I've been taking care of a friends' kitty for a year now. Recently, I moved, and my new roomate no longer wishes to have him around. It's his house, his rules, and unfortunately I can't afford to move again right now. I already had my own cat when this one was bestowed upon me, supposedly only for a week until another friend moved and took him in. Of course, that never happened and I've had him ever since. So one cat is ok with my roomate, but two is too many, and since my commitment is to the one I had beforehand I'm going to have to let this one go.
I've searched high and low to rehome him, all year long in fact, (from the moment I found out the other friend wouldn't take him) but no one I know is interested in a fully grown cat, or knows anyone who is. The friends' mother has offered to take him to a no kill shelter many times, but I just don't have the heart to give him a lifetime prison sentance for doing nothing wrong. Now, it seems, the time has come to hand him over.
The friend is back in town now but he's in jail, for a few months at least. He promised to take him back and rehome him but then he got arrested, and my roomate needs the cat out now, not in a few months when he gets out of jail. I can't lose my home over his irresponsibility.
He's an outdoor/indoor kitty and pretty much only comes inside to eat, and sometimes sleep. We live in a highly urban area and there are many feral colonies around. They are kept by a trap/neuter/release program, so they are supposedly fed by the people in that program as well. I've seen him out and about and I think he might be friends with some of the feral cats, although I can't say for certain. But he definitely spends most of his time out there with them.
So my question is this: What is best for the cat? Shelter or Feral freedom?
Our shelter is gravely over-crowded and most cats there are long term. I have been there searching for my other cat when he disapeared once, and it's not a pretty picture. They can't even get rid of their kittens. The cages are tiny. The cats all look absolutely miserable. For a mostly outdoor cat this would be hell on Earth, esspecially him. I know in my heart he would be much happier being free but homeless.
The pluses to a shelter are that:
1)he'd be safe, and fed
2)he might get adopted, however unlikely that may be
3)the friend might be able to get him out when he gets out of jail
the minuses:
1)he'd be in jail. Probably for life.
2)he'd absolutely miserable. Probably for life.
3)his quality of life would be non-existant.
The pluses to the colony:
1)He would have his freedom
2)He would be much happier
3)Even if he died sooner (which is likely) his life would be a fulfilling one.
4)He could run, excersise, climb, hunt, and play regularly
the minuses:
1)food scarcity, esspecially since he is used to being fed (although he is quite the mouser)
2)fights with other cats, other dangerous situations, risk of illness, and no medical care.
3)exposure to the elements (although there are quite a few abanodoned buildings and colonies)
I know if I had a choice between homelessness and prison, I would choose homelessness. I also know he is accustomed to the feral colonies around the area. He would clearly be happier feral then in that horrid place. At the same time, this could prevent a possible (but unlikely) adoption by either the public or his original owner, after his owner's jail sentance. And of course shorten his life span. But of course, permanant sheltering would be the counterbalance to that, and life in prison is much worse then life on the streets. And yes the cat is neutered.
I could slowly move the cat bowl outside and start closing the window, maybe leaving food out for him for the long term. Over time maybe he would get the hang of it. The other option is the shelter.
Opinions?
I've searched high and low to rehome him, all year long in fact, (from the moment I found out the other friend wouldn't take him) but no one I know is interested in a fully grown cat, or knows anyone who is. The friends' mother has offered to take him to a no kill shelter many times, but I just don't have the heart to give him a lifetime prison sentance for doing nothing wrong. Now, it seems, the time has come to hand him over.
The friend is back in town now but he's in jail, for a few months at least. He promised to take him back and rehome him but then he got arrested, and my roomate needs the cat out now, not in a few months when he gets out of jail. I can't lose my home over his irresponsibility.
He's an outdoor/indoor kitty and pretty much only comes inside to eat, and sometimes sleep. We live in a highly urban area and there are many feral colonies around. They are kept by a trap/neuter/release program, so they are supposedly fed by the people in that program as well. I've seen him out and about and I think he might be friends with some of the feral cats, although I can't say for certain. But he definitely spends most of his time out there with them.
So my question is this: What is best for the cat? Shelter or Feral freedom?
Our shelter is gravely over-crowded and most cats there are long term. I have been there searching for my other cat when he disapeared once, and it's not a pretty picture. They can't even get rid of their kittens. The cages are tiny. The cats all look absolutely miserable. For a mostly outdoor cat this would be hell on Earth, esspecially him. I know in my heart he would be much happier being free but homeless.
The pluses to a shelter are that:
1)he'd be safe, and fed
2)he might get adopted, however unlikely that may be
3)the friend might be able to get him out when he gets out of jail
the minuses:
1)he'd be in jail. Probably for life.
2)he'd absolutely miserable. Probably for life.
3)his quality of life would be non-existant.
The pluses to the colony:
1)He would have his freedom
2)He would be much happier
3)Even if he died sooner (which is likely) his life would be a fulfilling one.
4)He could run, excersise, climb, hunt, and play regularly
the minuses:
1)food scarcity, esspecially since he is used to being fed (although he is quite the mouser)
2)fights with other cats, other dangerous situations, risk of illness, and no medical care.
3)exposure to the elements (although there are quite a few abanodoned buildings and colonies)
I know if I had a choice between homelessness and prison, I would choose homelessness. I also know he is accustomed to the feral colonies around the area. He would clearly be happier feral then in that horrid place. At the same time, this could prevent a possible (but unlikely) adoption by either the public or his original owner, after his owner's jail sentance. And of course shorten his life span. But of course, permanant sheltering would be the counterbalance to that, and life in prison is much worse then life on the streets. And yes the cat is neutered.
I could slowly move the cat bowl outside and start closing the window, maybe leaving food out for him for the long term. Over time maybe he would get the hang of it. The other option is the shelter.
Opinions?
