Please help the mystery cat

[Lotte]

Please take a minute to look at

http://www.io.com/~minerva/mrx.html

This darling boy needs a good home, somewhere perhaps where he could
live safely outdoors (away from busy roads and other threats), due to
his relaxed bowel & bladder habits. He's a wonderful cat, and I am at
the end of my money and can't take care of him properly. Please pass
the word along to anyone you know who might be able to help. Best
Friends in Utah is full, but has graciously offered to send out his
information on their network. I have been contacting local rescue
groups but none of them (so far) has a place for someone with his
special needs.

Thanks for your help -- LV

[Cat Protector]

If he is such a special cat to you then why suggest he be an outdoor cat?
Also, if you are so broke and can't care for him then how come you have
money for Internet access?

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www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Lotte" > wrote in message
om...
> Please take a minute to look at
>
> http://www.io.com/~minerva/mrx.html
>
> This darling boy needs a good home, somewhere perhaps where he could
> live safely outdoors (away from busy roads and other threats), due to
> his relaxed bowel & bladder habits. He's a wonderful cat, and I am at
> the end of my money and can't take care of him properly. Please pass
> the word along to anyone you know who might be able to help. Best
> Friends in Utah is full, but has graciously offered to send out his
> information on their network. I have been contacting local rescue
> groups but none of them (so far) has a place for someone with his
> special needs.
>
> Thanks for your help -- LV

[Cat Protector]

I checked the Web Site and have to wonder if he is so special, then why do
you wish to exchange him for a healthy cat if you are so short on money? You
also have a cat back guarentee on him as well. I hope he does find a good
home. It looks like he deserves a second chance.

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Lotte" > wrote in message
om...
> Please take a minute to look at
>
> http://www.io.com/~minerva/mrx.html
>
> This darling boy needs a good home, somewhere perhaps where he could
> live safely outdoors (away from busy roads and other threats), due to
> his relaxed bowel & bladder habits. He's a wonderful cat, and I am at
> the end of my money and can't take care of him properly. Please pass
> the word along to anyone you know who might be able to help. Best
> Friends in Utah is full, but has graciously offered to send out his
> information on their network. I have been contacting local rescue
> groups but none of them (so far) has a place for someone with his
> special needs.
>
> Thanks for your help -- LV

[Willows]

> If he is such a special cat to you then why suggest he be an outdoor cat?

That statement makes not sense.

> Also, if you are so broke and can't care for him then how come you have
> money for Internet access?

Oh come on, spending a fortune on vets bills and having that time to
care for a special cat can't be compared with the cost of internet access.

Obviously this is a very special person who has done this much for him
already and probably homes strays often but a cat with these troubles is
certainly difficult to home. Well done on his rescue I hope you find a
him the home he deserves.

[Cat Protector]

It makes perfect sense. Cats live much longer being indoor felines than
outdoor ones. If they were outdoors then they could get into fights with
other cats, encounter humans who would do them harm, be susceptable to
predators, get hit by cars, and the list goes on.

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Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Willows" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> > If he is such a special cat to you then why suggest he be an outdoor
cat?
>
> That statement makes not sense.
>
> > Also, if you are so broke and can't care for him then how come you have
> > money for Internet access?
>
> Oh come on, spending a fortune on vets bills and having that time to
> care for a special cat can't be compared with the cost of internet access.
>
> Obviously this is a very special person who has done this much for him
> already and probably homes strays often but a cat with these troubles is
> certainly difficult to home. Well done on his rescue I hope you find a
> him the home he deserves.
>

[Sherry]

>I checked the Web Site and have to wonder if he is so special, then why do
>you wish to exchange him for a healthy cat if you are so short on money? You
>also have a cat back guarentee on him as well. I hope he does find a good
>home. It looks like he deserves a second chance.
>

If I understand correctly, she doesn't wish to "exchange" him for a healthy
cat. Rescue people have X amount of slots available for rescues. She has
offered to free up one of those slots by taking a "healthy, adoptable" cat to
make room for her special needs cat. It sounds like she is desperately trying
to create a space in this world for this cat with less-than-desirable health
issues. She has already specified her requirements on the outdoor issue--which
are reasonable by far.
To the OP: Good luck with your kitty. Bless you for helping him. I shudder to
think where he'd be if you hadn't taken him in.
Sherry

[Lotte]

In answer to all the questions:

"Outdoor" issue -- since he's incontinent, I think demanding that he
be kept indoors will limit his chances of finding a good home. I have
seen a lot of creative outdoor enclosures for cats, as well as outdoor
situations that are safe for cats. In the ideal world, I'd love for
him to live with someone who would keep him indoors at all times, but
I realize that in his case it's going to have to be a compromise
between ideal situations and reality. As I said on the website, I'm
not going to give him to someone who's going to let him roam around on
busy roads, and I am ONLY open to him living outdoors provided it's a
safe situation. I know that by living outdoors, even in a "safe"
situation, he will be exposed to dangers, but I have to balance that
with his situation -- I would not like to see him live his life out in
a 24 X 36 kennel, which would really have to be the case if someone
were going to keep him in their house at all times. Now, if someone
wanted to dedicate a "cat room" in their house, and commit to cleaning
it, that might be an interesting idea. I have also seen old
outbuildings converted to cat-houses, and it's even possible to build
cat-proof fences for the really dedicated.

On the "why don't you keep him" issue -- I would love to keep him, but
I have 3 other cats (all indoor-only, in our 700 SF house), one of
whom is elderly with extensive health issues, and I simply cannot take
on another one without their care suffering. I owe them the best care
I can give them, and my funds, attention span and energy are limited.
Again, in an ideal world, I would have endless resources, and none of
this would be an issue, but, sadly, that is not the reality. I have
already spent over $700 on his rescue, which is more than I have spent
on my other cats this year all together. I haven't had a full night's
sleep since I rescued him, and my other cats are already showing signs
of stress and anxiety from not getting enough of my attention. It's a
tough decision, but, for me, it's the right one.

Thanks everyone for reading and posting. I will let you know how
things turn out --

Lotte

[Lotte]

Oh, I forgot to answer one of the other questions -- I'm willing to
exchange him for a healthy cat, because I have a family that wanted to
take him, but could not because of his condition, and they suggested I
"swap" him and they would adopt whoever I swapped him for. I did
something similar with an FELV-positive feral I trapped a year or so
ago -- FELV-positive kitty went to a shelter with a colony of other
FELV-positive cats, and I ended up keeping the "swap-ee" who is even
now demanding his dinner -- LV

[Cat Protector]

I see no logic to your thinking. How is keeping an outside cat going to
increase their chances of a good home? What if the cat encounters being hit
by a car or a human that would want to do them harm? Also, what about
getting in a fight with another cat? You never said whether this cat has
claws or not? Also, what if the cat he encounters has FELV, FIV? There are
no cures for those two illnesses.

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www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"Lotte" > wrote in message
om...
> In answer to all the questions:
>
> "Outdoor" issue -- since he's incontinent, I think demanding that he
> be kept indoors will limit his chances of finding a good home. I have
> seen a lot of creative outdoor enclosures for cats, as well as outdoor
> situations that are safe for cats. In the ideal world, I'd love for
> him to live with someone who would keep him indoors at all times, but
> I realize that in his case it's going to have to be a compromise
> between ideal situations and reality. As I said on the website, I'm
> not going to give him to someone who's going to let him roam around on
> busy roads, and I am ONLY open to him living outdoors provided it's a
> safe situation. I know that by living outdoors, even in a "safe"
> situation, he will be exposed to dangers, but I have to balance that
> with his situation -- I would not like to see him live his life out in
> a 24 X 36 kennel, which would really have to be the case if someone
> were going to keep him in their house at all times. Now, if someone
> wanted to dedicate a "cat room" in their house, and commit to cleaning
> it, that might be an interesting idea. I have also seen old
> outbuildings converted to cat-houses, and it's even possible to build
> cat-proof fences for the really dedicated.
>
> On the "why don't you keep him" issue -- I would love to keep him, but
> I have 3 other cats (all indoor-only, in our 700 SF house), one of
> whom is elderly with extensive health issues, and I simply cannot take
> on another one without their care suffering. I owe them the best care
> I can give them, and my funds, attention span and energy are limited.
> Again, in an ideal world, I would have endless resources, and none of
> this would be an issue, but, sadly, that is not the reality. I have
> already spent over $700 on his rescue, which is more than I have spent
> on my other cats this year all together. I haven't had a full night's
> sleep since I rescued him, and my other cats are already showing signs
> of stress and anxiety from not getting enough of my attention. It's a
> tough decision, but, for me, it's the right one.
>
> Thanks everyone for reading and posting. I will let you know how
> things turn out --
>
> Lotte

[Lotte]

"Cat Protector" > wrote in message news:<2PeZb.27854$Zt4.25520@okepread01>...
> I see no logic to your thinking. How is keeping an outside cat going to
> increase their chances of a good home? What if the cat encounters being hit
> by a car or a human that would want to do them harm? Also, what about
> getting in a fight with another cat? You never said whether this cat has
> claws or not? Also, what if the cat he encounters has FELV, FIV? There are
> no cures for those two illnesses.

CP, after reading your posts, I realized I hadn't made my position on
the indoor/outdoor issue clear, so I updated the webpage. My idea is
that he could live outdoors if he were kept in an enclosure or
cat-proof-fenced yard. I am not suggesting that he be allowed to
free-roam, although I'm willing to consider it in an absolutely
perfect situation (small Carribean island?).

My logic is, the more flexible I am in the situations I'm willing to
adopt him to, the more likely he is to find a home. If I were to say,
for instance, that I will absolutely not adopt him anywhere but to a
palatial estate with a luxurious cat suite, his chances of being
adopted drop to practically zero. I'm willing to compromise so that
he can have a less-than-perfect life, as opposed to no life at all.

If you're interested in taking him, please let me know.

Thanks -- Lotte

[Fan]

On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 22:08:11 -0500, equalizer <> wrote:

>On Thu, 19 Feb 2004 20:04:31 -0700, "Cat Protector"
> wrote:
>
>>I see no logic.

Priceless


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[Alison]

Well done for trying to help this cat . I don't live in the US and in
the UK it's normal for cats to be let out. I think you're doing the
best you can for the cat in a difficult situation. I hope you manage
to find the cat the home you want . Good luck.
Alison

"Lotte" > wrote in message
om...
> In answer to all the questions:
>
> "Outdoor" issue -- since he's incontinent, I think demanding that he
> be kept indoors will limit his chances of finding a good home. I
have
> seen a lot of creative outdoor enclosures for cats, as well as
outdoor
> situations that are safe for cats. In the ideal world, I'd love for
> him to live with someone who would keep him indoors at all times,
but
> I realize that in his case it's going to have to be a compromise
> between ideal situations and reality. As I said on the website, I'm
> not going to give him to someone who's going to let him roam around
on
> busy roads, and I am ONLY open to him living outdoors provided it's
a
> safe situation. I know that by living outdoors, even in a "safe"
> situation, he will be exposed to dangers, but I have to balance that
> with his situation -- I would not like to see him live his life out
in
> a 24 X 36 kennel, which would really have to be the case if someone
> were going to keep him in their house at all times. Now, if someone
> wanted to dedicate a "cat room" in their house, and commit to
cleaning
> it, that might be an interesting idea. I have also seen old
> outbuildings converted to cat-houses, and it's even possible to
build
> cat-proof fences for the really dedicated.
>
> On the "why don't you keep him" issue -- I would love to keep him,
but
> I have 3 other cats (all indoor-only, in our 700 SF house), one of
> whom is elderly with extensive health issues, and I simply cannot
take
> on another one without their care suffering. I owe them the best
care
> I can give them, and my funds, attention span and energy are
limited.
> Again, in an ideal world, I would have endless resources, and none
of
> this would be an issue, but, sadly, that is not the reality. I have
> already spent over $700 on his rescue, which is more than I have
spent
> on my other cats this year all together. I haven't had a full
night's
> sleep since I rescued him, and my other cats are already showing
signs
> of stress and anxiety from not getting enough of my attention. It's
a
> tough decision, but, for me, it's the right one.
>
> Thanks everyone for reading and posting. I will let you know how
> things turn out --
>
> Lotte

[m. L. Briggs]

On 18 Feb 2004 19:26:52 -0800, (Lotte) wrote:

>Please take a minute to look at
>
>http://www.io.com/~minerva/mrx.html
>
>This darling boy needs a good home, somewhere perhaps where he could
>live safely outdoors (away from busy roads and other threats), due to
>his relaxed bowel & bladder habits. He's a wonderful cat, and I am at
>the end of my money and can't take care of him properly. Please pass
>the word along to anyone you know who might be able to help. Best
>Friends in Utah is full, but has graciously offered to send out his
>information on their network. I have been contacting local rescue
>groups but none of them (so far) has a place for someone with his
>special needs.
>
>Thanks for your help -- LV

This is just a thought about Best Friends. I get frequent mailings
from them saying they never turn down a needy animal. Perhaps if it
were suggested that
some donations would come in from animal lovers who are followers of
the newsgroups, they might be persuaded to do some "shifting" to make
room for this needy cat.
I don't want to be misunderstood, because they perform a valuable
service. However, from time to time they adopt out an animal and thus
could find a spot for "Mystery".
Does any of this make sense?

[Sharon Talbert]

> This is just a thought about Best Friends. I get frequent mailings
> from them saying they never turn down a needy animal. Perhaps if it
> were suggested that
> some donations would come in from animal lovers who are followers of
> the newsgroups, they might be persuaded to do some "shifting" to make
> room for this needy cat.
> I don't want to be misunderstood, because they perform a valuable
> service. However, from time to time they adopt out an animal and thus
> could find a spot for "Mystery".
> Does any of this make sense?
>

I admire and support Best Friends but wonder that they claim to never turn
away a needy animal. Surely they have no choice but to turn down MOST of
the animals brought to their attention -- like any "no-kill" shelter they
are always full, with requests for admission far exceeding adoptions.

Mind you, this is NOT meant in criticism of Best Friends, which is one of
my favorite nonprofits. They are one of the few organizations that speak
out for the welfare of feral cats and even take in a few in their fraidy
cat sanctuary.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

[Lotte]

m. L. Briggs > wrote in message >...
>
> This is just a thought about Best Friends. I get frequent mailings
> from them saying they never turn down a needy animal. Perhaps if it
> were suggested that
> some donations would come in from animal lovers who are followers of
> the newsgroups, they might be persuaded to do some "shifting" to make
> room for this needy cat.
> I don't want to be misunderstood, because they perform a valuable
> service. However, from time to time they adopt out an animal and thus
> could find a spot for "Mystery".
> Does any of this make sense?

M.L. -- Best Friends has sent out a notice to their network members
within my state, and I've gotten a couple of responses. I'm going to
wait a bit to see if any of them pan out, and if they don't, then I'll
ask B.F. to send notices out to all the states. If THAT doesn't pan
out, then I'll start wheeling and dealing. This might sound weird,
but I've been considering writing my will to leave my estate to a
rescue organization -- I don't have any kids, so I can't imagine a
better place for it to go. Not like it's going to be a huge amount of
money or anything, once they pay off all my debts and vet bills, har
har! Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I'll keep it in mind if
things get down to the wire. I'll keep the group posted on what
happens -- Lotte

[Sherry]

This might sound weird,
>but I've been considering writing my will to leave my estate to a
>rescue organization -- I don't have any kids, so I can't imagine a
>better place for it to go.

I think that's a *great* idea. I know people who have not only done that, but
have left trust funds to provide for their own cats' care should it be needed.

Sherry

[mooninpappa]

I have already spent over $700 on his rescue!

Goodness me!
Where do live old duck?
As you are a star, and a whole some good and kind person.
I'll send you a few quid to ease the expenses a little. Seriously.

[Cat Protector]

I wonder if the local media might be interested in doing a story on this
cat?

--
Panther TEK: Staying On Top Of All Your Computer Needs!
www.members.cox.net/catprotector/panthertek

Cat Galaxy: All Cats, All The Time!
www.catgalaxymedia.com
"mooninpappa" > wrote in message
...
> I have already spent over $700 on his rescue!
>
> Goodness me!
> Where do live old duck?
> As you are a star, and a whole some good and kind person.
> I'll send you a few quid to ease the expenses a little. Seriously.
>
>

[fan]

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 21:00:05 -0700, "Cat Protector"
> wrote:

>I wonder if the local media might be interested in doing a story on this
>cat?
Excellent idea CP.


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[Sharon Talbert]

I hope Best Friends comes through for you. I know they will if they can;
it is just not always possible.

I wonder whether they have a room for cats with catitudes...I have one
whose latest passion is tipping over the ribbit dishes full of water.
She has ruined the hardwood floor in the bedroom. We have to make sure
all the water dishes are in the shower when Vixen pays a call upstairs.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

[Lotte]

"mooninpappa" > wrote in message >...
> I have already spent over $700 on his rescue!
>
> Goodness me!
> Where do live old duck?
> As you are a star, and a whole some good and kind person.
> I'll send you a few quid to ease the expenses a little. Seriously.

Wow! I'm amazed that you'd offer to help me, someone you don't even
know. How generous of you. I'm very touched -- I could use the
money, but I just can't accept, knowing that (probably all of) you are
likely spending your funds on helping your own rescues. I will make
ends meet somehow... hopefully this little fellow will find a home
before I'm completely broke. Bless you for offering!

[Sherry]

>I wonder whether they have a room for cats with catitudes...I have one
>whose latest passion is tipping over the ribbit dishes full of water.
>She has ruined the hardwood floor in the bedroom. We have to make sure
>all the water dishes are in the shower when Vixen pays a call upstairs.
>
>Sharon Talbert
>Friends of Campus Cats

But, Sharon, those are the cats that are most personable!! I am "catsitting"
right now for a young cat who is absolutely hell on wheels. He's a MESS. Scales
the door facings, jumps straight up in the air & flips for *no reason*. Never
walks--he just tears through the house like a bat outta hell. He walks around
with perpetual "puffy tail'' and that sideways stance. I admit I'll be glad
when his "daddy" picks him up. But it's been fun and really made me aware how
*different* their own little personalities are.

Sherry <--- Wondering if there's a kitty-version of ADHD?

[Sharon Talbert]

Actually, I was joking, about sending Vixen to Best Friends.

She is a fantastic cat: highly intelligent (therefore easily bored and
creative), confident (substitute aggressive), large (bully). I would love
her as an only cat. But our household is not a good place for her to be.

Right now, we are working on behavior modification. When she chases one
of the fraidy cats, she has to go downstairs. When she tips over a water
dish and rolls it around the room, she goes downstairs. (Usually, I put
the water bowls in the bathtub.) I have learned not to pick her up and
put her downstairs unless done very gently (she recently blackened an eye
and pierced a vein in my wrist over a matter of four days). I am
beginning to suspect she has had some physical abuse that sets her off
easily. (Vixen is a former pet, not feral-born.) She is so intelligent
that when she mishehaves all I have to do as a rule is open the basement
door and point the way.

What a character...!

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats


On Thu, 26 Feb 2004, Sherry wrote:

> >I wonder whether they have a room for cats with catitudes...I have one
> >whose latest passion is tipping over the ribbit dishes full of water.
> >She has ruined the hardwood floor in the bedroom. We have to make sure
> >all the water dishes are in the shower when Vixen pays a call upstairs.
> >
> >Sharon Talbert
> >Friends of Campus Cats
>
> But, Sharon, those are the cats that are most personable!! I am "catsitting"
> right now for a young cat who is absolutely hell on wheels. He's a MESS. Scales
> the door facings, jumps straight up in the air & flips for *no reason*. Never
> walks--he just tears through the house like a bat outta hell. He walks around
> with perpetual "puffy tail'' and that sideways stance. I admit I'll be glad
> when his "daddy" picks him up. But it's been fun and really made me aware how
> *different* their own little personalities are.
>
> Sherry <--- Wondering if there's a kitty-version of ADHD?
>