What would you do? Updated, more information

I was presented with this tonight by my neighbor who just lost her mother last week, she called hoping I could offer her some suggestions/help/advice.

Her Mom had 2 cats, they both are 14 years old and have been together since they were each about a year old. They have been left in the house and one of her brothers has been going by to check in on them and feed them. They are in the process of cleaning out the house and realize they need to do something about the cats since there is no one to move in to look after them. They are a family of dog people and most have multiple dogs and the cats have never been around dogs. This one would take 1 cat and another one would take 1, but no one will take both... and they're not even sure the cats would fit in with dogs. Would this age a cat never being around dogs ever accept living in a house with dogs? Then, the brother is having to go out of state real soon to work and there will be no one to look after them then.

Or do you think they would be better off, just PTS? They have lost their human and I am sure are going to grieve, then to split them up, they would grieve even more, them loose their home on top of all that, the only home they have had most of their lives.. Would they adjust to all those changes thrown on them all at one time.. Can they handle it at their age?

Abby is a Himalayan and about 10 pounds. Toby is a orangie with white and around 16 pounds, if I'm not mistaken, he is long haired. I have met them before but it was a long time ago, I just remember they were both beautiful..

So, give me your opinions, what do you think is the best thing to do?

oh dear what a situation this is indeed, personally i just could not put a healthy animal to sleep, just goes against everything i feel and believe in, but what to do,now that is another story, it would be sad to see them split up, and surely they would miss each other,but they may well adjust, it might be worth a try, or maybe they could just try and re-home them to someone out of the family who is willing to take them both.

I really feel for all concerned, and i sure hope a good solution is found where both kitties will stay together , i can but only wish you the very best.

Yeah I would lean into keeping them together. Sure they would probably adjust in time. But with their age and the fact that they have been together for so long, and after what they will are going through, try to keep them together. Have you thought about renting the house out at least temp and try to see if someone is willing to take in both cats. Its just an idea. I hope that they will be re homed together.

I don't want to take away from Jonny's story...but maybe in that vast network of people there is someone who would take these two kitties?

Hugs and prayers that they find a home together. :love:

This is such a sad and tough situation.:( I wouldn't be able to put down a healthy animal either. Since the family members are dog people and already have dogs and these cats have never been around dogs, I would try to find them another home together if at all possible. I know it's kitten season right now but maybe a rescue group could help these people find them homes. Many people also list their animals on Craigslist but you never know who you're going to get there and you should always charge a fee. They both sound like gorgeous cats. I wish them luck.:)

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Have you thought about renting the house out at least temp and try to see if someone is willing to take in both cats. Its just an idea. I hope that they will be re homed together.

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I had even suggested that to her but I don't think right now they could stand seeing anyone living in their mothers house. They all took her death very hard and are having a hard time dealing with loosing her, it is recent and to fresh, their pain is to raw. To me that would be the best solution, letting them live there and just have someone move in to look after them..

When I go My Found Cats are going together to a place called the Pampered Feline a boarding place just for Cats:love:
Is there a place like that near you where these Two Cat Companions could go
and be together as I an sure that their friend and guardian would prefer that to them being PTS.:love:It would be a way of showing respect to their Mother to care for her friends:love:

Laura, I know there are places that specialize in taking in the kitties of deceased humans. Talk to your local rescue organization, see if they can help; these babies need to stay together! I'll do some looking on line and get back to you if I find one of the places near you.

I agree with 3 things said:
1. they need to stay together!
2. no sense in PTS a healthy pet;
3. this is a really TOUGH one you posed for us!

I wonder if the local vet offices would have any options / ideas?

Maybe make up posters for them to put up? You do tend to find many of us "softies" in vet offices. :rolleyes: :D

The two girls that I went up to VT to get when my dear friend Clare passed away, were quite traumatized by the whole situation. My friend Kerry who volunteers at the Meriden Humane Society (a no kill shelter) took them. We tried so desperately to find a home that they could be together in, but that wasn't possible. Freckles, the daughter (age 16) got adopted 3 weeks ago to a wonderful home. Kit-Kat (age 17), however, is still there. I go every week to spend time with her and pray every night that someone will take her. I'm up to my limit at this time. She was in the sick room with a URI but is doing well now.

Thanks Donna.. the info you shared of those 2 reminded me how tramatized Boo was when Mama died and NO ONE understood how badly it effected her. Boo is the reason these 2 kitties, that lost their human bothers me so bad. The differance in these 2 stories is Boo was only about 3 years old, these are 14 years old. The families, one is dog people, the other we were cat people. I just WISH I could take them but I am out of room and I can't put more on Rie when I am at work even if I had the room.

I may try calling a few of the vets tomorrow and seeing what they can come up with.. Need to get their (Toby & Abby's) vets number and shoot them a call!

I sometimes think about Kit-Kat and possibly taking her back. But I live in a 2room apartment and with 5 cats already, it's a little cramped. Right now, they all know what the pecking order is in my house and I don't want to disrupt it.

I agree with what everyone else has said. Perhaps someone with a soft spot for senior kitties would adopt both of them together. Catmandu's senior kittyzens are proof that older cats can thrive in a loving, caring home. Fingers and paws crossed and a prayer that a new home will be found for them.

It breaks my heart to hear that anyone would consider ending the life of a healthy animal. I am still grieving so hard for the loss of my Allie. :( What I wouldn't give to have her back.

My brother and his wife took in one of 3 cats that lived with a dear elderly neighbor of theirs. Chloe, aka Baby Girl, was the most outgoing of the 3. Baby Girl had a tremendous adjustment period, as my brother and SIL had two other big foot sasquatch type cats for Baby to deal with. BUT, with love, appropriate vet care and time- Baby is just fine.

THIS IS A RESPONSE TO ALL THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ADVICE. THE TWO CATS WE ARE SPEAKING OF ARE 16+ YRS OLD & NEITHER IN GOOD HEALTH. ABBY IS BLIND IN 1 EYE, LOSING SIGHT IN THE OTHER & HAS MAJOR MOTION ISSUES & NOT EATING MUCH ANYMORE. SHE IS THE HIMALYAN. TOBY, THE ORANGIE & WHITE HAS STARTED THROWING UP, WHICH HE OFTEN DOES WHEN MY MOM WOULD HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE DAYS. WE WOULD NEVER EVER CONTENPLATE PUTTING DOWN HEALTHY CATS. I JUST LOST MY FOREVER KITTY OF 15 YEARS 3 WEEKS BEFORE I LOST MY MOM. THESE HAVE BEEN TWO MAJOR BLOWS IN A 1 MONTH SPAN. HE WAS MAJOR SICK BUT HELD OUT 5 MONTHS LONGER THAN THE VET THOUGHT. WE ALL AS A FAMILY HAVE AGONIZED OVER THIS DECISION. WE HAVE SOOOO VERY MUCH TO DEAL WITH THAT WE ARE SO AFRAID THESE SWEET BABIES WILL BE LOST IN THE SCHEME OF ALL THINGS INVOLVED. NEITHER CAT EVER LEAVES THE HOUSE SO JUST TO CARRIER THEM IS A VERY MAJOR ORDEAL. WE ARE DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT THEM FIRST & FOREMOST. IT JUST SEEMS TO BE SUCH AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION ON ALL FRONTS. MY MOM ALWAYS PRAYED THAT THEY WOULD GO BEFORE HER BECAUSE SHE KNEW FROM PAST TIMES SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL WHAT PROBLEMS ARISED WITH HER PRECIOUS BABIES. SHE LOVED THEM TO THE INTH DEGREE. SHE IS SOOOO MISSED BY US ALL.:confused:

oh my gosh i am so very sorry that you are having to deal with this traumatic decision after the very sad loss of you mother, as if that is not enough for you all to deal with, thank you for taking the time here to explain all to us, i really feel for you so much and i can only say i trust you will do what is the best thing for the kitties, knowing how much your mother loved them,and you loved your mother ensures only the best will be done for them , i wish you all the best and i certainly understand what a difficult decision you have ahead of you, HUGS.

Thank you Donnis for posting the correct story about your Mom's fur kids.. Like I told you, those meds I am on have really screwed up my head and whole system. One more day and I am through with those and hopefully that will clear up. I am SO looking forwards to that appointment with your ENT today! I will change the thread to read "updated" so maybe others will read your post.

Seeing how hard and how much my Boo has grieved since his Pidge passed away, I can't imagine separating these two cats if they're so close. Their health may not be the best but if it's manageable, I can't see having either one PTS. There are people who will take in only elderly cats to give them a good life in their last days. If I ever take in more cats, that's what I'll do instead of always taking in special needs cats. I would explain the situation as briefly but as completely as possible in a plea to rescue agencies and see if it doesn't touch the heart of someone who is willing to open their home to them. This is so sad and I'm so sorry that you're going through this. The best of all good things are due you. :love:

I wish I could help out but I have a full house. I will however post this on a site and hope that maybe someone would be willing to take these 2 in.

I'm sorry to her about your mom passing and your kitty. It's never easy, as they say just take one day at a time and it usually gets easier, it takes a long time.

My thoughts and prays are with you,
Melissa

Donnis, thank you for your post. How devastating to lose your furbaby, and then your Mom - I can barely imagine it, and for you all to keep the kitties first and foremost is a tribute to your great heart in spite of grief.

Did the kitties have a vet? Would it be possible to contact the vet and see what they think? They may even know of a home. (Not a bad idea to contact all vets in the area).

Prayers and peace to you and your family, and I wish you all the luck with those dear cats.:love:

Donnis, thank you for your update post. I know you and your family are grieving and I'm sorry for your losses. My heart goes out to you.

As I said to Laura, I know there are organizations to specialize in this issue. I looked on line, and all references pointed to contacting your local SPCA. Please do so - they may be able to help. Prayers for all of you.

:) You might try == The Home for Life Animal Sanctuary of St. Croix Valley..

web site = www.hflanimalsanctuary.org

I read about this place before, called the PurrEver Ranch, it's in TN.

Here is their link. They specialize in Senior Kittizens!!!

I'm so sorry you're going through such a hard time right now - what with grieving for your mother and worrying about her precious kitties.

I just have one question for you to consider -

Are they really a close, bonded pair of cats - or have they simply grown up together? (thinking of my own cats, our female wouldn't lose a night's sleep if the two boys vanished tomorrow and she became an only cat).

Sorry I don't have any more ideas - but if given the hard choice with the limited options - I would lean towards the option of each cat going to a separate home.:(

PurrEver ranch is on Facebook too!!

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Originally Posted by moosmom

I sometimes think about Kit-Kat and possibly taking her back. But I live in a 2room apartment and with 5 cats already, it's a little cramped. Right now, they all know what the pecking order is in my house and I don't want to disrupt it.

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Oooh! Someone else in a 2-room apartment with 5 cats already!

I'm starting to think about taking another, probably special-needs baby..

I wish i could say I'd help and take these two elderly kitties. I hope the right place can be found for them together.

Laura, any word on what happened to these two older felines?? I hope they tried Purrever Ranch.

This advice may come a little late, but I would love to see if one of the family members wouldn't consider giving up ONE ROOM in their home for the 2 cats to stay together. With all the changes that are in store for them, having a small space would actually be MORE comforting than a whole new home, new peop,e, new "pet siblings". The 2 kitties could stay together, safe from the dogs (that may or may not stress them), and all older kitties want is a safe place to snooze, food and a minimal amount of attention.

If no one is willing to do this for their beloved late mom, then I would say go with the seperate housing. At least give them the opportunity to adjust.

As the pet talkers here know, I recently took in a 17 year old Persian, one who never lived with other cats, was matted and skinny to the point of neglect, and yet she is flourishing. don't count those cats out yet, many are instinctively survivors.

Best of luck.