Made a Tough Choice...

We gave Jinkers to my Dad and Stepmom.

DH and I (and Spooky and Mulder) love him dearly, but it wasn't a good fit for our family. We had some improper elimination issues (pooping outside the Breeze box) which we couldn't seem to correct other than to use regular cat litter (non-scooping). Anything other than regular clay and we had poop on the floor. This started immediately once Jinkers arrived, so we assumed it was him and after a couple months we started debating finding him a new home that could provide the regular clay litter he obviously prefers, since my lung problems will not allow that.

Then my Dad and Stepmom came to visit and Sandi (stepmom) fell in love with him.

Sandi has an older Russian Blue named Romeo, he is something like 14 now. They think he is on his way to the Bridge soon and have been worried about how Sandi will do once he passes. Nothing specific is wrong with him, just general old age slowing down, sleeping more, etc. Dad's cat Onyx is younger and has been very lonely since I moved out with Spooky and Mulder, taking his playmates away. They were debating getting another younger cat to keep Onyx company anyway. When Sandi met Jinkers she was reminded a LOT of Romeo in his younger years by Jinkers' personality and behaviors. They use regular clay litter and really really wanted him, and we figured it would be best for everyone if he went to live there.

They are all very happy. Onyx and Jinkers play constantly, Dad says it has helped make Onyx act young and frisky again. Romeo tolerates Jinkers and will cuddle but doesn't like to play much. Sandi is thrilled to have her new buddy, and they have bonded a lot also. Its a perfect fit.

We feel a little empty nested here with just Spooky and Mulder now, but this was probably a good thing due to unforeseen financial circumstances right now also. DH and I figure I was meant to rescue Jinkers after all, just maybe not to live here but instead to introduce him to his "true" family. I know they take great care of their animals and he is well loved. And he is still in my family.

So, just letting y'all know what's going on if you see me talking about only 2 again. Jinkers is happy and well, just not living here with us anymore.

Incidentally we found out after we took Jinkers to my parents, the pooping was Mulder. But once we eliminated the additional litter box necessary for the extra cat, the behavior stopped.

Aww, I'm so sorry you had to give up Jinkers, but you know he is in a good home now with your dad and stepmom. And it's good to hear Mulder got over his poop issues too. So, it seems perhaps it was meant to be, you were just the middleman of sorts to get Jinkers with your stepmom.

I'm sorry you had to give him up hut at least you know he's going yo be well looked after hes still in the family and you will still get to see him

Awww hun, I'm sure it was a VERY hard choice, but I am glad that he is happy in his new home and that you'll still be able to see him.

I'm glad you were able to give him to your parents.

Glad your parents are enjoying him! And glad Mulder is behaving himself now!

I'm sorry, that must have been tough. On the other hand, I don't think you should feel too badly..you rescued the dear soul and then set him in the perfect home..maybe you were just meant to be a pitstop on the way to his destiny!! And he is still in the family and you can check on him and make sure everything's alright and your crew's behaviors have stopped.
I really do believe everything happens for a reason. And YOU are the one who helped make it all happen for him. So really I think you should feel good about yourself. I know it is difficult to let go but it really sounds like it was the best thing for everyone.

It sounds like you've done a very wonderful thing for both your stepmom and Jinkers. I'm sure you were meant to make sure he found her. From your post it sounds like you're very happy to have paired them up so well.
I'm sure you miss him, but he's not really that far away - he's still in the family.

Aw, that has to be hard. But, it sounds like it has worked out well for everyone involved, and you'll still get to see him. I hope that eases the pain some.

It's sad whenever you have to give up a kitty but it looks like he will be in a loving home and you did do what was best for everyone.

It's to bad you had to give him away. But he's going to live with people you know, and know will take good care of him. Plus since their your family you'll still be able to visit him, and get updates about him

This is sad for you but great for him. At least you get to see him.

It was probably meant to be. If you hadn't found him he may not have found his forever home.

Glad to hear a new kitty friendship was made. Thank you for doing your part It's so nice when things work out

Aw I'm so sad for you that it was so difficult to get to what was obviously the right thing for all of you! it's working out for everyone, especially both Jinkers and Mulder!

Thanks for the support everyone. Sandi got her first smartphone the same week we took Jinkers to live with them. She sends me a photo text from Jinkers every week telling me about what sort of things he has been doing and how he is. Everyone is really happy and doing great. Since my parents live 4 hours away and weren't actively seeking a new kitty at the time Jinkers was due for adoption, I am sure he would never have found his way to them if I hadn't adopted him when I did.

DH wants to consider adopting another cat in the future because he really liked having three. I'm not sure if that will be an option with Mulder and the pooping. He seems to have fixated on the floor in our spare bedroom to poop on, and will poop there given access to it unless there is plain clay litter in a box available. If there is plain clay available, he won't poop on the floor. If he can't access the spare bedroom to poop on that floor, he uses the Breeze box just fine.

That bedroom was really the only place to put an extra box for them, so reducing the number of kitties allowed us to eliminate that box and close off that room, solving the problem temporarily. If he gets in there somehow, he will still poop on the floor... We are going to get the carpets cleaned with an enzyme product to hopefully remove all traces of scent that may be drawing him and try letting him access it again and see if that fixes things. He has never had a litter box problem before this, and I took them ALL to the vet when the problem started to rule out medical issues.

If he continues to have problems we will not consider getting another kitty, because we would have to use that room again for another box. If the deep cleaning solves the problem, we plan to just wait and see if any new cats wander their way into our lives and "choose" us instead of going out seeking another one.

I don't know if it has any dust, but Nature's Miracle makes a paper litter thats not in pellets and is supposed to be crumbly litter-like (like clay texture). I don't know if that would work for Mulder but it might be worth trying to find a bag so you can take a close up look at it. I haven't spotted it in stores myself.