Unexpected Delivery

[FaunaFreak]

I returned home Thursday from a looong day of early voting and apartment cleaning to discover a carrier - complete with absolutely terrified cat - on my doorstep. A neighbor said she saw a truck pull into our driveway around 6:30 pm. A man got out, went up to the door, and then left very quickly. She gave me the names of some local no-kill shelters, but the only one in which I've managed to get in touch with someone is not accepting any more animals as they are currently at capacity. We just adopted Skit (which did NOT please Morphia), and can't afford to take in another cat. The cat has turned out to be a very sweet, slightly overweight female who loves attention, but we can't bring her into the house because we don't know her health history. She's currently being kept in the utility room, but I don't want her to have to stay there. On top of that, for all her weight she seems to be a rather picky eater. She wouldn't even touch the canned food we gave her, though she kept sniffing at it and smacking her mouth. I don't know what to do - and I know that the likelihood is that no one on here can help either, but I wanted to at least vent a bit. I really don't know what we're going to do.

[**Sapphire**]

WOW...I'm really sorry to hear about this Fauna hun. I wish I could take the cat in, but with my 2 we are at maximum in our home too.

Maybe keep trying the no-kill shelters in your area. You could do some research on no-kill shelters out of your area, it might help even if you have to travel a bit to get to the shelter. If anything, try calling your vet, he/she might know of a good shelter to take the cat too.

I wonder who that could have been who dropped off the cat on your doorstep though, very interesting.

Do you know of anybody that would like a cat? How about putting an add in the paper or some signs up advertising that you have a cat to give away or for sale (however you would like to do that).

[Pink]

Yeah, I would call the vet and see what they say. Putting an ad is the paper is an awesome idea. Or maybe ask around your neighborhood.. Friends and family perhaps?

[FaunaFreak]

I'll check with my vet, and today I spoke with a rescue group at a local pet store. They can't take the cat, but said they would help me with the cost of medical needs if I'm willing to foster her and bring her in for adoption days on the weekends. If all of the no-kills in the area fall through, then I'll probably do the foster thing. I'm a bit leery of newspaper ads - or, more specifically, "free to a good home" ads, since some people will take a free animal for reasons other than as a pet (dog fighting, research, plain sadism, etc.), while others, however well meaning, simply may not provide the care needed for an animal. I like using no-kills and rescue groups because the ones that I've run across usually are pretty good about screening prospective forever homes.

One the one hand, I'm rather upset with whoever did this, but both my mother and my husband pointed out (and rightly so) that this was much better than people who drop their pets off on the side of the road or (as was the case for a foster kitty at the pet store today) abandon the poor animals when they leave - or are foreclosed on - their homes. Based on the cat's weight, temperament, and finicky eating habits, my mother believes that whoever her owners were did care for her. I just don't know

[**Sapphire**]

Fostering sounds like a good idea for the new 1 Fauna hun. It sounds like a good deal, the shelter will take care of the cost & you can foster her.

I know what you mean about the "free to a good family" too. You do never know who's going to get the cat & what they will do to it.

How about any family members or friends to take her in?

[persian_kitty]

More than likely it is someone who has seen you with your cats or maybe someone nearby your home and they thought that you could take her in. As far as the fostering if you can do that it would be wonderful for you and her. Best of luck to you!! :)

[Petentials]

you could try putting her up for adoption on craigslist. you wouldn't have to pay for the ad that way.

[FaunaFreak]

I'm working on the friends taking her in, and those of my family who are cat people are either full or living somewhere that doesn't allow pets. I suspected that fostering would end up being the only option, but neither myself nor my husband are comfortable with keeping her cooped up in the utility room or a bathroom for who knows how long

[Pink]

I can understand not wanting to keep her in the utility room, but it would be much worse - ya know? You're very kind to take her in your home for the time being, Fauna. :)

[**Sapphire**]

How's taking care of the new 1 doing Fauna hun?

[FaunaFreak]

Not bad - I told my vet what happened, and he said if I brought her in, he would just do an FIV/Leukemia test and not charge me for an office or first-time patient visit. She came up negative, and the Vet tech estimated that she's about 3 years old (although, at 13 lbs, she's a pretty hefty 3 year old!) We're letting her wander around the house, but she gets VERY agitated and stressed if we take her anywhere, or put her in a carrier. This will make it difficult to take her to Petsmart or PetCo for adoption days. She's also not thrilled about my two cats - she and Morphia puff up when they see each other, but otherwise ignore each other. Skit keeps trying to play with her, but she hisses and tries to get away. My husband and I have both had to lock Skit up at times, because she enjoys tormenting the new one so much. She likes to stay towards the back of the house, and has taken to sleeping in the bathroom sink. Because she was dumped, she made me think of Little Orphan Annie, but since she's an adult, we're calling her Anna. She loves attention, but also enjoys jumping onto counter tops (NOT a habit we wish to encourage in her or any other cat in this house) I took some pics and will put them up when I have time. Thanks for asking!

[**Sapphire**]

That's great that she is healthy & somewhat adjusting. I bet in time they will all get along pretty good.

For sure post pictures when you have time, we do love seeing kitty pictures. :)

[persian_kitty]

it is good to know she is healthy!! I hope the other cats will adjust to her. You might end up keeping her...lol!!