We can't have a cat!!!

United States
April 16, 2013 12:29pm CST
So we got home from shopping and there was a young cat a few months old in our carport. Oh it was crying like a baby and it was tearing our hearts out. But I know the rules. No cats! (No animals at all in the house). Sil is very allergic to cats. He is pitiful around cats. His face and eyes puff up and he can't breathe without crap going down the back of his throat (post nasal drip). He gets very sick just hours after exposed to a cat in the house. We tried having a cat years ago and it just didn't work out. When I lived by myself I took care of a few feral cats and got them fixed. My live us with cats but I know I can't have one here. Anyway, here is this kitten which is about 2 pounds. She has a collar on, and my daughter thinks it belongs to Melissa across the street. She isn't home right now. It's crying like its hungry. I told my daughter if you feed it, it's going to think it belongs here and we will have hell to pay over it. She fed it and watered it. She thinks the girl next door might be not taking care of it. I don't know. It looks well nourished to me. Now it is on our back porch. When S comes home and that cat is out there he will demand we don't feed it. K will probably get chewed out if they argue over that cat. It's got a collar on. Would you feed the cat if it was crying like a baby? It broke my heart. It's not crying now.
5 people like this
14 responses
• India
16 Apr 13
what is wrong in feeding a hungry animal, you can feed it and keep it in the porch itself. The tiny creature cant earn and buy food. so somebody should help it out.
3 people like this
• United States
16 Apr 13
It has a collar on so it belongs to somebody. I would love to have it around bur it would just cause us problems in the family. I don't like getting yelled at. I try to stay under the radar.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Apr 13
You KNOW my answer to that! Yes I'd feed the poor kitten, in a heartbeat! It would tear my heart out to hear it cry for some attention or something to eat or drink. Maybe once the neighbor comes home, you can tell her what your daughter has done and maybe she'll take her inside. Most people don't know this but they need to keep their cats inside for 10 days at least so they learn that that is their new home. Otherwise they're bound to run off because they don't know they're home where they're at.
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
16 Apr 13
I guess you do! I don't think I could go without having a cat in my life. I do understand your plight though but it would be really hard. I sent some pictures of Sassy to K on FB and asked her to show them to you. That's where she eats every night. She's still as sweet as she's always been.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Apr 13
Yes she showed me them. Thank you ever so much. They brought tears to my eyes. I can still feel her on my chest patting my chin! I got to stop! It makes me cry. But I have wonderful memories of her.
• United States
16 Apr 13
I don't think it should have been outside, period. It cried just like a baby and I wanted to hold it so bad. K did feed it and water it and held it and petted it for awhile. It wanted to come in but that CAN'T happen. I miss having a cat to love. I miss letting a cat sleep with me on my chest. I miss having a cat sit up in the Christmas tree and people watch. I miss Sassy so much still.
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Apr 13
I found a cat once and took it home and fed it - then called the police and asked if someone was missing a cat. They said a girl in the same area was missing one, so I went to her and told I had found her cat. So, she came and took it home and I called the police again and told everything was OK. If you don't find the owner, perhaps you have an animal shelter where you live, maybe they can take care of the cat until the problem is solved..
1 person likes this
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
16 Apr 13
That is possible - I hope so. Maybe it will come and say hello to you one of these days..
• United States
16 Apr 13
Our animal shelter is a kill shelter I think. On Wednesdays the are not open. That is the day they kill the animals whose time has run out. It's sad. The cats not here now. The neighbor is home so daughter thinks it went home.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I don't think I'd be able to resist at least giving him a little milk. Still it is true that the kitten will now probably think he can wander over any time he wants. Truthfully, I don't see why cats are allowed to wander around over while they have laws for dogs being restrained. Cats can get hit by cars, attacked by wild animals, they pee in little kid's sandboxes,people gardens etc. And as you can see, they can get lost. My neighbor has 2 cats and she is always out walking them on a leash. I would suggest to this little girl that she purchase a leash and keep a closer eye on her cat. The next time the cat wanders off, she may not be so lucky as to get him back.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
17 Apr 13
Pets are like kids and it is up to us to watch over them and keep them safe. I have my grandson living with me. He is two and I have just learned that I have to keep my doors locked as he has figured how to open them and run out. He has done it twice when I've been right here and luckily grabbed him before he could get to the parking lot. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him on my watch. Pets are no different.
@celticeagle (159104)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 13
I wouldn't feed it. It could be a cat that can't have certain things for whatever reason. I would give it some water cause you don't want it to dehydrate. A kitten probably would be happy with a blanket or something warm. That might sooth it. Whoever owns this animal needs to take better care of it.
@celticeagle (159104)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr 13
I doubt that someone would put a collar on it and then drop it off at your house. I think that if you can't find the owner soon you should take it to the humane society because you don't want to get too attached to it. She sounds very cute. Hope you find the owner soon.
• United States
16 Apr 13
I don't think it should be outside alone. Daughter thinks she knows who owns it but not sure. What if someone put a collar on it just to drop it off here? That's my thought. She is a fray tiger.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Apr 13
Two of my mother in law's neighbors cats came to her porch a few years back. She started feeding them and of course they started coming around. These cats are totally overweight (surely the neighbors are feeding them too), so it's not like these cats have no where to go. She bought bowls for them. And water bowls. She thought they were cold, so she let them in the house. She bought beds and toys for them (and she has no room in her budget to be catering to pets like she does). She let them wander all over their furniture and they have already clawed her couches. She's talking about training them not to do this or that in the house, and clipping their long nails. We keep telling her these cats are not her responsibility, but she knows - she knows she is a sucker for taking care of animals that come her way. These cats are always there if we go visit - AND THESE ARE NOT HER CATS!!! My daughter is very allergic to cats - and we don't like to go there because we know she will come out ending up all red and itchy. But my mother-in-law lies and tells us the cats haven't in the house (only in the next few minutes they conveniently sneak into the house "somehow"). Me, no, I would not feed the cat. At least not around the house because we absolutely cannot keep a cat here. This street is filled with cat people, and most likely it would be a kitty who is already well taken care of.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Apr 13
Wow - that's a pretty severe allergy!! We give my daughter Claritin if we go to anyone's house that has cats. I used to be against giving her any kind of medicine - but her reaction to cats is just horrible and I don't want her to have to put up with that during her visit. Itch itch itch to the point where she bleeds. I just hate the my mother in law doesn't do much knowing that my daughter is very allergic to cats, not even to vacuum up the place (which wouldn't help anyway) .. . and she doesn't understand why we don't come around so often.
• United States
16 Apr 13
I can understand that. My son in law is very allergic. He even throws up from all the secretions that builds up in this throat. He swells up some on the inside but not enough to cut off his breathing. Antihistamines don't help much at all. Thus he does not want to breathe in or get any if those allergens into his body. If Ge didn't get so sick he wouldn't react so badly about them. He reacts to cats almost as badly as I react to wasps. I have to have epi pens on hand and I have to call 911 when I'm stung. He's not that bad but he's bad enough.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
17 Apr 13
I am a soft touch when it comes to animals and in particular cats, just recently we had a neighbour say that they haven't seen their cat for 15 months! And yet she is quite happy for us to feed it, just to tell her if it's ever injured as she has pet insurance. How can you have a cat, and he is adorable, absolutely adorable, and not worry when it goes missing, knowing it's being fed, loved and cared for by neighbours? Yes we throw our scraps out to it and even feed him best chicken and beef, no wonder he doesn't want to go home, the woman has a horrid dog that does nothing but bark all night long, so it's no wonder that cat, who ain't daft, far from it don't want to go home, but for 15 months?! They always seem to know exactly where to go and who will look after them and spoil them. Crafty or intelligent, hmmmm...
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Apr 13
yes I would, I don't like to see any animal suffering. If it has a collar on it it does belong to somebody. That person should be told to keep her cat in the house because it cries when it is outside.
@AmbiePam (85533)
• United States
29 Apr 13
Has he ever tried taking an allergy medication? It might be too bad even with an allergy medication, but I know a girl who is allergic to dogs, but loves dogs so much. She went on something like over the counter Alavert and is now able to have dogs. I would hate to have to live without a pet I love so much. Like dogs, and my Annabelle.
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Apr 13
If the cats only weighs 2 pounds, she is still a baby for heaven's sake! She shouldn't be outside at all.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Apr 13
I know. I agree with you. The one lady next door ..a female couple live next door across the street. One of the women is home now and that cat must have gone home.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Apr 13
I so remember the problem you had when you had Sassy and I helped you find her a new home when you had to move. As for feeding this cat now it's a yes and no type thing. Yes, in that the poor cat obviously isn't being taken care of properly as to be so hungry, yet no, since it might get too use to the idea of continuing to come to your place and expecting to be fed. One thing that ticks me off no end. I do a lot of cross posting of the urgent cats needing rescue over at Facebook, but I'm also aware of people posting of "lost" cats as too many feel it's necessary to allow their pet cats to "roam". Why? Cats can be perfectly content being indoor only cats. By keeping cats indoors, will allow them to be safer, not contact any feline diseases from other stray or feral cats, no risk of being run over by a car, or worse as there are too many "sickos" out in the world that abuse and torture pets in general for "fun". Can you talk to this Melissa? Tell her to keep her cat indoors?
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Apr 13
Hi Pye, Yes, you were instrumental in getting Sassy on her way to her forever mom, CatsandDogs. She sent my daughter some pictures. saw her partner talking on her cell phone on her porch. I wanted to talk to her but didn't want to intrude on her phone call. I came inside and got busy making supper and didn't go back out. I do intend to ask if this is their kitten. The kitten looks well fed, but it cried so much. Then the kitties was gone and my daughter said Melissa's partner came home. Maybe the cat was scared to be alone. Melissa has a chihuahua with the heart of a lion. And a little Shitizu (not sure if I spelled that right). The chihuahua gets loose and just comes over. He's not friendly. He comes in our yard and barks at me. He's funny. But oh I was so scared one day when a car was coming down our street. I couldn't pick him up for safety because he dodged me and gave me threatening barks for my efforts. Melissa saw us then and came over and got him. I wish she wouldn't just let him out. I'm not sure if she owns the cat. But I think she does. I think the cat went home when the partner came home. But I didn't see it then. I will try to watch out when one of their cars is in the driveway to see if the kitty is theirs. I'm with you on that. That kitty should not have been loose. She/he is in danger of getting hit or kidnapped for terrible reasons. It really hurts me that I can't have a cat. They are my heart. When I lived on my own in my pastor's dad's basement apartment I was a cat lady. The cats seemed to talk to each other. These feral cats learned to trust me. I fed them and 3 of them came in and out. One of the cats had premature babies and I tried to give CPR but they didn't survive. The mom lived. They all came and went since they were part wild. But I had the ones inside fixed. I was so happy back then. I'm content now ...but not truly happy without a cat.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Apr 13
yeah, I'd feed it....
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Apr 13
My daughter cut up a hot dog really small. He/she didn't eat much. It breaks my heart. It's gone now I think. It ate a little. It went on the back porch but now it's gone.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
18 Apr 13
I hope your daughter took the cat home as soon as your neighbor came home.
• United States
19 Apr 13
I have a terrible weakness for animals, especially if they cry, and I know I would've fed the cat lol. Even though it has a collar and clearly belongs to someone, an outdoor cat will travel around and will get food where it can. My kitten is now 4 months old and 4 weeks ago when we were at the vet he weighed in at about 2.2 pounds. So the cat coming around is probably about 3 months old or so if it's weight is healthy. When I first got my kitten my mom had a scare that she might be allergic to him because her throat was scratchy either from allergies or a small cold. She's allergic to the rabbit we have and her eyes get watery if she has to deal with him. So far she hasn't had anymore issues with the kitten. I gave him a bath and I think her symptoms stopped. I just don't know if they were allergies to the kitten or just signs of a little cold.