I know that chances of finding a home for this little guy is slim, but it never hurts to try. I'm trying to avoid taking him to a shelter or putting him outside. So far I have had no success in finding this sweet cat a loving home.
Pepper showed up on our back door last August with pretty extensive injuries. My mom and I took him to the vet for treatment and ultimately decided that neither of us had the heart to take him to a shelter where we were pretty sure they would put him to sleep without giving him a chance. The vet felt based on his wounds that he could have either been hit by a car or thrown from a moving car. He went through several weeks of wound care and antibiotics, but is all better. We recently had to take him back to the vet upon finding he had an infection in his jaw (we're thinking from whatever caused his original injuries). He has been tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia and was negative for both. He was already neutered, very loving from the start, and was wanting to be indoors so we think someone must have loved him at one point.
Here's where it gets tricky. As much as I would like to be able to keep Pepper and integrate him in our home, I have another male cat that is strictly indoors and has Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. Taz is not a fan of having Pepper in the house (Pepper has been isolated in a room since August, hence the reason for finding him a home). Taz's FHS has been acting up a little more since we brought Pepper into the house. I've tried scenting items and leaving them for Taz to sniff and get familiar with, but he's not impressed. I had high hopes that these two might get along since they had no problem being nose to nose with one another through the screen door, but once Pepper came indoors Taz was having none of that. Taz is my baby, and I try to keep everything as stress-free as possible. As much as I love Pepper and would like for them to get along. I'm not sure I want to risk taking Taz to emergency and potentially facing putting him down in order to do it.
Pepper's details: This cat has been through the ringer in the last 6+ months, but he's got so much love to give. He is a black, neutered male. He is polydactyl, so his front paws look like he's got thumbs. He is also missing three of his four canines and just recently had one of his smaller molars removed. He is on a strictly wet food diet as he has not been able to keep down kibble (unless it's crushed up really small, but the vet advised us not to give him kibble after this last surgery). He's good with using the box, though I do put a little potty pad underneath just in case. He did test negative for Leukemia and FIV, and his last blood panel was all clear. Unfortunately, I have no idea how old he is. Originally the vet thought he was no more than 4 years, but after the last surgery he said he could be older.
I live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA which is about an hour east of Los Angeles. I know that it takes a long time to integrate a new cat into an existing household, but I don't have an existing normal cat. Pepper is not happy being stuck in a bedroom, and it's really not fair to him to keep him there for much longer. My mom is starting to think we should take him to the shelter after all, that he might have a better chance at finding a home. However, that is just trading one cage for another which I really don't want to do. The other alternative is to put him back outside and let him be free there instead of stuck in a room. I'm leaning toward the latter (though it scares me that he'll get hurt out there too). If anyone is interested in taking in this sweet cat, please help me. My mom and I work during the day and I got to school at night. My mom goes to sit with him when we get home, but he doesn't get as much contact as he deserves. He really needs someone who can devote more time to him and give him the love he deserves.
Thank you all for your consideration, guidance, help, and support.
Amy
Pepper showed up on our back door last August with pretty extensive injuries. My mom and I took him to the vet for treatment and ultimately decided that neither of us had the heart to take him to a shelter where we were pretty sure they would put him to sleep without giving him a chance. The vet felt based on his wounds that he could have either been hit by a car or thrown from a moving car. He went through several weeks of wound care and antibiotics, but is all better. We recently had to take him back to the vet upon finding he had an infection in his jaw (we're thinking from whatever caused his original injuries). He has been tested for FIV and Feline Leukemia and was negative for both. He was already neutered, very loving from the start, and was wanting to be indoors so we think someone must have loved him at one point.
Here's where it gets tricky. As much as I would like to be able to keep Pepper and integrate him in our home, I have another male cat that is strictly indoors and has Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome. Taz is not a fan of having Pepper in the house (Pepper has been isolated in a room since August, hence the reason for finding him a home). Taz's FHS has been acting up a little more since we brought Pepper into the house. I've tried scenting items and leaving them for Taz to sniff and get familiar with, but he's not impressed. I had high hopes that these two might get along since they had no problem being nose to nose with one another through the screen door, but once Pepper came indoors Taz was having none of that. Taz is my baby, and I try to keep everything as stress-free as possible. As much as I love Pepper and would like for them to get along. I'm not sure I want to risk taking Taz to emergency and potentially facing putting him down in order to do it.
Pepper's details: This cat has been through the ringer in the last 6+ months, but he's got so much love to give. He is a black, neutered male. He is polydactyl, so his front paws look like he's got thumbs. He is also missing three of his four canines and just recently had one of his smaller molars removed. He is on a strictly wet food diet as he has not been able to keep down kibble (unless it's crushed up really small, but the vet advised us not to give him kibble after this last surgery). He's good with using the box, though I do put a little potty pad underneath just in case. He did test negative for Leukemia and FIV, and his last blood panel was all clear. Unfortunately, I have no idea how old he is. Originally the vet thought he was no more than 4 years, but after the last surgery he said he could be older.
I live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA which is about an hour east of Los Angeles. I know that it takes a long time to integrate a new cat into an existing household, but I don't have an existing normal cat. Pepper is not happy being stuck in a bedroom, and it's really not fair to him to keep him there for much longer. My mom is starting to think we should take him to the shelter after all, that he might have a better chance at finding a home. However, that is just trading one cage for another which I really don't want to do. The other alternative is to put him back outside and let him be free there instead of stuck in a room. I'm leaning toward the latter (though it scares me that he'll get hurt out there too). If anyone is interested in taking in this sweet cat, please help me. My mom and I work during the day and I got to school at night. My mom goes to sit with him when we get home, but he doesn't get as much contact as he deserves. He really needs someone who can devote more time to him and give him the love he deserves.
Thank you all for your consideration, guidance, help, and support.
Amy