Oh help me, I looked at the "cats needing homes" page!

[SureJanOK]

Hello all

My 18 yr old cat died peacefully 3 weeks ago following kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. I have been surprised how "ok" I've been. I think I did all my grieving these last 7 months since she was diagnosed.

I've been away twice already since, just for a couple of days. And I'm booked to go on a city break 26-28 July. I had had in my mind also to go to the USA end of Sep which is my next annual leave. The only major thing still on my bucket list tbh (I'm 41). And then to look into adopting another cat when I came back. I've not had any holidays for years, they've never been that high on my list of priorities, esp when the cat was older.

But I STUPIDLY looked at the "Cats Needing Homes" page on my local rescue. And there's a 12 year old there who's been at the rescue for nearly 2 months already. She looks ideal for me. (Wants to be a single cat in a quiet adult home with garden).

What to do?!!!!!!!

Assuming I went, met her and fell in love...I wouldn't want to immediately go away for the weekend.

And SHOULD I get the US trip out my system? Or save up for a few years more (it would clear out my savings).

I'd feel SO AWFUL if I came back from the US and she was still there and I ended up adopting her then. She would have had to wait MONTHS for me.

I live alone and have never used catteries or pet sitters. I have SOME family but not sure I'd trust anyone enough with my baby!

Should I phone the rescue and see what they say?!

Also am I crazy to adopt a 12 year old and set myself up for another load of heartache and expense in just another few years?

Thanks

Oh, what a wonderful thing to do. Id just go for it. If shes healthy she will be fine. You can research for a really good cat sitter I wouldnt put her in the cattery. Have you got a trustworthy young family member around who would want to stay at yours? Oh, good luck. She sounds a delight.

There will always be cats needing homes

I think you should have your holiday

Even if you do get the same cat, she will just know you as her new slave not someone who kept her waiting.

She might be destined to be yours

But she might be destined for someone else instead

One vote in each direction so far! (Take the cat now vs hold off) both make sense.

I actually posted on MN 9 years ago when I adopted my last cat. I was trying to choose between her and another and the vote was split! I ended up making the sensible decision that time - I took the healthy cat, not the one that would need lots of (expensive?) medical assistance right from the start. (She got adopted by a different family soon after so it was fine).

It's a tricky one, I adore my two rescues but they (ok, I) limit my travel because I worry about them.

I'd do the big USA holiday and if it's meant to be, then the cat will be waiting for you

Get the cat. Sort out someone to look after the cat while you're away.

Speak to the rescue, and see what they suggest. There will always be cats needing homes where they are the only cat but it sounds like you've fallen for this one :)

Get the cat, find a lovely reliable cat sitter who will pop in two/three times a day and go on holiday… 12year old will be very happy in a quiet home with someone popping into see them.. there are plenty of lovely, kind, reliable sitters around.. try and go by word of mouth/ask vet/rescue for someone they recommend..then settle down for a lovely winter together

I'd do it. She's got plenty of time to settle between now and September. Shes already been there 2 months. Go get her!

You lot are terrible! You'd have me coming home with every cat AT that rescue TOMORROW!!!

Not at all - we'd just have you coming home from that rescue tomorrow with THAT cat 😁

Go see her. If she's "The One" you'll know almost right away & you won't care about not going to the USA this year. And I'm sure the rescue will be able to hold on to her for a couple of weeks - where I got mine from you have to wait until they've had a final check up at their vets etc so have to wait at least a few days anyway.

And if she isn't "The One", then at least you'll know & won't be regretting missing out on your perfect cat.

We Are on our 3rd adoption and I know not to look before I am ready as once I decide there is no going back. First time as a young adult in my first house I dragged my then DP to the local Cats Protection foster home and found the sad shy cat with slightly strange markings and told him that was the one. Last time after rescue cat2 had sadly passed from a tumor we had been 2 months without a cat, one DC had gone to uni and the home was just lacking a cat so DC2 and unloaded the car with a cat basket and headed off to the shelter and came back with a pair that were so traumatised that I didn’t see them before we adopted them, but DC has been in the pen under the blanket and said that they were purring and she wasn’t leaving without them.
Giving a home to a rescue cat the best life choice and having been to New York I would choose cat over trip every time

1 dcat def isn't enough imo.

we have 2... we had 3 but lost one a couple of years ago and it ripped my heart out and i vowed no more...

.... until yesterday when i thought another cat wouldn't be so bad would it?

DH says no! but then when i got my first 2, i asked if i could have a cat and DH said as long as it doesnt sleep on the bed... so i got 2 and guess where they slept 😂

Forgot to say - USA probably isn't the best place to go this year what with the political upheavals & that. Best to wait until the election for President is over, then a bit longer if Trump doesn't win. You can keep telling yourself that on the drive to the rescue tomorrow 😈

Aye, everyone tell me New York is shit and staying at home with my new cat is much preferable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D

My almost nineteen year old cat died. Very soon after we went to the rescue place but NOT to get a cat. Two weeks later we had two new cats. 11 years later I had to have one put to sleep completely unexpectedly. Her brother is sat next to me. Earlier he cried for me to carry him upstairs 😂. Five years ago we went to adopt a nine year old cat as my dd couldn't bear to leave him as no-one would want him as he's older. They said no to us due to having a dog and we came away with a kitten.

I would go and visit the cat. Tell them your plans. They might say no because you want your holidays. But they might not. What's going to bring you more joy? What would you be more sad to lose?

When we registered interest in the kitten we were number two on the list for her. I visited her every day. One day we were number one on the list. She came home a few days later and we have had her five years now.

@Allergictoironing that bit about "on the drive to the rescue tomorrow" cracked me up!! Only 11.5 hours til they open!

Go and get the cat. And hire a cat sitter if you book the trip. It will still be better for the cat than spending lots more time in the rescue centre.
i couldn’t bear to go on holiday when my old girl was still alive. She was very frail and found it stressful even when she was being looked after by other family members that she knew well. But now that she is gone I got a cat sitter for the younger one and it worked out really well.

New York isn't what it was. Really. It's a shit hole.

Go see the cat and then make a decision.

A cat is much better than New York, it's not like it was and you're not missing anything if you don't go now. It'll still be there, the cat however...plus you'll have created a space for a new cat needing a temporary home at the rescue. 😻

New York really isn’t what it was. I last went five years ago and couldn’t believe how downhill it had gone. You won’t need more than a week there.

Having been to New York a couple of times and currently having four cats I feel I'm well qualified to suggest you go and get the cat tomorrow morning and defer NY for a few years.
Happy to Help. 😺

Right, can one or two of you lot pop to Edinburgh and check on my new baby on the weekend of 26 July? That's the only thing outstanding. NY can GTF.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I like how you indicate tomorrow MORNING! not even lunchtime!

Eeeeee....a new cat! I can't wait to meet my baby.

Do it. You might find that the rescue can recommend a good sitter.