Help, crazy woman trying to adopt my cat!
Re: Help, crazy woman trying to adopt my cat!
No one ever accused you of being a "bad parent" or assumed you do not take care of your cat...and yes, we prefer Indoor Only...but we do not hate people who let their cat's outdoors...that is a choice that we can all make, but those of us here are free to state why we prefer indoor only and the risks associated with letting our cats outside...
but, we can only read what is posted, and sometimes meanings are not clear either way, and that is how things end up getting out of control and tempers flaring...I am glad to see that maybe we are moving in a different direction from here on out!
I too, live on a secluded street, 3 acres of land, and we have ferals outside...but I also have my indoor only cats ten of them to be exact...all fed, updated on shots, spayed/neutered, etc...they were all wild ferals at some time in their lives, some came in as kittens, other a bit older...some alot older...and yes, for some it was a difficult transition from outside being free to indoor only...but they do adapt and they do fine inside...I keep windows open, with secure screens, in summer, and I build a 6 foot long shelf along one wall right under a window that is 5 feet high and 8 feet long...I staggered the shelves so they can jump to the desk, to one shelf, to the top shelf to look out that back window into the field...they LOVE it...
If you decide to keep JoJo indoor only, there are things you can do to make it easier...my cats also have a long 4 foot stump from a mulberry tree, no bark to shred, to scratch claws on (just make sure it is a non-poisonous tree stump)...they have LOTS of windows and LOTS of toys to keep busy with...plus they have each other...
As suggested in previous posts, either acclimate one of the outdoor buddies who maybe has no home, to be indoor only with your JoJo so that yours has a playmate inside...
Your cat will play your emotions to the limits to try to be let outside, and yes, it will kill you adn tear you up inside to see her act so pitifully, but if you choose to keep her inside, then stick to your guns and do not let her out even for a moment, or it will be that much harder to teach her to be indoor only...
I am glad too, taht you were able to talk with your neighbor again and hopefully get this all straightened out once and for all...but I have a feeling you will need to do some follow-up either way...if you choose to let JoJo out, to make sure she does not feed her or invite her in, or invite your neighbor over for tea or coffee if you choose to keep JoJo inside only!
I just want to make one more comment on your last sentence:
and yes, sometimes child welfare oversteps bounds, but at least in our state, even when children are taken away from parents, the new goal is family reunification and the foster parents and birth parents all work together for the benefit of th child and the ultimate goal is to teach those birth parents HOW to parent and bring their children home to a proper environment...the foster parents can invite birth parents into their home to see how they are doing with the kids, and teach the parents HOW to parent...
So I guess sometimes, some people need to be taught the proper way to be a respopnsible pet owner as well...and without knowing ALL the circumstances up front, because generally a bit more information is revealed with each post (otherwise no one would want to read a book, such as I tend to post
), we do the best we can to help that "parent" make the best choice for their furkids...
Take care and let us know how things are progressing with the neighbor...
but, we can only read what is posted, and sometimes meanings are not clear either way, and that is how things end up getting out of control and tempers flaring...I am glad to see that maybe we are moving in a different direction from here on out!
I too, live on a secluded street, 3 acres of land, and we have ferals outside...but I also have my indoor only cats ten of them to be exact...all fed, updated on shots, spayed/neutered, etc...they were all wild ferals at some time in their lives, some came in as kittens, other a bit older...some alot older...and yes, for some it was a difficult transition from outside being free to indoor only...but they do adapt and they do fine inside...I keep windows open, with secure screens, in summer, and I build a 6 foot long shelf along one wall right under a window that is 5 feet high and 8 feet long...I staggered the shelves so they can jump to the desk, to one shelf, to the top shelf to look out that back window into the field...they LOVE it...
If you decide to keep JoJo indoor only, there are things you can do to make it easier...my cats also have a long 4 foot stump from a mulberry tree, no bark to shred, to scratch claws on (just make sure it is a non-poisonous tree stump)...they have LOTS of windows and LOTS of toys to keep busy with...plus they have each other...
As suggested in previous posts, either acclimate one of the outdoor buddies who maybe has no home, to be indoor only with your JoJo so that yours has a playmate inside...
Your cat will play your emotions to the limits to try to be let outside, and yes, it will kill you adn tear you up inside to see her act so pitifully, but if you choose to keep her inside, then stick to your guns and do not let her out even for a moment, or it will be that much harder to teach her to be indoor only...
I am glad too, taht you were able to talk with your neighbor again and hopefully get this all straightened out once and for all...but I have a feeling you will need to do some follow-up either way...if you choose to let JoJo out, to make sure she does not feed her or invite her in, or invite your neighbor over for tea or coffee if you choose to keep JoJo inside only!
I just want to make one more comment on your last sentence:
I would NEVER advocate that, but being a certified foster/adoptive parent, sometimes the children are better off with other parents...and yes, there have been young parents, or disabled parents, or irresponsible parents who are big enough to admit that they made a mistake in creating this life, and are strong enough to say they cannot do what is best for that child, and they do give them up for adoption...it is one of the greatest gifts a parent can possibly give their child...would you advocate that people give their kids away just because someone else thinks they can raise them better?
and yes, sometimes child welfare oversteps bounds, but at least in our state, even when children are taken away from parents, the new goal is family reunification and the foster parents and birth parents all work together for the benefit of th child and the ultimate goal is to teach those birth parents HOW to parent and bring their children home to a proper environment...the foster parents can invite birth parents into their home to see how they are doing with the kids, and teach the parents HOW to parent...
So I guess sometimes, some people need to be taught the proper way to be a respopnsible pet owner as well...and without knowing ALL the circumstances up front, because generally a bit more information is revealed with each post (otherwise no one would want to read a book, such as I tend to post
), we do the best we can to help that "parent" make the best choice for their furkids...Take care and let us know how things are progressing with the neighbor...