Have you rescued a cat?

[yorkiesmiles]

I'm considering rescuing a cat, but wonder how different it is from taking in a dog. I adopted my 2 yorkies about 4 1/2 yrs ago and I was anxious about that, even though I knew their original owner.

I used to breed Siamese cats. My male died suddenly at the end of Nov. and my female has struggled since then. To complicate matters, my daughter left for her 1st yr of college & this has just made my female miserable. If I'm home - she's on me - right now she's between me and the laptop.

So part of considering adopting a cat is for her, to keep her company & maybe make her less needy. But a little bit ago, Roxie was looking at me saying we need love too mom, so only being one person and having 2 dogs, 2 cats - will this be just too much

I have been checking rescues, even out of state, looking for a Siamese. Thinking I would even take in a senior, as my female, Madeline, is 15 1/2. Now I've found a possibility close to home. The problem is he is a stray and no one knows anything about him. They have his age at 3 1/2 yrs. He is beautiful - he looks like he could be related to my 2 - he looks a lot like my Alexander that I lost.

My biggest concerns: that my female doesn't like me or him & get mad instead - and attacks him
2) What if he sprays?? My male never did and I don't think I could deal with that behavior.
3) He has all his claws - eek, I would have to have the fronts removed - I don't want me, the yorkies or the furniture clawed. Plus if he came at my female, she doesn't have her fronts to defend herself
4) He's at a kill shelter, so I need to act fast - problem is, I am most likely going to be out of town for 2 days next weekend

What advice can you offer??? Sorry this is so long. Here's a link to him: http://www.arl-iowa.org/aspx/general...x?pid=1&cid=34 His name is Beckett

[BubblPopElectrc]

I'm confused as to why you would think it'd be different than adopting (not sure if you actually mean buying) your dogs. What's your concerns/questions about it?

But to your other questions:

I don't believe he would spray if he was spayed (which I'm sure he would be before he left the rescue. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sorry, but if you are THAT concerned about the cat scratching, you shouldn't get him. Declawing is the equivalent of rubbing your fingers off from the knuckles. Sound painful? I have a kitten and she has never hurt my dogs or furniture. She HAS accidentally scratched me once or twice though. Get a scratching post to encourage natural behavior and you'll be fine.

Maybe if you'd contact the shelter and explain the situation they would hold him for you until you get back?

[yorkiesmiles]

nope I adopted/was given 2 yorkies for free - they cost over 2500 6years ago - my concern is I don't know how this cat was treated before. With the dogs I knew they had been loved but I know nothing about this cat. What are his fears, what does he react to? Plus I think dogs can be more easily won over.

He actually came in spayed, so I think he had to be cared for - plus Siamese cost money, so someone bought him at one point. But I have heard of spayed males spraying, so I don't think neutering is a guarantee.

I'm concerned that the only reason someone wouldn't claim this cat is that his behavior is really bad. But I would also say I feared this about the yorkies and they are angels

I am just curious what others might have experienced with rescuing a cat

[sweetr72]

If you do adopt this cat...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont declaw it...its is extremely painful and cruel to the cat..

You never know when adopting a cat how it will react to other animals and I know your heart goes out to him...maybe neutering will stop the sraying if he does but its never guarenteed...lots to decide I know..good luck in your decision..

Dawn

[Diego]

Before having a cat , you'll have to overcome your fears of this and that . A cat can sense your fears and it could make him or her react with aggression .

The best advise is never force him or her to do something when the animal is not adjusted to the new home . I rescued a 11 years old cat , the first week, she was hiding under the sofa . I placed a litterbox near . 2 weeks later she came in the kitchen to see me . She never played with my Yorkies but wasn't aggressive with them . When she wanted to be alone , she only had to hiss and the dogs knew .

The only advise is be patient , patient , patient .

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

He's a beautiful boy... and has such kind eyes! I think you'd be a blessing to him even if all you were able to do is get him out of that kill shelter!
These types of shelters don't normally have a "get to know you" period before a final adoption... but getting him out of there as quickly as you can, bringing him home and seeing how he will adjust over a few days - may give you a bit better insight as to whether you will be able to provide him with the love, care and life-long home he needs.
Worse case scenario - it won't be a good fit and you'll be in the position of placing him in another home - but even at that, it will be a special hand-picked family at your discression rather than the poor baby ending what may have been a very good life - at the hands of the shelter folks with a (and I'm sorry to be so graphic here) needle in his belly.
At best, you'll have found yourself and your girl a true friend and companion... while saving a life in the process!
Out of town for a couple of days?? Well, if he settles in nicely right off the bat - no worries... he can stay home with whatever arrangements you have for a caregiver for the other furbabies while you're away...
If he has some issues at first and you have legitimate concerns of leaving him alone so early on - - go with a bit of expense and kennel him for a couple of days.... no matter how stressful the transition in the beginning may have to be, the ultimate consideration is being able to provide for him in the long run and getting him out of that kill shelter now!!
As for de-clawing ... I don't have much personal experience as the only two cats we have are male strays who have put on about 10 lbs each since they began dining on our doorstep each evening and spending their days basking in the sun in our lounge chairs! ha!
But below is a link to some "pro's and con's of de-clawing" - - which states, of course, that the issue is somewhat controversial (which, as I see it, goes right along with altering the natural physical state of ANY living thing) - and that there are several options one may consider before making the decision to de-claw....
As well, the article states that while there is some pain and discomfort with de-clawing - IT IS NO MORE THAN WHEN A CAT IS SPAYED OR NEUTERED!
Most cats can recover from declawing without complications and despite some myths, cats that undergo this procedure are not more prone to biting.
While declawing will always remain a very controversial topic, it is a personal decision that should be left up to the owner and the vet who performs the surgery. Good luck to you - keep us posted as to whether you are able to bring this beautiful boy home and make him a part of your family!!

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

OOPS, here is the link!!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._your_cat.html

[Sookie]

I have feral cats. I have always had feral cats. I get them from the horse barn where I used to keep my horse. When the kittens are born there, they are born wild and many of them die or are trampled by a horse. I don't own the barn and the people there won't do anything to control the cat population. Anyway, I have 3 feral cats from there. They are wonderful cats. I never had them declawed and they have NEVER unsheathed their claws on us or Kalina or the furniture. As far as Kalina goes, they were here first but they absolutely love her. All four of them will run and play together. I think she thinks she is a cat now because she rubs against the furniture and us just as they do.

Play with the cat a lot when you get him. Play with his feet and unsheathe his claws and touch them. Do this a lot. It really helps with their temperament.

[2byorkiemom]

Girl go get him and bring him home. Siamese are my other weakness. I have rescued many and they are so loving. Its as though they know you saved their life. Alot of times it takes longer for older cats to bond to each other, so dont worry if it doesn't happen instantly. You didn't instantly fall in love with your husband did you? Give them time and space to get to know each other. Most likely they will grow on each other. IN my experience the only time I have had a neutered cat to spray is when I had an unspayed female there in heat. Keep in mind you would be saving this guys life. If I was close I would snatch him up in a heartbeat. As far as declawing I think that is a personal decision. Its not as bad as most people think. I have worked at a vets office for many years and it doesn't tramatise the cat like most people think. Is it painfull? SURE! So are many other things we do to them. But it does heal and most of the time the owners are thankful they did it. I guess bottom line is.....This is your decision and you have to decide if you want to bring another life into your home. But I know this little guy would sure love you for it...........

As far as being gone next weekend you could use that time to board him at your vets for his shots and what ever other vet treatment he will be needing..

Just my two cents....

[VickiG]

He is a beautiful cat, I had a siamese growing up, they are wonderful cats. I adopted a kitten at the shelter this year after we lost our cat of 16 years. She is wonderful with our yorkie Peanut, he just loves her like crazy. As to declawing please don't do it, you will be removing his first digit of each toe and it is painful. I wish I know this with our first cat, we had her declawed and even now that she is gone I still feel bad for doing it to her. The new kitten has all her toes and she has never hurt Peanut. I trim her nail every couple weeks and she is great. Good luck

[yorkiesmiles]

Thank you all for your answers. I am hoping he is still there when I get off work today. I want to see him in person and I assume he is a lover like most Siamese.

Siamese are my true calling as far as cats go. When I was a little girl a Siamese found us and my parents must have been nuts, but they let me name her after myself - lol - and I have a very unsual name, but with 2 of us in the house - "kitty" got tacked on the end of her name.

We even bred her & then kept one of her females to later breed.

As soon as I graduated from college and had a house, I got my 1st Siamese. I had my beautiful breeding pair and they had numerous litters over a period of about 8 years. I really thought I would keep a kitten from one of their litters, but I had too much going on in my personal life when I last bred them and I had woman/scammer suing me over a kitten - long story. So my regret was I don't have one of theirs.

But Beckett looks so much like the male I lost 9 1/2 mths ago. I'm hoping I can bring him home & have a great transition with my 15 1/2 yr old female. I love the name Beckett - which I'm sure someone gave him at the rescue, so I won't change that if I get him.

[yorkiesmiles]

I got back from the shelter and seeing beautiful Beckett. He is HUGE! I have never seen such a huge Siamese cat. He might be 12 or more pounds - he's not really fat - just tall & long.

He is so sweet & loving. He even purred a bit for me. While I was trying to decide about bringing him home tonight or taking my female out with me tomorrow to see him & then decide, they announced there would be no more adoptions made today. They quit doing adoptions a half-hour before they close & I didn't know that.

But I found out a couple of things that make me feel much better about his situation. The rescue where he is at, does put animals down but there is no date to do so ever - the volunteer who worked with me said that it is more rare for an animal to be killed - usually one that is unruly and no one is interested in. Still not a good situation, but at least Beckett wouldn't fall in this category. She also told me that she volunteers every Friday & it is very seldom that she sees an animal 2 weeks in a row.

If his days had been numbered I would have probably taken him right then, but as I mulled it over -- because the timing is off a bit in my life, (even though I have been checking rescues) & I was mulling over because he is so HUGE I'm now also concerned about the yorkies - Roxie is just 3 1/2 lbs & Bubba is 4 1/2. The good thing, he didn't seem interested in sticking his claws out.

They don't start adoptions until 11 am tomorrow, and I already have plans to meet Suzy at 9:30 am to go to the Great Iowa Pet Expo - so I'm praying he's still there -- if I'm meant to have him.

But actually I have a Plan B for Beckett -- Two weeks ago, I found a note in my door from a lady saying she had bought 2 Siamese kittens from me 12 yrs ago. Turns out her male had been hit by a car, and she was hoping to find a descendant of my 2 to buy. I explained that I no longer bred, but I offered to help her by trying to find the breeders my 2 came from -- but that has not happened as I believe they have both moved. -- I just finished my research & was planning to call the lady back who wanted a cat. Tonight when I came home from the rescue, I had a message from this lady. I called her & told her about Beckett. She very well might beat me to the rescue tomorrow & she has 4 kids who desperately want a new cat like their beloved Calvin.

So one way or another this boy will have a new home tomorrow afternoon. Because if she doesn't get him, I will. Although, a huge part of me wishes I had fussed when they said they were done with adoptions & brought him home tonight.

[Gracie2006]

Go get him. You need him and he needs you. I have 4 cats and Gracie. All get along great. There is always room for one more!