Finding homes for cat and kitten in Austin, bonus estrus edition
April 8, 2013 1:06 PM Subscribe
A sweet mama cat and her kitten were abandoned at a friend's house outside of Austin. I agreed to foster them for a bit, but we're going on week three, and tensions are building between the fosters and my two regular kitties. Bonus complication: Mama cat has now gone into heat (I think). Yikes.
The kitties are cute and sweet as can be. Obligatory photos. We can't keep them - but clearly Mama cat was well-used to people and Tony the kitten is just a dear.
We've had one vet visit -- both cats are healthy and the vet estimates Mama to be about 2 years old. Tony the kitten is about 7 weeks now.
I contacted Austin Pets Alive last week and haven't heard back. When mama cat busted out the screen in the spare room to get outside after much yowling...I finally figured out she had gone into heat (I've never had non-neutered animals before, so I was a little slow on this). She spent several hours outside, so I guess she may well be pregnant again. I've got calls into the low-cost spay/netuer clinics to try and get an appointment this week. Also waiting to hear back...and feeling a little desperate.
My immediate questions are:
1.) Will spaying the mama cat improve her odds of adoption if we have to surrender her to a shelter?
2.) The kitten seems super-adoptable to me -- how can I maximize the chances of him finding the right family while is at peak cuteness (after he clears the 8-week hurdle)?
3.) While I'm a little desperate, I want them to go to good homes. We've had someone ask who wanted them as "outdoor only' cats. I said no to that. Reasonable?
I know Austin has lots of good pet resources, but I could use some help sorting them out.
Many thanks!
The kitties are cute and sweet as can be. Obligatory photos. We can't keep them - but clearly Mama cat was well-used to people and Tony the kitten is just a dear.
We've had one vet visit -- both cats are healthy and the vet estimates Mama to be about 2 years old. Tony the kitten is about 7 weeks now.
I contacted Austin Pets Alive last week and haven't heard back. When mama cat busted out the screen in the spare room to get outside after much yowling...I finally figured out she had gone into heat (I've never had non-neutered animals before, so I was a little slow on this). She spent several hours outside, so I guess she may well be pregnant again. I've got calls into the low-cost spay/netuer clinics to try and get an appointment this week. Also waiting to hear back...and feeling a little desperate.
My immediate questions are:
1.) Will spaying the mama cat improve her odds of adoption if we have to surrender her to a shelter?
2.) The kitten seems super-adoptable to me -- how can I maximize the chances of him finding the right family while is at peak cuteness (after he clears the 8-week hurdle)?
3.) While I'm a little desperate, I want them to go to good homes. We've had someone ask who wanted them as "outdoor only' cats. I said no to that. Reasonable?
I know Austin has lots of good pet resources, but I could use some help sorting them out.
Many thanks!
go to Roller Derby and hang out in the parking lot to see if anyone wants the cats
Please don't do this. Kittens and cats shouldn't be given to random strangers met in a parking lot who might decide they want them on a whim without you knowing anything about the kind of home they can provide for the cats.
A spayed cat will definitely be more adoptable.
Post video of the kitten on FB so people can see how cute he is, and of the mama being all laid back and sweet.
posted by essexjan at 1:42 PM on April 8, 2013
Please don't do this. Kittens and cats shouldn't be given to random strangers met in a parking lot who might decide they want them on a whim without you knowing anything about the kind of home they can provide for the cats.
A spayed cat will definitely be more adoptable.
Post video of the kitten on FB so people can see how cute he is, and of the mama being all laid back and sweet.
posted by essexjan at 1:42 PM on April 8, 2013
Outdoor only is weird and ridiculous, but i think that allowing cats outdoor at all is a personal choice and not something that people should be attacking with so much vitriol.
I think you were reasonable in that case however, because someone who wanted to only have a cat around outside basically doesn't want a cat. So basically, do you mean allowed outdoors or never allowed indoors?
I'll toss in a coin for craigslist though. Craigslist is great for selling/finding good homes for a lot of different things, including pets. I see someone already suggested facebook as well, which my friends have also had a lot of success with.
posted by emptythought at 1:53 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think you were reasonable in that case however, because someone who wanted to only have a cat around outside basically doesn't want a cat. So basically, do you mean allowed outdoors or never allowed indoors?
I'll toss in a coin for craigslist though. Craigslist is great for selling/finding good homes for a lot of different things, including pets. I see someone already suggested facebook as well, which my friends have also had a lot of success with.
posted by emptythought at 1:53 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you go the Craigslist route, set an adoption fee. Not huge, but enough to be a sign of commitment from a prospective owner. Maybe halve the fee for an owner who would take both mother and kitten.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:15 PM on April 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:15 PM on April 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
When I lived in Austin I adopted two cats from a woman who was moving away but she originally got them from a kitten rescue place. I want to say the name is Kitten Rescue. I'll try to find the business card when I get home tonight. This was many years ago so they might not still be business.
posted by birdherder at 6:07 PM on April 8, 2013
posted by birdherder at 6:07 PM on April 8, 2013
I showed this thread to a relative who is active in the various cat rescue groups in Austin, and here is what she had to say:
Most of the suggestions that I have are already covered in the comments. She can email Austin Pets Alive if she hasn’t heard back yet at pass@austinpetsalive.org. That is the email for people looking to rehome pets—sometimes the person answering that account can get APA to take in animals if there is space and the animals are highly adoptable. I think they are low on adoptable age kittens right now so it’s worth a try. Good thing is both mom and kitten are very cute and she already has really good pictures. Craig’s List—but don’t advertise for free, ask them to cover the cost of spay/neuter and have it done before handing the cat/kitten over or at least get a deposit refundable when the surgery is done. Mom should be spayed NOW if kitten is eating on it’s own. I have had success making up cute posters with pictures and posting them at local animal supply stores, libraries, etc—where ever you can find a community bulletin board. Facebook has already been mentioned. Also—send an email to everybody you know, including the pictures and situation, and ask them to forward that on to everybody they know. It’s early in the kitten season and people are looking for kittens and not finding them so there is a good chance of finding a good home for the pair.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:38 AM on April 9, 2013
Most of the suggestions that I have are already covered in the comments. She can email Austin Pets Alive if she hasn’t heard back yet at pass@austinpetsalive.org. That is the email for people looking to rehome pets—sometimes the person answering that account can get APA to take in animals if there is space and the animals are highly adoptable. I think they are low on adoptable age kittens right now so it’s worth a try. Good thing is both mom and kitten are very cute and she already has really good pictures. Craig’s List—but don’t advertise for free, ask them to cover the cost of spay/neuter and have it done before handing the cat/kitten over or at least get a deposit refundable when the surgery is done. Mom should be spayed NOW if kitten is eating on it’s own. I have had success making up cute posters with pictures and posting them at local animal supply stores, libraries, etc—where ever you can find a community bulletin board. Facebook has already been mentioned. Also—send an email to everybody you know, including the pictures and situation, and ask them to forward that on to everybody they know. It’s early in the kitten season and people are looking for kittens and not finding them so there is a good chance of finding a good home for the pair.
posted by Metasyntactic at 11:38 AM on April 9, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Your cats can be similtaneously spayed and given abortions (it's a bit more expensive) but it's better than more kittens.
Cast about on your Facebook, go to Roller Derby and hang out in the parking lot to see if anyone wants the cats.
Yes, spaying mom-cat will help (one less thing to pay for). If you set up a Smartypig, I'll contribute if that helps.
I got 9 kittens placed by going cube to cube at my job, and by putting the word out (with cute pics) on Facebook.
People came out of the woodwork to adopt kittens. I now know where Malcolm and Eartha's family is and we all trade stories about our cats.
Hang in there, you will find them homes (I'm sort of hoping that they stay together.)
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:14 PM on April 8, 2013 [1 favorite]