moving to a non-pet-friendly apartment :(

I am moving next month, and will have to give up my cat when I move. Unfortunately, Spaz has cerebellar hypoplasia, and I don't want to give her to a shelter, because they will almost certainly kill her. Spaz is a 2 1/2 year old female gray striped cat. She's small for her age, but very friendly and playful. She loves kids, and gets along with both dogs and cats once she gets used to them. She is in perfect health, just has some balance problems. I am looking for someone to adopt her who can love her as much as I do. Located near Winchester, VA.

Thanks!

The best hope, and maybe only hope, for your cat is that you find a place to live where you can have her with you.



Robin

I agree that your best bet is to find someplace where she can stay with you. It's hard right now, between the economy and the unusually warm weather. Kitten season is close and with Spaz being a special needs kitty, she's likely to not make it.

I hope you can find someplace where she can go.

catmom5

I know it's hard especially when so many apartments are non-pet apartments.  But there is sure to be something in Florida!  A special needs cat will most likely be put down immediately... And if they don't by some luck, she only has- on average- 3 days to be adopted.  Not a lot of time so it would be a death sentence anyway for her.  Many won't adopt a special needs cat if there is a perfectly healthy one next to it.  If it were me, I would not accept an apartment that does not accept cats.  I've even argued that point with many landlords in the past.... I've always been allowed to have my cats.  Usually if you are just honest and upfront that you are not willing to give her up and why, they will back down and let you keep her for a deposit.  This is just my experience, though.  Too many people are too willing to give up their pets so landlords don't have to worry about it most of the time.  But if someone stands up for their pets, most landlords are pet friendly themselves and one cat is not a big deal.  I've even taught my sister this method... She is always able to keep her kitty, Belle, wherever she goes, too.

As everyone have said finding a home for an adult cat, especially a special needs cat, is very, very difficult. Sometimes not possible. There are so many cats that need homes and so few homes. Chances are very good that you won't be able to find a new home for her. Turning her into a shelter would be an almost guaranteed death sentence.

Your cat's best chance of survival and a good life is if you bring her. Fortunately for you and your cat it's not impossible. It may take some work to do so but saving your cat's life is worth it, don't you think? It is possible to find a pet friendly apartment and even getting to keep your cat in an apartment that is not. When I've moved with my pets I've always put allowing pets as the number one criteria for the apartment I'm looking for. I usually go online to find available apartments and start calling. The first thing I ask is if they accept pets and if they say no I thank them and move on to the next apartment. Eventually I will find one that will allow my pets. It is much easier to find an apartment that takes cats than one that takes dogs.

A lot of rentals that say they won't take pets will actually do so anyway if you talk to them about it. I usually tell them how well behaved my pets are, that they are not destructive and that I'm a very responsible pet owner. Landlords usually don't accept pets because they don't want to deal with irresponsible pet owners so if you can convince them that you're responsible they may just allow you to bring the cat. I usually emphasize to the landlord that my dogs are very well behaved, are fully housebroken and since they are older they are mellow and not destructive. I tell them that my cats are also very well behaved, that they are indoor cats, that they are trained to scratch scratching posts only and that I scoop their litter boxes twice a day to ensure that the cats always use them and there is no smell. Telling them these kinds of things tends to help. It also helps if you can offer to pay a pet deposit.

Individual landlords are usually easier to convince than large companies.

If you already have an apartment lined up I would first look into if it would be possible to get out of it and find another apartment (as long as you haven't signed a lease you can get out of it). If that doesn't work I'd call the landlord and tell them a sob story about how you can't find a new home for your handicapped cat, emphasize what a good cat she is, how responsible you are and ask if there is any way you can get to bring the cat. If all else fails put kitty in a box on moving day and smuggle her in. Keep the blinds closed so nobody can see your cat from the window. That's what I would do.

You don't have to give up your cat! With a little creativity and will power you can find a way to keep her. I'm sure your cat is important to you and you want what's best for her and what's best for her is to move with you. She's worth the work and sacrifice, right?