Houston cat adoption filter: Can you help us find a home for Joe?
May 31, 2012 4:19 AM Subscribe
How can we find a good home in Houston for an adult cat who needs to be an "only" cat?
My elderly mother in Houston was recently admitted to the hospital with significant health issues. When she comes out again, it will be to spend her remaining days in a high-acuity nursing home. It's a very hard thing for her to lose her home and her independence, and the hardest part is that she's bitterly grieving for her beloved cat Joe, who has been her joy and comfort in the recent years of her declining health. Here are the obligatory Joe photos.
Joe, who is now about 5 or 6 years old, was an abandoned adult cat who was in pretty poor shape when he was found by my mom. She had him neutered and generally doctored up, and he's now a sweet, quiet, gentle, affectionate, slightly timid cat who likes nothing better than to cuddle up next to someone for hours. He's like a big, soft, clean, cuddly bunny. He is perfectly litter-trained, has all his shots, and does well as either an indoor or indoor-outdoor cat. He would be perfect for another housebound adult or just anyone who wants an affectionate, companionable cat. Everyone in our family loves Joe, and any of us would find room for him in our homes (even me, and I'd have to bring him across the country) except for the fact that he's not at all accepting of other cats. He's aggressive with other cats, both male and female, and he himself is unhappy if he has to share his territory. Joe really needs to be an only cat, and we all have households teeming with other kitties -- several of them other rescues of my mom's from over the years.
Mom is breaking her heart because she feels that she's abandoning Joe again, and she's made it clear that placing him in a shelter -- even a no-kill shelter -- won't ease her grief and guilt. We don't want to put him in a shelter! We would love to be able to tell her that Joe is going to a good home, a secure home with someone who will cherish her last and most-loved rescue, but we haven't yet been able to find one.
So far, we have tried spreading the word among friends, office bulletin boards, postings at our vets' offices, and postings on our Facebook pages, but with no result. I believe a Craigslist ad is also in the works. Does anyone have suggestions for additional venues we can try to find a good home for Joe? We would particularly appreciate advice from anyone who may be plugged in to local animal rescue networks and who could give us a better idea of the odds of placing an adult cat with this kind of limitation.
My elderly mother in Houston was recently admitted to the hospital with significant health issues. When she comes out again, it will be to spend her remaining days in a high-acuity nursing home. It's a very hard thing for her to lose her home and her independence, and the hardest part is that she's bitterly grieving for her beloved cat Joe, who has been her joy and comfort in the recent years of her declining health. Here are the obligatory Joe photos.
Joe, who is now about 5 or 6 years old, was an abandoned adult cat who was in pretty poor shape when he was found by my mom. She had him neutered and generally doctored up, and he's now a sweet, quiet, gentle, affectionate, slightly timid cat who likes nothing better than to cuddle up next to someone for hours. He's like a big, soft, clean, cuddly bunny. He is perfectly litter-trained, has all his shots, and does well as either an indoor or indoor-outdoor cat. He would be perfect for another housebound adult or just anyone who wants an affectionate, companionable cat. Everyone in our family loves Joe, and any of us would find room for him in our homes (even me, and I'd have to bring him across the country) except for the fact that he's not at all accepting of other cats. He's aggressive with other cats, both male and female, and he himself is unhappy if he has to share his territory. Joe really needs to be an only cat, and we all have households teeming with other kitties -- several of them other rescues of my mom's from over the years.
Mom is breaking her heart because she feels that she's abandoning Joe again, and she's made it clear that placing him in a shelter -- even a no-kill shelter -- won't ease her grief and guilt. We don't want to put him in a shelter! We would love to be able to tell her that Joe is going to a good home, a secure home with someone who will cherish her last and most-loved rescue, but we haven't yet been able to find one.
So far, we have tried spreading the word among friends, office bulletin boards, postings at our vets' offices, and postings on our Facebook pages, but with no result. I believe a Craigslist ad is also in the works. Does anyone have suggestions for additional venues we can try to find a good home for Joe? We would particularly appreciate advice from anyone who may be plugged in to local animal rescue networks and who could give us a better idea of the odds of placing an adult cat with this kind of limitation.
I was in a similar situation when I inherited my grandmother's old-ass cat Agnes, when Grandma went into a nursing home. Much of what you say about Joe could have applied to Agnes, except that Agnes had no choice but to come live with us and get used to our cat Indigo. Agnes had been my grandmother's only inside cat for entire life (she was 10 when we got her). Her interaction with other cats was minimal. But my grandmother was very worried about Agnes, and couldn't abide by her being placed with some unknown party.
It took a few months, but Agnes learned to tolerate Indigo. I wouldn't say they're buddies, but they coexist just fine. (We should have gotten Feliway to help the transition, but we were quite broke at the time.) There were definitely a few scuffles in the beginning, but they worked it out. Now Indigo loves Agnes, and Agnes tolerates Indigo with a heaping measure of disdain, but I would say they are both very happy cats.
So, seconding catatethebird. Joe will probably adapt given time,
posted by Coatlicue at 5:51 AM on May 31, 2012
It took a few months, but Agnes learned to tolerate Indigo. I wouldn't say they're buddies, but they coexist just fine. (We should have gotten Feliway to help the transition, but we were quite broke at the time.) There were definitely a few scuffles in the beginning, but they worked it out. Now Indigo loves Agnes, and Agnes tolerates Indigo with a heaping measure of disdain, but I would say they are both very happy cats.
So, seconding catatethebird. Joe will probably adapt given time,
posted by Coatlicue at 5:51 AM on May 31, 2012
I would call one of the rescues on Petfinder.com and ask their advice.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:29 AM on May 31, 2012
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:29 AM on May 31, 2012
There is a chance he could acclimate to other cats, but I wouldn't take it as a given. I took in my grandmother's cat when she had to go into assisted living, and it was a bloody disaster. Not in the British slang sense - I mean it was literally bloody. The new cat was female, however, and in my experience that makes a big difference in territoriality and general temperament. We gave it a good few months but she and my other female cat were never going to peacefully coexist; over time it actually got worse and worse. My grandmother's cat is now happily living with a friend of mine in a one-cat household, ruling over their Jack Russell terrier.
That said, I have had cats my entire life and I was taken aback by their violent hatred of each other; all other cat introduction situations I've experienced have turned out all right. I would absolutely try it as a last resort before sending him to a shelter.
posted by something something at 7:44 AM on May 31, 2012
That said, I have had cats my entire life and I was taken aback by their violent hatred of each other; all other cat introduction situations I've experienced have turned out all right. I would absolutely try it as a last resort before sending him to a shelter.
posted by something something at 7:44 AM on May 31, 2012
Just a heads-up, but when you're posting the Facebook and Craigslist ads, never ever under any circumstances whatsoever use the word "free!" Charge a reasonable fee such as $25; another possibility is for the new owner to show proof/reciept of a donation to an animal rescue organization in lieu of a direct payment. "Free" pets can meet a less-than-ideal fate at the hands of people who think "free" means "disposable." Charging a fee weeds out the scum.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:45 AM on May 31, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:45 AM on May 31, 2012 [2 favorites]
When my mom had to go into care she left her massive orange cat. I already had maxed out my lease with my 2 cats, so I turned to a local organization that finds homes for cats – and they did! Someone else semi house bound (but younger) wanted an older, calm cat to hang out with, so he went to a new home.
Check Houston-specific sites or vets and you'll probably find such a network of pet-involved people who make an effort to rehouse pets and keep them out of the shelters.
posted by zadcat at 8:07 AM on May 31, 2012
Check Houston-specific sites or vets and you'll probably find such a network of pet-involved people who make an effort to rehouse pets and keep them out of the shelters.
posted by zadcat at 8:07 AM on May 31, 2012
Data point from your target market sector (except not in Texas, and not now that our quest has succeeded):
None of the places you mention posting ads are among those I searched this past year in order to remedy our catlessness.
Where I did search: Petfinder.com, and local no-kill shelters.
Had we seen your post & photos. Joe would have rated as follows:
-Demographics (age, gender, etc.): perfect.
-Habits: also perfect (unless need for cuddling makes it hard to get work done at home).
-Need to be an only cat: fine by us.
-Aesthetics: lovely but disqualifying, since in our grief we ruled out all doppelgängers of the late Lute.
posted by feral_goldfish at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2012
None of the places you mention posting ads are among those I searched this past year in order to remedy our catlessness.
Where I did search: Petfinder.com, and local no-kill shelters.
Had we seen your post & photos. Joe would have rated as follows:
-Demographics (age, gender, etc.): perfect.
-Habits: also perfect (unless need for cuddling makes it hard to get work done at home).
-Need to be an only cat: fine by us.
-Aesthetics: lovely but disqualifying, since in our grief we ruled out all doppelgängers of the late Lute.
posted by feral_goldfish at 9:48 AM on May 31, 2012
I've noticed that people who tell the story about the kitty in question when listing on CraigsList often have a better response for adoption. People like to hear the back story, and it doesn't hurt to tug at the heartstrings a little (or a lot.) A clean, affectionate, beautiful cat starved, rescued and once saved, then perhaps going again into a bad situation is something that many people would try to prevent. Sometimes it's good if you can talk about (and send along) the cat's favorite toy. Talk about the cat and make him real. Pictures! I know I've occasionally been a sucker for an animal that seems to have lots of presence and personality.
I agree with Ms. Rosie M. Banks about her advertising, but with the caveat that I list my dumped off rescue critters at "$25, price negotiable to ideal home." If people were willing to show me their setup and they had a great situation, then I let it ride. People occasionally dump their animals in front of the house, as I live out in the country, and sometimes I list them as $25 or proof of vaccination on the animal, if I'm too broke to get it done myself. I do like her idea of a donation to a rescue organization, though.
Try as many outlets for advertising as possible. Sometimes a call to the radio station might even garner some results.
posted by BlueHorse at 1:58 PM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]
I agree with Ms. Rosie M. Banks about her advertising, but with the caveat that I list my dumped off rescue critters at "$25, price negotiable to ideal home." If people were willing to show me their setup and they had a great situation, then I let it ride. People occasionally dump their animals in front of the house, as I live out in the country, and sometimes I list them as $25 or proof of vaccination on the animal, if I'm too broke to get it done myself. I do like her idea of a donation to a rescue organization, though.
Try as many outlets for advertising as possible. Sometimes a call to the radio station might even garner some results.
posted by BlueHorse at 1:58 PM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]
The /houston subreddit regularly has posts from people wanting to adopt out their cats. You could post there.
posted by Houstonian at 12:52 PM on June 1, 2012
posted by Houstonian at 12:52 PM on June 1, 2012
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You say he's so aggressive, but have you ever properly introduced him to another cat over a period of weeks? (As in, kept them in separate rooms for weeks, where they could smell each other, but not interact, slowly bringing them closer, etc.?)
Maybe if you relax your requirement that he be an only cat, you may have more luck, or one of the family members can take him.
posted by catatethebird at 5:19 AM on May 31, 2012 [3 favorites]