Time For Us To Move On  

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I'm sure it was just as hard for you as for the sister cat. Too often, we forget how grief can affect our animals, but I'm sure she picked up after you got a new companion.

Yes, I feel sorry for the 'underdgo' too, but they don't always have the qualities I'm looking for ie child friendly. One of the ones I've looked at had its tail amputated, but it was so skitish, it wouldn't have been happy with our girls.

I believe that our cats found a home all together, which was good. One of the ladies working at the shelter felt sorry for me (and the cats) and took them on board. I know they must be happy with her, as she fussed over them no end while i cried my way through the paper work.

I am so glad that you are at peace about all of this. We do love our animals and they so become a part of us. When my daughter was little was had a mixed breed cat that was mostly Blue Russian. Blue Russians seem to be really smart cats but are also clingy and love to curl up in your lap. Our cat, Elwood, went everywhere with my daughter when she was little. I had one room with a gate on it when I did Day Care and the cat could jump over the gate to get away from the kids when he needed to. He would sometimes hiss if the kids got too rough and then run away. It was very seldom that he scratched anyone. He went missing after having him for ten years. We never did find him.

At present my cat is a mixed breed that looks like a Blue Russian. She is very sweet and has the same attributes as Elwood. My daughter has a little long hair gray tabby, she is very small and will be 17 years old this year. My husband's cat, Zorro, is a black skiddish cat that looks like a mini panther. Zorro hides from everyone and everything. Today he escaped out to the garage when my husband didn't close the door tight from the house to the garage. I couldn't get Zorro out of the garage, so I took the hair dryer and plugged it into the farthest end of the garage and turned it on. He ran like the wind back into the house. I just love that every cat that has been a part of our life has been so precious and now we have a whole new/old group and I love them just as much. I wish you the same joy. Sometime when I find my camera, I will take some pictures.

Yes, I think after 6 years, I am finally able to forgive myself for breaking my promise to them, but it is still hard.

It certainly sounds like cats have always been a huge part of your life, and that your current ones are certainly full of personality. My uncle had a black cat that was that most skittish thing too. The only person who could get near it was my uncle.

I vowed I'd never give up my cats either, but I didn't see us being threatened by our landlord either or having to move to a caravan because it was all we would be able to afford or could find. It was hard, and I was so depressed for about 3 months, even though we had a baby on the way.

I'm hoping that we will have several cats in the end, maybe 1 for each of our 5 kids? LOL. I'm glad you found 1 and 3 found you, it must be wonderful having them as part of your family.

When we get a cat, it will be outside only when we are. Our fences are high, so it would have a hard time getting out. The rest of the time, said cat will be free to roam the house. I'm all for protecting our local wildlife and our pets, which is why our last 3 were indoor cats too. I also know I have to 'cat proof' our house too, which will be fun considering it is impossible to 'child proof' a house!

Yes, I do wonder how on earth you manage to move at your place! LOL. 3 was more than enough for a 1 bedroom flat, but they were happy enough and never went outside if the door was left open by mistake (a very rare thing to happen). They had their birds to guard and my bed to keep warm. I was even able to train them to sit in a row for special treats.

Now they are gone, I am hoping to give second chances to other cats, and possibly enter into a foster care program for kittens too. Our family would be perfect for it as part of the program is making sure kittens are child friendly.

I'm hoping by christmas, I will be completely ready for another kitten/cat, though whether a kitten/cat is ready for my 5 kids is another story! lol.

Thanks for adding the photo of some of your cats.

the black and white one on the bottom left side of the picture is the little one in my avatar all grown up.

It was truly the hardest thing I've ever had to do, especially with the looks people were giving me as I was handing them over. I felt like I was a bad person, and i couldn't look anyone in the eyes (except my partner) for what seemed like a lifetime.

I hope you are never in the situation of having to give your pets up, as it is very hard to do. It isn't something you expect to have to do, but you never know. For us, having a landlord that was threatening us and only gave us 12 hours to move (the courts didn't want to protect us either), it was the only choice as I knew they would never be safe or happy in a caravan, and we had a baby on the way too, so had to think of that little bundle as well.

You enjoy your precious furry little angels. I'm sure they make for excellent hot water bottles in the middle of winter. I know ours did.

I don't like seeing stray animals either. About 10 years ago, I was catching feral kittens and changing them to cats that were happy to be kept as pets. I did this for about 12 kittens, and they all found loving homes.

I will wait for the right cat, or us humans here might end up living in our carI love cats and would have them all if I could!LOL.

Dogs are great too...only problem is, training them. I am not the best at puppy training, especially when said puppy is no bigger than your foot! LOL

Thank you. I hope you never have to give up your pets. I will be looking for the perfect cat/kitten. I've already got the type in mind.

The process of pet adoption is pretty easy. You go and have a look, they recommend the best ones suited to your needs, family and home and once you have the match, you pay and take your new bundle of trouble home with you! LOL.

In Australia, all cats that are adopted from animal shelters are desexed when you buy them, even if they are only 12 weeks old (which is the earliest age of sale). That cost is factored into the price of buying the animal, but still worth it. We will probably be spending about $180 australian for a cat, but it costs that much to buy one from a pet shop and then have it desexed later any way.

Thank you. Yes, it is very exciting to think that I will have a lap baby again that will actually just sit there and sleep! I'm hoping that the perfect one will be there after Christmas, as that is when the RSPCA here has the most animals surrendered to them (unwanted pets etc).

It sounds like you had a very special pond with the neighbours dog. At least you didn't have bad neighbours, which is always nice.

I understand. I still cry too, even while writing this discussion and responding to it.

The other day, I found their cat collars and tags, and am now thinking of reserving part of my (under construction garden) as a memory corner for all my pets, but especailly them as I was very close with them.

That was the same for me. I bought one at the pet shop, and rescued another from a friend, and we kept one of her kittens too.

I can just imagine how cute your little 'baby skunk' looked, extra toes and all. The unusual tend to be quite endearing at times. 15 years and still going strong, I'm sure there are plenty more happy times yet.

Yes, a cat/kitten from the local shelter will appreciate a second chance. I dream that one day, I will have a property big enough that I can take the 'last chancer' cats, and let them live out their days in style. Not sure how I would staff it though.

You could staff it with volunteers! Who wouldn't want to come and play/take care of cats? (especially kids/teenagers who can't have pets)

There are plenty of people here on the dole who would be signed up in order to keep getting their payments. And then of course, the local disability services are always looking for placements for their clients.