Cat adoption

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Lexee15

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I am in a real dilema here. I find myself needing to surrender my cat, the problem is that almost all of the no-kill shelters I’ve called are not taking any cats in right now. I have no problem paying a fee, I just want to make sure she is taken care of (not killed in other words).

I have had her for almost ten years, the problem is that she needs alot of attention, attention that I can’t give her anymore. I thought it would be no problem, that, of course, was when I had a husband, now with my son and the other one coming very soon I had to make the decision that she has to go.

She’s been biting my wood doors and window sills, it looks really bad, and I’ve only been here for 4 1/2 months. I don’t need her damaging my house for attention. After realizing what she was doing I’ve put her in the basement at night and when I leave the house, she hates it and I feel terrible, but I have no choice.

Other than this bad behavior she’s a great cat, I’ve never had problems with her before…of course she always had my full attention before. Does anyone have any suggestions or links to no-kill shelters in the Chicago/Elmhurst area that may take her…or would anyone want to adopt her, she’s got her shots is spayed and declawed (she’s always been an indoor cat). Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
Look for a cat rescue. They have ads for them in pet stores usually. Also, if you have a Pet Smart chain in your area call them. Here they partner with no-kill shelters.
 
I don’t want to come across as mean-spirited or bossy or anything like that and it is my opiinion and you probably don’t want to hear this but…once you adopt a pet they are yours for life. That’s it. No matter what. For better or for worse. A member of the family. No looking back.

I don’t see biting window sills as a very good reason to give up a pet. IMHO

I realize there may be extenuating circumstances to warrant giving up a pet - but they’d have to be very extenuating. IMHO.

FYI - my kitty changed personalities a little bit when we started our family and when the children were young. She didn’t damage things but she was psychotic. We all worked throught it though.
She ended up being the best nanny those kids ever had!! 😃

Seriously though, please re-consider. At the very least, keep your kitty until you can find a good home for her yourself. Don’t give her up to a shelter. She’s shown you unconditional love for 10 years. Have a heart.

Again, I’m sorry to come across as the heavy. Just had to speak up for the feline… 🙂
 
Another set of ideas: Can you get her an extra-large kitty carrier, maybe a large dog carrier if you don’t like the basement? You can keep a litter box, a rug or towel she likes, and a bowl of water until you come home. Put the TV nearby to give her some familiar noise. You can also put bitter stuff you buy at the pet store on the sills? If you catch her, can you have a spray bottle of plain water ready to squirt her?

I know you are under HUGE pressure, Lexee. Can your kitty feel some of that?

I would have NO problem putting her in the basement until I got back, as long as she had food, water, toys, a soft place to rest, a litter box or two (you should be using disposable ones in your condition). She is a cat. If she can’t behave, then she needs to go there.

Yes, we plan on keeping our pets for the long haul. However, they are pets, and subject to us, not the other way around. If you think with the pregnancy, divorce and your other child, you can’t handle your cat’s situation, then maybe it is best for your kitty to put her up for adoption. But maybe some of these ideas will help.
 
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OutinChgoburbs:
Another set of ideas: Can you get her an extra-large kitty carrier, maybe a large dog carrier if you don’t like the basement? You can keep a litter box, a rug or towel she likes, and a bowl of water until you come home. Put the TV nearby to give her some familiar noise. You can also put bitter stuff you buy at the pet store on the sills? If you catch her, can you have a spray bottle of plain water ready to squirt her?

I know you are under HUGE pressure, Lexee. Can your kitty feel some of that?

I would have NO problem putting her in the basement until I got back, as long as she had food, water, toys, a soft place to rest, a litter box or two (you should be using disposable ones in your condition). She is a cat. If she can’t behave, then she needs to go there.

Yes, we plan on keeping our pets for the long haul. However, they are pets, and subject to us, not the other way around. If you think with the pregnancy, divorce and your other child, you can’t handle your cat’s situation, then maybe it is best for your kitty to put her up for adoption. But maybe some of these ideas will help.
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Thanks Chgoburbs - I couldn’t find the words. I came across a little too militant, probably.

Good luck and prayers for you, your family, and, of course, your kitty.

Idea - include St. Francis when you pray. He’s a cat lover too!!
 
Try contacting a cat/ animal behaviorist to find some solutions to deal with her destructive behavior. Sometimes there are solutions to these kind of problems that we just don’t realize are there. Believe it or not, she may just need a kitty buddy since your not able to give her the attention she needs.

I think you will be very lucky to find a shelter to take your cat in. They are so overcapacity as it is and they save their room for taking in abused/neglected animals that need to be rescued from horrible conditions. (This is more common than most people think)

One thing you could try is putting up a personal ad on the petfinder.com site. But be very careful, because not everybody volunteering to take your kitty has good intentions. You just never know what their planning on doing with the cat, ie. using it as bait in fighting rings.
 
I don’t want to come across as mean-spirited or bossy or anything like that and it is my opiinion and you probably don’t want to hear this but…once you adopt a pet they are yours for life. That’s it. No matter what. For better or for worse. A member of the family. No looking back.
Click to expand...
I don’t see biting window sills as a very good reason to give up a pet. IMHO
Click to expand...
I realize there may be extenuating circumstances to warrant giving up a pet - but they’d have to be very extenuating. IMHO.
Click to expand...
FYI - my kitty changed personalities a little bit when we started our family and when the children were young. She didn’t damage things but she was psychotic. We all worked throught it though.
She ended up being the best nanny those kids ever had!! 😃
Click to expand...
Seriously though, please re-consider. At the very least, keep your kitty until you can find a good home for her yourself. Don’t give her up to a shelter. She’s shown you unconditional love for 10 years. Have a heart.
Click to expand...
Again, I’m sorry to come across as the heavy. Just had to speak up for the feline… 🙂
Click to expand...
I agree. If your giving away a cat that you’ve had for 10 years just because your house is looking bad, you need to rethink your motives. Considering you have a son and a baby on the way, your house is going to look much worse in a few years.

Not to mention, you’ve had the cat for 10 years, its shown you unconditional love, and she’s probably very attached to you. No doubt that once she gets to a shelter, she’ll feel sad and abandoned. Her life will not be the same. Not to make you feel guilty, but you make it sound as if the cat was part of your family, until it chewed your window sills. Would you get rid of a child because it broke a window? No. So why would you give away a pet?

Sorry, I’m an animal lover, so I have strong opinions about the subject.
 
Lexee15 - I know how stressed out you are but some of the suggestions you have gotten are great ones. Do look into getting her a large dog kennel for while you are out, give her a water dish and food and litter box (and definitely consider disposable ones and if you can’t afford those for now find yourself an Avon Rep. because the boxes our orders come in make great disposable litter boxes with a plastic liner and if you can’t find one willing to give you her empty boxes, try using those box bottoms that those 6 packs of sodas come in).

Okay, now, there is a wonderful product called Apple Bitters that you spray on whatever you don’t want your pet to be biting, it works wonders!

Your kitty is definitely feeling your stress which is why she is acting out. I would take her for you but I live way down here in NM. Maybe someone else on the forums will see this and offer to take her for you, at least until things settle down in your own household to be able to take her back.

Just some more ideas and I will definetly not tell you that you must keep her, you know what is best for all involved 🙂

Brenda V.
 
THAT’S what I was thinking, Apple Bitters!!! I knew it was bitter something!!! Thanks, Brenda.

Tobasco rubbed onthe wood will work too.
 
Hi Lexee,
I’d like to put in my two cents for keeping your kitty, for your children’s sake. I too was a single mom for 17 years, and found that our cats and dog helped my children become more kind and caring to other creatures and each other.
They were astonished at first to see that animals have feelings, and can feel happy and sad. I see children all the time that don’t get this. And it helped them become more responsible, not just think about themselves.
I know you feel overwhelmed, but a cat doesn’t need much. My kitty lives in the basement because the dog harasses her if she comes upstairs. She only wants a brushing now and then and petting from the kids. When my daughter cries the cat will come and rub against her, and they are the best of friends.
I hope it all works out for you.
 
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