Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

I was just searching for something and realized I never updated.

We went on with the cat living in an apartment all alone for TWO MONTHS while I tried rescues, craigslist, etc. Nothing came of any of the rehoming possibilities- no one wanted an older vicious cat. One rescue actually put me in touch with a vet that puts down cats that can't be rehomed- they felt that it was more humane than throwing her into a foreign situation. I couldn't do it and finally got an offer from someone who has a horse farm a little upstate. The farm has barns which are all interconnected and a few supply rooms where about 5 cats live. The owner feeds them and makes sure to keep an eye on them. I sent the cat there. I felt like I had no choice so I just did it and said I'd bring her back if it wasn't working. We'll, the first few weeks were rough. She wasn't letting anyone near her (which didn't surprise me but I think the woman kind of thought she was gonna cat whisper her) and she kept disappearing. Then all of a sudden it was like she had this breakthrough and was a different cat. All of a sudden she got social with the woman especially and even the other cats. She also started eating more than ever and put on a nice amount of weight. I can't explain it- it was like the change she needed all these years and is doing better than ever. Btw she went in dec so the indoor/outdoor winter aspect went very well. It stays relatively warm in the barn. Anyway, my friend is a feed delivery person and goes three times a week, so I get a lot of updates. He also does me a favor and drops off food and toys etc. Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know.

My grandpa has to go to an assisted living facility and can not bring his cat.

I have a couple of options but they are all very complicated by the fact that this cat is not socialized and hisses/bites/scratches like crazy. My grandpa lived alone for the last 10 years (the cat is around 8) with only a nurse visiting each day for a few hours and my fam visiting one or two times a week (the cat would ALWAYS hide when people came around). The cat and my grandpa DO have a decent relationship with one another though- it's not like the cat is just mean- she's only afraid I guess of everyone else- but also it's not all lovey dovey with my grandpa either. They just sort of coexist.

Now, I have a toddler and a newborn on the way, 2 cats, and a dog already. We don't have a house- just a large 2 bedroom apt.- so it's not like I could take the cat and try and segregate it somehow. My DH is dead set against taking the cat in b/c he has seen how vicious it acts and it scared that it will hurt one of our children. My dog gets along very well with the current cats but my cats are VERY mild mannered. My dog is old and also pretty mild mannered but she gets nasty when my sil brings her little dog over and also she chases cats and squirrels outside- so I just don't know how she would react. My grandpa's cat is so scary that when it goes to the vet it comes home with a danger tag around its neck
which they put on so the employees at the vet know to be careful. This cat jumped out of a cabinet and bit one of my grandpa's nurses on TWO occasions- so it doesn't really need to be "provoked". If you just get to close it scratches/bites.

My other option is that my mom works in a large wholesale market where a lot of business owners keep cats around to try and ward off rodents. I know that would be a difficult transition and it would be indoor/outdoor but within an where there really wouldn't be traffic danger (but she could of course always wander far enough away for that to become an issue). I know that option sounds really bad but I see some pros to it- such as the fact that she could kind of stay to herself and still be dry/fed/taken care of. They could take her without it being an issue that this cat is not going to curl up to anyone and purr.

My cats and dog were rescues and I'm very familiar with the deal on stuff like this. It would be EXTREMELY hard for me to rehome an 8 year old cat let alone one that is "vicious".

The bottom line is that I am an animal lover and of course I love my grandpa and want to do the right thing by his pet. I just don't know what to do!

Any thoughts?

Message edited 6/5/2012 8:08:20 PM.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

yikes, you in a very hard situation and i can totally understand you being hesitant in taking your grandpa's cat in.. that being said, i don't think i would be able to let the cat go the business to keep off rodents (this is just me) knowing that there is a possibility of harm..

my cat is very skiddish and fearful of others but he's gentle though.. i would probably look into adoption.. the cat will come around to its new owners, but i bet his cat has to be the only pet in the house..

i hope situation becomes easier for you..

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

I can see your heart is in the right place but I am siding with your DH. Your kids come first and to be honest, i don't think the cat would be so happy in your home. Going from one person household to one with kids and a bunch of other animals may not be the best for this particular cat.

I would try the second option and see how the cat seems to respond...I'm an animal lover too and I would be very torn too but this cat seems to be a no children/other pets kind of kitty.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

I have to tell you that I am an animal lover that has had many unfriendly cats growing up. I agree taking the cat is probably not a good option, for your family. I wish I could take him but my DH is allergic and I have 2 dogs that would drive the cat insane even if he was not.

However, the second option is really truly a very very awful cruel one IMO. The cat is fairly old, and going to a setting like that will surely seriously harm the cat mentally and possibly physically. I really have to stress I think this is a cruel and awful option, to place it in a setting to be a rodent catcher (which you dont even know the cat would even be interested in). NO ONE will care for hte cat, or care about the cat. Ultimately I think the cat will be forgotten about, mistreated, will die or will somehow be killed in a harsh setting such as that. The cat will surely feel the loss of his friend, your grandpa and doing that to the cat, at the age that cat is at, just seems very cruel to me. I am sorry to be so blunt, but it greatly upsets me. Animals feel loss and stress too, kwim? And putting the animal in such a change of a setting, such a drastic change, would be extremely taxing and stressful on the cat (who is also approaching old age). The cat will encounter other animals, etc and clearly was JUST a house pet. KWIM?

Please, I know it's hard but I just dont think this is an option at all.

Many cats are just like that, not super friendly but not feral either. I really suggest contacting rescues, etc, and trying your very very hardest to find someone who will take the cat.

I am sorry if what I write upsets you. I dont mean to upset you, just speaking truthfully as a person who had many cats over the years (many unfriendly also). That cat will never survive such a drastic change in lifestyle, at that age....no way. It will either die, be killed, be neglected, suffer health consequences and be so afraid that even if someone DID want to care for it (which I DOUBT) it will not let people near him or her, and they will likely back off. The cat likely then will die alone somewhere in some factory or basement.

Please please do not go with option 2.

Message edited 9/28/2011 6:06:47 PM.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Have you asked around at all? You may be able to find someone willing to keep the cat around. Sounds like the cat would need a quiet household. A single, older person, or couple without kids.

This cat does not sound like it would do well in option 2. Sounds like that is more for true ferals, and even then, it is best to keep ferals in their natural environment/location. IMO, it would be cruel to take a cat and drop it into a situation like that.

As a last resort, what about a no kill shelter or rescue group? Not the kind where they are kept in cages, but I know at least one person who has a place with rooms where various strays are kept. Foster care, etc. There are many cat lovers out there who are not afraid to take in an older cat who isn't the friendliest of cats.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

save a pet

last hope

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Perhaps Craig at caboodle ranch will take the cat? He is in florida and you would need to transport the cat there but perhaps it's an option?

Caboodle Ranch

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Posted by Goobster

However, the second option is really truly a very very awful cruel one IMO. The cat is fairly old, and going to a setting like that will surely seriously harm the cat mentally and possibly physically. I really have to stress I think this is a cruel and awful option, to place it in a setting to be a rodent catcher (which you dont even know the cat would even be interested in). NO ONE will care for hte cat, or care about the cat. Ultimately I think the cat will be forgotten about, mistreated, will die or will somehow be killed in a harsh setting such as that. The cat will surely feel the loss of his friend, your grandpa and doing that to the cat, at the age that cat is at, just seems very cruel to me. I am sorry to be so blunt, but it greatly upsets me. Animals feel loss and stress too, kwim? And putting the animal in such a change of a setting, such a drastic change, would be extremely taxing and stressful on the cat (who is also approaching old age). The cat will encounter other animals, etc and clearly was JUST a house pet. KWIM?

Please, I know it's hard but I just dont think this is an option at all.

Many cats are just like that, not super friendly but not feral either. I really suggest contacting rescues, etc, and trying your very very hardest to find someone who will take the cat.

I am sorry if what I write upsets you. I dont mean to upset you, just speaking truthfully as a person who had many cats over the years (many unfriendly also). That cat will never survive such a drastic change in lifestyle, at that age....no way. It will either die, be killed, be neglected, suffer health consequences and be so afraid that even if someone DID want to care for it (which I DOUBT) it will not let people near him or her, and they will likely back off. The cat likely then will die alone somewhere in some factory or basement.

Please please do not go with option 2.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

wondering if any update

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Update is that I'm back to square one and am going to check out everyone's suggestions. Basically all week there was someone who was considering the cat (another elderly person) but in the end decided against it. Would have been a good home too So we are still just visiting it and feeding it at my grandpa's apt. She seems fine but I'm sure must be a little lonely.

Re: Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Posted by lynnd126

Update is that I'm back to square one and am going to check out everyone's suggestions. Basically all week there was someone who was considering the cat (another elderly person) but in the end decided against it. Would have been a good home too So we are still just visiting it and feeding it at my grandpa's apt. She seems fine but I'm sure must be a little lonely.

Re: Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Bump for update

Re: Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

Re: Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

What a wondeful update. I wanted to say how great I think you are for doing so much for your grandpa's pet. Many people would not have gone the extra measures to make sure that this cat was rehomed.

Re: Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

I'm glad everything worked out with your grandfather's cat!

Re: Update*** Need some advice about what to do with my grandpa's cat (very long)

That is a really cool update!!!