I want to help a difficult cat find a home, here in Los Angeles..

lbailey

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Hi there cat people..

Today I visited the West L.A. animal shelter on Pico at Sawtelle, and was visiting with some of the cats. I saw a cat that has been in the shelter for a month and a half, is known to be sensitive (as marked on his cage), and when I spoke to the volunteer in the cat room, she said this cat has bitten some people. I was talking to her more and she said cats who cannot get adopted are put down, behavioral issues being one reason. I watched this cat for a bit, and I was torn up because I saw an unhappy but smart soul who was in this cage... perhaps doesn't trust people, but seemed to have a cynical wisdom (if that can make any sense). I kept thinking about this cat all day, and wish I could find someone who would devote their time to keeping this cat from being put down, and taking on a difficult kitty. He is blue/grey with longish hair, medium plus in size, probably around 6 years old (I think). Is this a place where I can reach out to possible homes for cats I meet in this shelter?

I currently work every single day, even more than full time... I don't know that I could currently give any cat the attention I would like to give them, let alone a cat that might need some constant and special care.

Is anyone willing to take on this type of cat? ... may be with a patient human soul, this cat would develop a good life.
 
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mrsgreenjeens

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Wow, I'm really surprised they are even trying to adopt this poor cat out, if he is a known biter.  That's really surprisng to me.  He must have friends in high places


Chances of you finding anyone here to take him are slim,but you just never know. 
  This forum is worldwide, but it's possible someone in your area might read this and want to take on a challenge.  Stranger things have happened
 
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lbailey

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If I was home more often, I would take the cat because I see that smart soul, and may be he has just been through some rough times, and it is sad to see that he lives in a cage now, however he got to the shelter, and may live out his last days like this, and be put down..
 

Willowy

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Well, ya know, even if you're not home much, it's probably better than dying in a shelter. If you think you could find a way to manage things it might work out. Some cats don't even want a lot of human attention.
 
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lbailey

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I have thought like this, it's that I just moved into a new roommate situation and there is an already sensitive cat there, just don't know if it would cause chaos for a cat and apartment that I am not the main tenant... but you are right... to think of the cat dying after a couple months of living in a cage compared to an effort to keep a life going, it is what has been on my mind since yesterday... I do have permission from the main tenant to bring a kitty home..
 
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lbailey

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Realised too the kitty is a she, not he... the sensitive kitty at the main tenants home is a three year old she calico, it's a small apartment, but I do have my own room... what do experienced cat introducers have to say about this?
 

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I hope you find someone to take her. Two of my neighbours have aggressive cats but I adore them both as do their owners. They're just like us and all have their own personalities. What a dull world if we were all the same :)
 

tinybash

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There is loads of info online on introducing cats ... just be prepared for a lot of work initially if you do take her on. Good luck
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Realised too the kitty is a she, not he... the sensitive kitty at the main tenants home is a three year old she calico, it's a small apartment, but I do have my own room... what do experienced cat introducers have to say about this?
Need more information here.  Do YOU not currently have any cats?  Just your roommate has a sensitive 3 year old female?  Is she spayed? In what way is SHE sensitive?   Of course, if you take on this new 6 year old sensitive cat, she will also come spayed, I'm hoping, correct?  What do the shelter folks say about the 6 year old getting along with other cats?  Usually they know because often they put cats out together in rooms so they will know exactly how they will react for adoption purposes.  Has your roommate's cat ever been around other cats?  How does she react? 

I know in my household, I have two cats who do not like strange cats.  Then I have one who probably would care less if we brought a strange cat into the house.  He'd probably hiss once or twice and then say "come on over and play
".   There are definitely "rules" to help integrate cats, unless you want to just keep this new one in your room all the time, which is certainly better than being in a cage (or worse).  Sometimes for a successful integration it can takes months.  It took us FIVE months to integrate two 4/1/2 month old kittens into our household with a resident female who never got along with the other resident cat (never introduced properly).  So we started out with a bad situation to begin with.  She figured now it was going to be 3 against 1 instead of just 1 against 1.  But in the end, it finally all worked out.  But these were all OUR cats, so we had to figure out how to spend time with them all, while keeping the two groups separated, etc.  You won't have that problem, because one cat is yours, the other is someone elses. 

Anyway, if you decide to do this, we can help you with the integration, if you need it.  As a matter of fact, here is a new thread discussing tips on how to integratea:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/267429/sugar-bear-and-shadow-and-their-human-sharon#post_3439498
 
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lbailey

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I moved into this apartment just last month. The roommate's cat was most likely abused as a kitten, but found my roommate by jumping into her arms almost three years ago. Roommate brought kitty inside, and it was fine for twenty minutes, then began a year and a half battle with the roommate trying to calm the cat down. The cat stayed put in the beginning in one place in a basket for almost two months, scared... would get up to go to the litter box only. At times through this year and a half period, roommate was afraid the cat would attack her, would constantly hiss, bite, growl. Roommate said sometimes she would close the kitty out of her room to sleep alone, incase the cat might attack. She said it took that year and a half to be able to really touch the cat without regretting it. I commend my roommate for her efforts, she is a dog person, and had friends telling her to get rid of the cat, but she didn't. Now the cat is much better, of course I don't have anything to compare it to. The cat hisses at me, I am new to her, but I have made no effort to pet the cat, don't want to push... though kitty has eaten treats that came from my hand (not out of my hand), and last night I brought my hand towards her nose so she could smell, she brought her nose to my hand, smelled, but then hissed. The calico doesn't seem really really scared so much, just telling me not to get too close, nor to push it.

As far as the cat in the shelter, I asked a volunteer about her, and got a response of biting a few people, tough to deal with... and that to me means behavioral issues, which is a reason many cats would be put down. I haven't had a long enough talk about the six year old cat with shelter staff, can do that tomorrow. I just feel for the cat because I imagine her to be a smart soul that deserves a life, not in a cage. I work sooo much so i don't know , and don't know my future... perhaps in a few months find my own place, but it was hard finding a place with my former cat that died two months ago.... the neatest cat on the planet so far that I have met.

Gotta work now, write more later! But does this story help?
 

tulosai

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Another question: are YOU  new to cats? I don't doubt your dedication, but if you will be anew owner, especially considering the roommate's cats issues, I'd start with a nice, friendly cat.  It is VERY Hard for a brand new cat owner to begin with a difficult cat (or, for that matter, with kittens, though of course that is how most people do begin :p)

I know this cat is the one who has captured your heart, but the fact is it is very hard to deal with cats with behavioral issues in any case; it is doubly hard for a new cat owner who also must worry about integrating the cats.  

I am NOT trying to dissuade you, but I think it's important to be honest and realistic in adopting a pet.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Well, now knowing the back story of your roommates cat, not so sure this is a good idea.  If the calico is even hissing at YOU, and you've been there probably at least 2 weeks, I'm thinking this is going to be a very hard sell to the cat
.  However, it could be that she is afraid of humans, and not other animals.  I'd talk to your roommate and see what she has to say, find out if her cat has ever been around or exposed to any other animals and how she did with it.  This little calico does seem to be "sensitive".  VERY "sensitive".  And your roommate sounds like an angel for taking her in and keeping her.   Of course, if she said it was ok to bring a cat in, she must think her cat will be ok with it


Gosh, this IS a dilemma
 
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lbailey

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I'm happy for all the things you all are mentioning to consider. I am still pretty new to cats, I had a dream cat that was my parents' after they died. I had that cat from 11 years old to 15... she died two months ago. We developed a really good relationship, and I really miss her, and actually don't feel ready to take on a kitty, and others in the shelter are more attractive to me, but this one seems to have less of a chance to get adopted, and it is bothersome that I see this unhappy cat in a cage, and learned that the cats don't all get a chance to even get out and exercise each day.. and if the fate of is one is to be put down because it is less adoptable, then I initially started this thread to see if an experienced person would come get this cat. Part of me wouldn't mind this sort of challenge if I lived in my own place... and my heart wants to find a way that this cat would have as much of a chance at a life, thinking I would find a way to handle the situation if I had to... but it is probably more than I know, and don't want a dangerous situation!

The roommate has a part time dog, the siblings share their mother's dog, of whom passed away earlier this year. Apparently the cat hissed a bit at the dog, but they have been seen to touch noses, and the fluffy poodle actually takes charge when she is around.

I have begun to spend time at is shelter for the story of my cat, the beginning of my being on this site... in the 'new cats on the block' section. I posted it in the middle of October. I wanted to become involved in the cat family in this shelter, for this is where my cat was taken in the last hours of her life, and put down there.... the day after I chickened out on a euthansia appointment for Lucy the day before.

Sorry, this got long...

It would be great to post about cats I see at this shelter, and be a catalyst to helping cats get out of these cages, and for the difficult ones to have a chance.

Many people who knew me and saw my cat and I together thought I did quite a good job with her, but I felt pretty terrible watching her fade away, and my seeming irresponsibility at the end, though we had some 'good bye' moments.
 
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