Should I or Shouldn't I?

lionessrampant

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So, ever since I've been at Tree House there's a little black cat with very mild HCM that has had my eye.

I signed an agreement with Ian saying we'd have no more than 4 permanent feline residents.

I think this kitty, Circe, might be number 4. I just really love her to death, she's a wonderful kitty- playful, loves laps, could really do with or without other cats which is fine with me, and has a lot of spunk. She's 2 and all black with yellow eyes and has an excellent prognosis but takes a daily pill- which she doesn't mind- and has to have echo's every year. In fact, she is the kitty we use to demonstrate nail clipping and pilling to adopters. The shelter is offering to cover the cost of her echo's for life, but we'd do vax, exams and the daily meds, which I'm told are very affordable. I can afford food and basic/emergency care for a fourth...our budget is actually how we figured out our limit.

My only hesitation is this: I'm 21. My life will change a lot, I'll probably move around and go to grad school and such. I already have the 3 (and I will ALWAYS have the 3 until their dying days) and I have a couple family members lined up to step in as temporary foster parents should I go to school and not be able to find cat-friendly housing. We also agreed to hold off on considering a dog until we own. But yeah. Moving around would be my only concern. But is there really any difference between 3 and 4 as far as ease of renting or moving? I mean, 3 will be a pain to move and rent with, but will 4 be any more of a pain?

ugh, I'm so conflicted. I love her to death, but I also want the best for my 3. They obviously get along fine with other cats, but it's still going to be stressful for them and I always feel bad. everyone seems to adjust really well to new kitties, especially considering that I didn't even introduce Gracie and Leo to Raphie the right way!

I hate decisions!!!!!

What do you guys think?
 

willie'slove

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I sdon't know! I'd have to say, go with your gut feeling! I wouldn't think that 4 would be any mroe of a problem than 3. We had 3 dogs, now we have 4 (since like the past 2 years) and it didn't change a thing. Although, we didn't have to move around, when we go away, we can always get soemone to come over to look after 3 or 4!!!!


I'd say, If you love him/her, then take take her, because of couse she'll be a great new addition to TCS!
 

satai

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Check with your family/fosters - if there is room for one more, and if you think your other kitties would adjust - I'd say go for it.
 

starryeyedtiger

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First off, check the amount of time, $$$, future plans you have- if they are "feline friendly" the go for it! If not and you have doubts though, i'd say wait a week or so- think it over, and make a sound decision eithor way
 
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lionessrampant

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Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

First off, check the amount of time, $$$, future plans you have- if they are "feline friendly" the go for it! If not and you have doubts though, i'd say wait a week or so- think it over, and make a sound decision eithor way
Yeah, I have the time and money. Those aren't issues.

And the only future plan I have that would throw a wrinkle in here is going to grad school. Other than that, we plan on finding a place where we can both work and staying there and buying a house, but the whole school thing concerns me. Like I said, we have fosters lined up, but I'd rather just keep them with me all the time, you know?

Around here, almost everywhere is cat-friendly and I have yet to hear about a limit on the number you can have. In fact, I know plenty of people that rent with 8 or 10. My fear would be that on these forums, I've heard about most other areas of the country, excepting the really big cities like NY and Chicago, it's almost impossible to rent with more than 2 pets and really hard to rent with even the 2. I'm really only serious about going to school in Ann Arbor, MI, but...yeah. My friend goes to UM has a cat that's contrband and the only reason she feel comfy doing it is because if her LLord finds out, she'll just send him back home to live with her DH since they own a condo here in the city.

But...I already have more than 2, so what's the difference between having 3 and having 4 anyway?
 

starryeyedtiger

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If you think you will be ok with four, then go for it
/ I'm sure you will be able to find housing that will allow your cats (usually if they will allow 3- they will allow 4.)
 

katiemae1277

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There's not much difference between 3 and 4 (or 10 and 13
) and since you CAN do it, I say go for it! its so unfortunate, but with her condition, she has such a low chance of getting adopted
give her a great home Allie, you gotta even out the boys and girls in your fur family
 
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lionessrampant

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Originally Posted by katiemae1277

There's not much difference between 3 and 4 (or 10 and 13
) and since you CAN do it, I say go for it! its so unfortunate, but with her condition, she has such a low chance of getting adopted
give her a great home Allie, you gotta even out the boys and girls in your fur family
Hey, I was thinking about emailing you today when I got a call about an FeLV+ stray


There's just so little we can do for the FeLV+'s due to the nature of the disease. It really bites, to be quite honest and we all hate it. So we are trying to dig up every resource possible to help these kitties, but a shelter is just not the best place. I really want to start a foster network. Really, really do. It's just that I have 1 (maybe 2) kitties with other special needs and negative combo's, so I can't.


But yeah. She's sooooooooo sweet and wonderful and her prognosis is that this shouldn't dramatically shorten her life...she could easily live til 10. She goes up to adopters and they ALL ask us about her and when we tell them about her condition they IMMEDIATELY write her off. I really resent that people don't consider special needs cats more often. They are soooo sweet and grateful. In fact, our entire first floor is all special needs cats...everything fromk blindness, to heart conditions, to stomatitis, to skin allergies, to obesity, to having no/linited use of limbs...and that doesn't even include oru herpes or FIV rooms. It's like...3/4 of our population has some kind of special need. I just feel for them. I adopted Raphael, who not only was 7.5 at the time, but also has chronic dental disease and IBD and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. He's such a gift.

I know Eileen's Peter has HCM. I should talk to her and see how she feels. Although, I don't think the HCM is the biggest doubt. It's moving eventually, which is absolutely nothing I can or will avoid at this point.
 

katiemae1277

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Originally Posted by lionessrampant

Hey, I was thinking about emailing you today when I got a call about an FeLV+ stray


There's just so little we can do for the FeLV+'s due to the nature of the disease. It really bites, to be quite honest and we all hate it. So we are trying to dig up every resource possible to help these kitties, but a shelter is just not the best place. I really want to start a foster network. Really, really do. It's just that I have 1 (maybe 2) kitties with other special needs and negative combo's, so I can't.


But yeah. She's sooooooooo sweet and wonderful and her prognosis is that this shouldn't dramatically shorten her life...she could easily live til 10. She goes up to adopters and they ALL ask us about her and when we tell them about her condition they IMMEDIATELY write her off. I really resent that people don't consider special needs cats more often. They are soooo sweet and grateful. In fact, our entire first floor is all special needs cats...everything fromk blindness, to heart conditions, to stomatitis, to skin allergies, to obesity, to having no/linited use of limbs...and that doesn't even include oru herpes or FIV rooms. It's like...3/4 of our population has some kind of special need. I just feel for them. I adopted Raphael, who not only was 7.5 at the time, but also has chronic dental disease and IBD and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. He's such a gift.

I know Eileen's Peter has HCM. I should talk to her and see how she feels. Although, I don't think the HCM is the biggest doubt. It's moving eventually, which is absolutely nothing I can or will avoid at this point.
Oh, the poor little thing
There really not a lot of options for the babies, is there? I only really work with one rescue group and so far, just in the last 3 months they have found of found out about 5 FeLV positives, all of which have found a home with me of course
I can't even imagine what the numbers would be from other local rescues


I'm with you, I so wish people would give special needs kitties a chance, when you adopt a kitty you really never know what you may be getting into, a least these are pre-diagnosed so no surprises, but they really are grateful, all my kitties have been the most fabulous cats, so loving its unbelievable.

Yup, Pete does have it, and last I heard, he's doing very well, she may be able to give you lots of advice!

Love the name Circe too, one of my rats had been named that, on the list of Greek mythological figures!
 

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I voted that you should adopt her- but I feel like you should only adopt her if you're absolutely certain you will be able to take care of her for the longevity of her life, reguardless of moving,etc that may come up. I feel as though you can plan ahead for some things like that- i'm sure you'll be able to find a nice place that will allow you to have your kitties.
I would honestly just take a few days to weigh your options...and then after you're had a little while to think about it, if you want to adopt her and you're in a good position to- then go for it! If not though, I would wait
 

Moz

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I basically agree with what everyone else said, but I would adopt her.
 

gailc

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I currently have four cats-while I wouldn't mind 5 DH has put his foot down for now. I have had special needs cats which I agree that people should be made aware of the pluses these cats have versus their conditions.
I say if you are comfortable with 4 (its only another litter box, cat bowl and more toys (and less room on the bed). GO FOR IT!!!
 

beckiboo

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I'm going to be on the other end of the argument. I do think there is a difference between 3 and 4 kitties. Many places rent to people with 1-2 cats...talking them into 3 is probably very likely. When you start saying 4, people start wondering. (I'm not saying it is right, just reality). Also, the daily pill concerns me. Are the people who will hold your kitties for you (if needed) willing to pill a cat daily?

I'm sure she is a doll. She sounds just lovely, and of course you must go with your heart. But you are at a high stress time in your life, and I am concerned it may not be the best time to add a kitty. And sometimes people DO want a special needs kitty.

Either way, give it some time to really think it over. Adding a furkid is a big decision!
 
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lionessrampant

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Well, I'm making some calls and doing so research on finding pet-friendly housing in the areas we are most likely to move (New York City, which would be really easy, Washington D.C. and Ann Arbor, MI), so we'll see if this is realistic. One of the people I have lined up has a diabetic kitty who she gives injections to every day and another is my sister who volunteers in a low-cost clinic with puppies and kitties, so I'm going to talk to them about caring for an HCM kitty. Basically, she needs a yearly echo and a daily pill and to be monitored and taken to Tree House if she has any health issues.

The other possibility that we're tossing around is that if I go to UM, Ian would probably just stay in Chicago since it's only like 3.5 hours away...we're thinking that we'd like to end up here permanently by both of oour families and we'd probably buy a condo here. Also keep in mind that I'm not looking at grad school for 4-6 years. And I know what a lot of you are thinking, but when you're in the performing arts no one is going to even look at you for an advanced degree unless there's some worthwhile things on your resume, so we're encouraged to take a few years off. Plus, I have a savings plan set up to offset the costs of grad school, just like I have a savings for any possible emergency vet costs.

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=5168539 Here's her profile, which is WILDY out of date and inaccurate, but you can see her. She's actually 2 now and has of course been diagnosed, and she adjusted to the environment of the shelter and does fine with the other cats. She's also our greeter kitty...going up to each person that comes in the door and welcoming them. You can also see her on here...she's about the 3rd kitty down and that's way more up to date: http://www.treehouseanimals.org/TH-A-SN.htm
 
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lionessrampant

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guys, I just realized the irony in the fact that I'm an adoption counselor and I'm asking you to counsel me!


Everyone vote! I love this input!
 

starryeyedtiger

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Originally Posted by lionessrampant

guys, I just realized the irony in the fact that I'm an adoption counselor and I'm asking you to counsel me!


Everyone vote! I love this input!
lol, i've been there too!
It never hurts to ask advice sometimes even if it's in your "field of expertise"
 

beckiboo

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She is absolutely beautiful. It would be awful nice for her to have a home, after staying at the shelter for over a year! And it does sound like you have the details worked out. I'll be waiting to see your decision!
 

eilcon

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She's a beautiful girl, Allie, and I think it's great that you're planning ahead and working out all the practical issues. I'm glad you're not letting the fact that she has HCM be a deterrent. The fact that her echo's are going to be covered is awesome. Peter's on daily meds too, a low dosage of a beta blocker to regulate his blood pressure and prevent clots, along with taking 1/2baby aspirin twice weekly to keep his blood thin. The beta-blocker (atenolol) is really cheap - $13 for 45 tablets. It seems to be doing the trick because his last echo earlier this month showed no further progression of the HCM and that his heart is functioning normally.

With as much planning as you're putting into this, it's obvious you want what's best for Circe. For what it's worth, Allie, I think that means a home with you!
 
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