ACK! I don't know what to do

[Naomi]

a very very cute stray cat has been hanging arond my Mom and Dad's place for the last 2 weeks. Mom has made all the calls and put up poster and placed 'found' ads not one call. Dad for some reason will not let my Mom have the cat no matter how much she wants it and how cute and loving and affectionate the kitty (girl?) is. SHe has asked me if we want it. Now the delema (sp?) we use to have 3 cats and are now down to 1 kinda cranky/set in her ways 11 year old indoor cat and the 2 pigs. My main concern is my cage is not cat proof and I don't know how I would proof it if need be and how the other cat and this one will get along as well as the disease etc. posibilities this new cat may have. Mom said she would help with the vet bills, getting 'her' fixed if not already etc. I just don't know what to do! this poor thing has been outside for who knows how long and the last week has been really cold and really snowy I feel so bad for it. She is so desperate for some loving she followed my son around like a little puppy dog when we were there on Saturday. Sorry for the long post I am just so torn about having a full house already and taking this poor thing in.

 

[wickedrodent]

Aw.. How about taking her to the vet, seeing about her situation (if she is fixed, healthy etc..) then making a desision from there?

Also, you could try introducing him/her to your cat on neutral ground, and if they get along, and you decide to take her you can make a cover for your cage?

If you can't keep her, maybe you could just keep her until you can find someone else who would be able to. Kind of like a fostering thing..

 

[Naomi]

Aw.. How about taking her to the vet, seeing about her situation (if she is fixed, healthy etc..) then making a desision from there?

Also, you could try introducing him/her to your cat on neutral ground, and if they get along, and you decide to take her you can make a cover for your cage?

If you can't keep her, maybe you could just keep her until you can find someone else who would be able to. Kind of like a fostering thing..

Taking her to the vet first is a good idea I may try that.

Unfortunately there is no neutral ground for intros as our cat Spookie is a strict house cat and doesn't travel at all unless I want my car covered in pee and hair

I really don't know how I could cover the cage the way it's designed.

I know that once she's in the house I'm not letting her go

 

[wickedrodent]

Oh, I see what you mean about the cage. I just looked at it.. Maybe someone else will have better suggestions.

 

[nonamian_girl]

If you can't take the cat in, turn her in to a Humane Society, she will be better off that way. They take care of all her health needs and they'll find her a suitable home.

 

[Naomi]

If you can't take the cat in, turn her in to a Humane Society, she will be better off that way. They take care of all her health needs and they'll find her a suitable home.

I would rather take her than turn her over the the SPCA or Humane society. I guess the other problem is convincing my hubby My son has already said he wants her for Christmas in lieu of any other presents, how cute LOL

 

[nonamian_girl]

Don't be scared, Humane Societies will ONLY take her if they have room (or they'll make room), they are a low kill shelter and they match up people and pets like a dating service. Don't burdern yourself if you can't handle it when there are services out there that will do a good job .

 

[Naomi]

It's not that we can't handle it. It's just we weren't thinking of replacing our cat who died just over a month ago. It's a big responsibility that my sone and I want, just not so sure about my hubby.

 

[nonamian_girl]

Oh I see... aw, that's tough, but don't think about it like you're replacing your cat, think of it in terms of saving an animal's life!

I believe it was someone on here that once said that forgiveness is easier to get then permission when it comes to hubbies .

Also, maybe you should try and take the cat to someone who could scan it for a microchip--you never know!

 

[Naomi]

very true, i took a quick look and didn't see a tattoo but never thought of the chip. I already got DH's forgivness for the piggies I never did ask, I just told him I was doing it the day before LOL.

 

[Lyndsay]

I would raise the cage up a bit higher off the ground, move it to a different room that the cat would not be allowed untill proven that she is safe to be around them.

In any case, please keep us posted.

 

[Naomi]

we will most likely be taking her after a vet check of course. I could move the pigs to the spare room maybe but I'd hate to shut them in there as much as I'd hate shutting the cat in there.

 

[CavySpirit]

Don't be scared, Humane Societies will ONLY take her if they have room (or they'll make room), they are a low kill shelter and they match up people and pets like a dating service. Don't burdern yourself if you can't handle it when there are services out there that will do a good job .

Really? Are the Humane Societies in Canada that different from the US?

 

[Lyndsay]

For the most part yes, they will take any animal, and you have to fill out a four page adoption form, which differs per animal. When I went to pick up JD, I had to have two references who would state I took care of my animals well. Of course I blew them away with my cage pictures, and told them that he would live like a king. They try and match to people's needs, and the animals as well. I don't imagine the shelters being high-kill here, but I'm too scared to find out.

 

[Rachel's Cavy Cove]

I took my son with his cub troup to the SPCA tonight and they said they were a low kill shelter. I guess it depends on what you consider "low kill" though. There was a great B&W GP with crazy hair and an adorable orange short hair tabby named Clover. If not for the fact that Shawn would kill me I would seriously have come home with a pet or two tonight. It's so hard to leave them there.

 

[Slave to the Wheek]

Your cage looks very easy to cat proof. Just add more of those shelf thingies using zip ties. Just set it up so that the ties are just a tiny bit loose, then they can act as hinges. If you put two together for the top, and add one on the front section if can be pulled up and down like an accordian type of door.

If that isn't clear PM me, and I might be able to send over a picture of what I mean.

 

[Tulip]

I'm glad you're thinking about keeping her! If you decide not to, I would just try to find her a home rather than take her to the Humane Society. They do good things, but also things that aren't good ~ at least the ones in the U.S. ~ I think cats are the worst off.

Keep us posted!

 

[Naomi]

well just when hubby says we will take her my Mom thinks she may have found the owners which is really sad becasue she is not being cared for. She is outside 24/7 even when it was -30c here and she is starving for food and attention. If they end up being the owners I'm calling the SPCA to report them!

 

[Naomi]

well my Mom talked to the neighbors and she's not theirs!! looks like we have another kitty-baby

 

[KaceyH]

Congrats.
Is the cat inside your mothers house?
Poor kitty.
I hope you can get her and she or he will blossom under your loving care!

XO kayla