That's too bad, he's right they do need a new home; wish I could take them but we're maxed out too. I'll remember them in my prayers, someone is waiting for them.

Suzanne

Thanks, Suzanne! Mention them outloud to folks, too! *grin* Maybe a friend or neighbor might be interested. Or a senior who has recently lost an older pet? I would really love to place these beautiful kitties.

Marcia

You could post a message on the Pet Forum and maybe somebody will be interested there. Also post a photo with phone number at your vet.

I don't want to start something here, but... (brief rant follows)
six year old cats aren't generally active enough to regularly break anything. He's afraid they are going to break his antiques? Didn't he have the antiques when he got the cats in the first place? Even some museums use cats to keep rodent problems under control. (OK I feel better now).

Your friend may want to consider talking to one of the no-kill shelters to see if they'll post the adoption on Save A Pet's website. He could continue to keep them at home, but at least their pictures would be posted where lots of people could see them. I believe only shelters and rescue groups can post animals on the sight so he would not be able to list them by himself.

Here is a link that might be useful: www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

Thanks, Solstice. I've already ranted, begged and pleaded, but it's no use.

The cats were rescued from the street, where they were fending for themselves most of the time, and his bedroom is a far cry better than that. Sadly, I feel responsible for this situation, as I was the one who talked him into getting the kittens in the first place, thinking they would be company for him. He was going through a rough patch, and really needed something to love. He honestly thought he would be okay with them, but having never had cats in his house before, he didn't think about a lot of the things we cat owners take for granted. Like cathair on the furniture. And I didn't realize he would never be able to get used to it, or I would NOT have encouraged him to take them.

When he first got the cats, he let them roam the house and they found an older chair and peed on it repeatedly. (This was when they were very young and not litter box trained, and once one of them went on the chair, they continued to use it.) They also got a bit rambunctous and did knock over some valuable things. (Unlike me, he has some really good pieces of art and pottery.) He ended up shutting them in the bedroom out of desperation. It is a huge, double room, and the vet told him cats are routinely kept in apartments smaller than that room, and that it would be fine.

I can't honestly say that the cats are suffering any. They seem perfectly content in their little kingdom. But it is cathair heaven up there, and he really wants to fix that room up now. He is also feeling that he doesn't spend enough time with them any more, as he isn't in his bedroom very much during the day.

He does care about them and wants them to be happy, and it has taken him this long to admit that another home would be the best solution. It was just a mistake on both our parts, but now we know that animals in the house don't work for him. (Or for the animals.)

I'm going to try to find a shelter that can place them, I guess. I think it might be the easiest thing to do. Thanks for the suggestions! And try not to be too hard on him. He meant well, honestly, as did I when I suggested he adopt them.

Marcia

I agree that the situation is alien to me too, antique whatevers over a living breathing animal?? But, that said, he is making an effort to find them the right situation when he realized that his was wrong for all three of them. He as well as the cats deserve the chance to be happy. Marcia is right that it's best to find a different home for them. He's doing the best he can, and he's not dumping them back on the street or any of the other really awful things he could do - any of which would cause me to round up a posse and hunt him down. I've heard of and known people who do much worse than what he's doing - making an attempt to find them a place.

A very good friend of mine is South East Border Collie Rescue and she says she used to be more judgmental about owner turn-ins but she's come to understand it's not always easy to find the right fit with an animal and not everyone can make the adjustments and sometimes sacrifices to make it work with this animal. It's like divorce, some marry for life and are lucky enough to find the right person the first time but some don't and have to turn one in and find another one. I don't like that situation either but it's reality for many people.

Suzanne and two rescue BCs and one rescue cat and one 13 y.o. BC who wasn't a rescue but is making me crazy with her new habit of rug-scratching. Oh yeah, and a husband :-)

I think you have it exactly right, Suzanne. He was trying to do a good thing when he took the cats in, but he just isn't comfortable with them running loose in his house. And to be fair, my animals have broken, peed, or coughed up hairballs on just about every piece of furniture in my house at one time or another. They are basically housebroken, but accidents happen. (Mostly it's my dog who wets on the carpet if we don't notice that he wants out. He's only about 95% housebroken, and he still has accidents). But the cats...arrrrggghhh. They are always scratching on something or leaving hairballs around.

To me, it's a sacrifice I make in order to enjoy their company. I just clean up after them, and move on. But there are many people who just don't enjoy having animals in their house. And my friend turned out to be one of them. It's not his fault, really.

To be fair to him, the cats sleep with him and he has always seen to their every need. They are definitely better off than they were before he adopted them. But as you say, he has realized that they could be in an even better situation in another home. So he is doing what is right for them, and it will make him happier in the long run, too. Even though he is going to miss them at first.

I was so hoping someone in the group would be in need of some feline companionship and would jump up and down, waving their hand in the air, and going, "Me, Meeee! I want 'em!!!"

I've posted in a couple of other groups, too. I'm not giving up yet.

Marcia

Lots of vet's offices have bulletin boards and welcome pictures of 'their' patients and 4 footed friends needing new families.

I wish I could take them. I've got two that are handful enough. One became an offical mouser the other night. Word to the wise: keep the sunflower seeds off the porch and watch that you shut the door quick enough!

What about putting them on Craig's List?

Never, never, never advertise 'free pets' on Craig's list or advertise in the newspaper, etc...!!!!

I do a lot of cat rescue work. Many of the people who randomly respond to 'free to a good home' plan on ill-will towards the 'free animal' that they receive. "Free" means garbage and nothing of value to many people.

I will spare the unpleasant details - horrific actually - but it is very well documented that cats, dogs, etc. which are obtained through this type advertisement end up tourtured and killed. With dog fighting on the rise, many of the cats found via Craig's list, etc. end up as bait. I'm just mentioning this as an informative point to others here who may not be aware of this.

Marcia knows what to do. A no-kill shelter where they can check out any potential owners is the safest option unless you know someone personally.

I'd take them but I have 'no room at the inn' as I have 5 cats myself. My vacuum cleaner is my friend.

Friends of Strays is an excellent organization in the Pinellas county area as well.

You are right that tragic results can happen to pets given away free, Saintpfla. However, no matter where I decide to advertise, I will be personally vetting anyone who applies for them. And that includes seeing their home and learning how they plan to care for them. Plus, I will want to retain the right to check up on the cats in the future. I have a legal agreement (copied from one we signed when we adopted one of our cats) they will have to sign. If they are serious about wanting to give the cats a good home, they won't mind. This process usually weeds out the bad guys.

Thanks for alerting those who might not have realized it, though. Everyone needs to be aware of WHO they are giving an animal to. Otherwise, sad results might occur.

Marcia

Introduce him to Museum Putty.You stick it on the bottom of a vase or other item much like Poster Putty. It tacks those things down and with a little rocking wiggling it will release .To remove it from said table just use another piece and roll over it. Cats are gentle nudgers and they won't be able to knock things over attached with museum putty.

You and I know that, Goldenpond, but he has pretty much made up his mind. He has had the cats six years, and I think he is just over the whole pet inside the house thing. And I don't want to even try to talk him out of it, as I really think he and the cats will all be happier with other arrangements. If he really wanted them loose in his house, I think he would have thought of a way long ago. It's sad, but it is what it is, and I just want to help him place them now. He deserves to have his bedroom back, and the cats deserve to be in a home where they can rule supreme, as they are meant to do. But thanks for the suggestions! I use a lot of that sort of thing (Fun Tack) to hold stuff down here and there, and now I think I'll put some under a couple of vases that have had close calls lately. You reminded me it can be used for that, as well.

Marcia