Update!

[Lizzie]

Jenn and Emily, neither of you should feel in the slightest bit guilty since you have both adjusted your homes, your lives, and the lives of your cats to an extreme degree in order to offer continued shelter to these cats. It looks like Connor will be with Emily for the rest of his life; she's going to spend years accomodating him which is a major sacrifice. As for you, Jenn, there must be few people in the world who are willing to offer the savage Allie a home. It's not in any living being's nature to offer themselves up as bait for a biter and, if she was out in the natural world, her alpha days would end in her own bloodshed or starvation. Stop lashing yourselves, you guys, you are heroes!

I'm not blaming the cats either for their natures, they are what they are. However, I just got back from the shelter where I had to take one of my fosters, Pidge, for a check-up. She's in renal failure and is close to the end. She was turned into the no-kill shelter when she was 12 and went into a decline. So, if I"m looking at setting aside a room for one cat, and all the adjustments surrounding that choice, it isn't going to be for a cat like Allie. There are many, many more Pidge's at the shelter and I'd put them way ahead of the list above any Allie's. I think you guys are very rare. I couldn't do what you have done and I don't think many other people would.

What would I do in your place? Look frantically for another place for my friend, then look frantically for another place for Allie, just as you are doing, then consider two options. Make her an outdoor cat and let Mother Nature deal with her (you would, of course, provide an outdoor shelter and care) or euthanize. I hope for your sake that you can find somewhere to take Allie because I don't think you would ever forgive yourself if you followed either of those options - but I think everyone here would understand completely.

[Craftlady]

I feel bad for both cats and both gals who are trying their best to take care of them. Hate to say, this but think Jenn & Emily got the raw end of the deal. They are saints in taking these two cats into their homes.
It's hard to make decisions without emotions being attached. These two kitties are NOT your ordinary cats. Especially, Ally I would not trust her period after everything I've read to date. It appears being left alone for so long took it's toll before she came to the USA. IF putting Ally to sleep is the best interest for her, all the RB babies will take care of her.


Good luck gals, prayers going out to you both in the decision you are to make in the days to come.

[lizbud]

What would I do in your place? Look frantically for another place for my friend, then look frantically for another place for Allie, just as you are doing, then consider two options. Make her an outdoor cat and let Mother Nature deal with her (you would, of course, provide an outdoor shelter and care) or euthanize. I hope for your sake that you can find somewhere to take Allie because I don't think you would ever forgive yourself if you followed either of those options - but I think everyone here would understand completely.

Whatever is decided ,I hope she is not just made an outdoor cat. I think
that would be pure torture for a cat that has never known outdoor life.

It probably would be kinder to PTS. It sounds like she has never been a
happy cat. I wonder what made her so aggressive with people?

[Catty1]

I just PM'd Jenn and Emily each a link for the Best Friends community in their state/county.

I hope they will help these women who have done so much for these cats, and also get the cats to where they might get a good home (Connor) or have a good place for the rest of their lives at BF (Ally).

Here's the link to other communities.

http://network.bestfriends.org/Communities/

[Scooter's Mom]

Whatever is decided ,I hope she is not just made an outdoor cat. I think
that would be pure torture for a cat that has never known outdoor life.

It probably would be kinder to PTS. It sounds like she has never been a
happy cat. I wonder what made her so aggressive with people?

From what I understand, Ali was a stray that Julie brought in while in Bahrain. Ali wasn't ever "tame", but the time she spent alone after Julie & Warren moved to S. Africa really didn't help any. I do know that jenn_librarian (jennie?) has been bitten and/or attacked multiple times. She's had a reading done by Nancy, which was not positive at all (towards Ali ever being a friendly kitty).

You are right and it may be kinder to have her pts, instead of living in turmoil the rest of her days. I don't know if anyone would ever consider that an option though.

My heart goes out to everyone involved - it's a terrible situation for anyone.

[Catty1]

There is also Tiger Retreat or some such in PA - I sent Jenn the link.

Who knows - with some intensive 1-on-1 and socialization, Ally may be able to at least spend the rest of her life at a sanctuary, whether Best Friends or somewhere else.

Prayers that all works out for Connor and Ally.

[Lizzie]

From what I understand, Ali was a stray that Julie brought in while in Bahrain. Ali wasn't ever "tame", but the time she spent alone after Julie & Warren moved to S. Africa really didn't help any. I do know that jenn_librarian (jennie?) has been bitten and/or attacked multiple times. She's had a reading done by Nancy, which was not positive at all (towards Ali ever being a friendly kitty).

You are right and it may be kinder to have her pts, instead of living in turmoil the rest of her days. I don't know if anyone would ever consider that an option though.

My heart goes out to everyone involved - it's a terrible situation for anyone.

I remembered, also, that Allie was a feral or long-time stray. In countries where TNR is established, that is what would have happened with her and what would have been the best, but I don't think Bahrain is all that understanding of this method of dealing with ferals. Isn't this why Julie took her in rather than TNR'd her?

If Jenn can't tame her with all the one-on-one time she's tried to spend with Allie, I don't think anyone can. Perhaps there is enough money left over from the major donations so many on PT gave that a rescue can build a small house and enclosed run for her, it's about the best option.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

Jenn, You know exactly how I feel about this situation.... I think you have done MORE for Ally than her "former owners" have...

I believe that Conner lucked out as well...


I pray that something can be done for her, as I dont believe this is her fault.

And like I said from the beginning, leaving her in a place, all alone, for that long, well.... That is abuse, in my opinion.
If they wanted her Put down, well, they should be the ones watching and having to deal with the guilt . Not you...

Good luck. *fingers crossed*

[Catty1]

Jenn has done her darndest to spend time with Ally and work with her - but she has other cats too, and a full time job.

That is why I am thinking a place like Best Friends - which, as a sanctuary, keeps animals for a lifetime, if need be - would be best for Ally. There is also another one in PA that I messaged Jenn about.

JMO - but if a cat like Ally is ever going to come around at all, she would have to be with people 12 - 24 hours a day. And not many of us can provide that time...we have to work (for luxuries like housing and food, etc! )

[emily_the_spoiled]

I want everyone to know that Connor is a great cat and really funny. The only thing is that he needs to be an only cat. Unfortunately that doesn't happen in my house and this is as close to an "only" cat as I can get. If I could re-home him to someone I would still be selective because he deserves a good life.

Julie was up front about both of the cats when she asked for our help. I think people are right, that the months where Ally was alone were not good for her. But there really wasn't another choice at the time because she couldn't go to Nigeria and Julie had no one in Bahrain who could take her.

But Julie loved her cats with all of their idosyncracies just as we love our cats with their quircks. She did what she thought was best at the time. We did not know that it would turn out like this.

[jennielynn1970]

While Julie was upfront about the cats, I did not know that she was this bad of a biter. Had I known she was this aggressive with humans as well as with other cats, I don't know that I would have accepted this task. I thought, well, she nips, how bad can it be. I never went to look at old threads about Ally, and did not know her background.

I do feel badly for Ally. She can't help the way she is... I think that it is just her way of behavior. I also believe that Julie loves these cats very much, which is why, to me, euthanasia is not a choice for me. Ally has been someone's pet, and one that has been loved (psycho kitty or not...) and I just can't handle the thought of me putting her to sleep. She's not physically sick. Mentally, if cats can be mentally sick, I believe she is. It's like dealing with a split personality, or schizophrenia, but in a cat.

I'm going to try Animals in Distress, which is a no kill sanctuary. It's a brand new facility, and is only about 20-30 minutes away. Their old facility I thought was a hell hole, but the new one is just lovely. I'd like to live there, lol!

So, will keep you updated, as this has to move fairly fast. Sigh. The boys from upstairs are now at the shelter. And, just for the record, we are not allowed to board cats at our shelter. First, Ally is aggressive, and 2ndly, boarding cats could lose us our non-profit license. So, that is not an option.

[Catty1]

Jenn, if you do manage to reach BF in your area, you might find working with them a nice difference from some of the situations you described before.

I think they are looking in PA...volunteer, of course.

I hope you can get a message to them - failing all else, call the main # in Utah tomorrow, and get a contact for PA.

[lizbud]

I'm going to try Animals in Distress, which is a no kill sanctuary. It's a brand new facility, and is only about 20-30 minutes away. Their old facility I thought was a hell hole, but the new one is just lovely. I'd like to live there, lol!

That sounds like a good alternative. I hope Ally can go there. As long as
the people there know her history & flaws, it could be a great place for her.

Best of luck for the both of you.