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Original poster

Help and advice needed.

19 replies

lulalullabye · 31/12/2010 13:34

We have a very sprightly nearly 17 year old cat. We returned from Australia in Feb after spending a year out there. Our cat came with us and returned again with us, none the worse for wear.
Anyway, we are going back in about 3 months and cannot take him with us due to his age and mostly the expense. It cost approx £1400 to get him there plus quarantine at the other side etc etc.
Does anybody have any advice or equally want or know of anybody who would take on an old but active cat???

OP posts:

Vallhala · 31/12/2010 13:54

Try Cats Protection but check out their no kill policy first and get a written assurance that they won't PTS unless there is for reasons of incurable medical suffering.

When you've done that, please come back to me and let me know what they say.

Original poster

lulalullabye · 31/12/2010 14:02

Thanks I will check it oout. My last course of action would be something like that as I will try and rehome him as I think he deserves that. I would love to take him with us again but the cost and the journey with 30 days in quarantine at the other side would probably finish him off anyway

OP posts:

Vallhala · 31/12/2010 14:30

I think that unless you know a cat-lover whom you trust and who takes pity on him you'll have a huge struggle to rehome him tbh. It;s hard enough with adult cats of any age - 17 is too old for most people, believe me (I'm a rescuer - mainly dogs but all animals as needed). Rescue isn't abandonment, it's doing the best for an animal who genuinely is in need of a home. Cats Protection care on a foster home basis - it won't be a case of your cat going into the equivilant of a kennel.

Besides, as you'll see at the latter part of THIS THREAD rehoming privately is really, really not recommended. It isn't just breeding from private rehomes which is a threat, it's abuse and abandonment. Private individuals just don't have the ability to homecheck and soforth which rescue does.

If it helps I can put a call ut for help amongst my rescue contacts in the hope that someone can help you (these being known and trusted people in rescue and animal rights across the country). Of course, any decision is purely your own and I'll happily point you in the direction of reputable people in rescue who will be able to vouch for me and provide you with references for me.

If that helps, please can you tell me:7

Whether your boy is neutered?

Whether he has any known health issues or injuries, past or present?

Whereabouts in the UK you are?

Whether you would be able to travel to deliver him to a new companion.

Whether you are willing to transfer vet treatment insurance or provide it if you don't already have it for him.

Whether he is used to other cats, dogs or children? (Although none of us would want a cat of that age to go to a home with young children).

Erm... think thats about it for now.

CarGirl · 31/12/2010 14:36

If you are prepared to pay for his vet bills until the end of his life that would go a long way to helping rehome him. My only reluctance to rehoming such an old cat would be the vet bill cost.

Vallhala · 31/12/2010 14:51

I back up what CarGirl says 100%. In my experience the owner's willingness to pay vet bills/insurance has a big influence on both individuals and rescues alike, for all species.

CarGirl · 31/12/2010 15:02

Our current 2 cats were 2 when we got them - I can't believe I said yes, that's potentially an 18 year committment - I was hoping for another 6/7 year old! Mind you I'm sure the dc will still be living at home so there will be someone to cat sit if dh ever get to go away on holiday!

Original poster

lulalullabye · 31/12/2010 16:39

Thank you so
Much for your help. I have contacted cats protection this afternoon and they will not take him because he is too old. Vallhala, it would be great if you could ask around. He is neutered, micro chipped, rabies and everything else vaccinated. No current or ever has had health problems. We live in Leeds and would drop him anywhere. He lives with two small children and is very good with them but does get grumpy. Great with dogs, not great with other cats. We would be happy to pay his vet bills within reason ie with respect to his age etc. I will ask a good friend who has mentioned before that she would take him but her circumstances have changed slightly so maybe not anymore. Thank you again. Lula.

OP posts:

Vallhala · 31/12/2010 17:30

I'll do my very best for you.

Vallhala · 31/12/2010 17:56

Lula, I've pm-ed you with my email address and details of who to contact re finding out more about me so you can be satisfied that I'm genuine and am who I say I am.

If you could email me a photo of puss and his name that would be really, really helpful. I have an appeal waiting and ready to send out, I just need a picture if at all possible.

Thanks.

Vallhala · 05/01/2011 12:45

Lula, I have Boris listed on the Cat Chat website for you. In order to do this the lister has to be a rescue owner which of course I'm not, I'm a network rescuer, but I do know the requirements and procedure of rescue of course.

These generally include the completion of a questionnaire by the prospective adopter, a homecheck by the rescue and a commitment to take the cat back from the new owner if at any stage in his life they are unable to care for him any longer.

I have committed to offering these personally if the advert brings forward any interest in Boris and I will, provided you are satisfied with the prospective owner, send Boris out on a rescue contract between me and the new owner to reflect that.

Remembering that Cats Protction won't take him because of his age and neither (I've checked) will Celia Hammond Cat Rescue, plus that my initial appeal has received no response the biggest chance you can give Boris is to offer to insure him by direct debit - a quick whizz through Sainsburys insurance, for example, shows a premium of £20 per month (far cheaper than £1.4K to fly Boris out to Oz and then quarantine him afterwards!). If you are willing to do that I will put another appeal out - this will make it far more likely that he will find an offer of a home or, failing that, at a foster-based rescue, where he is not placed in a pen.

The alternative, as you know, is not a happy ending... and I won't allow that to happen, not if I can help it, bless him!

Vallhala · 05/01/2011 12:46

PS - just to explain, although I am not a rescue owner, Cat Chat are happy to allow Boris to be posted as a rescue cat given my background and assurances.

Original poster

lulalullabye · 05/01/2011 18:33

Thank you again. Your catchat thing is great! We would definitely be willing to insure him and transport him wherever he needs to go.

Thanks from Boris too.

OP posts:

Vallhala · 05/01/2011 20:04

No problem, it's my pleasure. :) Fingers crossed.

Gay40 · 05/01/2011 22:28

I was all for putting myself forward until I saw he wasn't good with other cats (I have 2 already). So I'm hoping this old boy finds a lovely home soon.

Vallhala · 05/01/2011 22:36

Gay40, Lula says he's "not great" with other cats but integration might be possible depending on his personality, your cats' ages and personalities, the amount of space they have and so on. I have one here who isn't supposed to get on with others - she's a darling, asleep beside one of my boy-cats as I type and settled perfectly after a few days of arriving here. It might be worth pm-ing Lula and making further enquiries if you're interested. :)

Gay40 · 05/01/2011 22:48

One of my cats is 11 and quite placid, although it took her ages to adjust to the second cat, who is 3 and an absolute swine.
I will discuss it with DP (who said no to the second cat btw).
If I didn't have The Swine, I'd have driven up to Leeds already.

Vallhala · 05/01/2011 23:06

We have one like that, Gay40.

His Swine-ness has a talent for leaving dead bird strewn across the kitchen, depositing live shrews in the sitting room at 1am (not amusing when you're halfway down a second bottle of wine with your best pal and just considering going to bed), annonuncing his presence with the loudest bellow you have ever heard at 5am and bullying the larger of my 2 German Shepherds.

Apart from that he's lovely. :o

Gay40 · 05/01/2011 23:24

The Swine (and that's a polite version of what it is called usually) goes mental at 5am to be out. If it's out, it goes mental to be in at 5am.

Loves to bring live birds into the house which are tortured to death unless we start flapping tea towels about.

Chases the older cat, as well as sitting on the sofa arms to bash it on the head as it passes.
Clawing the carpet into fluff.
I could go on ad infinitum.

Original poster

lulalullabye · 06/01/2011 10:47

Boris would not contribute to the dead wildlife, (complete denial), he lived at my mums for a few years when he was about 5, that is what I am basing the other cats thing on, so more than ten years ago. He has cat neighbours at all four houses and no fights so I don't know what he would be like living with one now.
Whilst living at my mums he was the local mole exterminator and as well as half a twix, a koy carp and a mouse attached to a mouse trap, he doesn't bring things in too much. Too much effort and he has to get out of his basket.

OP posts:

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