I have a Siamese Tortee that my husband gave me for our first Christmas. She is about 11 years old. I love her to pieces but as the years have gone by she is getting less and less attention. She hides (and stays) in our basement b/c she is scared of the kids. She never came around them when they were infants and now that they are 5,4, and 8 mos she just has not adapted. When I go to the basement to do laundry I try and give her a few mins of lovin and a rub down, but I feel awful b/c she deserves more then that. I do not want to just put an ad on craigslist and some random person take her, nor do I want to drop her off at a shelter. But I would love to find her a loving family to give her the attention we can not. How can I do this? Are there websited that can help get a kitty adopted w/o just sending her on her way with no clue what will happen to her? (Please read and understand I am not abandoning her and will not just give her up to anyone).
Thanks!
The only "cat person" in our family (both hubby and mine) is my grandma - and she is the nutty old cat lady! with 14 of them already. Most of our friends are dog people/families. I will definitely call my vet and see if they have suggestions. Thanks so far.
At 11 yrs old shes pretty much in her comfort zone. if she wanted a attention, she be meowing up the wazoo.
My advice, and I apologize if you've already gotten this advice, is to seek out a Siamese rescue group that will take kitty in to a foster home and rehome her. They can usually find a home without children. 11 isnt super old for a well cared for cat and you are right to want her to be happy for the next 6 or 7 years.
I see you are in southern CA, these may be good places to start.
http://cs.siameserescue.org/CSadopt.php
http://siamese.rescueme.org/California
I'm sorry to tell you that an eleven-year-old cat has little chance of finding a new home. People like kittens and young cats, but older ones don't get much (if any) notice.
In addition, your kitty may be totally stressed out in a new environment with different people, because she has been removed from her catly domain... even if it's the basement.
You have so much to do during the day that I don't want to put another burden on you, but can you do more for the kitty right where she is? If she likes the basement, can you take a few more minutes for her there? Take a folding chair down there and sit with her for a few minutes while the washing machine runs (I read books to my cats)? Make sure she has a comfortable, clean bed and a clean litter box? Check on her health while you're there and she's hopefully sitting in your lap?
I really think you would have far more success adapting to your kitty's needs than she would have adapting to another place.
Let the cat be. I see more harm re homing her. Now that your oldest is five it is time that you explain the cat likes to be gently petted and loved. Take your 5 year old with you and teach them how to gently treat the cat. Do the same with the 4 year old if he/she is ready. Its not just the cat's job to adapt to your family, it is your family's job to also adapt to the needs of the cat. This will help teach your children how to be responsible pet owners.
If she has known no different than being in your laundry room, and looking forward to those few minutes of petting, then she is probably quite happy - Maybe get her some toys, or a window to look out of, and maybe let her out once a day at least.
At 11 years old, you will be sending your kitty to someone you don't know, it will be very stressful for her to change homes at this stage in her life, that is her home, her comfort zone. leave her be.
Cats aren't dogs. When cats want attention, they will let you know. They sleep about 20 hours a day, so they don't need a LOT of attention to be happy. One of our cats mostly sleeps under our bed (or on top of the bed, when we're in it). We see her awake for about 30 minutes out of every day, and most of that, she still keeps her distance! (She is still wary of our 6 year old, LOL) What I'm saying is, why not just leave your cat where she is? She is getting older, and moving her to a new household now would be extremely stressful for her! You are the only family she has ever known. If your oldest child is 5 and she still hasn't adapted, then how easily would she adapt to an entirely new family?? Just let her live out her golden years in peace in your basement. I think that would be the kindest thing you could do for her.
We adopted our cat off petfinder.com (I think it's .com or .org). They keep track of who adopts for at least a year. You have to sign papers and everything so you know it's going to a good home.
Talk to your Vets office.
I rescued a dog literally off a street corner and instead of getting fat and healthy, she was pregnant. Of the resulting 4 pups I adopted three of them out through my Vets office via word of mouth. The staff knew who would be a good puppy parent and screened prospective owners before putting me in contact with them. All three pups that I adopted out went to capable, loving homes - and I still get updates on them from the Vets office.
It is harder to adopt out older pets. For one, they sometimes take change harder than younger pets, (2) many people wants kittens/puppies (3) many people are afraid of getting attached to an older pet that may not be with them for very long. But, your Vet may know of another client who is would love to have an older, settled kitty to pamper.
i would ask some of my neighbors..maybe an elderly lady..its hard to place a cat that is that old..don't try craigslist b/c you may get someone that will sell her to a lab and make $25..i would first ask neighbors then get a hold of some cat rescues..shame that she never adapted to the kids..otherwise just let her stay down there..maybe she's content..or let her go outside..i have 3 cats..2 go outside..they're in better shape than my girl that stays inside..she's a bit over weight b/c she doesn't get the exercise they get.
good luck..i can't take her..i've got 3 and 3 chihuahuas and a 5 year old..i just let them all deal with it..the cats are not fond of my son ..so i'm getting him to be in charge of feeding so that they'll like him more.
D.
Oh dear, I didn't read any of the other responses, but try a Siamese shelter or rehoming place of some sort? I've lost the word I'm thinking of, havn't slept in 30 hours.
I would take him, I love my Siamese, but that would make ten pets total in my new home :( Plus the weenie dogs would probably stress him if kids do.
Best wishes!
Another idea, nearby assisted living centers for elderly folks. If you think kitty really WOULD be happier elsewhere, they may know of a lonely resident who could pay her A LOT of attention. Just a thought. The resident -and your kiddos - might benefit from regular family kitty visitations as well. :-)
At her age... finding a home will be hard - most people want a kitten. Your cat may also have a nervous breakdown to leave your family after being with you 11 years... close off the basement to her and allow her to roam the house level. Tell your children to leave her alone except for when she eventually comes to them.
It sounds to me like your kitty is scared. Poor thing! :( Have you seen that show, "My Cat from Hell"? It's not at all like the name implies, the guy on there deals with cats like yours and gets them to be more comfortable (and confident) in their own homes. I learned a few tricks from him that are easy and keep my 3 kitties happy in my small house. I think it's on animal planet, you should check it out. Maybe something on there will help yours. :)
Contact http://www.californiacatcenter.com/ - they are a boarding place that took care of my 14 year old kitty when we had to relocate temporarily to NYC (a month) and were not able to take her. She passed away when we returned to get her (she had liver disease). They took excellent care of her, and they have kitty condos, exercise time, rolling bird cages for entertainment (LOL!). They may be able to help find her a home. Good luck!
You can try your vet's office first and see if they have anyone that they can recommend. There are rescue groups and shelters that put more effort into adopting out adoptable pets instead of having to put them to sleep when space and time runs out. Try just Googling "Cat Rescues" in your area and see what you can find. Have you tried just asking around your circle of family and friends?
At 11 years old I am sad to say you're going to have a very hard, if not impossible time rehoming. The stress of moving to a new home will be too much at this age and with that temperment. The odds of it going well aren't very high.
Does she have a favorite treat or canned food that she likes? You can do down with just your oldest and yourself. Have your oldest offer the treat and sit quietly a small distance away from it. Don't have him reach out to pet or touch the cat in any way. Do this every day. Have your child move a tiny bit closer each time as the cat shows being comfortable. Make sure your oldest is the one to put the food down though, not you so the cat sees who it's coming from. You can do it with your 4 year old too.
Also, as cats get older they will just develop the need to hide more. It's not uncommon.
If she's eating enough and drinking enough and using her cat box normally than I would just let her be.
At one point our oldest cat stopped coming out from under the bed except at night when we were all in bed or is no one was upstairs. She got very bad after her companion died. She never took to the new cat family members we added. We had to keep the new additions in the library at night so she'd come out at night. She found ways to get her attention. It worked out. She always knew she was loved.
Ask your vet if they know anyone that is a good fit or your kitty. That how my grandparents got one of their dogs. They had recently put down their lab and someone had come in with their dog and was telling the vet how they need to regime her he knew my grandparents would be the perfect match.
