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best strategies to place a cat

Slartibartfast

Slartibartfast

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Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
 
tacomancer said:
Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
Click to expand...

Family, friends, neighbors, posters, ads, community organizations...probably in that order.
 
SBu said:
Family, friends, neighbors, posters, ads, community organizations...probably in that order.
Click to expand...

yeah, I am on step #2 so far.

I may try calling the vet and see if they know of any organizations that I am not aware of.
 
tacomancer said:
yeah, I am on step #2 so far.

I may try calling the vet and see if they know of any organizations that I am not aware of.
Click to expand...

Try craigslist. I have helped place some pitbulls into good homes that way (yes I tripled checked to make sure they weren't dog fighting rackets)

depends on where you live. In my area, it is not easy. The shelter is a non-starter if you want it to live in my area, but some areas have no-kill shelters and foster pet programs where people raise them until a home can be found.
 
Try Specklebang it seems like he would an expert on this.
 
tacomancer said:
Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
Click to expand...

Are you on Facebook? Put it out there. Include a photograph. Ask around at work -- bring her picture with you. And, as others have said, family and friends.
 
called it

[see the other thread]
 
I always start w/facebook when it comes to animals. If I can't make headway there, I go to craigslist or local forums for pet owners.

I'm kind of a sucker...if it weren't for the fiance I'd probably take in every animal that can't be kept by my friends...but the ol' man is pretty strict on our 4-fur baby limit.
 
justabubba said:
called it

[see the other thread]
Click to expand...

Well, backstory is that the GF pretty much spends three/four days a week here and her daughter is allergic. She is two and my opinion is that at that age, its better to just get rid of the cat. It sucks to give up the cat, but at least in terms of my priorities:

People > other animals.
 
Not a popular opinion, I'm sure, but in my experience pets last longer than girlfriends/boyfriends, which tend to sidle in and out of one's life during the dating years. I'd never, ever give up a beloved pet for someone I was dating... especially if I had children who also adored the pet.

Okay, throw tomatoes. That's my position and I'm sticking to it! :)
 
Put an ad out that says the cat is already trained to piss on the bed. There is bound to be someone with a cat piss fetish somewhere out there who will buy it from you.
 
Try rescue groups, no-kill shelters, and ask your vet.
 
tacomancer said:
Well, backstory is that the GF pretty much spends three/four days a week here and her daughter is allergic. She is two and my opinion is that at that age, its better to just get rid of the cat. It sucks to give up the cat, but at least in terms of my priorities:

People > other animals.
Click to expand...

get rid of the g/f, she isn't an innocent helpless creature, the cat is. You HAD the cat, now you want to bail - would you bail on a helpless child?

Find a home for the cat. Do it. Pay what you have to pay to fufill your "people> animal" needs.
 
annata said:
get rid of the g/f, she isn't an innocent helpless creature, the cat is. You HAD the cat, now you want to bail - would you bail on a helpless child?

Find a home for the cat. Do it. Pay what you have to pay to fufill your "people> animal" needs.
Click to expand...

nah, take it for a 'visit' to the old folks home
 
Carjosse said:
Try Specklebang it seems like he would an expert on this.
Click to expand...

I agree with the Craigs List suggestion. My other strategy is to approach the smaller no-kills. They never have openings but a healthy donation ($300?) will usually break down resistance. When you call and leave a message be sure to say you understand that it is appropriate for you to make a donation - you will greatly improve your chances of a return call. Remember, the liuttle agencies are labors of love, they are broke, they owe their Vets plenty, nobody gets a salary so generosity is highly appropriate.

Do not take her to the Pound. Only a tiny percentage survive the journey and they are fearsome places.

I should add that for CraigsList, write a cute ad extolling her cutenesses and put up some appealing photos of her playing. Don't just put FREE CAT.
 
tacomancer said:
Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
Click to expand...

Ask someone you know to take care of her for a couple of weeks or so.....then drop the bombshell informing her that you cannot keep this poor cat and you'll be forced to send it to the pound. If she enjoyed this cat, chances are she might end up keeping her.

That's how I ended up with one of my cats! "Try her for a couple of weeks, and if you don't like her, I'll take her back..." sez a friend. Of course in those 2 weeks, I bonded with the cat!
 
tacomancer said:
Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
Click to expand...

While a lot of people suggest flyers and such in my experience it's easier to just duct tape the cat to a telephone pole...preferably close to eye level because that seems to get attention faster.
 
Lutherf said:
While a lot of people suggest flyers and such in my experience it's easier to just duct tape the cat to a telephone pole...preferably close to eye level because that seems to get attention faster.
Click to expand...

I love it! Another tried and true method:
1) Identify a household with small children in another neighborhood.
2) Wait til children are home from school.
3) Put cat in large paper bag.
4) Place bag on doorstep, ring doorbell.
5) Run like the wind.
 
tacomancer said:
Note: this is not related to earlier behavioral issues. This is due to an allergy problem.

I wish to find my cat a new home. She is a sweet and loving thing, but circumstances do not permit me to keep her.

What would be the best methods, in people's opinions, to find her a home and not simply send her to the pound.

I DO NOT WANT HER EUTHANIZED
Click to expand...

First, have you taken steps to see if the allergy can be addressed? I was allergic to cats all my life. My allergy was mild, controlled with certain cleaning measures, and I grew out of it in adulthood.

If that isn't possible...

Family and friends with a history of good animal guardianship first.

Then, I recommend a no-kill shelter.

I am wary of things like Craigslist. People troll the ads looking for "bait" for fighting dogs. Typically, they use cats, rabbits, and smaller/older dogs. But if you do this, make sure you charge a rehoming fee, which will deter some of them, and go to the person's home.

But I'd go to no-kill.
 
tacomancer said:
Well, backstory is that the GF pretty much spends three/four days a week here and her daughter is allergic. She is two and my opinion is that at that age, its better to just get rid of the cat. It sucks to give up the cat, but at least in terms of my priorities:

People > other animals.
Click to expand...

Mr. Taco, with all due respect, by the math, there's no way you've been with this woman for more than a couple months. She and her child don't depend on you to live. Your cat does.

The companionship we find in animals lasts longer than most people. I have had only a couple exceptions to that in my entire life. And I don't really get how you can't see that.

They depend on us for their livelihood. You accepted that responsibility FOR LIFE when you took her into your home. And to say you should simply "get rid of" her is... callous.

If that is how you feel about animals, then yes, rehoming is best, and please do not get any more animals. You don't have the knack for it.
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
Mr. Taco, with all due respect, by the math, there's no way you've been with this woman for more than a couple months. She and her child don't depend on you to live. Your cat does.

The companionship we find in animals lasts longer than most people. I have had only a couple exceptions to that in my entire life. And I don't really get how you can't see that.

They depend on us for their livelihood. You accepted that responsibility FOR LIFE when you took her into your home. And to say you should simply "get rid of" her is... callous.

If that is how you feel about animals, then yes, rehoming is best, and please do not get any more. You don't have the knack for it.
Click to expand...

it's a cat
and it is detrimental to the health of a child that sometimes resides there
so, in the interest of the child, it is very appropriate to move the cat


the duct tape at eye level suggestion appeared to have a lot going for it


glad things are going better for you than the cat, tm
 
I know many will disagree, but...

Humans > Cats and other animals

I stand by my decision in that.

I know for many that this is a very sensitive topic and for many an extremely sensitive topic, but I feel I did the right thing.

There were multiple factors involved in the decision (and it was one that almost had me crying)
1. Her temperament. She needed to be around someone else all the time. Consequently, she was stressed out more than she needed to be. The deposit for another pet was not something I could swing right now. But I could tell she was in many ways unhappy. My schedule is busy between work, friends, hobbies, and girlfriend and I am rarely home anymore.
2. Yes allergies, again, I know others may not agree, but people > cats
3. I got her for the wrong reasons to begin with, but I won't go into that
4. Our personalities were not meshing well and we were both getting on each other's nerves. I was actually acting more cat like than the cat.
5. Because of her unhappiness, she was exhibiting several undesirable behaviors, none of which I was able to fix. Cats are not robots, they have their own personalities and effectively I was trying to negotiate away said problematic behaviors unsuccessfully.

It just wasn't a good fit. The allergy thing was the deciding factor, but I was heavily leaning in that direction anyway.

I may try again when I have a house and can install a pet door or something and give any animal more freedom and give them a chance to better define their own living terms.

She is with a nice old lady now who can provide the emotional interaction she needs.
 
justabubba said:
it's a cat
and it is detrimental to the health of a child that sometimes resides there
so, in the interest of the child, it is very appropriate to move the cat


the duct tape at eye level suggestion appeared to have a lot going for it


glad things are going better for you than the cat, tm
Click to expand...

I agree with you justabubba.

TBH people who were always too into animals have always worried me a little. Pets are not children.
 
for those allergic: it is the cat's dander, where they lick themselves. Best thing to do is bathe them regurally.
Gloves and a stationary tub, and approved cat bath from your vet, keeps the dander under control.

I've had cats all my life, and bathed them regurrally - you learn how to do it, sometimes just rubbing your hands over them while wet
, and pulling off the top coat works too.
 
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