might try putting the word out on Face Book. There

are a lot of animal rescue groups that might share your information and get the word spread out.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I am so sorry for your situation.

You will have no one here tell you that you should put the cat down. That is ridiculous. I bet anyone here would take your baby in for a few months if we could. The picture of the homeless man sleeping on the street with his dog sleeping on his lap keeps coming into my mind. The animals only know love.

Someone suggested Facebook, and that might work to find a temporary home. Also a vet may have suggestions to help you, especially if you have a regular vet. It seems that you don't have many pet lovers in your circle of friends, or does your kitty have health or behavior issues? Animal rescue groups usually have so many problems with animals that are dumped on them that they don't have room or foster homes for any other animals. Is there a paper in your area with free or low cost ads where you could place an ad looking for a foster home for a few months?

I wish I could do more. I don't know what I would do in your place...just have hope and keep trying.

[BillyJack]

5. Thank you all for your great suggestions!

If anyone has any "fur"ther suggestions for placing my kitty temporarily somewhere, please chime in too!

I really like the facebook suggestion. I'll try this first. I will also call my vet and then some other local vets to see if they know of anyone who will foster temporarily. I didn't realize/think that the vets may have "lists" of people who are willing to shelter pets. I'm willing/able to pay for food & litter, but I can't afford to properly "board" her with a vet, et al.

Then I'll try the newspaper ad and/or craigslist. I like these suggestions less than facebook, b/c I would get a total stranger rather than someone who would be at least a friend-of-a-friend.

As far as not having many pet loving friends, some are - some aren't. Actually, the ones who have sheltered her so far are the pet lovers, of course. But for one reason or another that I understand, but won't bother to explain here, it doesn't "work" for them to keep her for more than a week or two or so. I'm really appreciative that they have sheltered her so far.

I keep "explaining" to my kitty, that even though she's getting moved around a lot, it's better than "dead". And I'm doing everything that I can think of to keep her from an "untimely" end.

Thanks again for all of your great suggestions! I'm going to keep working for my kitty. I truly appreciate all of your support & responses!

[PotatoChip]

7. I too wish I had some good advice or suggestions...

In addition to trying Facebook, someone mentioned posting in your DU state forum. That certainly would be worth a try. Maybe even the Lounge or GD for more visibility if it is not against those forums' SOP? Maybe you could ask the hosts there or here first, if you want to try that.

And also Vet's offices as others mentioned may be of some help. Or maybe contacting your local branch of the ASPCA? They might be able to give you some suggestions specific to your area and personal circumstances.

Beyond that, I just don't know. What a tough situation, and I am so very sorry that you and your kitty find yourselves in it. I just wish I knew what else to say or do that could be of help. Fwiw, sending good vibes.

Best of luck to the both of you...

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I'm surprised that the no-kill shelters won't find someone to foster her for a

few months. That's all you need. Somebody to give her a bit of their 'space'.

[PotatoChip]

8. Yes, someone willing to foster the kitty

would probably be the best thing temporarily. I hope the OP finds some luck with that.

[Texasgal]

9. Oh man..

Please, please do not put your cat down. Look for rescues in your area. Google cat rescue in your town/city.

I know this is rough and I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope you find a kind human to take your baby.

I am in Austin, TX and I would take her if there was no other choice.

[ginnyinWI]

10. I agree about fostering

I would find a no-kill shelter who fosters out cats and ask if they could recommend someone who could do it. You could offer to pay for all supplies.