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- May 21, 2013
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I took in 2 cats from a friend who's elderly father was giving up his apartment to move in with family. I was told the cats where old but fixed so I agreed since I'm a sucker for an animal in need. I have a fixed male cat and a small dog already that are friends and I have enough space for all the animals to be able to get away from each other if they want too. I also figured since it is just me and my husband that it would be fairly quiet so they could adjust easier. I was told Pumpkin was 9 years old and was her fathers favourite and was very affectionate. Momo was 11 years old and more timid.
Well the cats arived a little over 2 weeks ago and I set up my spare bedroom for them so they could spend the night in there with the door closed to let them relax after a long trip (especially since they are old). The day they arrived I was informed that they had never been in a cat carrier before and it was very difficult to get them in the cage. I was also told that my friends mother had died several years ago and that she had many cats that were all ferel and that these two were the last of them, but they had been with the family since they were kittens. Thay had been fixed and lived in the apartment with the elderly man but had also spent a lot of time alone in the apartment. I knew that a little extra time and patience was going to be required.
At first they stayed only in the spare bedroom, hiding constantly but eating, drinking and using the litter pan. We would go in a bunch of times throughout the day and give them a pet and Momo seemed to be ok but Pumpkin was very upset. I chalked it up to him being sad that he lost the only home and owner he had ever known and he had been the favourite.
After a week they both ended up downstairs and I had to corral them back upstairs but they had pooped all over my basement and they had gotten surprisingly aggressive when I got close to them. Then I was told in casual conversation that they had spent quite a lot of time alone in that apartment and I started to worry that maybe I was in over my head because I had rescued ferel kittens and found them all homes but these cats were old and set in their ways.
It has been just over two weeks and it is worse then ever, they still only want to hide, they are eating, drinking and using the litter box less and they hiss and growl when we get close. Pumpkin got under the kitchen sink and my husband got him out and instead of running away Pumpkin lunged at my husband, latched on to his head and bit him in the forehead.
I am sure I screwed up somewhere along the line and I expect criticism from people who know better but I was trying to rescue these cats and now I don/t know what to do. No one will want them, and I would still be willing to keep them but I am scared for my other pets and any people who get close to them. My friend said she could take them back but getting them put to sleep is the only option. I hate that it has come to this which is why I found this site. I need help! What would you do???????
Well the cats arived a little over 2 weeks ago and I set up my spare bedroom for them so they could spend the night in there with the door closed to let them relax after a long trip (especially since they are old). The day they arrived I was informed that they had never been in a cat carrier before and it was very difficult to get them in the cage. I was also told that my friends mother had died several years ago and that she had many cats that were all ferel and that these two were the last of them, but they had been with the family since they were kittens. Thay had been fixed and lived in the apartment with the elderly man but had also spent a lot of time alone in the apartment. I knew that a little extra time and patience was going to be required.
At first they stayed only in the spare bedroom, hiding constantly but eating, drinking and using the litter pan. We would go in a bunch of times throughout the day and give them a pet and Momo seemed to be ok but Pumpkin was very upset. I chalked it up to him being sad that he lost the only home and owner he had ever known and he had been the favourite.
After a week they both ended up downstairs and I had to corral them back upstairs but they had pooped all over my basement and they had gotten surprisingly aggressive when I got close to them. Then I was told in casual conversation that they had spent quite a lot of time alone in that apartment and I started to worry that maybe I was in over my head because I had rescued ferel kittens and found them all homes but these cats were old and set in their ways.
It has been just over two weeks and it is worse then ever, they still only want to hide, they are eating, drinking and using the litter box less and they hiss and growl when we get close. Pumpkin got under the kitchen sink and my husband got him out and instead of running away Pumpkin lunged at my husband, latched on to his head and bit him in the forehead.
I am sure I screwed up somewhere along the line and I expect criticism from people who know better but I was trying to rescue these cats and now I don/t know what to do. No one will want them, and I would still be willing to keep them but I am scared for my other pets and any people who get close to them. My friend said she could take them back but getting them put to sleep is the only option. I hate that it has come to this which is why I found this site. I need help! What would you do???????