|
Post by Moose on Nov 12, 2012 16:44:04 GMT
A few months ago my sister had a cat dumped on her by a colleague who had a kid who was allergic to it. I knew he did not really want this cat and guessed that she was gonna hint that I might like it. Before she could, I told her unequivocally no way .. that I had an adult cat and a kitten and that was that.
Anyway she just asked straight out would I take the cat, cos she doesn't want it and she is going to 'rehome' it (I hope that's not a euphemism for 'just drive somewhere and dump it' but that is not impossible).
I just don't know. It's not even three weeks since I lost Gandalf. I've lost two cats in six months and that has hurt both me and, I presume, Pippin as well.
I did, in the back of my mind, have the idea that next year I might get an adult female from a rescue centre as company for Pip but .. I just don't know if it's the right thing to do or not.
She thinks this cat is about four. It's a black female, Molly. Neutered. I've met her and she's a friendly, nice cat. What do people think?
|
|
|
Post by Mari on Nov 12, 2012 16:59:56 GMT
I don't really know, but in all honesty I think Pip is less troubled than you would be about it all. So I would put your feelings first: are you ready for it? If your immediate response isn't 'yes I'd like that', then perhaps it's still too early.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 12, 2012 17:09:03 GMT
I don't know. Frankly, I had not planned on getting another cat at this stage BUT I am worried about what might happen to this cat if I do not take her. Black cats do not rehome easily
|
|
|
Post by Mari on Nov 12, 2012 17:10:09 GMT
You could always try it for a week?
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 12, 2012 17:14:47 GMT
That would be even worse .. it would confuse Pip more than ever. Plus, I rather suspect that once she's got it over my threshold she will not take it back under any circumstances.
|
|
|
Post by tangent on Nov 12, 2012 17:51:20 GMT
It sounds like you're not convinced. I would just make sure your sister finds a good home for it if you can.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 12, 2012 17:53:26 GMT
It's not that I am not convinced personally, it's just that I am not sure that it's the right thing to do for Pip.
|
|
|
Post by Miisa on Nov 12, 2012 18:39:07 GMT
I'm with the team that thins you are having a harder time than Pip. Cats are naturally solitary animals, unlike dogs (and humans), and don't form as strong bonds as we like to think.
I personally think you should try it out, to see how the two cats react to each other. Pip might actually appreciate having another distraction around.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 12, 2012 18:46:05 GMT
well he's not generally bad with female cats .. it's males he does not like :)There was a little female up the road who used to pop in sometimes and he was fine with her
|
|
|
Post by Thingy on Nov 12, 2012 21:19:02 GMT
You know me - I'm all for re-homing and can't say no, but why not give it a go? It may take a few weeks for them all to get used to the new arrangement but a male a female together should be OK.
|
|
|
Post by Miisa on Nov 12, 2012 21:30:09 GMT
Hey, if my refined, middle-aged kitties have learn to put up with and even appreciate a hyperactive puppy, I think a cat can withstand another kitty.
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Nov 13, 2012 0:56:12 GMT
I'd say get the cat.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 13, 2012 2:02:12 GMT
Not sure I could handle another one dying on me frankly
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Nov 13, 2012 3:20:19 GMT
I can understand that... But this one seems healthy? And if you don't let it out?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2012 7:53:39 GMT
I also think Pip would have less problems with a new cat than you would, Jo. If you're only hesitating because of him, I'd say get the cat because Pip should be fine. And if it's healthy, I don't think it's just going to die.
|
|
|
Post by raspberrybullets on Nov 13, 2012 9:31:41 GMT
If Molly is already a few years old then she is presumably healthy enough and unlikely to die, especially if she's an indoor cat. I agree with the others that Pip won't mind. I'd say take her in if you can.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 13, 2012 18:27:33 GMT
Well she's used to being an outdoor cat but Helen says she's depressed atm and won't go out much. I could try and keep her in if I got her and see what happened. I've met her and she IS a nice cat, friendly and happy to sit with even strangers and purr for hours
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Nov 13, 2012 20:34:43 GMT
She'd have a good life with you...
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 13, 2012 21:09:35 GMT
Well I dunno .. look what happened to the last two I thought would have a good life with me
|
|
|
Post by Mari on Nov 13, 2012 21:46:44 GMT
They did have a good life with you. And they died. Doesn't mean their life wasn't good, just that they met an unfortunate situation, painful thought it may have been for them and you.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 13, 2012 22:00:28 GMT
I suppose. But I must admit that Gandalf dying, as well as being very personally distressing, was not good for my confidence. Rationally I know that it was not my fault that either he or Merry died (well, I suppose it WAS my fault in a way that Merry died as I let him out of the house, but still, most cats do go out of the house and I did not run him over personally). Irrationally I keep thinking well, I had these two cats, I loved them both very much, and now both are dead. Doesn't that make me a crappy cat owner?
|
|
|
Post by tangent on Nov 14, 2012 0:28:48 GMT
Not in the slightest. You looked after both of them lovingly and they were very grateful. Gandalf would have died with whoever owned him, possibly even sooner than he did. No, to qualify as a crappy cat owner you have to have been very negligent, which you weren't.
Most cat owners let their cats out of the house. We let ours out even though we live on a semi-major road (although we try to keep her in the back of the house). All our neighbours with cats do the same.
|
|
|
Post by Kye on Nov 14, 2012 4:08:15 GMT
You're a good cat owner, Jo. Your cats are/were all lucky to be living with you.
|
|
|
Post by Thingy on Nov 14, 2012 9:57:12 GMT
You've had a run of shitty luck Jo; you lost two cats through no fault of your own. This does not mean that you are a bad or neglectful owner. If Molly had the choice, I'm sure she'd want to stay with you.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 14, 2012 16:15:48 GMT
I am still thinking about it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 18:54:38 GMT
I'm sure Molly would be very happy with you.
|
|
|
Post by Moose on Nov 14, 2012 20:12:25 GMT
Well she would be loved. My sister is a nice person and I know she is trying her best but I also know that she does not like cats and that she only took this one cos a colleague begged her to and she, like me, is not good at saying no. But she's got four kids and a full time job and really, she does not have the time or interest to look after a cat. She's doing all the right things (cat is well fed and has clean litter etc) but I know her heart is not in it
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 21:11:48 GMT
Sounds to me like you should take her. :-)
|
|
|
Post by Thingy on Nov 17, 2012 15:49:07 GMT
Apropos of nothing, Molly is a great name for a cat
|
|
|
Post by tangent on Nov 17, 2012 16:32:51 GMT
Is that short for Molybdenum?
|
|