Another homeless kitty

Got a call today. A friend asking if I knew of a no-kill shelter because he wants to get rid of his cat. She is a beautiful 6 months old cat, real purring machine, black coat. They say she is impossible to live with. They had her for a month. ONE MONTH! She is a kitten, that's what she is, she is not impossible to live with!
Anyways, all the shelters are full at this time in Montreal. I will call each of them one by one in the hope I can find a place for her.
I am so sad and angry at the same time.
I feel like everyday I am fighting a battle that's already lost. Cats in the streets, cats that are abused, ignored, scared, hungry.
I guess it's just a bad day.
I've only been involved in cat rescue for 3 years now. Maybe I'll get used to it, but I don't think so. On the opposite, I am more and more aware of how critic the situation is.

I doubt that you will ever get used to it.

It's like a war on drugs, it will never be won - but, each cat that you are able to save is worth it for that one cat - and that's a victory!

So, take a huge breath, and pace yourself as best you can for the long haul, and don't feel guilty for what you cannot do.

The kitten sounds so precious - your friend probably doesn't deserve her and may be mistreating her - I sincerely hope not!

Bless you for being in the battle!

Oh, how frustrating. Did your friend elaborate on reasons why the kitty is "impossible" to live with? Would they be receptive to advice on behavioral problems or what not?

Vibes that kitty gets an awesome new home

GloriaJH, you are right. I won't get used to it, but every cat I can help is worth it. I don't know, I guess I just felt depressed this morning. I haven't found a home for my 3 foster kittens and their mommy yet and now I want to find one for my friend's sweet cat.

Killerapple: I mentioned to them that some behavioral problems can be so easily solved and that sometimes we, human, just don't know what to do at first. I said I could help them anytime if needed, that I knew a lot on cat behavior and was willing to do more research if it was a problem that I was not familiar with. I will see if they change their minds. I don't want to put too much pressure, because I don't want them to keep her if they don't want to put the effort. Maybe they though adopting a cat was easy and they got discouraged. If so, they souldn't have a cat. She deserves a home where people know THEY are owned by their cats, not the opposite.

Let's pray that I find her the home she deserves.

Could the ARN shelter help you if you agree to foster her?

But really, you can not help them all, there are just too many and too many idiots like your friend not willing to put the work into their family members

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

Could the ARN shelter help you if you agree to foster her?

But really, you can not help them all, there are just too many and too many idiots like your friend not willing to put the work into their family members

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Boy ain't that the truth!

Let me guess... 6 months old, probably not spayed right? Gone into first heat? Don't want to fork out the money to fix her? No long a small "cute" kitten? ARGH! People frustrate me SO much! I know how you feel!

I have people trying to pawn their cats off on me on a daily basis and I hate to say it but it has made me a very bitter person towards a lot of people in general. People just don't get that cats are NOT disposable objects.

Icklemiss, I will see what I can do, but I already have 4 foster cats at the moment that I am trying to socialize as best as I can so they never have to be movend from one home to the other when it's time for them to leave. I also have my two cats and I know they miss me because of all the time I spend in the kitty room. And last, I am a bit thight financially and I want to be able to take care of all these cats if something goes wrong (SPCA doesn't pay for emergency vet, I could get a deduction for my taxes, but it doesn't apply to me). Plus, there would not be a room to isolate her, I would have to keep her with Zoe and Tania, my two cats. Even though they get their vaccines every year, it is not something I am willing to do. But I am not going to let anything happen to that poor black kitty, so if I have to, I will find a solution. Maybe keep her in our bedroom.

Kailie, at least, she is vaccinated, dewormed and spayed! They bought her like that a month ago. I will ask them what exactly is she doing that is so bad. If they can't keep her (healthy couple with no children) and their previous owner could not either (she was obviously brought back to the petshop where they bought her at 5 months old, already spayed and socialized), I wonder how she will find a forever home. People want a stuffed animal, they don't want a pet. Just something they can snuggle when they want and no trouble at all. I think she just needs some time to settle and have people to play with her and love her, poor baby.

Originally Posted by Kailie

Let me guess... 6 months old, probably not spayed right? Gone into first heat? Don't want to fork out the money to fix her? No long a small "cute" kitten? ARGH! People frustrate me SO much! I know how you feel!

I have people trying to pawn their cats off on me on a daily basis and I hate to say it but it has made me a very bitter person towards a lot of people in general. People just don't get that cats are NOT disposable objects.

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I hope the OP doesn't have a friend abusing their pets ! . If it is an issue of starting oestrus, maybe you could explain the options for doing a spay, or volunteer yourself. At least she wasn't dumped, which is a halfway good sign. Stress all the benefits of her having a more even temperament with less time focused on mating and more time being a happy member of your family.

Originally Posted by elayman

I hope the OP doesn't have a friend abusing their pets !

. If it is an issue of starting oestrus, maybe you could explain the options for doing a spay, or volunteer yourself. At least she wasn't dumped, which is a halfway good sign. Stress all the benefits of her having a more even temperament with less time focused on mating and more time being a happy member of your family.

Click to expand...

Don't worry, they would never abuse or harm their cat in any way. I think they are just not cat lover like we are and that they don't have our patience and knowledge. It is unfortunate, but it is mainly because of lack of understanding and not because they are mistreathing their cat.

I think we posted at the same time, because I wrote in me previous message that she was spayed. If there is one thing I can usually convince everyone in my entourage to do, it is to spay and neuter. I can stand that someone might not love cats as much as I do (I don't understand it, but I can at least stand it), but I cannot stand someone willingly contributing to their overpopulation.

you're able to help the kitty.

...and you need to know what the problems are to help rehome her anyway!

"Impossible?"

Well, I suppose Flambe would be described that way. He's just an energetic young cat. Yes, he's persistent in playing with everything. Yes, he jumps on the bed a couple of times each night, usually landing on me (why can't he just jump up on the edge???). Yes, he'll try to "dig" his way under the covers, and if he succeeds, he'll go down and bite my toes. This is just personality, and too soon he'll be a settled old cat, right?

I understand what you mean.
I am always surrounded by kittens, because of my fostering work. Needlees to say they have a lot of energy, they will break everything that's breakable and chew everything they can chew on! They will scratch and bite you hundreds of times before they understand that it's wrong! But I love them all and would never let them down.

On a good note, my friend called me back and told me he will try to keep his cat. He said he first called me right after his kitty made a huge mess with a big plant that they have at home. He said he was impulsive, but that he really wants to try to learn to live with the kitten before he decides to rehome her. I was very happy about it and I plan to give him dozen of advices too help him out. I think that if he plays more with her and rearrange his home in a kitten-proof way it will already be a lot better. I will keep you all posted.

That is great that they are going to try and make it work