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My husband and I will be graduating this December and will be moving across the country. We will not be able to take our cats with us. I am heart broken over this, but have waited long enough to find them new homes.
Docker - a special needs kitty. She is 11 years old and has to have prescription food from the vet. She is an inside cat only and would be great in a household with no other pets. She is not a lap cat, but loves for you to pet her and scratch under her chin.
Blazer - She is 12 years old and is EXTREMELY shy. Most days, she is hiding under our bed, due to our 4 year old and 11 month old children. She would be better in a household with not other pets. She is the sweetest cat, but needs a little patience from her new owner to come out of her shell.
Chloe - is a boy. I thought he was a girl, but turned out he's not! He is 15 years old and is also special needs. He has to have prescription food from the vet as well. He and Docker love each other so much and if they could go to a home together, that doesn't have any other animals that would be great. They cuddle and love on each other all day. It's really sweet.
Baker - He is our newest. He is 5. He is the most social cat and loves to be pet and loved on.
Buttercup - She is our oldest and most fragile. She is 16 years old. She doesn't do too much of anything anymore except sleep. She loves to cuddle with you and she will sleep in your lap once she warms up to you.
If anyone is interested in any of my cats, please email me at joaniewheeler@gmail.com.
I can give you any other information needed. Thanks so much!
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I can't begin to imagine what your situation is that it would prohibit you from taking your pets along -even across country. Obviously only you know what is best for yourself. I would like to encourage you to investigate additional resources that can help you take your pets with you when you move. I hope these websites will be of use to you. Good Luck!
www.petswelcome.com/milkbone/framelist.html
www.peoplewithpets.com/
www.petapartments.net/ (serves select cities)
www.hsus.org/ace/11819
www.bestfriends.org
for traveling with pets:
www.petsonthego.com
www.petswelcome.com
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I really hope you reconsider and take your cats with you...at that age they will be very hard to rehome and it's going to be hard on the cats too. Adult cats are already so hard to find homes for and senior cats will be even more difficult. Maybe you can contact some of the vet clinics around here to see if they'll let you post a flyer or something.
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rookies can't post photos, you might offer to help her... she can email them to you for posting...
this may sound heartless, but I could not stand the thought of leaving my elderly kitties with the stress of adapting to new families and environments... also, it will be difficult to find quality homes that can take on the end of live expenses for these sweeties... if I couldn't take them I would seriously consider helping them go to kitty heaven, where they would likely be had I not have been giving them special diets and veterinary care
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I'm wondering if there is something we can do to help make it feasible to help you to allow the cats to make the move.
If you need kitty carriers, I'd be happy to give you a couple to transport them in, and I'll bet I could find some more. Or is there some other barrier that we could help with?
I'm sure that traveling across country with them seems overwhelming but it can be done. I moved 6 cats and two dogs when I came to College Station. It isn't simple, but with a little planning, it can be done. I'd be happy to help find pet friendly, economical motels along your route.
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I would be willing to help with your move, please just let us know.
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Thanks so much for the concern. It wouldn't be the traveling, it would be where we would be living and the cost of living where we are going. We are moving to northern CA. We have a house here, but will have to get an apartment there. The cost of pet deposits plus monthly pet fees are too much for us to handle right out of school with school loans to pay back. If no one ends up taking them, I'm sure I will be able to figure something out. And, I don't think I could put them to sleep either. They are healthy, other than needing to eat the prescription food.
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Wheeler:
If you can load photos up to one of those web photo hosting sites (like photo bucket, etc), I or someone could put the pics up on this thread.
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Joanie - Northern CA is very Pet friendly. One of the resources I gave you suggests contacting the local Humane Society (where you are moving to) to ask for suggestions. Also, ask you Vet about low cost alternatives for their diet. Like others have said with intense planning you can make it work -even with the increase in cost of living.
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Maybe you could focus on finding a new home for just the 5 year old cat? The pet deposit might be less for few animals.
It is going to be very difficult to find homes for the older cats. Most people don't want to adopt an older animal, because of the short expected life span, and possible adjustment issues. Especially, the 16 year old...that one breaks my heart...even if you did manage to find somebody to take her, adapting to a new family would be nearly impossible at her age.
Cats adapt nicely to apartment life--especially older cats. They aren't as active, and don't need much space to run around. All you need is a couple window to look out of.
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Joanie- I don't want to sound like I'm fussing at ya- but why do students get pets only to abandon them when the "Real" world starts.
Please reconsider taking your pets.
My dog in college was with me for 18 years, so through college, first job, first husband (lol), first child and so forth. Your pets are part of your life and should make the journey with you.
I am allergic to cats- or I'd offer to take one.
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My husband and I have decided that we are going to keep 3 of them. Unfortunately, Docker and Blazer are the ones that have to go. If anyone is interested in either of them, please let me know. Thanks.
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Ahhh, the psychology training is coming out now. I would bet that you had cats before the husband, yes? I would also bet it is not "my husband and I", I would bet it is, "my husband" decided.
Keep your cats and take them with you.
I am sorry to say this but you made a commitment to take care of the cats for the rest of their lives. When you take on a pet, you must see them through their lives and through their deaths.
[This message has been edited by mymainname3 (edited 11/20/2009 6:22p).]
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nm
[This message has been edited by OnlyANobody (edited 11/21/2009 9:50p).]
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Joanie - If you really must part with Docker and Blazer, it will be helpful for you to upload some pics. Photobucket is very easy to use and you can just post the URL's here, since you cannot post pics as a Rookie.
Any other info you can give will be helpful as well. Whether they are up to date on shots, explain the need for prescription food, litter box trained or not, etc. But the pics.... Give your beloved pets a face here. That will be very helpful in finding them a home.
I'm so sorry you're having to part with them. I'd be just devastated.
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Good luck rehoming your pets. It will be difficult but unlike other posters, I DO think it is a valid option. quote:
When you take on a pet, you must see them through their lives and through their deaths.
No, you mustn't. If she finds them loving, happy homes, then there is nothing wrong with rehoming a pet. I would say that it is wrong to get a pet on a whim and then euthanize it if you just don't want it any more. But life circumstances change and it's silly to have some high and mighty view that no matter what happens in your life, you must sacrifice anything else (like this move to seek employment, or money they may not physically have) or you're a terrible person. Thank goodness the prior owners of my 2 dogs relinquished them instead of letting them live crappy lives because "a pet is yours for life". I love my dogs and I am VERY glad they chose to rehome instead of 'deal with it', personally.
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edited because I was about to call Lauren stupid and I didn't want to do that. So, I didn't. I never said, see them through a bad life or kill them.
[This message has been edited by mymainname3 (edited 11/20/2009 7:57p).]
[This message has been edited by mymainname3 (edited 11/20/2009 7:58p).]
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I also believe that when you get a pet, it's a commitment for the life of the pet. Dogs live 10-20 years (depending on size) and cats can live well over 20 years so of course lifetime circumstances will change during that time period. But I feel like pets are family members and that a commitment was made when I brought them into my home...and I can't imagine anything that would cause me to get rid of my pets. I was 14 when I got my first cat..she's now 10 years old. A lot has changed in that 10 years. I got my first dog when I was 19..if she lives to be 20 (possibility hopefully) then I'll be 39 when she dies! HUGE difference between age 19 and 39..but I can guarantee you that if she's alive, she'll be right here with me. I think too many people get pets without thinking about how longterm the commitment is and when they become inconvenient, they dump them...very sad situation. It's especially a problem with college students unfortunately and the reason why shelter intake numbers double around here in May and December.
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OMG how do you people go on this tangent and turn this into a thread about her husband being manipulitive and wanting to get rid of her cats!!! how did you just interpret that her husband is the evil force behind this? that is a complete assumption, and then 3 more posts of assumptions!!! What a pathetic derailment of a thread.
To top it off the implicatoin that pets are more important than ones quality of HUMAN life and financial well being and marriage are just ridiculous. This woman has taken care of 5 cats, some of which wouldn't be alive to this day if weren't for her and you guys are lecturing her on her marriage, her youth, and questiong how much she loves her pets!!! Puhleeeze! Move this to the PETA board. seriously.
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Ockham's razor
Most men hate cats.
Edict: "Cat's gotta go."
Simplest Conclusion: Man is the devil.
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Okay, at the risk of having offended and reached too far in my assumptions, I have edited my posts. But the following part of my post and opinion stands:
You can rant about the quality of HUMAN life all day long, but HUMANS go around collecting pets without any thought for the future. Once we take them in, we have made a commitment to them. It’s not like you can farm out children when they get inconvenient or expensive. (and I know, there’s a big difference, but it’s still a life for which you’ve taken responsibility) There are places here that are full of former pets who became inconveniences for whatever reasons.
I hope that she does find them homes and that they are all loved and cared for during the remainder of their lives.
[This message has been edited by OnlyANobody (edited 11/21/2009 9:52p).]
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quote:
My husband and I have decided that we are going to keep 3 of them. Unfortunately, Docker and Blazer are the ones that have to go
Student........5 cats.......leave them in College Station and move on....... Thanks for playing but please take your pets with you and don't force them on the rest of us that live here. There is no shortage of cats here.
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Wow.
I think that's pretty much the only thing I can say here. As someone who personally knows Joanie and her family, I have to say y'all couldn't be any more off the mark.
What a bunch of jerks. Someone comes here genuinely asking for your help and y'all rip her to shreds while making assumptions about her and her lifestyle? Nice.
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Joanie, best of luck to you in finding a good home; I know you will. I would take them in but I have 2 cats and I don't think Blazer or Docker would be happy. I am forwarding your info to a friend though that might be able to help.
I usually ignore all the b.s. comments that people make but I am appalled at some of the postings here. People if you can't be of help then don't post. It's not your place to judge or criticize someone else and their situation. Joanie came to this community board to ask for our help, not your personal opinions.
Joanie I hope you know there are lots of us out here who are checking with friends to find your guys a home. Best wishes to you and your family (kitty cats too!) as you enter this new stage in your lives.
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Well, I had been debating putting my $0.02 in, but I need to, because Joanie is my best friend and our kids are best friends. Not that it is anyone's business, but Joanie and Chris have one of the strongest marriages I have ever witnessed. Joanie was not your typical 19 year old college student who just went and got a ton of pets. If you knew her, then you would know that. She genuinely cares for her kitties, unfortunately their financial situation will not allow them to keep them when they move to Cali. Yes, it is a very pet friendly place, but the cost of living there is so much higher than College Station. Gas alone for the cheapest unleaded is at least $3.00/gallon if not more. Housing, utilities, everything is more expensive. Joanie and Chris are just looking out for the well being of their kids and their kitties. It would not be fair to the kitties to put them through the move (at least the older ones), that could be more detrimental to their health. Think about what you can afford in rent here. Let's say $1000 for example. Here in College Station, $1000 a month will get you a pretty decent place, but in California... yeah, your having to downsize in space and that would not be fair to 5 cats and the family. Please, please, PLEASE, before you go judging.... she is genuine and just trying to do what is best for her kitties AND her family. For their situation, having to part with some, if not all of the kitties, is the most financially sound thing they can do for themselves.
I know Joanie will not be checking this thread anymore, or using the mybcs services any longer because she is disheartened after the responses she received from this thread. However, I will check on it for her for responses from anyone who is genuinely wanting to help and I will pass any information on to her. I am disappointed in how many of you Ags have acted.
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I moved two cats from Iowa to California without any problems many years ago. When I moved to College Station I moved three cats with me without any problems. Unless there is a life or death situation or you are moving to an apartment that limits the number of pets you can have, there is no reason why you cannot move your animals with you. It does take a little extra time preparing for the move and unloading and loading the needed items but that is no big deal in the scheme of things. I could no more have let one of those cats behind. I have even traveled with them to visit family and friends. They adapt to the motion of the car after about 30 minutes and the routine after the first night.
[This message has been edited by skippys mom (edited 11/22/2009 12:42p).]
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Yes, the cost of living in California is much higher but so is the average pay there...
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If she isn't checking the thread or using mybcs anymore I can only assume that she feels guilty about the poor choices she is making.
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2ag, what an ignorant thing to say. Did you even read what her friend said? Coming from someone who loves cats, I'm glad the rest of ya'll got called out for COMPLETELY MAKING STUFF UP regarding her marriage and her maturity. freaking ridiculous.
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