My 1st cat, adopted 1 week ago. please help us!

Awww that is so sad... R.i.P. Rusty, play happily at the bridge

It seems to me you did EVERYTHING you could to try and help Rusty. It was not your fault that this happened. You gave him much needed love and support during his last weeks of life, i think that is a very good thing. I think he probably left this life much happier than he would have been had you never adopted him & he had died in a shelter. You gave him a loving home for a few weeks, but at least he had a loving home, he deserved it.

Please dont let this experience discourage you from adopting another cat. There are many more cats that need love Im sure you can find another kitty to be your companion over the years to come

Have you checked out our "Crossing the Bridge" section here? Another place is www.petloss.com.


The Rainbow Bridge

I wish you were close here; we have some of the sweetest kittens at the shelter, they are just a joy to handle.

No i haven't known ther was a "Crossing the Bridge". I will check it out, maybe it can help pick my heart up.

Do you think the cats & kittens at shelter's are OK? Reason I ask is because thats where I got Rusty from.

Originally Posted by RustyBoy

No i haven't known ther was a "Crossing the Bridge". I will check it out, maybe it can help pick my heart up.

Do you think the cats & kittens at shelter's are OK? Reason I ask is because thats where I got Rusty from.

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It depends partly on the shelter. You should visit several times to see the conditions. Some things to look for are cleanliness; how much space each cat has; are they kept in cages all the time or allowed out to play; do the cats (and dogs or other animals) look healthy.

Where are you located? I'm sure there are TCS members who could help you find a good shelter or direct you to a good place to adopt a kitten.

Would you consider getting two kittens? Most cats like having playmates.

Rusty was just beautiful - and he was fortunate to have found you when he did.

I agree about checking out several shelters - my two came from our county shelter, via Petsmart. I took both immediately to my own vet for a check-up. Thank goodness, they were healthy then and now, two years later (we guessed they were about 4 years old). I can understand you may be a little leery of going the shelter route again, but not all cats from shelters are less than healthy.

Another option may be to ask your own vet to keep an eye out for adoptable cats. My vet sometimes has kittens available, or even somewhat older animals that need new homes (especially as so many people are losing their own homes). IIRC, my vet charged something like $125 for a kitten, but that included neutering, initial shots, obviously a good check-up, and if kitty developed a cold or something on arrival in the new home, visits were covered by the vet.

I too agree - if you find a bonded pair, consider adopting both, to keep each other company while you're away from home. Sure, you have to consider your budget, but having two is a wonderful thing.

My best wishes to you.

Originally Posted by darlili

Another option may be to ask your own vet to keep an eye out for adoptable cats. My vet sometimes has kittens available, or even somewhat older animals that need new homes

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I should have thought of that. I took three kittens for their first shots a week ago and the vet gave me a card to fill out that I can post on their bulletin board to adopt the kittens out. I haven't posted anything yet because the vet won't spay until 4 months, which means the kittens won't be ready to go to their new homes until the end of December.

If you do get a kitten through a vet you can be sure that it has been checked out as healthy. Of course, there's no way to guarantee a cat will stay healthy, but it gives you a head start.

Have you posted on the "Crossing the Bridge" forum? I don't go to that one very often. Guess I should take a look.

Let us know when you're feeling up to getting a new kitty. And if we're being too pushy, tell us to back off. We just want to be here to support you.

Originally Posted by RustyBoy

No i haven't known ther was a "Crossing the Bridge". I will check it out, maybe it can help pick my heart up.

Do you think the cats & kittens at shelter's are OK? Reason I ask is because thats where I got Rusty from.

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The longer a cat or kitten is at the shelter, the more likely it is to be exposed to the very common upper respiratory disease. Still, for a healthy cat, that isn't usually a serious problem.

The shelter workers, if they're honest, will tell you all they can about a cat. However, they can never know everything. I probably know more about the cats we have in the shelter than most of the workers, and I'm just a volunteer. I could point you to a cat that is loving, or one that is feisty, or one that may be showing signs of a URI, or whatever. I made a quick visit there today and found one kitten whose eye has a problem, and another who had bloody, mucousy diarrhea. The workers just don't spend that much time with the cats, sometimes, especially once they're out of isolation and available for adoption.

I even have a poem on the Rainbow Bridge site. (And about 30 other places where people have copied it, usually with my permission.)

Yes I would like to get another cat. Since I had Rusty I have become very interrested in cats. And I'm looking forward to adopting another one or two. I like the idea of getting two kittens to keep each other company for the years to come. But I'm going to wait a little while, maybe around Thanksgiving time. I have a lot of questions I need to ask first, and I want to make sure I am ready to care for them properly, and have the time to give them. Thats where I need help from you folks here that have had experience in raising kittens. I know there's a lot of information I can read about on this cat site and other places. And I do plan on devoting time to studies. But I sure would be happy if I could ask and talk to you cat lovers. Don't worry about being too pushy, just give it to me straight, I'm a grownup.

I like to say more, but its late and I need to get to bed. weekend I'll have more time, right now I'm very busy to keep up.

mrblanche,
which is your poem on the Rainbow Bridge site? there must be a thousand poems on there.

I can help you if you need to know anything about cats and kittens. Here is the Poem I wrote after Stripe was pts from Crf.

http://www.in-memory-of-pets.com/personaltribute.php?ID=3601



Its on a Pet Loss Site.
My little girl my warrior cat you fought so hard to stay;

The months went by and you endured and everyday I prayed

That you would win and be with me for just another day.

Your spirit was so very strong your love for me your strength.



So many times they told me that we were at the end

And then you'd rally one more time my darling girl my friend.

Your body grew so tired so weak so worn and thin

Then came the day to fight no more and finally you knew

That now the time had come to part and free your spirit flew.



Run free my little warrior my precious little Stripe.

The time for you to battle is finally at an end.

You're sleek and strong and well again your long dark night is done.

Go play with all the angels and bask in the bright sun.



We'll meet again at Heaven's Gate and never then will part.

Until that day my precious warrior I'll keep you in my heart.



Jacky

I am so sorry It sounds like you did everything you could for him. You gave him a warm loving home and took him away from an ugly place. He was a very beautiful cat.

Only you will know when you are ready to open your home to new cats.

I agree that having more than one kitty is the way to go, when you are ready. I say this partly because cats are more social than people give them credit for, and also because there are so many waiting for a loving home. I found both of my cats on Petfinder.com, which has listings for animals that need homes that are in animal shelters and rescue groups.

I do hope you stick around on this website. If anyone on the internet can empathize with you, it would be the wonderful network of people here.

I'm so sorry you loss your little friend, It's so hard as they are wonderful loving creatures. I agree with looking on Petfinder. You put in your zip code and get to search your area. I got 2 of mine from a rescue group an hour from my home. I liked that they told me a little bit about their personality. I also liked that they were vet checked, wormed neutered and had their first shots for a 100.00 donation. It was so worth it. Good luck with your search.

Originally Posted by RustyBoy

Yes I would like to get another cat. Since I had Rusty I have become very interrested in cats. And I'm looking forward to adopting another one or two. I like the idea of getting two kittens to keep each other company for the years to come. But I'm going to wait a little while, maybe around Thanksgiving time. I have a lot of questions I need to ask first, and I want to make sure I am ready to care for them properly, and have the time to give them. Thats where I need help from you folks here that have had experience in raising kittens. I know there's a lot of information I can read about on this cat site and other places. And I do plan on devoting time to studies. But I sure would be happy if I could ask and talk to you cat lovers. Don't worry about being too pushy, just give it to me straight, I'm a grownup.

I like to say more, but its late and I need to get to bed. weekend I'll have more time, right now I'm very busy to keep up.

mrblanche,
which is your poem on the Rainbow Bridge site? there must be a thousand poems on there.

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I hope you'll ask lots of questions. We all love cats, and talking about them is only our second favorite cat activity (playing with them and loving on them come first!). If you're not acquainted with cats, they can be very puzzling. They are different from any other domesticated animal, for several reasons. In fact, they're so different that some theorize that cats were never purposely domesticated, they just kind of moved in with us for their convenience.

Here's my poem:

I AWAKE

By Mike Blanche

I awake...but I do not remember falling asleep.
Just a moment ago, little Jimmy threw the ball
And I chased it with all my puppy concentration,
Timing each bounce in the grass to catch it
At just the right moment.
Did I feel the front yard's grass turn to stone?
Did I hear a screaming sound?
Perhaps I did. Perhaps I dreamed.
The fresh tang of dewy grass teases my nose.
The golden sun warms me. I open my eyes,
Many new friends gather around me.
They show me what to eat, where to drink.
We play and sleep, near the bridge of all colors.
This is wonderful...but it is not perfect.

I awake. Only a moment ago I fell asleep,
Deep asleep, lying in Jim's arms.
I remember the pain in his eyes,
And the pain in my body, slowly ebbing.
So many years I played at his feet,
Slept by his side, sat watching at his windows.
Slowly I moved less, jumped less, ate less, saw less.
He loved me, carefully caressing me,
Making soft soothing sounds.
But the pain is gone; the blades of grass
Tickle my nose. I open my eyes,
And find new friends gathered around me.
My legs are like springs. Butterflies play tag.
I am fed, and we play near the many-colored bridge.
It is wonderful...but it is not perfect.

I awake. When I fell asleep moments ago,
I thought all was finished. But now I see
Sunshine streaming through the leaves above.
All the pains and aches of my long life
Are dimmest memories. I lift my hand
Before my eyes. I see it clearly, soft and smooth,
As it has not been in years. I rise,
My legs strong again, my toes against
The cool grass. My ears hear birdsong;
The freshness of dawn floods my senses.
I move easily, drawn to a bridge nearby,
Arching gracefully into the distance.
This is wonderful...but it is not perfect.

I approach the bridge, and turn to gaze
Into the fields nearby. I see happy creatures,
Sitting, playing, and sleeping.
But my eyes are drawn to two joyous beings,
Running at their fullest speed.
They seem familiar. Can they be
The animals I knew before?
THEY ARE! I kneel down,
They rush into my arms, wetting my face
With joyous kisses and tears.
We stand. We move together
Across the Rainbow Bridge.
This is wonderful...this is perfect.

Mike Blanche

OMG MrBlanche. I never read that before. It was beautiful.

I think sometimes we are "chosen" to make the lives of some of these poor babies better no matter what the outcome.

My first cat on my own was adopted from the APL via a Petsmart. She was a beautiful calico who had been thrown aside and had been roughed up pretty bad while she was on the streets. When she came into my life she was always sick in one way or another. The year before she died we found out it was because she had kidney failure.

We only had her for a very short 4 years. She broke my heart and to this day I can't think about her without tears welling up. But I know I gave her the best 4 years of her life. And you gave Rusty the best 3 weeks of his life.

Today I have three beautiful healthy cats who I love even more because of my beautiful calico.

When you find your next fur baby you will know that you giving them the best you can offer. And they will know they were loved, just like Rusty knew.

I just wanted to update this thread and let you all know that I adopted a 6 month old kitten from Open door shelter. I got HIM on December of 2008 so I have had him for 1 year. So now he is 1 1/2 years old.
Open door shelter had 200 cats to adopt. But before I went there I already knew what kind of cat I wanted. And it just so happened, the exact kitty I wanted was being kept in the office with a few other select old cats. Well after the “house check†I brought him home, but the lady in charge in the office tried to make me promise 100 kisses a day. I told her “ I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think so, even if I do, Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not going to promise you â€.
He had a cold when I first got him and was sneezing snot out of his nose (what a mess). But right away, I took him to a Vet and had all the heath issues taken cars of.
Heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s been really pretty good considering heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s a kitten with all his claws and teeth. I mention teeth because he loves to chew on my electrical cords. But at least he doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t claw (thatâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s funny chew & claw almost the same spelling) up my furniture.
I thank all the nice folks here at this forum for all the kind words and caring help. And I thank God for giving me a cat that I can love, and giving my cat a heathy and happy place to live.
OH, by the way his name is Cody and here are some photos I took of him shortly after I got him.




I'm Sooooo big

This is why I wont kiss my cat

Cody is stunning ... sooo glad that you found a little furry companion!! And BTW - you don't have to kiss them on the lips, you know. You can kiss them on the top of their heads!!

Woohoo!! So glad you got another cat! Cody is gorgeous and it looks like he's totally in charge now. I don't kiss my kitties on the lips, either and I don't like them to lick me on my face for the same reason you posted. I do, however, kiss them on their heads and behind their ears.

Cody is beautiful - and I feel sure Rusty is pleased to know that Cody has found a loving home. Bless you for opening your heart again, and may you and Cody have many happy years together.