<p>Oh, I am so sorry for the kitty. If I lived near you, I’d take him in a heart beat.</p>
<p>At least take him to the vet to be checcked and clean. Then to a no kill shelter.</p>
<p>No question, I would take the cat to the vet. I would then take him home and isolate him in part of the apartment/house where the other cat couldn’t be. Then I would network like crazy, including Facebook, to try and find the kitty a home. I would write something up, make it moving, include the bit about the relatives letting the kitty fend for himself. Include the bit about diabetes, and a picture. Someone will eventually take the cat.</p>
<p>(PS, not this situation exactly, but this is why I have five cats. Can’t pass by a kitty in need. PSS, many cats adapt to new cats after a while, and actually like it, even if they don’t seem to at first, although other cats will always hate them. I had a mean cat, who became much nicer and better behaved AFTER we brought home two other cats.)</p>
<p>I was about to say take the cat in and see how it goes; you never know which cats get along until they tell you. And most cats and dogs co-exist when they realize they have to. But coyotes and outside cats don’t go well. </p>
<p>So I go with those who say: take the cat in, see how it goes and try to find a home. </p>
<p>And you probably already know this but first thing to do is flea treat. And if you put out a separate litter box, show it to the cat - put the paws in and scratch - or put a little dirt on top if you think it’s too used to going outside to use the box. (I was pooped on by a feral cat that didn’t realize the box was for going. After that, I put some dirt on top. Cats don’t associate this to that well.)</p>
<p>Ditto everything vballmom said. My D also volunteers at a shelter. Sometimes having the back-story can be very helpful to alleviate reluctance about adoption. It helps eliminate some of that fear of the unknown. And you never know when something about that back-story will strike a chord with someone and the kitty will have his forever home.</p>
<p>My daughter adopted a kitty that had no home from a listing on Craigslist when she was a graduate student. A family was feeding him outside, and looking for a home for before the next winter, as they also had cats of their own. One of the problems with rescue groups is that sometimes a promising owner can’t jump through the hoops that are required- like having a steady income or permanent home- that actually might not be necessary for the right animal. She turned to Craigslist when the rescues thought her situation was too unstable- an apartment with three other grad students. The family that had the cat did interview her and asked that one of the other students come with her to make sure all was well and that she understood what was involved with raising a cat, which is a good idea that I would recommend. Her kitty has had a happy home with her for the last five years.
We also adopted our current dog from Craigslist. An adorable picture with his face, and a heading, " Labby Needs a Home," did the trick.</p>
<p>Also shelters often require a written contract that the cat won’t be allowed out. That’s not an easy promise for all to keep.</p>
<p>I have been by the home to look for the cat but haven’t seen him. I want to take him to the vet. I really cannot take him here because my ten year old boy wouldn’t have it. I’ve been down that road with him. He is ok with the female I rescued last winter , but he is terrible with other males…and the outdoor option wouldn’t be fair to him either. As far as office cats are concerned , our business neighbors have more than their share. One of them has had cats intentionally dumped there ( I suspect because people know her daughter is a vet ) I am taking my dogs for shots in a couple of days so I am going to chat with him about the cat. I can afford to get him the shots he needs. I asked around shortly after our friend passed . Our area tends to be over run with strays so it is very hard to get anyone to take them on</p>
<p>Please don’t leave him outside. Cats are very destructive to the bird community. They learn to kill for sport and not food. </p>
<p>[SCVAS:</a> Keep Your Cats Indoors](<a href=“Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society”>Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society)</p>
<p>Not to mention that living outdoors is very destructive to the cat community.</p>
<p>I hope he turns up, lje62.</p>
<p>@nj2011mom…I am a bird lover too ( currently working with a biologist who works to support and populate the eastern blue birds in our area )
Still looking for him
As a side note, deceased friend’s mother and brother showed up at our business yesterday and my husband passive aggressively let them know about our visit with the cat the other day…not that it really mattered. They really don’t care.
I have grown to loathe them since his death</p>
<p>This story is extremely upsetting! I have 4 animals, and I live on my own, so I often worry about what would happen to them if something were to happen to me. I already made provisions to provide for them financially, but I need to actually finalize all the arrangements. If someone ever did that to one of my animals, I would come back and haunt them from the great beyond! But seriously, that is absolutely horrendous. I don’t know how you can supposedly ‘love’ someone and treat their family (which I am sure the cat was to him) like that.</p>
<p>I would also say, don’t leave the cat outside. The cat is not used to it. That’s not what the owner wanted. And also, the outside world is really a dangerous place for a cat. And no animal that has been living indoors should just be ‘released’ (it’s not really release - it’s more like abuse and neglect) into the wild.</p>
<p>Thank you for helping the cat!</p>
<p>What a sad story! </p>
<p>Glad the cat has been more of less ok thus far. I’d also not take him into my home, as I have one of those finicky, territorial older felines as well, and the one time I took in a visitor, I was lucky to only replace the bathroom rugs. You and your cat don’t need to suffer through the spraying scenario. </p>
<p>Would agree with someone above regarding posting on CL or a FB page. A free cat with up to date shots is more appealing to some than being grilled by certain shelters and paying. My last new cat was a wonderful CL find. </p>
<p>Might one of the college students at your place of employment be willing or able to be a short term placement? One of the problems with animals is long term commitment, and college students might be happy to take on a cat short term, if you can ultimately be responsible for finding the next place. </p>
<p>Might you be brave enough to suggest to one of the family members of the deceased, that they pay for food for the cat, while in short term placement elsewhere?</p>
<p>The " family members" claim to pay the neighbor to feed the cat but I find that highly unlikely because they are the cheapest people I have ever met ! Even the siblings who have high paying careers and the lifestyles to go along with that couldn’t put up a dime to fund any services when our friend died. The only remembrance held was done by my husband and I
Ironically , the cat came to him as a stray and although he was literally hand fed and pampered, he was allowed outside .It is a heavily wooded area , known to have predatory animals that could easily snatch a cat , yet he is still alive…
The college students are dorm dwellers , so no go on any of them
I tried this over a year ago with no luck. A mutual friend is heavily involved in a local cat rescue organization and she didn’t have any takers either. I will continue to try to get the cat</p>