Melodie got adopted but I am furious

I have had 5 fosters for 6 weeks now. One of them has been a concern from the start, underweight and very scared and difficult to socialise. I had to hand feed her for over a week when she began to lose weight, and the others simply pushed her away from the food. She was always sitting apart from her siblings, and would only really enjoy her food when she was on my lap. I told hte shelter that she needed an experienced family with no other cats to bully her.

On Saturday the shelter had an open day and I took my fosters up there as they are now 12 weeks old. I got chatting to a group of three young people looking for a kitten. They told me they had lost their previous cat two weeks ago to FIP, and wanted a new small kitten. I said they shouldn't take a new cat in at once, especially a kitten whose immune system is not developed, but if they wanted one of the kittens on show (we had about twenty), then we could keep it for them till we were sure their place was virus free. They looked at my little tabby/white Melodie and also at a black kitten in another cage. They said they liked them because they were the smallest and cutest. Later, I noticed them speaking to our manager and she came over and said to me that they were going to take both kittens. I told her about the FIP, and also that I thought they were selecting kittens for the wrong reasons, and I especially did not think they should have Melodie. But of course, I was over-ruled. I did manage to warn them that she was timid and would hide from them at first.

I could not sleep last night for worrying over my poor little girl. My last sight of her was crouched in the back of a carrier, hissing at her new companion, a kitten she had never seen before. I am going to ask for their phone number and call in a few days to see how she is.

I am so sorry, I have had a lot of say in where the cats I work with go and the shelter is fine with me stopping an adoption if I think its off - I cant imagine what you are going through

Oh no, hun. I am sorry, that is aweful that the manager didn't even seem to care.

I hope you are pleasantly suprised when you call the girl.

Well that stinks! Poor baby!!

Oh Jenny! I am so sorry they didn't take your input. you'll be able to get in touch with her new people - and heaps of she's not being bullied.

I was never so happy to see a cat in a shelter. But my instinct was right, these people could not cope with two rumbunctious kittens who only wanted to fight each other, and so both kittens have been returned. At least the family had the sense and decency to do that. I think they discovered that looking after kittens was not the easy ride they thought, so they have not even kept one of them.

Melodie is now in one of the cat rooms, with 20 other cats. but the manager and full time staff now believe me that she is a difficult kitten who needs watching and special care. I only wish I could take her, but my place would not be good either - she needs to be an only cat in a safe environment. At the moment at least she is being properly cared for, and any new potential adopters will be carefully screened.

That's good news for Melodie! that the right home is found for her.

I am so glad that they returned both of the kittens. I was upset when I read your first post.
I'm sending Melodie prayers and vibes that the right person will come along to adopt her. Keep us posted!

I always feel torn when I see the ones I knew were not placed well come back - I am happy they arent in those homes but you never want to see one come back either.

Oh you must be relieved! I don't get why they didn't believe you in the first place, but at least they are now.

for Melodie.

Hey all... I am totally new to all of this stray/feral cat world so don't laff but maybe a bigger group of cats will help her shynish(sp?) similar to shy kids going to early schooling?

Our son was extremely shy when he was little but I think being around other children at preschool helped in the long run... but it is so tuff on us parents (cat parents & kids!!!)

I'm trusting she (and you!) will be fine... :0)

That is GREAT news!

Originally Posted by catmanmew

Hey all... I am totally new to all of this stray/feral cat world so don't laff but maybe a bigger group of cats will help her shynish(sp?) similar to shy kids going to early schooling?

Our son was extremely shy when he was little but I think being around other children at preschool helped in the long run... but it is so tuff on us parents (cat parents & kids!!!)

I'm trusting she (and you!) will be fine... :0)

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Thanks for the comment but this little kitten was extremely small, the runt of the litter, and nearly died while she was in my foster care because of reluctance to eat and an infection of unknown origin. She was severely bullied by her siblings and so I handfed her till she began to gain weight properly. As a result she is terrified of other cats and reacts aggressively. SHe is also timid with humans that she does not know, despite my introducing her to people during the time she was with me. I do believe she would be happiest as an only cat, in a family that understands her problems. Some cats are just like that - I have one of my own who has to live apart from the others, no matter what I do.

Take her anyway, I had a few that I thought would be better being an only cat however time proved me wrong, they want the same thing as the others that are socialable, they want to play and be happy just like the others so they watch and the others watch them, thats why the together thing is important, everything togother, eat and play together at the same time then they accoiate good things with the presents of the others, the others and th loner cats sees this cat likes to play like me and eat like me, I always bring the kitties in groups together , sometimes the loners will not join in so I just play with them but the others watch and they do notice that hey they like to play just like me , and as they feel left out alittle bit it kinda changes their mind same as when the loners watch the others being played with or playing with each outher, as far as the shelter is concerned, if I wasnt given the finals decision on the adoptee's are I tell them I will not foster for you, my judgement should rule over management, if not, Id be gone and wouldnt forster for them, you have good instinsts and judgement and should be trusted to handle the adoption decisions as far as I am concerned,

Originally Posted by jennyranson

I was never so happy to see a cat in a shelter. But my instinct was right, these people could not cope with two rumbunctious kittens who only wanted to fight each other, and so both kittens have been returned. At least the family had the sense and decency to do that. I think they discovered that looking after kittens was not the easy ride they thought, so they have not even kept one of them.

Melodie is now in one of the cat rooms, with 20 other cats. but the manager and full time staff now believe me that she is a difficult kitten who needs watching and special care. I only wish I could take her, but my place would not be good either - she needs to be an only cat in a safe environment. At the moment at least she is being properly cared for, and any new potential adopters will be carefully screened.

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I really can't take her - I have eight and that is way above what my space will really take, let alone my time and budget! Any more and I would start to feel like a hoarder. But I do think the shelter will listen to me next time. Sadly, I can't be there every day when people come to visit but I will make sure that I phone anyone who takes one of my kittens and see what they have to say.

In the right family, perhaps over time Melodie would enjoy the company of other cats. But there are definitely cats that have no interst in being anything but alone kitties. We now have 7, and it is SO clear that our very first rescue, Lazlo, never need that 2nd "pal" to keep him company. He is not unhappy - but now that we know cats better than we did, it's so clear that he would have enjoyed being the sole kitty and focus of attention.