Changes in the household

For a long time now, I have been coping with Thumper's spraying habits, all the time losing furniture as he manages to get to parts I can't protect or fully clean. The downstairs living room has become barren and unwelcoming, a place where I can't sit with any comfort to be with the cats. He's healthy, I've checked. Pete is also downstairs because he won't leave Raven alone, forcing this very shy cat to live under a chair and terrifying him into peeing and pooping on himself. They are both FIV+ boys. Today, after months of mulling things over and much discussion with the staff there, I took them back to the no-kill shelter's FIV Land Room. Thumper had always been happy there and by the time I left he was racing up and down a climber, totally ignoring me. He loves other cats and he will get far, far more attention there from the many visitors and staff, with whom he'd always been a favorite. Pete is a very friendly cat who is gentle and playful with all other cats except Raven. I want him to find a home where he will get a lot more attention than he can get from me while shut up in an area where I don't spend enough time. This shelter has a very high adoption rate for FIV+ cats, 50 adopted in the past year.

Once the downstairs has been cleaned thoroughly and I've been able to put furniture back into it, it will be a place which the whole household of cats can share and enjoy. Surya will once again have the company of young Darcy and Cattulus who he always loved when he was upstairs. (Surya is downstairs because he also targets Raven.) B.L., the social feral Himalayan cat, will spend more time with me and become better socialized. Ginger can spend the summer in a much cooler area of the house. This is something that needed to happen for every else's welfare. But I do, of course and as is right, feel incredibly guilty.

Since I don't want the shelter to feel the burden of adding more FIV+ cats, I agreed to take two others. One is a terrified young cat who was abused by his former owner who called him Kitler (the cat has a dark mustache) and threw beer cans at him all the time. He really needed to get out of the shelter as soon as possible. The other is a very shy cat who bears all the scars of living rough for many years. His ears are almost tattered into lace and he has a large scar on his neck and shoulder where he was attacked by a racoon years ago. I will be picking them up at the end of this week and will post pictures.

Oh Lizzie, please don't feel guilty. You go beyond the call of duty to help all these cats in the best way you can. From what I have read, you have made the right choice. I know it must be hard on you, but you did do the best that you could. Sometimes it works out and other times it doesn't. Obviously Thumper and Pete seem to be very happy to be where they are now. You DID do the right thing for them.

I pray that all works out well with the two that you will be bringing into your home. Gosh they both have had such a hard life. I had LES just reading about them. Poor little babies. I'm glad that they will know what it is like to really be loved and cared for the way they should be and so deserve to be, by being with you. You are an ANGEL dear girl.

Everyone here at PT understands, I'm sure. And anyone else? The heck w/'em. You did the best you could. No need to feel guilty. You can't allow your home to become a giant litterbox. And your other kitties need peace of mind, too. You did the right thing.

We want them all to be sucess stories but sometimes it just does not work out. Sounds to me like he would rather be at the shelter, that he is more at home there and just could'nt adjust to a home life. Remember, they are all disserent and have different needs. As long as he is where he loves being, you did do the BEST thing for HIM. To me, there is nothing for you to feel guilty about.

I can't wait to see the other two you are getting and have already said a prayer that this will work for them.

I sure can relate to the guilt feelings, but please don't feel that way. Sometimes we have to make decisions for all that are involved. It sounds like you did the right thing. Now you can help 2 others that are in desperate need of loving attention!

Certainly you should not feel guilty.
I sometimes have to put Tubster downstairs or out on the porch as he still sprays and just being freshly neutered he will chace Precuis or Pouncierge.
If he doesnt come around he may have to be an indoor/outdoor Cat which I am not crazy about as this is a bad neighborhood for Cats.
You did the best you could and noone can do more.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...cats101648.jpg

I do my best and I like the basement as its roomy and there are things down here to chase.