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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Rehoming my lovely old girl...

40 replies

batteryhen · 27/05/2014 22:55

We are moving abroad in August for at least 2 years. This means I have to rehome my lovely old girl :(
She is at least 14 as she was a stray when she found me so not clear on her exact age. I don't want to hand her over to the cats protection etc as I am sure she will be overlooked for younger cats etc. Has anyone any ideas how I can find her a loving home?
I advertised her on our local parents fb site and a lady came to look at her. We arranged a date when she could have her but as soon as I said I would like to see where the cat would be living, I never heard from the woman again which struck me as suspicious and odd.
Any ideas at all? I am very sad as we have been through so much together. She is a wonderful cat.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 27/05/2014 23:18

Have you considered getting her a passport and taking her with you? You're right it is very difficult to home old cats and I think your only choice would be through a non-kill cat shelter (not the RSPCA).

MissBlake · 27/05/2014 23:53

I guess your probably not in my area (east Anglia), but if you are I will have her. I re-homed an 11 year old cat last year, I overheard his owner talking to volunteers the the rspca charity shop and explained I was wanting a cat ect. She came to see me before bringing toby and we still keep in touch now. It is possible to re home her but her age obviously does make it much harder.

Wolfiefan · 28/05/2014 00:00

Heartbreaking decision. Whereabouts are you? We got our two from a Surrey rescue. (We now just have the one. 18 years young!)

LEMmingaround · 28/05/2014 00:00

Approach your local vets, they will have clients who may be looking for a rescue, but her age is really against her tbh as there is potential for vets bills etc due to age related illnesses. Would you be willing to help towards these costs? How well do you think she will settle with a new owner? would you be able to take her with you?

Wolfiefan · 28/05/2014 00:04

Could anyone "foster" for you whilst you are away? You could offer to contribute financially and be kept informed of how she's doing?

timtam23 · 28/05/2014 00:24

I really feel for you OP. I was in a similar situation some years ago and I so so wanted to have my cats back on my return (I was offered a 1-2 years temporary work contract & it would have been impossible to take the cats with me). In the end 2 separate friends took them & fostered them for me but for a while it had looked as if 1 of the cats would have to be permanently rehomed & it was breaking my heart.

I paid for the vaccinations, any vets fees and also gave them money for cat food while I was away

Whereabouts are you? Sadly I can't help personally as we still have one of the above-mentioned cats (18 & in very poor health) plus a young male cat. I have a very soft spot for old cats though, my old girl (the one who I nearly had to give away) eventually lived until 18 and I would love to adopt an older cat again in the future when we have less stuff going on

But I wouldn't use facebook, gumtree etc as I have heard bad bad rumours about people getting cats off there to use as bait for dog fighting Sad

Good luck with finding somewhere for her

Original poster
batteryhen · 28/05/2014 06:54

Hi everyone. Thanks for your replies. We can't take her with us sadly. It's an 18 hour flight and the vet has
said she wouldn't survive as she does have a slight heart murmer. She is also a very bad traveller.
We are in South Lincolnshire. I'm going to ask the vets today if they know anyone. She is quite used to being the only cat so not sure how she would get on with other cats.
I can't believe after all these years I'm having to give her up :(

OP posts:
springbabydays · 28/05/2014 06:58

Can't any of your friends or family have her for you? This is so sad!

cozietoesie · 28/05/2014 07:15

Hi battery

I think her chances would be much improved by you offering to foot her bills if that's OK by you. If it's any hope, and while I'm assuming she's not a pedigree, I saw recently a 19 year old Siamese gentleman rehomed after losing his master. It can be done, difficult though it is.

All the very best of luck and let us know how you're getting on.

Original poster
batteryhen · 28/05/2014 07:22

My friend was going to have her but her circumstances have changed and she has moved into accommodation that won't allow pets.
I would foot any vet bills. I took her to the vet last week as I thought that lady was going to have her. Besides her heart murmer she is fit. Her heart gives her no trouble and she is on no medication for it.
Do you think it's possible to introduce her to an already resident cat? If she could go to a home with another
cat it might make it easier.
I have asked my friends to have her but some already have cats / dogs and those who don't, don't want one.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 28/05/2014 07:23

PS - why not put a post up on \link{http://www.catchat.org/felineforum/viewforum.php?f=11&sid=ed97cc8f65d4e69416c0f6511cb5c05f\the catchat forum} as well. It would only take 10 minutes and while it may not produce anything - who knows.

cozietoesie · 28/05/2014 07:25

I'd be reluctant to introduce her to another resident cat in all the circumstances. If that's the only option, sure - but I think, from the sound of it, she'd suit being a singleton better.

KatieKaye · 28/05/2014 07:28

DOn't despair - there will be someone out there who is looking for an older cat. My third cat was an older boy - I saw an advert in the vet's saying "free to a good home - must be lady owner". He was a super boy and bonded to me really quickly and became the most loving cat I've ever had.

cozietoesie · 28/05/2014 07:36

It might help, also, if you offered to transport her/have her transported to her new home if needs be. People are surprisingly odd about distances.(I've travelled many hundreds of miles to pick up a new boy so it doesn't worry me at all if I see the right puss but that's just me.)

SelectAUserName · 28/05/2014 07:44

I would be wary about introducing her to a resident cat if she has been solo all her life. In an elderly cat that's a shortcut to stress incontinence which is not pleasant for cat or new owner.

There will be someone who will take her but it might take time to find the right home, and I'm guessing time is limited for you. Poster in vets, email round workplace (assuming you work)? I'd keep off Gumtree and I'd only mention her on FB in closed groups where you 'know' the other contributors.

Good luck.

Original poster
batteryhen · 28/05/2014 07:53

Thanks everyone. I am going to try all of the above. Will let you know how I get on :)

OP posts:
MissBlake · 28/05/2014 10:52

Good luck I really hope you find her a home. I Didn't think about introductions in my previous thread, which is typical of me as I tend to go straight in and think later.
I would be more than happy to travel myself, but I don't have a car. I picked up a cat and her very young kittens via public transport and it was very stressful, for me that is the cats thankfully slept the whole of the journey.

MissBlake · 28/05/2014 10:53

oops previous post.

JakeBullet · 28/05/2014 10:56

Another vote for catchat as they are fab. I know lots of local rescues but am in Essex so a bit of a distance. The Catchat forum are really good though.

Lovethesea · 28/05/2014 19:01

Hope something perfect comes up. I had to rehome my lovely black fat panther of a cat when I went to work at an outdoor centre. A friend fostered, but there was conflict with her cats, then my mum's vet poster caught someone's eye and a man who had sworn he would never have another cat, after losing his, offered to have him.

I visited him on a trip home, he was utterly in his element. Still chasing ping pong balls down stairs at 3am. Sleeping where he liked. Pampered and the happy centre of attention.

Hope you get a similar very happy ending. I'm east Anglia but have two one of whom would be very very cross if I tried to bring another home.

Original poster
batteryhen · 01/07/2014 07:59

So I have tried everything now. No takers :( My friend has said she will have her as a last resort but she has 2 female cats already. I know my cat won't like that but I have no other choice.
So I need advice on introducing a female cat to 2 already resident cats please!

OP posts:
MrsBW · 01/07/2014 13:05

So sorry you are going through this.

I introduced a very cranky 15 year old (used to being alone) to an 18 year old (used to being alone) a while ago and although they will never be the best of friends, they tolerate each other well.

When I bought him home, he went in a spare room (away from the other cat) for 3 days (he was not a happy chappy). He ate in there, had a litter tray in there and I would spend 15 mins at a time in there sitting on the bed talking to him. I had a blanket in there for him and one downstairs for her and after 3 days interchanged them regularly to get them used to the smell of each other.

After 3 days, I put a piece of see through perspex over the door so the two cats could see each other but not get to each other. Did this for 2 days.

On day 6, I took the perspex down - he used the spare room as his 'base' for the following few weeks but ventured downstairs to mingle - eventually coming downstairs full time.

They both had 'their own space' and were already used to the sight and smell of each other.

Hope this helps somewhat. Can't say it'll work every time, but it did for those two.

Really hope it works out for you.

timtam23 · 01/07/2014 21:29

I'm so sorry that you haven't got the ideal solution but thank goodness your friend will take her - I am nowhere near south Lincs or else I would have twisted DH's arm (we have 1 young male cat but I am used to older female cats who like being solitary, as until last year I had one of those too!)

When I went abroad and friends had to take my 2 cats (they were taken in by 2 separate friends) my cats and the resident cats were kept separate for a few days so that they could all get used to the new smells without having to confront each other. I wouldn't say any of them were ever firm friends but they all found their own favourite spaces & in time they tolerated the situation. As long as your friend understands it may take some time, it will probably end up being fairly ok. Maybe buy a Feliway plug-in to give to your friend in advance so that she can use it for your cat?

Original poster
batteryhen · 01/07/2014 21:41

Feliway is a good idea :) I'm just relieved I at least have one option. Thanks for the advice . Will make sure all mogs are kept separate to minimalise any fur flying!

OP posts:
timtam23 · 01/07/2014 21:50

Also if she likes catnip it might help to get her a few good potent catnip toys which she can relax with?

I do hope it goes ok, it is heartbreaking to have to leave them behind