TIME SENSITIVE: Looking to find a kitten a home in ISRAEL

Hi All,

I'm visiting Israel now (staying with family), and a stray kitten has found me. I've been feeding him, and he wants to be picked up and held. He likes to be brushed and petted. He's been living in a tree, but comes when called. He's eager to come into the house, sit on my lap and be a companion.

I will only be here for several more days. I'm hoping I can find someone who'd like to adopt a really fantastic companion kitty. He does not trust or like other cats and is frightened of dogs. He'd be ideal for a person with no other pets or small children, who just wants a devoted companion. I've had cats all my life, and it's obvious to me that this one is very special. I am located close to Be'er Sheva.

THANKS!

Jamie

Side note: He may be just fine with children. I have a 2.5-year-old and he's been happy with her so far. It's other animals that scare him.

Hi and welcome! I believe there are a few members here who live in Israel who may be able to assist you if not take the little kitty themselves. I believe the site owner @Anne also lives in Israel. Good luck! Please post a pic of the kitty.  

It's not easy to find a home for a kitten in Israel. As you can very well see, there's no shortage of them on the streets. The climate allows feral cats to survive and breed. What you could do is have your Israeli relatives post about the kitten on Facebook along with a very cute photo and a great description.

As with any adoption, screen like crazy, and don't just give him to someone who falls in love with the cute kitten. Declawing is illegal here, so that's one less thing to worry about but you have to make sure that the person will neuter the cat at the right age. Here's an article about how to find a good home for a kitten - 

 [article="22413"]Kittens To Good Homes How To Find A Good Forever Home For Your Kittens​[/article]  

If you're relatives feed the local ferals, please tell them about TNR. Most towns offer free TNR services. If theirs doesn't they needs to contact them and demand that they do because it's funded by the government and won't cost them anything. 

Sorry, I don't have any easy solutions for this. I can totally understand falling in love with a street cat, adult or kitten. Often they are semi-feral but with a kitten, that makes little difference. Just make sure any potential adopters realize they'll have to be patient with the kitten. 

Good luck!

Hi! Here are two pics of me and the little guy. Yes, he is hugging me. Notice the happy upright tail.

He's so precious!!!

I am now jealous of the laws in Israel.  I wish the US would follow suit and fund TNR and, above all, ban declawing!

jkiffel said:

Hi All,

I'm visiting Israel now (staying with family), and a stray kitten has found me. I've been feeding him, and he wants to be picked up and held. He likes to be brushed and petted. He's been living in a tree, but comes when called. He's eager to come into the house, sit on my lap and be a companion.

I will only be here for several more days. I'm hoping I can find someone who'd like to adopt a really fantastic companion kitty. He does not trust or like other cats and is frightened of dogs. He'd be ideal for a person with no other pets or small children, who just wants a devoted companion. I've had cats all my life, and it's obvious to me that this one is very special. I am located close to Be'er Sheva.

THANKS!

Jamie

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You're his person now because you've fed him. Is there no way on earth that you can keep him?

I've heard it's really hard to take animals from country to country.  He would probably have to be quarantined for a long time, too.  But he's adorable - I would try if it was me!  LOL

In trying to find him a home, I wouldn't emphasize the part about him being afraid of other cats. Kittens can easily be socialized to living with other pets with some time and patience. You would be narrowing your options by looking only for a household that doesn't have other pets. It will be heartbreaking if you can't in the very least find someone to feed him after you leave. I agree that it would be worth trying to do whatever necessary to take him home with you. A temporary quarantine isn't so bad if he has a forever home afterwards. Good luck to this sweet kitty.

Alicia88 said:

I've heard it's really hard to take animals from country to country.  He would probably have to be quarantined for a long time, too.  But he's adorable - I would try if it was me!  LOL

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Me too. If I fed him I could not leave him there alone.

I live in the US and am about to travel to Switzerland in two days. There is no way that I can keep him.

Would your family or a friend be willing to feed him when you leave since he's become dependent on you for food? Perhaps at this point finding an outdoor caregiver would be the most realistic goal before you leave, and then after you're gone you can continue to search for a home for him. This is a very sad situation, my heart breaks for him.

My sister-in-law will feed him. She feeds ferals. It's not ideal, but he will survive. I just wish he had a chance at a home.

That is really good news that you found someone to feed him! Hopefully your sister in law will also show him some affection. Maybe your family can continue to look for a home for him after you leave.

To elaborate, since you've all been so kind with your interest, my SIL loves cats. But her neighbors do not! She went away for a week and I've been housesitting. She asked me to continue feeding the cats. This kitten showed up in a nearby tree and meowed constantly. I escorted him to the food and he has been asserting his claim, much to the discontent of the other cats. My SIL's husband also does not like feeding all these cats. I hoped that I could find this kitten a home so that I could alleviate family, feline and neighborhood discontent. But it looks like that may not happen. My next best hope is going to be to convince my SIL to take him into her house...which my brother-in-law will not like! And now I'm hoping they don't stop talking to me because I've worsened their cat overload...

Aww what a sweet little kitty!!  He or she seems really taken with you!  Is there any way your SIL could keep him until you get home and then have him shipped to you?  

Is that a possibility, jkiffel? I have no idea how expensive it would be. This kitten sounds like he would be a very happy indoor kitty. I have five indoor cats myself, and they are all rescued cats, and I didn't plan for any of them except the first. I'm sending prayers your way for this kitty and that your SIL's husband will fall in love with him.

I was googling and no quarantine is required for bringing a cat from Israel to America, only a veterinarian's certificate of health and proof of rabies vaccination. Maybe next time a family member from Istael visits you they could bring the kitten to you? I don't think there's an extra charge, they're considered baggage.

Anne, do you happen to know if CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel) is still up and running?  They might be a good source of contacts?  Here's their URL: http://www.chai-online.org/en/home/e_index.htm with many links.  Hope this helps.

http://www.chai-online.org/en/home/e_index.htm  I posted this URL to Anne as well; not sure whether or not it will be helpful but there are many links on the site and they are a long-time, well-respected organization.  Maybe they'll have some resources that will be helpful.  He is a very handsome little mancat!