Rehoming a Cat in Austin, TX
July 7, 2023 12:07 PM Subscribe
Oreo came to me under sad circumstances last winter. She's a great cat, but it's time to find her a forever home. How? And how do I do this without feeling like a terrible human?
Oreo was left in a parking lot sometime in summer 2022. A local chronically homeless man (we'll call him N) took her into his camp and fed her and loved her and taught her to play. In February, I took him to the ER, where it was discovered he was in heart failure and he stayed inpatient for about two and a half weeks.
During his stay in the hospital, another friend (let's call them F) and I were feeding the kitty. Cue severe icy weather, and Oreo jumped into F's truck, much to everyone's surprise. I agreed to take her, temporarily. F said they were figuring out housing and I would have the kitty no more than 6 months. After his release from the hospital, N & F were staying with other friends (who I have never met) while they "figured things out". Also, my rent increased, squeezing my already tight budget.
Flash forward to 3ish weeks ago, and F has all but disappeared, pretty much abandoning Oreo, N, and myself. N & F were extremely close, for many years, so this disappearing act (non-committal texts suggest F is alive) is very out of nowhere, uncharacteristic. (Though, yes, drugs are involved, but that's not really relevant here as they have been ever-present in both lives.)
N has agreed that it is only fair to Oreo that I start seriously looking for a forever home. I don't even know where to start, AND I'm a bit paralyzed by feeling like an awful human. Oreo is a wonderful cat! If I wanted to be owned by a cat, she'd be my first choice. But after my cat's death in December 2020, and certainly in my current financial position, I cannot make what could be an 18-year commitment. I already resent the fur everywhere, and the litter box, and the crunch to my wallet. I try not to let her see that, and as far as she's concerned, she's owns the place.
So it's time to seek a forever home for this poor sweet ball of fluff. My question is both practical: Where do I even start? and Emotional: How do I not feel like a horrible human for giving away someone else's cat? How do I not feel bad about giving up a cat who's grown attached to me?
We're in Austin, TX if you have any local suggestions. I will NOT even attempt to take her to the shelter. I'd prefer to keep her until a suitable home is found.
(please no comments about how I got myself into such a situation with such people. My concern here is the cat.)
Oreo was left in a parking lot sometime in summer 2022. A local chronically homeless man (we'll call him N) took her into his camp and fed her and loved her and taught her to play. In February, I took him to the ER, where it was discovered he was in heart failure and he stayed inpatient for about two and a half weeks.
During his stay in the hospital, another friend (let's call them F) and I were feeding the kitty. Cue severe icy weather, and Oreo jumped into F's truck, much to everyone's surprise. I agreed to take her, temporarily. F said they were figuring out housing and I would have the kitty no more than 6 months. After his release from the hospital, N & F were staying with other friends (who I have never met) while they "figured things out". Also, my rent increased, squeezing my already tight budget.
Flash forward to 3ish weeks ago, and F has all but disappeared, pretty much abandoning Oreo, N, and myself. N & F were extremely close, for many years, so this disappearing act (non-committal texts suggest F is alive) is very out of nowhere, uncharacteristic. (Though, yes, drugs are involved, but that's not really relevant here as they have been ever-present in both lives.)
N has agreed that it is only fair to Oreo that I start seriously looking for a forever home. I don't even know where to start, AND I'm a bit paralyzed by feeling like an awful human. Oreo is a wonderful cat! If I wanted to be owned by a cat, she'd be my first choice. But after my cat's death in December 2020, and certainly in my current financial position, I cannot make what could be an 18-year commitment. I already resent the fur everywhere, and the litter box, and the crunch to my wallet. I try not to let her see that, and as far as she's concerned, she's owns the place.
So it's time to seek a forever home for this poor sweet ball of fluff. My question is both practical: Where do I even start? and Emotional: How do I not feel like a horrible human for giving away someone else's cat? How do I not feel bad about giving up a cat who's grown attached to me?
We're in Austin, TX if you have any local suggestions. I will NOT even attempt to take her to the shelter. I'd prefer to keep her until a suitable home is found.
(please no comments about how I got myself into such a situation with such people. My concern here is the cat.)
Best answer: First of all, an opinion: your not wanting to keep Oreo is absolutely and perfectly okay. You are doing a responsible thing - you are acknowledging that you aren't the right forever home for her and you are recognizing that F is also not the proper caretaker, and you are making finding that home for her your priority. That is a form of proper care.
Seconding what pumpkinlatte says; a local cat rescue can work with you on this. They may also be able to help with medical care and food if you want to continue fostering Oreo during the search (I stress "may", since cat rescues are usually in dicey financial straits). As for Oreo getting attached to you - you've basically been her foster, and a cat rescue will likely know how to help Oreo transition there too.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:25 PM on July 7, 2023 [10 favorites]
Seconding what pumpkinlatte says; a local cat rescue can work with you on this. They may also be able to help with medical care and food if you want to continue fostering Oreo during the search (I stress "may", since cat rescues are usually in dicey financial straits). As for Oreo getting attached to you - you've basically been her foster, and a cat rescue will likely know how to help Oreo transition there too.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:25 PM on July 7, 2023 [10 favorites]
Best answer: (I am going to make a comment about the situation because I support you and the steps you have taken. I do mutual aid stuff with unhoused people. What you have done/are doing makes absolute sense to me and is good, actually.)
posted by Frowner at 12:30 PM on July 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 12:30 PM on July 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
Someone, somewhere needs the cutest orca in the world in their life, and Oreo/Orca is on the road to destiny. You're helping!
posted by amtho at 12:36 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 12:36 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
We had to rehome a cat who wasn't getting along with our cats. He got attached to me. He's now attached to his wonderful new family who love him very much and take great care of him.
posted by BrashTech at 12:37 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BrashTech at 12:37 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yeah, I think your first step might be to call local rescues and say "I've been fostering a cat for a friend who has had some medical issues, but unfortunately it seems he won't be able to take her back. I'm happy to keep fostering her until I can find a good home for her - do you have any advice?" and see where it goes. Like everyone else is saying, you have done a good thing, you are doing a good thing, and this will work out.
If you have the kind of social media network where you could post some of those adorable pics and see if anyone's looking for a kitty, that might work too, but I do recommend at least checking in with the pros about it. Possibly you could get her in to one of those weekend PetSmart adoption events! (Those are run by local rescues, not PetSmart, and are how we got one of our beloved moggies.)
posted by restless_nomad at 12:39 PM on July 7, 2023 [6 favorites]
If you have the kind of social media network where you could post some of those adorable pics and see if anyone's looking for a kitty, that might work too, but I do recommend at least checking in with the pros about it. Possibly you could get her in to one of those weekend PetSmart adoption events! (Those are run by local rescues, not PetSmart, and are how we got one of our beloved moggies.)
posted by restless_nomad at 12:39 PM on July 7, 2023 [6 favorites]
You're absolutely not a horrible person. You are a kitty foster parent, doing the caring and generous work of keeping her safe and happy while finding the person who will be her long term family. You are going to make some person or family so happy to meet their new family member!
You're doing great. A cat rescue will work with you, and you can also just try putting out feelers among local friends and acquaintances - there may be someone in your network you don't even know is looking.
posted by Stacey at 12:39 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
You're doing great. A cat rescue will work with you, and you can also just try putting out feelers among local friends and acquaintances - there may be someone in your network you don't even know is looking.
posted by Stacey at 12:39 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My local Humane Society has a "home to home" program where people create profiles for available pets without needing to take them to a shelter. Googling brought up Austin Animal Center Home to Home as a similar option. A detailed profile with everything you've learned about Oreo could help her find her perfect person.
You are doing a good thing!
posted by doift at 12:42 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
You are doing a good thing!
posted by doift at 12:42 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Are you sure that's not my cat, Rudi? They are doppelgangers!
You are doing exactly the right thing. You know you can't give Oreo a forever home, and you won't be judged by any re-homing place for saying you can't keep him forever. They'll be glad he's in a safe place, and loved, while a new home is being found for him.
posted by essexjan at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
You are doing exactly the right thing. You know you can't give Oreo a forever home, and you won't be judged by any re-homing place for saying you can't keep him forever. They'll be glad he's in a safe place, and loved, while a new home is being found for him.
posted by essexjan at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm in the Austin area (although at my cat-max, sorry) and several of my friends have had good experiences both rehoming with and adopting through the Austin PASS program. Here's the page about doing courtesy listings, where Oreo would be advertised to potential adopters without stepping paw in a shelter. There's also an active FB group for rehoming through them, if you do Facebook.
We personally just adopted from a foster who was courtesy-listed on Austin Siamese Rescue, even though the cat wasn't a Siamese. I don't know how hard it is to get listed through them, but they handled vetting the references of potential adopters for the fosterer. They seriously called more of my references than the school district did when I applied to be a sub, if that level of background check for the adopter appeals to you.
Thank you for helping this person and this cat!
posted by Ann Telope at 1:15 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
We personally just adopted from a foster who was courtesy-listed on Austin Siamese Rescue, even though the cat wasn't a Siamese. I don't know how hard it is to get listed through them, but they handled vetting the references of potential adopters for the fosterer. They seriously called more of my references than the school district did when I applied to be a sub, if that level of background check for the adopter appeals to you.
Thank you for helping this person and this cat!
posted by Ann Telope at 1:15 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you all for the kind words and resources. I will be reaching out to some of them for advice and putting her on some listings.
I don't have social media, but I have shared a flyer with local friends and coworkers and asked them to share with their animal-loving networks along with a link to the pictures. I might drop some copies in a couple local coffee shops as well.
posted by MuChao at 1:29 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
I don't have social media, but I have shared a flyer with local friends and coworkers and asked them to share with their animal-loving networks along with a link to the pictures. I might drop some copies in a couple local coffee shops as well.
posted by MuChao at 1:29 PM on July 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
It is fantastic that you have fostered Oreo for several months and know how she acts at home, and what she might like and not like in her next home. People adopting cats often don't know a lot about them and that is great info to have.
I get that it is weird re-homing someone else's cat, when they haven't approved - but Oreo is a living creature who needs a caregiver.
Cats vary in how long they take to adjust to new situations, but Oreo sounds pretty friendly and also proactive - she will be fine with a move.
The PASS group that Ann Telope is the one I have heard of as well.
If you do need to take her to the Austin city shelter, that is honestly fine too. You would want to surrender her as her owner, which may mean a wait before they can take her, but also means they will treat her as a pet cat and keep her until she is adopted. (This would not prevent you from adopting from the shelter later.)
posted by mersen at 1:31 PM on July 7, 2023
I get that it is weird re-homing someone else's cat, when they haven't approved - but Oreo is a living creature who needs a caregiver.
Cats vary in how long they take to adjust to new situations, but Oreo sounds pretty friendly and also proactive - she will be fine with a move.
The PASS group that Ann Telope is the one I have heard of as well.
If you do need to take her to the Austin city shelter, that is honestly fine too. You would want to surrender her as her owner, which may mean a wait before they can take her, but also means they will treat her as a pet cat and keep her until she is adopted. (This would not prevent you from adopting from the shelter later.)
posted by mersen at 1:31 PM on July 7, 2023
Response by poster: Here she is.
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. This kitty deserves a good forever human that's not me.
posted by MuChao at 4:21 PM on July 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Thank you all for the kind words and encouragement. This kitty deserves a good forever human that's not me.
posted by MuChao at 4:21 PM on July 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: UPDATE: Oreo's forever human is taking her home on Thursday! She was listed on Home to Home and AdoptAPet for several months before we found someone who would take her without a whole lot of background/medical knowledge. Forever Human has already scheduled a check-up with their veterinarian, and has assured me that Oreo's diet will be fixed and Oreo will get much more exercise than I've had the energy to give her.
Oreo would thank you all herself, but her typing is atrocious, so I thank you all for both of us!
posted by MuChao at 5:20 AM on December 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oreo would thank you all herself, but her typing is atrocious, so I thank you all for both of us!
posted by MuChao at 5:20 AM on December 18, 2023 [2 favorites]
Hooray for happy endings!
posted by notoriety public at 6:13 AM on December 18, 2023
posted by notoriety public at 6:13 AM on December 18, 2023
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by pumpkinlatte at 12:20 PM on July 7, 2023 [1 favorite]