refrained from getting another cat today

17 years ago

Today I went to donate some leftover CRF supplies to the local no-kill cat shelter - since my CRF cat passed on and I no longer need these things. I donate money to this place but had never actually seen it. Wow - it was quite a place - lots of nice rooms for cats. There were quite a few people around - volunteers and visitors playing with the cats. Some were in special rooms due to health or socialization issues but some were roaming around. A lot of nice cats of all sizes and colors - about 70 cats at the shelter and another 150 in foster homes. I couldn't help think about which one I might get IF I were getting one. There was one really nice guy who was a year or two old - white with tabby spots. He was really, really friendly. I think I might have picked him but there were a couple great looking black and white cats - something I've never had. I was admiring them too.

But alas I still have two cats and two is my preferred number. I only end up with three if a nice stray shows up at my door. I think I will go back to visit the shelter though from time to time - they like visitors to come and give the cats some extra attention.

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Comments (6)

sduck2
17 years ago
Two was my number until a friend had to give up her young kitty because of allergies. I said how hard could one more be, and I've had 3 for the last six years. Thats my new number now.

I'm reading about how full and overwhelmed the shelters are. I keep thinking, whats one more. I do work during the day so I was thinking of taking in a shy scaredy cat, one that most people wouldn't want. Or maybe I'll foster one. That way I could say I have 3 of my own and one foster. It sounds better doesn't it? Hopefully no one would ever want to take the foster away!!!
cat_mom
17 years ago
sduck2--I know the shelter at which I volunteer does permanant fosters in some situations.....
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Anne_Marie_Alb
17 years ago
But alas I still have two cats and two is my preferred number. I only end up with three if a nice stray shows up at my door.
Is there a preferred number??? Really?? Yes, it is a great idea to keep your door open for "that stray cat who will knock on your door".. There is bound to be one! That's how we ended up with three 10 years ago!! We recently lost 2 (2 very handsome tigers), so I picked 2 sisters from the shelter--2 black and whites, because I did not want to 'see' our previous cats in the new ones. They are just the best cats! But of course, I had to bring one more that was overlooked by the visitors at the shelter, and he had been there for over a year.. Great cat, too! There will always be room for one more... in my heart, especially as I spend an afternoon every week at the shelter. Very hard not to get attached. But DH says "4 is enough"..

We hear so many negative things about shelters, but not enough about the wonderful things they do. The ones in our area are all "no kill". The one I volunteer at has very little space, but they still manage to accept all cats (and dogs).

Gibby, I really hope you can visit your shelter again, and, I am very sorry about your loss. Thank you for posting and reminding people about shelters,
Anne-Marie
User
17 years ago
I also refrained from getting a kitten today. I have five indoor ones and was visiting my son and there is a colony of cats nearby that has been there forever. There were four little 8 week old tiger and calico kittens running around. My dog was very good and just sat and watched and they were equally nonplused. If I lived there, I'd have a group round them up and do TNR on them. I have informed different rescue groups and no one has captured them. My youngest, three year old ,Henry came from there.
3katz4me
Original Author
17 years ago
I've been thinking quite a bit about how many cats to have in the future. Having a CRF and IBD cat has been very challenging particularly since both DH and I travel for work. Finding a qualified pet sitter to do medical stuff is challenging and expensive. Our first two cats lived to 16 & 20 without the same kind of challenges. We both traveled alot back then and the cats stayed home unattended. In retrospect I think the 16 year old cat had IBD but at the time we weren't in a position to spend a lot on vet bills to diagnose it.

I just feel like I need a break from all the medical care after these two. I have a third cat who is currently healthy but overweight and I try to get her weight under control to reduce the risk of diabetes!! I'm not sure I'll ever be successful with that as long as I have two cats - she is a food bandit unless you watch her every second.

So I was thinking maybe in the future I'd have foster cats. The shelter I was at indicated a lot of their foster cats end up very long term and/or permanent. I'm not sure how I'd handle the whole foster thing. I can't imagine giving up a cat you became attached too but then again I was thinking the idea of some "time off" might be good if I ever retire and want to travel more extensively for fun.

Anyway, I love cats and would love to have more but I know my limits.
todancewithwolves
17 years ago
I foster kittens for an organization, just to help out and have fun doing it. Now I find myself having dreams where I have hundreds of cats - a whole mountain full of them. I wake up in a panic thinking OMGosh, I'm going to be a cat lady or a cat horder.

I already have 2 dogs and 2 cats. I need a break from fostering after this last kitten gets his furever home - hopefully this weekend.