Moving, but no one will take my cat

I'm moving in a week and for the past couple of months I've tried several attempts to find a new owner for my cat. I've asked people I know, put up signs around my apartment complex, and even the humane society said no because they're full. It's an outdoor cat for the most part, and I would prefer for it to continue living that way because she obviously loves it much better outside than inside. What other option is there besides leaving her behind in some remote location?

Why can't you take her with you?

Originally Posted by twstychik

Why can't you take her with you?

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I'm going into the military.

Yea what the heck, take her with you. She can also join the military.

Shelters are so overcrowded with cats, it's no surprise they can't take her. I guess I have no advice. Yes - you can leave her behind, but chances are that without receiving any medical care/no one to feed her - she won't survive long.

Where are you located? Is she fixed? Up to date on shots?

Originally Posted by progressiveman1

What other option is there besides leaving her behind in some remote location?

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Please, please DO NOT leave your cat "behind in some remote location"!!!

It would be kinder to put her to sleep (and you certainly don't want to do that) than to leave her alone in an area with which she's completely unfamiliar, without shelter, without food, without companionship. That's a punishment and a likely death sentence which no cat deserves. I realize you're getting desperate here, but doing that should not be an option.

I wish you hadn't waited to post until you only had one week left, but 7 days is better than no time left at all. Please contact the following ASAP:

www.netpets.com click on Military Pets Foster Project
www.operationnoblefoster.org
www.militarypets.org

All of the above websites are dedicated solely to helping the pets of those in the military. Also, if you do a google search, "helping military pets" you'll find more websites in addition to the ones I listed.

Try www.bestfriends.org too. They run one of the largest animal sanctuaries in the US and have a national network of people who do fostering and animal rescue. Call them and tell them about you and your cat's predicament, see if they can recommend someone in your area who can help you.

Find out about every no-kill shelter within a 75-100 mile radius (or more if you're willing to go further) of where you live. Call them all, make sure to tell them you're going into the military. Call every vet in town, tell them your story, ask if they know of any local, grass-roots rescue groups or individuals who might help you.

Please do all this immediately since you're so short on time.
I'm glad you came here for help and I truly hope you'll be able to place your cat in a safe, loving home or sanctuary.

And thank you for serving our country.

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Where are you located? Is she fixed? Up to date on shots?

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Charlotte, NC. Yes, she's spayed. She's going to need her annual shots within the next few months.

Originally Posted by KTLynn

www.netpets.com click on Military Pets Foster Project
www.operationnoblefoster.org
www.militarypets.org

Try www.bestfriends.org

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I can't do those military orginizations because they are only temporary homes. I won't be able to retain her in the future since you can't have cats in the dorms.

I emailed bestfriends to see if they could offer an assistance.

KTLynn gave you great advice and several leads to follow. I absolutely agree with her-please do not just leave her behind. A week is not much time but I would work 24/7 if I were you to find a home for my cat.

As horrible as it sounds, if you can't find a temporary home, that will
KEEP looking for yr cat to find it a permanent home, you would be doing the
cat a kindness to PTS instead of allowing to be abandoned and having to
forage for herself.

Maybe you can find a temp home that will keep looking for a full time home.

I know I inherited a cat that some neighbors dumped out then moved away on. He's great, but FIV positive, and hates other cats. Therefore he should never be an outdoor kitty. He's in my basement, and no one wants to adopt this perfectly wonderful cat who would be a great only cat.

I am hanging in there trying to re-home. Maybe you can find someone like me ... its hard we are out there...

Originally Posted by progressiveman1

I can't do those military orginizations because they are only temporary homes. I won't be able to retain her in the future since you can't have cats in the dorms.

I emailed bestfriends to see if they could offer an assistance.

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You mentioned "dorms", not a military base. Are you going into one of the military academies, like VMI or The Citadel?

In that case, call your local PetSmart or Petco or any other large pet supply store. Ask them which animal organizations hold adoptions at the store (usually on weekends). Call those organizations ASAP and tell them about your cat and why you can't keep her. Emphasize that you are moving in just one week and it's impossible to take your cat with you. If you are very lucky, they may take your cat and agree to adopt her out. I would *strongly* recommend that you offer to make a donation to the group, if they're able to help you. Mention this as soon as you finish telling them why you can't take your cat with you.

As I said in my previous post, call every no-kill shelter within the widest radius of your home that you're willing to travel to. And call the local vets- they will know of organizations and individuals who might be willing to take your cat. Most of these organizations are staffed with volunteers and have no advertising budget, which is why you don't know about them. Please remember to offer them a donation as well.

Do searches for rescue organizations in surrounding towns and counties. Call them all. It will be frustrating, most will be full, but keep trying. Ask everyone you contact for suggestions, or referrals to another group that may have openings.

You can also list your cat for adoption on www.petfinder.com.

I'm glad you e-mailed Best Friends. If you don't get a response by tomorrow, call them.

You have no time to waste so please do all you can right away. Your cat is depending on you.

Have you talked to your own vet? Sometimes in a situation like this, they may take the cat and try to find it a home for you. My local vet has done this many times, they keep either the kitty or dog who needs a home around the office and do their best to find a good forever home. Keep trying!!

Thank you for being willing to serve our country, and also for not just abandoning your cat - I am sending mega prayers and vibes that someone else also does a very patriotic thing, and gives your cat a good home, so that you can go off to serve with an easy conscience

The temperature has recently dropped here and I can tell she can't handle cold temperatures well. So if all else fails I'll take her to the vet and get her euthanized.

Yes, please, please do not just put her outside. If she has been inside, she is not prepared for living outdoors on her own. I cannot even imagine how terrible life would be for her. Please ask you vet if they can help. When I was young, my mother took our dog to the vet for a check-up. A woman brought her young dog in to be euthanized because she was going to a nursing home and could not find a suitable home. Needless to say, my mom came home with this dog and she lived a very long happy life. Don't give up, someone may step up and help you out. Just explain your situation. Many blessings to you for serving our country.

I see you're thinking about euthanasia which I'm extremely sad to read.

How have you been doing with some of the suggestions you've gotten? *Don't give up*, you still have almost a week left - plenty of time to make lots of calls.

Please give us an update as soon as you can.

Originally Posted by KTLynn

I see you're thinking about euthanasia which I'm extremely sad to read.

How have you been doing with some of the suggestions you've gotten? *Don't give up*, you still have almost a week left - plenty of time to make lots of calls.

Please give us an update as soon as you can.

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It is sad and I hope will only be used as an absolute last resort but, IMO, it's better than leaving the cat out in the cold to fend for itself and likely die slowly and painfully. If I were closer, I'd convince DH that we could foster him while looking for a new home.

Originally Posted by progressiveman1

I can't do those military orginizations because they are only temporary homes. I won't be able to retain her in the future since you can't have cats in the dorms.

I emailed bestfriends to see if they could offer an assistance.

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Since this is a desperate situation, why not contact the military foster pet sites I gave you anyway. I realize they're temporary, but the people fostering understand that it's long-term fostering, depending on length of deployment and repeated tours. You're talking about putting a healthy cat to sleep for no other reason than that she has no place to go (and I'm not "flaming" you here, just stating reality) so at this point you have to try everything and anything that might possibly lead to a home for her.

What happened with Best Friends?

Many vets will not euthanise a healthy cat anyway. Sure, it's better than abandonment, but good luck finding one that will do it.

Have you posted in the classifieds? do you know of any farms? if she's not declawed...It's not the best life, but she'll have food/water and shelter that way. Many farmers will take another cat, at least in my area. There's been some instances were I've taken a couple to a farm. I foster and I was full at the time, and they were going to be taken to the kill shelter (and they told us they were going to kill them). So I talked to the farmer, got them all spayed/neutered and up to date on shots, and he took them.