*****SIGH*****

I don't know if you guys remember me telling you, a year ago, about a little
black and white cat who hangs around our house day and night (her people
never allowed her inside). Here's a picture of her looking in at my girls:

kilikini...

wasn't

Christine Burel...

wasn't

spayed and last spring they ended up with a sign outside their house that
read "Real Kittens - $1".

-L....

Honestly, I would get her spayed and make her a garage kitty. She is
used to living outdoors, and can hang in your garage at night. Just
make a little bed for her, and let her come and go as she pleases.
There comes a point where you have to draw the line, and do what you
can - which is not always the *best* you can do, but it helps.

Marina...

Poor baby. Many purrs that you find a good solution.

Well, she's in heat again (I have every intact tom within a five mile radius
hanging around my back yard - the good thing being that they are getting a
good meal everyday, which most look like they really could use). So....

polonca12000...

I printed out some brochures from our local SNAP clinic and walked across
the street to go talk to them about her and offer to help pay for the
surgery (and the prerequisite vaccinations). Guess what? The slime have
moved out and left her to get along on her own! I shouldn't be surprised

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

I hope you can talk DH into getting her spayed NOW. The longer you wait,
the further along her pregnancy will advance, and the more risky the
spaying becomes.

Maybe you could take her in, have her spayed, and advertise like hell
to find her a new home? Even if you don't know anyone personally who
wants a cat, if you put out ads, you might find someone. Petfinder is
a good resource - at least it was great back when I had a stray cat who
needed, *and found*, a home.

Poor girl! :( I wouldn't feel one bit guilty about snatching her
now - those people have demonstrated that they don't care about her.

Purrs,
Joyce

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

Well, that's how I acquired Cendrillon, my latest! Neighbor
moved out and left her in his empty apartment.

since they never bothered with her to begin with (what a great lesson to
teach their three little girls!!!), but *man* that p*sses me off.

Julie Cook...

Purrs from my crew (especially my Sammy who was also abandoned by his
family). Could you possibly rehome her with someone rather than trying
to take her in yourself?

*SIGH* We *really* can't afford a fifth cat! DH is giving me serious
financial pouts. But I don't think we have a choice, though, she'll need to
be spayed before she gets too far along in a pregnancy. I *have* agreed

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)...

Fortunately Cendri was not pregnant - just came in heat a
week after I adopted her! (I STILL shudder over people who
would de-claw a cat, but not have it neutered!) I'm glad I
agreed to take her - she and Melisande seem to be bonding
nicely, and she's proving much more sociable than she seemed
at first. (last night they were both on my lap, taking
turns grooming each other.)

with DH to wait a couple of days on the off chance that they come back to
retrieve her (yeah, wait for that to happen) since, according to another
neighbor, they just moved their furniture out about 2 or 3 days ago. She'll
be fine in the meantime - she'll get plenty of good food here and we have a
wooden fenced back yard where she's safe. [I know some of you will say grab
her now, but DH is adamant about this point and won't budge - it's going to
take some serious pleading over the next week to get him to agree to take
her at all.]

Also, *I'm* just really not looking forward to this. This is a cat who is
*never* inside, so changing her into an indoors-only cat will be a huge
battle. Also, the dynamics among our four girls is already precarious
(Jessie is aggressive, Demi is fearful, Bandit is vicious but old, and Sammy
is a huge clown who only wants to play with everybody). The introduction
process may take *months*, and I worry about Bandit, at 16-years-old, being
upset to the point of illness over this.

Anyway, I'll let you know how things go in a couple of days.

sriddles...

Yup, you guessed it. I say grab her now. What they have done is
criminal animal neglect and they don't deserve to have her back. Do you
have *any* prospects that might want a cat? I understand your concern
about integrating Bandit. Stress can really affect the health of an
older cat.

Monique Y. Mudama...

Purrs for the cat and for you ... it's a tough situation.

Can you get her spayed even if you don't keep her?

kilikini...

Oh, Jeez, Catnipped, what a battle! I know exactly how you feel. Purrs
that everything goes the way you want it to.

polonca12000...

What a cutie! Can you have her spayed and stay in a room separated from
your cats until she heals? Maybe you can find someone to take her in in
the meantime. Thank you so much for caring for this poor kitty, CN.

CatNipped...

Nope, it's us or the pound (and you know, knowing me, it won't be the
pound). I don't think the @$$holes are going to come back for her, so I
think she'll be safe in our back yard until I can talk DH into shelling out
the $200+ for testing, vaccinations, and spaying (probably more since she
has already mated and is more than likely pregnant).

Lots and lots of purrs and best wishes for the kitty to find a great
onetruehome really soon,
Polonca and Soncek

Adrian A...

It's so sad, this sort of thing happens everyday somewhere or other. :-(
Lots of good luck purrs. Is there any chance you could find this litle girl
another home?

Christina Websell...

It's a wonderful thing that you are doing for this cat, but a thought
occurred to me. You are going to get her spayed and inoculated, right? She
likes to be outdoors and given that it isn't exactly cold where you live,
couldn't she still live out? Do you still have the kennel that Digger used?
You could make it into a comfy cathouse and feed her out there.
That way, she would be happy and your indoor cats needn't be upset. Or is
this not a viable option?