Too protective of my foster cats??

[jenluckenbach]

Jennie, just a side note..... If Zack will NOT be going to petsmart, please let Kathy know ASAP! Cats are coming in from Huntingdon shelter tomorrow and another can come along if that cage will be empty. OK??

[catmandu]

I have mixed feelings as there are many Pets who are on Pet Talk who have been adopted from Adoption Centres so thats clearly a positive.
But I wonder for those Pets who are not adopted, and sit there for a long time, how that effects them emotionally.
I have seen Pets who no longer get up and look when you visit, and have clearly given up hope.
Jen , you have more experience in fostering and I have the feeling that seeing a Cat happy and relaxed in a home enviroment makes them easier to rehome as potential adopters get a good idea of how they would fit into thier new Furr Ever Homes.

[jenluckenbach]

Let me add a more general comment. (not about Zack)

Pet adoption cages at these large chain stores can be a WONDERFUL thing! As long as some rules apply. Rescues who place a cat there for Who-knows-how-long, are abusing a priveledge. Cats need to be rotated or they go cage crazy. But if living in a cage for a short time will get the cat out where the public can interact with him and give him a greater chance of adoption, then I say the confinement is well worth it! Not all cats would be suited for cage living though, so that needs to be taken into consideration.

For example, I would love for Cameo to have a spot at petsmart, but she injures herself when left over night in a cage. She pushes at the bars, sometimes with her face, until she hurts herself. NOT a good candidate!

So, I say common sense should be your guide. But....nothing ventured, nothing gained! I had many adopted through the Petsmart who had no interest while sitting in my foster rooms.

[jennielynn1970]

Let me add a more general comment. (not about Zack)

Pet adoption cages at these large chain stores can be a WONDERFUL thing! As long as some rules apply. Rescues who place a cat there for Who-knows-how-long, are abusing a priveledge. Cats need to be rotated or they go cage crazy. But if living in a cage for a short time will get the cat out where the public can interact with him and give him a greater chance of adoption, then I say the confinement is well worth it! Not all cats would be suited for cage living though, so that needs to be taken into consideration.

For example, I would love for Cameo to have a spot at petsmart, but she injures herself when left over night in a cage. She pushes at the bars, sometimes with her face, until she hurts herself. NOT a good candidate!

So, I say common sense should be your guide. But....nothing ventured, nothing gained! I had many adopted through the Petsmart who had no interest while sitting in my foster rooms.

Yeah... I guess you're right. I know it is fine for many of them. Autumn was having a blast in there, she played and played! The last time Cal was in he cried and hid in the top of the big cage the whole time. I emailed Kathy and said I'll bring him on the Jan. adoption day, pending weather, and maybe from there we can see how he is. I know they get lots of visits from volunteers in there too. The cages seem smaller there than they are in the Whitehall store though...

Gosh, could you imagine Sassafrass there?? He's be totally hairless within 24hrs! And Furbee... the shrieks that cat makes still ring in my ears!

[jennielynn1970]

Jennie, just a side note..... If Zack will NOT be going to petsmart, please let Kathy know ASAP! Cats are coming in from Huntingdon shelter tomorrow and another can come along if that cage will be empty. OK??

I emailed her last night.

Maybe I am over protective. I just hate when he gets so upset. He's got the sniffles at the moment, and I've been cleaning his nose too(he's not happy about that) so maybe it's best that he's here and not there getting sick, or getting anyone else sick. Dr. Hess was right about one thing... what is it about orange/red cats getting black boogers?! Everytime he gets the sniffles, and his nose gets gunky, it's always dark boogers.