Dilemma

I am new here and I need some sound advice.

I am going to be moving in a couple months where I cannot take my 6 yo cat with me. I know my better option is to place her in another home but here is the issue.
She has Feline herpes along with the symptoms of sneezing which includes a lot of mucus. I know not many people would want to deal with going around cleaning boogers off the walls, furniture, etc. even though I have dealt with it since she was found at 8 weeks old.
She is healthy otherwise but I am aware since she is a carrier she is a risk to other cats.
What is hurting me is that if I cannot place her with an understanding home is it selfish of me to consider euthanizing her?
I am a mess over this.

This is such a heart breaking thing to hear and I can only imagine how you must feel.

I don't know what your situation is and why you cannot take your pet. Yes, it's hard to find a new home for any cat that has "issues" or special needs but it can be done.

Have you contacted various rescue organizations in your area? If you have given yourself some time it would make it easier for them to help you with her as rescues very rarely just have open spots to "take" your animal from you.

I don't think euthanizing, as the only option should be considered on an otherwise healthy cat, however if you have to relinquish her to a shelter that is not a "no kill" facility this will surely be her fate in my experience.

I hope you can find a friend or family member that might be able to take your kitty for you, this is so heartbreaking on so many levels. I wish you the best of luck and hope others will be by to give even better information and advice for successfully rehoming your pet.

Its hard to find a home for a pet with no issues - still i don't think euthanizing her is the answer.  Even though the shelters are overcrowded (and this is how they  become so), I still think that is a better option.  It would be great if you had a friend or family member willing to take her, but in the long run, if they are not committed to keeping her, I think that is kind of cruel to start a long line of rehoming and its dangerous to the kitty too if the person you leave her with is not committed to caring for her.  Particularly the first few weeks she is in her new home they must be careful she does not escape since she will likely be trying to find her way back to you, and to the only home she has known.  Placing an add on craig's list or on a bulletin board can be dangerous for the cat because you just don't know their intentions.  Do they want her for snake food, dog bait, animal testing?  Charging a rehoming fee can be helpful, but it makes it harder to find someone to take her.

Good luck to you.

Is finding cat friendly housing in your new location a possibility?

Have you tried a lysine supplement to control the herpes infection?

Euthanizing her is not the option.  Start now to look for rescue organizations in your area and ask them to help you rehome her.  You can "foster" her until she's adopted. 

I agree with all that has been said. I took in a stray cat many years ago with Herpes. I had two other cats at the time. They had been vaccinated and neither of them ever developed a problem because of exposure to this cat I took in. Of course they were not inside cats. They lived outside in a protected, fenced in area and on my porch or garage at night. So somewhere, there is a person who would take in this cat and love it. Please enlist some help and find a home.

Heartbreaking that you can't take her with you. I hope you can find a good home for her.

Margret

I agree with everyone else. & it does sound like she needs to be on lysine, every day.  Ask your vet as well. They may know someone who would be willing to give her a good home, & have experience w/ the herpes.

I know a lot of vets have cats up for adoption. My vet has 12 cages (I guess that's what they're called, like in the pet stores, bug, stainless steal, 3 double stacked on each side)  in a walk through room separated from the waiting area by a glass wall. ..But my vet is a cat only vet. I think asking your vet is a good idea.

I'm so sorry you have to give her up. Any chance you can find a place where you can take her?

Best of luck.