Suggestions for my cats - please help

taiken84

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Hey everyone,
6 years ago I took in a stray and she had 3 babies. My family has been taking care of four cats ever since. However my mother no longer wants them in the house because they have been vomiting and urinating in the house a little too often. I am unable to be around much to take care of them and I do not have my own place.

It really pains me that I have to give them up for adoption. Even if I fixed the vomiting and urinating problem my mother still does not want to take care of them anymore. I see these cats as part of the family but she doesn't.

Ideally I would love to find someone that can take all four and would let me visit them once in awhile. I want to know that they are okay for the rest of their lives. Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't bare to just give them up and never see them again. THank you in advance.
 

carolpetunia

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Did you ever have them spayed and neutered? If not, just doing that could solve many of your problems. Have they ever been to a vet? The vomiting could be a sign of something that needs attention... or it might just mean they need a bit of hairball remedy.

I know all that has become irrelevant now that your mother has decided the cats have to go -- but I suspect that, after six years, there has to be some sort of attachment that's formed, and maybe your mother's decree could be overcome if you were able to eliminate the wetting and vomiting problems. Free or low-cost spaying and neutering are not too hard to find.

If there really is no other way than to back out of your family's commitment to these kitties, then please seek out a NO-KILL shelter for them. At the very least, you owe it to them to be sure they will not be put to death. But as I say, I suspect their "bad" behaviors can be easily corrected... and maybe you can find a way to keep them.
 
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taiken84

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Thanks Carol,
Yea they are all spayed and neutered. I have taken the cat that I suspect to the vet but they say its probably behavioral. They say we need more litter boxes , we only have 1 for all four. We clean the box very often, daily. If that is the case then I guess it really would be the best if we find them a home that can take better care of them. I think this is the last straw with my mother though.

I def. would take them to a No kill shelter and nothing else. Do you know if these shelters would allow me to speak with the people who are going to adopt my pet? I want to be able to keep in contact with them to see how my cats are doing every once in a while. I can't just let them go and forget about them.
 

carolpetunia

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Ah, thank you for spaying and neutering! But the vet is no doubt right -- one box for all four cats is definitely not going to work. They say you should have one for EACH cat, plus one EXTRA -- but even a couple more boxes would almost certainly ease your situation, maybe even solve it. And if you decide to try that, be sure you also do major serious cleaning to all the inappropriate areas where the cats have wet in the past, using "Nok-Out" to be sure you eliminate the residual scents, so they won't be drawn back to those spots.

In my experience, no, the shelter almost certainly won't let you have any say in, or any contact with, the people who adopt your cats. You can beg, but you'll be so lucky if they will even take four older cats... I doubt you'll get anywhere.

If I were in your place, I would work on your mom. At least get her to agree to bring in a few more litter boxes for a week or two, and see how that works!

You might also have a meeting with your cats and encourage them to work on your mom. A few figure-eights around her ankles, a nosekiss here and there... maybe she'll come around. :-)
 

rarepuss

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Oh yes, one box for 4 is not going to work! ... it's as simple as adding more boxes, just do it side by side. It's such a small change.. to have 1 or 3, if you put them next to each other. The behavior will stop immediately, I'm sure of it.

I have 2 cats and 2 boxes, and sometimes I think I should really have one more for good measure. I clean both boxes 4 times a day. Once in early am, once before going to work, once returning from work, and before bedtime. I throw away old litter / put in 100% fresh once a week. It's fresh step crystals and could last much longer, but I want a clean house
 

luvzmykatz

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That's the rule I was always taught. You might get away with three if you're lucky. I have 2 cats (2 litter boxes) and clean them at least 3 times a day. I could get by with once but the smell gets too bad. It funny ....they go right in after I clean them
 
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