Can you believe this?

[nsweezie]

Hi!
I've been volunteering at a cat shelter for a few months now. It has been hard work, but very satisfying, and I feel like I am making a small difference.
I was there yesterday, and I heard the saddest story. I had to talk about it with people who would understand why I was upset.
There was a new cat there, brown tabby, male, about 17 years old. The manager of the shelter was talking to the people that were dropping him off. They said that the cat was their sister's cat, and that she had died a week before from cancer. Now here is the terrible part, the woman's dying wish was that her cat spend the remainder of his life with her parents. She even made them swear that they would look after her cat.
Well, the parents actually were joking around with the shelter manager. The man said "We just agreed to stop her worrying, but we hate cats, so we're dropping him off here."
Maybe I'm crazy to be so upset, but I think this is awful. The poor cat was scared, and probably broken hearted. I gave him a big cuddle, but I still think he was so sad. Sometimes I despair of the human race!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

OH poor cat - that just brings tears to my eyes.

In my opinion those people are bringing themselves some REALLY bad karma - firstly by not honouring a dying family member's wishes, and secondly by making a joke of it. I personally would think that the cat would be such a wonderful way to continue to express their love for the deceased.

Is it a no-kill shelter? I suppose at least the cat has you, and other wonderful people like you, to give it some cuddles and attention.

[jenluckenbach]

I'd have taken that cat from them without even thinking.
How horrible!!!!!!!!!!

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by Ally Cat's Mommy
OH poor cat - that just brings tears to my eyes.

In my opinion those people are bringing themselves some REALLY bad karma - firstly by not honouring a dying family member's wishes, and secondly by making a joke of it. I personally would think that the cat would be such a wonderful way to continue to express their love for the deceased.

Is it a no-kill shelter? I suppose at least the cat has you, and other wonderful people like you, to give it some cuddles and attention.

This is my nightmare, how dare they promise and then go back on their word.

That lady would have tried to make alternative arrangements, if she had known

This is an English charity called Cinamon House http://www.cinnamon.org.uk which rehomes older peoples pets to other older people. Does USA have a charity like this ?

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
I'd have taken that cat from them without even thinking.
How horrible!!!!!!!!!!

I know this sounds mean but it is not like the cat has long at 17 years anyway. Why couldn't they look after the cat for eight years max

[catnapper]

OMG! How terrible! When my grandmom died I told her that I'd take her cats. I did everything in my power to find an apartment with reasonable rent that accepts cats. I couldn't find one... the one I did find was an attic apartment and in March it already felt like a 100 degrees. The whole time I was apartment hunting, both cats were being taken care of by my aunts... one with one aunt, the othe with another aunt. I felt sooo bad that I couldn't take both guys. I tried - I honestly tried to give those boys a fine home with me. They are still with my aunts who couldn't be happier to have them.

It bothers me to this day, 4 years later. All I can say is that Karma strikes when you're not looking.

[moosmom]

That's disgusting!!!

My Dad made me promise to take care of his cat Tigger when he died. I kept my promise. Actually, I loved Tigger so because he was the last link to my Dad.

Unfortunately, Tigger didn't get along with other cats so I had a real dilemma on my hands. That's when my best friend said he could live with her. He had a wonderful life! He was very loved and I got to see him all the time. He actually lived on 3 more years till one day Susie came home and found him in his favorite spot, dead. We had him cremated and she gave me his ashes. When I left CT to move to Michigan, I took a teaspoon full and put it in this beautiful little ceramic container (it was a cat sitting on top of an ottoman). It sits right next to Casey's cremains. The rest I gave to her and her daughter. They scattered them in some of his favorite spots.

My cats are all provided for in my will. I would NEVER take the chance of no one being able to care for my furbabies!

I find it awful that a family would lie to their loved one and then make a joke of it later.

[nsweezie]

Posting again.
Luckily the cat (the shelter named him Mickey) is in a no kill shelter. He also isn't the healthiest cat, and he seems so sad, I think he is greiving for his owner.
I was shocked too that someone could be this heartless, and it made me think about what my kids would do if something happened to me. I asked my sister if she would look after my babies, and she willingly agreed, which is great because we all live together now and it wouldn't be too much of a shock.
More on Mickey- the shelter manager said that she will just keep him at the shelter for the remainder of his life, it would just be easier on him than having to go to another new home, if someone wanted to adopt him.
Right now Freya is on my lap purring away, it's like she knows I need to have a cuddle to make me feel better.

[IttyBittyKitty]

Originally posted by nsweezie
Posting again.
Luckily the cat (the shelter named him Mickey) is in a no kill shelter. He also isn't the healthiest cat, and he seems so sad, I think he is greiving for his owner.
I was shocked too that someone could be this heartless, and it made me think about what my kids would do if something happened to me. I asked my sister if she would look after my babies, and she willingly agreed, which is great because we all live together now and it wouldn't be too much of a shock.
More on Mickey- the shelter manager said that she will just keep him at the shelter for the remainder of his life, it would just be easier on him than having to go to another new home, if someone wanted to adopt him.
Right now Freya is on my lap purring away, it's like she knows I need to have a cuddle to make me feel better.

Thank GOD that poor baby is in a no-kill shelter! Make sure you give this precious one heaps and heaps of love.

It doesn't sound too good that he is sick, and it sounds as though he might pine away for his owner. Old cats sometimes do that, it is harder for them to bounce back than it is for younger cats.

I think that woman's family are DISGUSTING. Not only do they dishonour a dying family members wish, and not only did they not bother finding a good home for him, but they were CALLOUS about it!

I would have told them exactly how disgusting they are, I couldn't have held back.

Could they not have been HONEST and say "we cannot take care of the cat, but we will find a good home for him?" ... and then made the effort?

[prechrswife]

I cannot believe family members would behave like that!

[jazzcat]

That is so terrible and so sad. It's one thing to make that promise but not be able to keep it due to circumstances. These people didn't even try. I hope they do suffer some bad mojo!

I've promised both my parents that Miss Kitty will be taken care of by either me or my sister. Actually my sister has the best home for her because she is used to going out for a few hours a day and being in a more rural area and that is similar to my sister's house and cats. If she comes to live with me she will no longer be able to go out because I live in a small subdivision in a busy area with lots of traffic.

I'll say a prayer for poor Mickey.

[Randi]

That behaviour is the lowest of the lowest!!! I can't believe they could do that!! How very sad for the cat, but at least it's a no-kill shelter. I hope this cat will have lots of love during his/hers last years.

[RICHARD]

When my GF got sick she was no longer able to keep Eddie. NONE of her kids or sibs wanted him.

I took him so he would not have to be put into the pound and I have never regretted it.....

He has rewarded me by being a perfect gentleman.
He has never sprayed, pooped outside the box or
had any of the behaviors that non-cat people complain about. (OK, he has hacked up some furballs......)

Edward is the last connection I have to the GF and to this day none of her family members has ever contacted me to check on him.....

I just have two words for people who cast away the pets of loved ones....

Bass turds.

[lat192004]

This story is probably more common than you think. I would bet that these people treat humans the same way!

[sirrahbed]

OK, Now that I have had a good cry, I can write. This is just so, so sad!! Poor Mickey!!! What a mean and callous attitude for this family to take. I do not know what I would have done had I been there. I suspect I would have gone ballistic on them.
I am just thankful that the shelter is no-kill and that Mickey has you and others to love him while he is there. So sad though.

PS Richard - you are normally such a stinker and I was on the verge of asking you for a serious and sensitive post. This one gave me my pause. No more RICHARD!!!! posts. (at least for awhile)