Adopting out my cats, any advice? (Full Version)

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tolovetolaugh -> Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 7:30:40 PM)

I have two beautiful bengal cats which due to various reasons I am having to adopt out. I tried a bengal rescue, but the people never got back to me, so I turned to craigslist.
I already have several offers to take the cats(I am sending them off with all their toys and cat tower and carriers), but have also been warned by several people that since bengals are a very expensive cat, there is always the chance of someone taking them, and then separating them for money, since I am charging nothing.
That they stay together is the main condition of anyone who wants to adopt them, as they have been together all 5 years of their life since they were born together in Australia, and lived in Portugal, England, and now here without being separated once. They love each other, and freak out when separated.

Any advice on how to find the best family for them? From the number of responses I have gotten to the posting I have choices, but have never had to give one of my babies away before, and have no idea what questions to ask potential homes.

The idea of losing them is very painful, but as they are right now stuck in a small bathroom with no room to run or play, I just want them out and in a good home together, even if it is no longer with me. Every time I visit them, they cry when I have to put them back, and it breaks my heart.



Termyn8or -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:02:43 PM)

May sound weird but if you charge a bunch of money for them it's likely they will be well taken care of. Someone with half a brain hearing you tell them how they are inseparable and having to pay a bunch of money may also be concerned with their emotional well being. Knowing nothing else about the recipients, greed could translate into morality. Other than that just hope for the best.

For the hell of it, found this link :

http://oddyfunny.blogspot.com/2010/04/worlds-most-exotic-pets.html

T^T



stellauk -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:13:13 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

May sound weird but if you charge a bunch of money for them it's likely they will be well taken care of. Someone with half a brain hearing you tell them how they are inseparable and having to pay a bunch of money may also be concerned with their emotional well being. Knowing nothing else about the recipients, greed could translate into morality. Other than that just hope for the best.

For the hell of it, found this link :

http://oddyfunny.blogspot.com/2010/04/worlds-most-exotic-pets.html

T^T


I second this, not being able to think of anything as good off the top of my head. Sage advice from one of the sharpest cookies on the boards.



Duskypearls -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:15:26 PM)

Perhaps personally check with (face to face) your local/not so local veterinarians/animal hospitals, regular and no-kill animal shelters. They have places to post what you want for your cats, and shelters have regular fostering networks. Try pet food supplies or grooming shops to ask for particularly good/loving cat owners, or other cat rescue societies. Or even wildlife rehabilitators might know of nurturing prospective people. Maybe contact magazines like Cat Fancier, etc., or a small article in your local paper, or a short spot on your local radio station. Perhaps trying dog and horse rescue places may help. Perhaps your local pet crematorium knows of someone who recently lost a bengal or other cat that might be interested.

If in the end you don't have any choice but to split them up, know that as disturbing an ideas as it is for you now, even closely related cats will adapt in time. Send each cat with a towel and toys covered with the other cats scent, which they can use as a comforting tool.

I wish you the best of success in finding them the perfect home that will keep them together. If I think of anything else I'll get back to you.

Also check out pet fairs in your area.



DomMeinCT -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:31:04 PM)

You can "borrow" the application form that any good rescue organization will have on their website and ask that the applicants complete it so you can evaluate future owners. Did they take the time to share information? Do they have a reference of a local vet who you can call and ask about how they've cared for other/previous pets?

And, as has been said above, veterinary clinics see TONS of people who already own pets and know folks who have the capacity to add to their family or who have lost pets and are looking for a new pet. Bring flyers about your cats to the local vet clinics and pet supply stores and ask them to post them in a prominant place. Go where pet owners are.



xxblushesxx -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:54:09 PM)

Just ignore the crazy red haired girl...nothing to see here...



LillyBoPeep -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 8:54:14 PM)

Thirding charging money -- if you charge some amount of money, you're less likely to get people who would do something wacky with them. The thought is, if someone is willing to put down money, they're serious about the animal and more likely to take care of it.

Also, going to your vet is a good idea. Pet people are pretty good at spreading pet-related word.

OH p.s. -- check out the goosemoose pet forum. those people are pretty serious -- they'll even arrange transportation trains to get animals to good homes. cross-country even. they have serious guts and networking skills.



SuzeQ -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:18:40 PM)

quote:

So...you're getting rid of two pets you already had a home for to make way for a new one? This doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
I'm going to guess I have missed something on another thread.



Termyn8or -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:24:28 PM)

Been said in thread. Hadn't read.

T^T



xxblushesxx -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:30:57 PM)

*doh* (sorry for the confusion!)



Termyn8or -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:30:58 PM)

quote:

I'm going to guess I have missed something on another thread.


Me too, and I await an answer........

Probably though.

T^T



xxblushesxx -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:34:36 PM)

eta...I'm a total idiot. I just woke up and thought I was talking to one person, but was talking to another. Please forgive me OP, and everyone who has been scratching their heads.



Termyn8or -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:35:44 PM)

quote:

I missed that. My answers would have been totally different had I known.


I wouldn't get up in arms too quickly. Sometimes you think new pets will get along with old pets and they just don't. At that point it's one or the other.

They're not getting thrown in a bag into the river like when my Ma was a kid.

T^T



Ishtarr -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:36:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tolovetolaugh

I have two beautiful bengal cats which due to various reasons I am having to adopt out. I tried a bengal rescue, but the people never got back to me, so I turned to craigslist.
I already have several offers to take the cats(I am sending them off with all their toys and cat tower and carriers), but have also been warned by several people that since bengals are a very expensive cat, there is always the chance of someone taking them, and then separating them for money, since I am charging nothing.
That they stay together is the main condition of anyone who wants to adopt them, as they have been together all 5 years of their life since they were born together in Australia, and lived in Portugal, England, and now here without being separated once. They love each other, and freak out when separated.

Any advice on how to find the best family for them? From the number of responses I have gotten to the posting I have choices, but have never had to give one of my babies away before, and have no idea what questions to ask potential homes.

The idea of losing them is very painful, but as they are right now stuck in a small bathroom with no room to run or play, I just want them out and in a good home together, even if it is no longer with me. Every time I visit them, they cry when I have to put them back, and it breaks my heart.



I agree you should charge for them to make it more likely you'll get somebody who wants to take care of them.
They are also several specific forums out there for exotic cat breeds, so you could try one of those. A lot of people who would like to own an exotic breed but can't afford it tend to hang around those places.

I would LOVE to take them myself if I could, I've had multiple cats since I was 5 years old and I've been dreaming for a long time of having an exotic breed like a Bengal in my house (Toygers are my personal favorites). Two would be even better!
I'd have no problem paying for air transport and such, but sadly, my current rental doesn't allow cats. [:(]




Termyn8or -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:39:31 PM)

quote:

and maybe even forgive you for bringing a stinky, slobbering dog into their sanctuary!


Nope, but they might tolerate you for feeding them. That's about the best you can do, though they make you think everything is hunky dory and then you get it. They think like ........ ummmmm forget it.

T^T



LafayetteLady -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 9:50:20 PM)

Try contacting these people:

The International Bengal Cat Society

or these:

Bengal Cat Rescue

If the people didn't get back to you, call again. Them not calling back doesn't mean they aren't a good organization, it means they are very busy or may not have been able to hear your whole message. It does happen.

Also contact all the places Dusky suggested.

Really, your best bet is the vet you currently use for them. He/she knows the animals and is in a better position to know the good organization that can help you.



Kirata -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 10:24:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tolovetolaugh

That they stay together is the main condition of anyone who wants to adopt them, as they have been together all 5 years of their life since they were born together in Australia, and lived in Portugal, England, and now here without being separated once. They love each other, and freak out when separated.

If I'm understanding you, they haven't just been together with each other for five years, they've been with YOU for five years. You're their family. How do you think they're going to feel watching you turn your back and walk out on them? Nice new home, shit. YOU aren't going to be there.

I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I just want to make sure you're thinking straight. I admit, I don't understand the situation, what's possible, how temporary it might be, etc. If it absolutely positively has to be done, I'd go with Termy's advice. But first, I'm going to tell you a true story.

I once "had to do" what you're doing. And I honestly believed it was the right thing in the circumstances. Fortunately, a couple of good people took my pal. They liked him, and he was well cared for. He was healthy. He had a good home. And I guess anybody would say he was happy.

But every single day, when people started coming home from work, he would jump up on the window sill and watch. He sat there and watched and watched, until the last person passed. He didn't do that if I was home. Now he did it every day. Only the person he was looking for never came.

They had him a year. Then one day, he just put his little head down on his paws and died. I only learned about this afterward, when they took the trouble to find out where I was living and wrote to tell me that he was gone. You don't want to get a letter like that.

It ain't gonna happen twice, I can tell you. I'll find another way. I'll fucking make one. I know you're doing this because you love them. It was the same with me. I just neglected to factor into the equation that he loved me too. Maybe there's food for thought there.

K.



LillyBoPeep -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/23/2011 11:33:08 PM)

quote:


I just neglected to factor into the equation that he loved me too.


Great post, Kirata.
I've had my doggie for 10 years -- I wouldn't dream of giving him away at this point. He's very attached to me, and I think it would do him in.



Iamsemisweet -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/24/2011 12:17:39 AM)

I have had to rehome dogs before, one because he hated men and another because she murderously hated my other dog, and rehoming is sometimes the absolute right thing to do. Both rehomes were successful, one because I paid to fly the dog to an established Border Collie rescue organization, and the other because I got a lot of help from the breeder finding a perfect home.

Since these seem to be purebred cats, can you contact the breeder for help? If not, I think your idea of going through a rescue organization is a good one. Why does it have to be a Bengal rescue organization though? Why not contact a local cat rescue organization? I got my barn cat from a local cat rescue group, and it was great. They did a home visit prior to placement, and followup calls afterward. I would worry about placing an animal through Craigslist, and I agree with the others about charging,



Winterapple -> RE: Adopting out my cats, any advice? (11/24/2011 2:41:12 AM)

Give them to a no kill humane society animal
shelter. They have a variety of rescources
to find new homes for animals and will take
care if them til they find new homes



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