This was meant to be...this cat is alreay home. I don't think you need to meet the lady who wasn't willing to do what you've already done for this sweetie.

I agree. Petra has a good point. Now what if he gets sick? They won't spend money on him? I'd keep him. If they press you-send a bill first! He is very unique. Debi has a point too-you would regret this and wonder how he is.

Keep the little guy. I've found ferals and strays and the bond they form because of the love they never had is amazing. He sees you as his mom now. So that's that! :)

Thank you all. I'm glad I posted, because you helped me see that I wouldn't be depriving the girl of a cat, just this particular cat. And since she's never met him, she's in love with the idea of him. April is a time when the shelters are full of cats and kittens.

So I've decided to keep him.

Unfortunately, my granddaughter is very upset with me and says her friend will be devastated. I had hoped she'd understand better than this. I'm very close to my granddaughter, but right now I'm the bad guy--a role I'm not used to being in with her. I have to call the girl tonight. I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm not changing my mind.

Thanks again for all your great comments.

You know what you can do? Offer to take this girl to a shelter and help her pick out a kitty of her own. Show here how important it is to make her own connection with a pet so she will also have a long, loving relationship. Set her in the right direction for being a responsible pet parent. She may not ever forget that experience.

Your granddaughter will get over it. You would be heartbroken if you have to give this guy up. You are more important here....just remember that.

Not to be mean, but maybe the girl is devastated because her mom did not really want the cat and would only take it IF you did all of the medical things.

I would keep it;) And I would not feel bad about it. There are cats everywhere, her mom could find her another.

I should have mentioned that my granddaughter is a college senior, and her friend is around the same age. I don't know that this makes a difference, except an offer to take her to shelter probably wouldn't go over very well. :-)

You are under NO contract and have never even met the girl. If the mother wasn't even going to pay to neuter, she probably won't pay for vet care. Tell the girl you'll take her to the shelter and help her pick another one or better yet adopt from a rescue group and the "work" is already done and cats are good to go.

I think your GD's friend is old enough to find her own kitty, and to fund all the necessities. Having a pet is not an inexpensive venture, which is why we strictly forbid our 24 year old DD from getting a dog until she is gainfully employed. The friend cannot expect her parents (who obviously are not super enthused) to fund the needs of the cat. Besides, he loves you and you love him, nuff said.

I don't think your granddaughter is being very fair. She needs to consider what is best for the cat and that is definitely to stay with you. What happens if this girl decides to move out of her parent's house (you wrote her mother wouldn't agree unless kitty was neutered, so I assume she still lives at home) and can't take the cat? Since it does not sound like the mother wants a cat, he would likely end up an unwanted outdoor cat, or even dumped at a shelter.
Edited to add, when you call this girl, tell her kitty has become very attached to you and is very clingy and therefore you have to do what is best for him, which is to keep him as it would traumatize him to to have his surroundings changed yet again. If she cares about the kitty, she won't argue with that. And if she doesn't care, narrow escape for the kitty.

This post was edited by petra on Wed, Apr 3, 13 at 13:57

My first post here, I'm over on the Home forum and found this by accident. What a nice way to pass some time when I should be golfing not watching the snow fall.

You have made the right decision but needed others to confirm what you already knew.

As far as everyone saying you should " keep " the cat, no the cat should keep you.

He's just beautiful! My recent adoptee "Desi" has the same coloring, red and white.

By stalling the adoption and requiring him to be neutered, they brought this on themselves! They gave you time to be won over and that's on them.

I'm so glad you're keeping him, "found" cats are the best ones and this guy (what's his name?) will be your best cat ever, Susan!

We had an orange and white cat find us and we just adored him. His name was Roughy, as in "orange roughy". :) Sweetest cat ever, would walk with us and loved spending his time with us. And we loved him madly, too.

Good luck with your new lover boy!

"Devastated" is a very strong word.

& if this girl is college-age, she's old enough to find her own pet & to pay for its medical, housing, & maintenance needs.

Unreal-we aren't talking about a child, but a college senior?? Expecting you to pay the expenses. She is certainly old enough to work and pay for those expenses thru adoption. The kitty is much better off with you! Both girls are being childish IMO.

Unreal-we aren't talking about a child, but a college senior?? Expecting you to pay the expenses. She is certainly old enough to work and pay for those expenses thru adoption. The kitty is much better off with you! Both girls are being childish IMO.

I agree since we are talking about an adult here not a child that makes a big difference. She needs to start now to learn about responsibility and paying for and caring for a cat she owns is an excellent way to begin on that journey!!
No shelter will pay for everything for her, she has to take on some of the responsibility. I now understand why her mother said that, she likely also wants the young lady to prove she wants and will take care of the cat by stepping up and doing all the pre requisites that are called for. Plus the cost of follow up care and medications plus of course food, pets are not cheap!

Don't worry about it, you have a new life companion and your grand daughter should realize that and that you are happy and the cat is happy. That is what is really important here!

I am so happy you decided to keep this guy. He picked you and he loves you. I have an orange & white kitty and she is very lovable. What are you going to name him? Mine is Mango. Your DGD will soon get over her snit.

Keep him and you could call him Toes. Of course he is always purring, he found his Mommy and the good life.

Keep him and you could call him Toes. Of course he is always purring, he found his Mommy and the good life.

I agree with everyone. It is in his best interests for you to keep him. She can adopt a cat or kitten that is already neutered at a shelter. From past experiences of many friends, pets acquired by college students always end up at their parents' homes. I think your granddaughter is acting a little childish. I hope she sees your bond with the kitty and realizes this is the best for all involved.

He has mittens!!!!! WOW! He's Mr. IT! :0) Got it all.....

He's gorgeous, and I agree with the others - he was already yours!

Why don't you print out this conversation and email it to your granddaughter? It might make her understand that there's another way to view this situation.

I say trust your heart. You LOVE him. He obviously loves you. You found each other for a reason. He's a keeper!

I say keep him.. you two obviously have been placed together for a reason.. and that reason might be love..

Carolyn

He looks very much like a kitten that literally threw himself at my feet as I was walking off a golf course years ago. The kitty was grungy and his white fur was grayish, his eyes almost colorless. Every step I took he threw his body at my feet. I wound up taking him home with me but I already had a dog, cat and four kids. That wouldn't have mattered to me, I wanted to keep him anyway but DH said no way. After a few days of food and TLC, his coat turned beautiful as did his eyes. I wound up taking him to bridge with me in a box, to see if I could find a good home for him. I did find a home but really wanted to keep him. He turned out to be a great cat and had a lovely home. Sometimes I think if DH wasn't in the picture, I would be overrun with dogs and cats. Good thing I have him to keep me in tow. So, you probably already know my answer......keep him. I'm sure you won't regret it.

Interesting thread. You have a lot of support.

Now, back to that cat. In the picture you posted, look at his left front paw. It appears a bit strange and unlike the right paw. Is there something different with his toes on the left front paw?

One time long ago, I took home a pair of stray kittens that had been born and raised to several weeks old (behind the filling station I worked at.) Those cats had 6 toes on several feet and much later, their offspring tended to have 6 toes. They integrated well with our gang of barn cats.

Oh my Susan - I leave for a day and look what happens - you open your heart and home and found a new friend. He is adorable and it's obvious that he's the soul of contentment now that he's with you.

Other than the peculiarity with his toes and eye color did the vet say he was healthy? How old do you think he is?

I'm sure you're GD will understand, she is close to you and knows what a soft heart you have for strays. She probably just didn't want to disappoint her friend and your decision to keep this one probably surprised her.

Maire, yes, the vet tested him for FeLV and several other diseases (same test), examined him, and said he was healthy. He certainly looks and acts healthy (the cat, not the vet). :-)

They said he's under a year old. They didn't get more specific than that.

He hasn't met my other cats yet. I'm not exactly looking forward to that, although it always seems to work out eventually. I hope Peachy, who is not quite two years old, will enjoy having a young cat to play with.

Alisande - they sure know how to find you, don't they? I figured when I saw that little face that it was already a done deal. And look at those lips! Are they orange? Mwa mwa! We need a name and more pics!

I'm glad you have chosen to keep this beautiful cat. The young lady is old enough to chose one of her own from a shelter. We have our sons dog for over 4 years and love her to death. Apparently we have a new group of kittens in our neighborhood. 4 -5 black kittens about 1 month old. My husband saw them in our neighbors driveway. Our dog has been crazy about something in our backyard so I'd been wondering what she was upto back there. Now we know. Now I'm worried about all these kittens. What will happen to them. I'm such a worrier.

I'm glad you're keeping him. I have a kitten story to share...but not enough time to write it just now.

He's a beautiful cat and so unique. Don't worry about your other cat(s). They will adjust. Just don't force the issue.

And his name is???????

I never cared much for cats...until our Miss Kitty adopted us.

She was a feral cat that lived in a very large wood pile behind our house .

My grandson moved in with us for awhile and coaxed her up to the porch.

We had her fixed so we would not have a bunch of kittens.

and I just love her.

She is the most loving little girl.

We've had her for about 8 years now.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/pattico1/thecat.jpg[/IMG]

He's so cute, alisande, and looks like he's begging for love. So glad you are keeping him.

He will have a wonderful home with you...sounds like he already loves you. I'm glad you are keeping him, please let us know how he does in his new home. I love his blue eye.

Gonna call him Bigfoot?

o j

Oooh, Bigfoot, love that!!

Can we please have an update and more pics? :o)

Nah, that cat is too pretty to be a "bigfoot" (my totally humble opinion!)

I'm thinking a glamorous movie star name.

Spencer (Tracy)
Cooper (Gary)
Stewart (James)

maybe not Peck...

there's always Tootsie - although it's a little obvious

college aged kid doesn't need pet yet...too many days of going and not a set schedule...

wish i wasn't under strict orders for no more pets, sigh...my last kitty is 19...and when she's gone that's it...

I think half of him should be called "Newman". ;) As in, Paul.

Miss Kitty is beautiful!

Susanjf, I hope whoever issued the order changes his (it's a him, right?) mind.

Flamey, I loved Paul Newman, but can't help thinking of "Hellooo, Newman" on Seinfeld. LOL

I'll have to give the name some serious thought. He's very vocal, so maybe a favorite singer....

He's in the guest room for a few more days before I introduce him to the tribe, and he's hard to photograph because he always comes up to me. But I'll give it a try. He is a fierce player with his dangly toys. And when he catches one with those big feet it's hard for me to get it back!

How about Frank, for old Blue Eyes? :o)

You know, I actually thought of that tonight. I also thought of Harry, my father--definitely one of my favorite singers. ;-)

I recently learned that I'm descended from a red-headed line of Campbells, so I thought of the name Scottie. But for years I've known someone named Scotty, and it's hard to get around that.

Everly

Ernie (Ford)

or maybe a tenor

Caruso

Placido

Willie
or
Nelson

Opie?

How about Alisande? :-)

Or Jasper which is very similar to your last name.

Or your maiden name Luckstone (Luckster or Lucky for short). I think Luckstone is just the coolest family name ever. Sounds very theatrical.

Singer? How about Josh or Groban?

Extra toes? Call him Digit.

Doesn't really matter, what you call him as long as he can call you his.

Congrats.

Jodi-

Whatever you name him, I just love him. You know, I have had a jillion cats. And I have about that many now too, because I took in a bunch of ferals and non adoptable cats from the shelter. They had them all neutered/spayed and vaccinated and supply the food for them. Of all the cats I have had, I have never had a polydactyl.

Pattico, did you know that almost all yellow cats are males? I was told that the only way a female cat could be yellow was if her mother was yellow too, but that isn't true, I found out, but almost all yellow (or orange) cats will be males.

I love Luckstone, too, Jodi! ;-) And it ended up being quite theatrical as my grandfather and several of his siblings were on the stage. I called my grandmother Lucky, but maybe Luckstone is a possibility. I thought of Josh and Groban earlier too!

I had to give up my orange cat after my mother died. (I was nine.) His name was Rusty. (Very original!)

I better come up with something soon because my son keeps calling him Saucers. I can't say I'm crazy about the name.

Marilyn, it's true about most orange cats being male, but my Peachy (picture below) is a female. I read that in order for this to happen the mother must be a calico and the father an orange. We have Peachy's mother, a pastel calico. We don't know who Peachy's father was, but now we know what he looked like. :-)

{{!gwi}}

How about Twinkle Toes? Twink for short.

The guy who used to own the Philadelphia Eagles was named Leonard Tose. A friend had a cat with extra toes and named him Leonard Toes.