Shelter?

Last year I had a cat of my own. He was an outdoor cat, and many times when I'd go off to work I'd feed him outside. Well, another cat started taking his leftovers. I thought she was someone else's housecat but when I started feeding my cat indoors she became skinny. So I started feeding her. My beloved cat disappeared and so now all I've got is this cat. 

She's too affectionate. If you have her indoors all she'll do is climb on you and try to nuzzle your face. That, and meow and lead you to her food bowl. She can eat and a minute later want more. She also drools like crazy..combined with her getting in your face, its digusting. 

I've tried having her inside. My place is all carpet and she'll squat to pee. That keeps me from having her inside. All she does is hang by the door wanting to come in. All I do is feed her, I get nothing else having her. No cuddling, companionship. Just my money being spent to feed her. 

My question is..can I take her to the shelter? Why should I make a commitment to her for the rest of her life, when all I can do is feed and be unhappy with her? There are better cats dying every day in shelters. I feel like I can't just stop feeding her, she's a total housecat, can't seem to feed herself (my old outdoor cat fed himself like 50/50 outside, he was rarely hungry when he came in). So wouldn't it be more responsible to take her to the shelter than let her starve? Besides, she might have a microchip that would reunite her with her real owner?

If you turn a cat in to a shelter, in most cases they will not adopt another cat to you.  You might try finding another home for this poor abandoned house cat.  Usually when they drool, it's like a kitten's response to being fed, being loved and cared for.   She probably squats to pee because there is no litter box for her, and if she was someone's abandoned house cat, she was used to having a litter box.  It s obvious that you want a much more distant relationship with a cat than this cat needs.  Someone would LOVE to have a sweet affectionate cat like her.  Perhaps you can network and find her another home.  It is a bad time to turn any cat in to a shelter because right now they are all loaded with kittens, and they will be for a few more months until kitten season sputters to a halt, at least in the more northern states. 

How about writing an ad and posting her picture.  Don't just say "free to a good home" because many peope that take "free" animals do not have good intentions and want to use them for bait for fighting dogs etc.  You might try contacting some of the no-kill rescues (many do adoptions out of Petco and Petsmart on the weekends) and tell them about this sweet abandoned house cat you have been feeding but cannot keep (I would not mention that she is too affectionate and needy for you!)  Take some pictures.  I have one in my house right nowjust like that, obviously loved, but then left behind when someone moved.  The person who brought him to me couldnt keep him but didnt want to take him to Animal Control because he would no doubt be killed.  She really cared about him but was only allowed two animals where she lived (the same area where someone abandoned this cat).  I felt bad for her and for the cat and took him.  He is a real sweetheart and will be adopted out after he is neutered and vaccinated.  It may take awhile, but t least he is safe. 

Most vets will scan a cat for a microchip for free, and occasionally they will be willing to actually take on a cat if they think the owner can be found, but in this case it seems like she was abandoned.  Still, if you take her in to get scanned, maybe she will be very sweet and someone there will be willing to take her on as a rescue project.  You could also contact a no kill rescue and see if they will help you place her, and offer to be a foster for her until they do.  You have not listed your location in your profile so I have no idea where you live, but if it was near me, I would take her in as a rescue project.  I'm glad you are good enough to feed her, but her story breaks my heart, she's obviously starving for affection, not just food, and someone abandoned her and she just wants to be a house cat again.

Good advice was posted above, I don't have much else to add.

Is it the only reason you don't want her is because she pees on the carpet? or its because she is too affectionate?

if its the peeing, I do hope you consider house training her to a litter box and work with behavior problems so you'd be happy with her

sdgdf said:

Last year I had a cat of my own. He was an outdoor cat, and many times when I'd go off to work I'd feed him outside. Well, another cat started taking his leftovers. I thought she was someone else's housecat but when I started feeding my cat indoors she became skinny. So I started feeding her. My beloved cat disappeared and so now all I've got is this cat. 


She's too affectionate. If you have her indoors all she'll do is climb on you and try to nuzzle your face. That, and meow and lead you to her food bowl. She can eat and a minute later want more. She also drools like crazy..combined with her getting in your face, its digusting. 


I've tried having her inside. My place is all carpet and she'll squat to pee. That keeps me from having her inside. All she does is hang by the door wanting to come in. All I do is feed her, I get nothing else having her. No cuddling, companionship. Just my money being spent to feed her. 


My question is..can I take her to the shelter? Why should I make a commitment to her for the rest of her life, when all I can do is feed and be unhappy with her? There are better cats dying every day in shelters. I feel like I can't just stop feeding her, she's a total housecat, can't seem to feed herself (my old outdoor cat fed himself like 50/50 outside, he was rarely hungry when he came in). So wouldn't it be more responsible to take her to the shelter than let her starve? Besides, she might have a microchip that would reunite her with her real owner?

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She clearly loves you as you said that she is "too affectionate and climbs on you and nuzzles you". So you are getting affection from her.

She was someone's pet at some point as she is most certainly not a feral if she is behaving this way and meowing at you. who knows what happened. She may have been dumped by an irresponsible owner or she may have gotten lost.

There are no "better" cats. All cats are equal and all deserve to be loved and cared for. If you surrender this cat to a shelter or rescue- a NO kill one, please, they will not adopt one out to you as they will question your commitment to having a pet. Shelters and rescues have a responsibility to the animals they take in to find them the best homes possible. It is very traumatic for an animal to be adopted and then after spending time with a family, be brought back because of an issue that is (more often than not) fixable with love, time, patience and care.

You came here looking for advice and I think that the reason you did is because you do care about this little cat and I think that deep down, you want things to work. This is one of the most important things to have- a desire to save this little life. My advice is this:

Take her to the vet for a full medical checkup. The drooling could be caused by dental issues. She can also be brought up to date on her vaccinations.

Get her spayed if she has not been already. If you need help finding a place that does low cost spaying and vaccinations, please let us know where you are (general area is fine) and we will help you search

Getting her checked by a vet can also pinpoint why she is going in the house. How many litter boxes does she have access to? How often is/are it/they scooped? Is she going #2 in the litter box? Some cats prefer having one box for each bodily function. If she has one box, consider getting a second one. They need not be fancy or expensive.

Cats are not small dogs. They do not give their love and trust indiscriminately. it must be earned but it is worth it. You already have a bond with this little girl. It will grow over time if you put the effort in. Talk to her. Tell her you love her and you want her to be happy. Cats are exceptionally intelligent and they understand more than many people give them credit for. Play with her. Wand toys such as Da Bird and laser pointers are great ways to play with a cat.

When she does something that you want, reward her with praise and a yummy treat.

There is already a friendship in the making here. Give her a chance. Let it continue. One day you will wonder how you ever lived without her. She found you for a reason.

Good luck. We are here to help and offer encouragement whenever you need it.

I feel depressed after reading this thread.

Primula said:

I feel depressed after reading this thread.

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Agreed.

I'm confused too.  Saying a cat is too affectionate and then saying you get nothing from her?  Don't we all want affection from our family members?  If I came across such a cat she'd be added to my home immediately.

She can certainly be trained to use the litter box again if you want to put in a little effort.  And there may be a medical issue that needs to be addressed here so a trip to the vet could be in order and all would be well.