I need help making a decision!

[katladyd]

There is this wonderful cat at our local Humane Society that I want to adopt so badly! He has been there for awhile and is a total sweetie! He has not been adopted because he is a little over 2-years-old and is recovering from having surgery for an anal prolapse. He is big and beautiful, white with orange tabby on the top of his head and his tail. The problem is I have two cats I that I adore and live in an apartment that would become crowded if another cat resided here. My Siamese, Ming, is prone to urinary blockages, so I try to keep his stress level low. It would be difficult to put the new cat in a seperate room because I have a living room, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Just where would I isolate him? The bedroom has my two boys' beds, one of their litter boxes and many of their toys in it. Can't put a new cat there. The bathroom is very small and he could get out since the door is opened all the time. I want to save this cat, but I don't want to upset my other two. I need help from you guys. What would YOU do? Any advice is appreciated!

[Freedom]

Please don't ask me; I've failed fostering 101 so many times I've lost count, and I have all I can handle -- until the next one comes along!

[Karen]

You could buy a cheap "baby gate" for your bathroom, and keep him in there at first, and see how he gets along with the others. If none of the cats are "leapers" that is ... some cats remember their jungle cat ancestors, others seem unaware that all four paws could ever leave the floor on their own!

[katladyd]

Ufortunately, I have a leaper. My orange guy is the one who will cause problems, my Meezer is a lover. The problem is, if Ming gets stressed, he blocks up. Now, everything could go fine, and then I would have three cats in a small place. That really wouldn't bother me much, but three litter boxes? Oh boy! I'm still thinking about doing it, though. Freedom, if I had more room, I'd have at least four. I think I'm becoming the Crazy Cat Lady in my old age!

[rg_girlca]

This is just my opinion. I use to rescue stray cats in my area, but due to one of my cats peeing around the house due to the stress of having the new cats staying confined in my room, I had to stop rescuing. You see Poppy, my pee'er, has become my velcro kitty and sleeps with me every night and would get so stressed out that he started peeing around the house. Mostly on my things like, purses, jackets, shoes and various clothing. When the rescue left my place for his/her new forever home, Poppy would go and pee on my bed and pillow, no matter how much I cleaned my room after the other cat left. I put up with it for a while but then I seemed to have one cat after another come in and poor Poppy wouldn't even come near me and the peeing around got worse. I couldn't take that. So after my last rescue left, I decided my boy really needed me as much as I needed him.

My point to this long post is, if your cat Ming, gets so stressed out and blocks up, (which is a very serious problem,) then I wouldn't chance bringing in another cat. Especially like you said, you don't really have a spare room to put him in. Yes, it could go well, but on the other hand it could not also.
It's just something to think about.

[katladyd]

I am inclined to agree with you, rg. A blockage is a very serious and painful condition and I would absolutely hate to do that to one of the sweetest cats in the world! I would love to adopt if I had a larger home, and this cat certainly needs a home, but I will just pray he finds a home with good people.

[rg_girlca]

I'll pray right along with you katladyd that this sweet cat finds a new home very soon.

Like many people say, "We can't save them all," even though we would love to. I have failed at fostering myself. Five of my cats, plus the dog are all rescues. But it comes a time when you have to start thinking about the welfare of your own cats.

[Kirsten]

katladyd, your situation sounds a lot like mine, I have limited space here (enough for two cats, though) and one of my cats has problems with struvite crystals and bladder infections; and she tends to pee outside her box when the stress level is too high. So I can clearly see the dilemma you're in.

It's true that we cannot save them all, but the fact that you are already in love with the kitty from the shelter doesn't make it easier for you. Maybe you can take him home with you for a couple of hours to see how your kitties react to him? If that does not work, I think I wouldn't put the stress on the resident cats.

Kirsten

[Medusa]

I feel for you. It's so difficult to say 'no', isn't it? Perhaps rethink adopting this kitty and do your best to see to it that he finds a good home. You may be pushing the envelope if you take him and since your other kitty has problems w/blockage, stress could perhaps impact him in a negative way. You have a big heart, to be sure.

[Randi]

I can agree with what rg-girlca and Kirsten said, it's not worth it to risk stressing out Ming, but like Medusa said, you could perhaps help find someone to adopt this boy.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

awww, those special kitties do wear on your heart don't they? My little Havoc is a real charmer, but he had been at the shelter for almost 6 months. He was scrawny, had a gimpy leg, and a runny eye so nobody wanted him..... till I came along. He's gaining weight, got his leg fixed and daily massage keeps his eye clear.

Hopefully somebody will see how special your creamsicle is and take him home too!

[moosmom]

I think you got excellent advice from rc_girlca and Medusa. I live in a 2 room studio and have tried to help people by fostering till a home can be found. Unfortunately, the only plalce I have is my bathroom as well. I would just keep the door closed, the window open (with an expandable screen in place) for ventilation. I'm very fortunate in that my cats are forgiving. But there comes a time when you just have to, as a very dear friend of mine keeps telling me, learn to say, "I'd love to but I can't."

Good luck in your decision.

[katladyd]

I feel bad for the shelter kitty, but what kind of cat owner would I be if I put one of my original cats in jeopardy to adopt a cat that will probably get adopted eventually? (he's beautiful!) If Ming didn't get blockages, (which by the way, are expensive to treat), I wouldn't really care about the space issue. But I would be so filled with guilt if anything happened to my precious Ming. Next weekend, things should slow down enough in my life to allow me to post some pics of my babies. I have my two gogeous boys and my boyfriend's two kitties. They are all so precious, but finding time to take the pictures and get them developed is hard to do. But I am determined to show off my beloved "babies"!