What would you do? Updated, more information

[Laura's Babies]

I was presented with this tonight by my neighbor who just lost her mother last week, she called hoping I could offer her some suggestions/help/advice.

Her Mom had 2 cats, they both are 14 years old and have been together since they were each about a year old. They have been left in the house and one of her brothers has been going by to check in on them and feed them. They are in the process of cleaning out the house and realize they need to do something about the cats since there is no one to move in to look after them. They are a family of dog people and most have multiple dogs and the cats have never been around dogs. This one would take 1 cat and another one would take 1, but no one will take both... and they're not even sure the cats would fit in with dogs. Would this age a cat never being around dogs ever accept living in a house with dogs? Then, the brother is having to go out of state real soon to work and there will be no one to look after them then.

Or do you think they would be better off, just PTS? They have lost their human and I am sure are going to grieve, then to split them up, they would grieve even more, them loose their home on top of all that, the only home they have had most of their lives.. Would they adjust to all those changes thrown on them all at one time.. Can they handle it at their age?

Abby is a Himalayan and about 10 pounds. Toby is a orangie with white and around 16 pounds, if I'm not mistaken, he is long haired. I have met them before but it was a long time ago, I just remember they were both beautiful..

So, give me your opinions, what do you think is the best thing to do?

[carole]

oh dear what a situation this is indeed, personally i just could not put a healthy animal to sleep, just goes against everything i feel and believe in, but what to do,now that is another story, it would be sad to see them split up, and surely they would miss each other,but they may well adjust, it might be worth a try, or maybe they could just try and re-home them to someone out of the family who is willing to take them both.

I really feel for all concerned, and i sure hope a good solution is found where both kitties will stay together , i can but only wish you the very best.

[DriftyAlison0]

Yeah I would lean into keeping them together. Sure they would probably adjust in time. But with their age and the fact that they have been together for so long, and after what they will are going through, try to keep them together. Have you thought about renting the house out at least temp and try to see if someone is willing to take in both cats. Its just an idea. I hope that they will be re homed together.

[Catty1]

I don't want to take away from Jonny's story...but maybe in that vast network of people there is someone who would take these two kitties?

Hugs and prayers that they find a home together.

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is such a sad and tough situation. I wouldn't be able to put down a healthy animal either. Since the family members are dog people and already have dogs and these cats have never been around dogs, I would try to find them another home together if at all possible. I know it's kitten season right now but maybe a rescue group could help these people find them homes. Many people also list their animals on Craigslist but you never know who you're going to get there and you should always charge a fee. They both sound like gorgeous cats. I wish them luck.

[Laura's Babies]

Have you thought about renting the house out at least temp and try to see if someone is willing to take in both cats. Its just an idea. I hope that they will be re homed together.

I had even suggested that to her but I don't think right now they could stand seeing anyone living in their mothers house. They all took her death very hard and are having a hard time dealing with loosing her, it is recent and to fresh, their pain is to raw. To me that would be the best solution, letting them live there and just have someone move in to look after them..

[cassiesmom]

I agree with what everyone else has said. Perhaps someone with a soft spot for senior kitties would adopt both of them together. Catmandu's senior kittyzens are proof that older cats can thrive in a loving, caring home. Fingers and paws crossed and a prayer that a new home will be found for them.

[Cataholic]

It breaks my heart to hear that anyone would consider ending the life of a healthy animal. I am still grieving so hard for the loss of my Allie. What I wouldn't give to have her back.

My brother and his wife took in one of 3 cats that lived with a dear elderly neighbor of theirs. Chloe, aka Baby Girl, was the most outgoing of the 3. Baby Girl had a tremendous adjustment period, as my brother and SIL had two other big foot sasquatch type cats for Baby to deal with. BUT, with love, appropriate vet care and time- Baby is just fine.

[Donnis]

THIS IS A RESPONSE TO ALL THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ADVICE. THE TWO CATS WE ARE SPEAKING OF ARE 16+ YRS OLD & NEITHER IN GOOD HEALTH. ABBY IS BLIND IN 1 EYE, LOSING SIGHT IN THE OTHER & HAS MAJOR MOTION ISSUES & NOT EATING MUCH ANYMORE. SHE IS THE HIMALYAN. TOBY, THE ORANGIE & WHITE HAS STARTED THROWING UP, WHICH HE OFTEN DOES WHEN MY MOM WOULD HAVE TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE DAYS. WE WOULD NEVER EVER CONTENPLATE PUTTING DOWN HEALTHY CATS. I JUST LOST MY FOREVER KITTY OF 15 YEARS 3 WEEKS BEFORE I LOST MY MOM. THESE HAVE BEEN TWO MAJOR BLOWS IN A 1 MONTH SPAN. HE WAS MAJOR SICK BUT HELD OUT 5 MONTHS LONGER THAN THE VET THOUGHT. WE ALL AS A FAMILY HAVE AGONIZED OVER THIS DECISION. WE HAVE SOOOO VERY MUCH TO DEAL WITH THAT WE ARE SO AFRAID THESE SWEET BABIES WILL BE LOST IN THE SCHEME OF ALL THINGS INVOLVED. NEITHER CAT EVER LEAVES THE HOUSE SO JUST TO CARRIER THEM IS A VERY MAJOR ORDEAL. WE ARE DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT THEM FIRST & FOREMOST. IT JUST SEEMS TO BE SUCH AN IMPOSSIBLE DECISION ON ALL FRONTS. MY MOM ALWAYS PRAYED THAT THEY WOULD GO BEFORE HER BECAUSE SHE KNEW FROM PAST TIMES SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL WHAT PROBLEMS ARISED WITH HER PRECIOUS BABIES. SHE LOVED THEM TO THE INTH DEGREE. SHE IS SOOOO MISSED BY US ALL.

[carole]

oh my gosh i am so very sorry that you are having to deal with this traumatic decision after the very sad loss of you mother, as if that is not enough for you all to deal with, thank you for taking the time here to explain all to us, i really feel for you so much and i can only say i trust you will do what is the best thing for the kitties, knowing how much your mother loved them,and you loved your mother ensures only the best will be done for them , i wish you all the best and i certainly understand what a difficult decision you have ahead of you, HUGS.

[Laura's Babies]

Thank you Donnis for posting the correct story about your Mom's fur kids.. Like I told you, those meds I am on have really screwed up my head and whole system. One more day and I am through with those and hopefully that will clear up. I am SO looking forwards to that appointment with your ENT today! I will change the thread to read "updated" so maybe others will read your post.

[jennielynn1970]

I read about this place before, called the PurrEver Ranch, it's in TN.

Here is their link. They specialize in Senior Kittizens!!!

[catland]

I'm so sorry you're going through such a hard time right now - what with grieving for your mother and worrying about her precious kitties.

I just have one question for you to consider -

Are they really a close, bonded pair of cats - or have they simply grown up together? (thinking of my own cats, our female wouldn't lose a night's sleep if the two boys vanished tomorrow and she became an only cat).

Sorry I don't have any more ideas - but if given the hard choice with the limited options - I would lean towards the option of each cat going to a separate home.

[jennielynn1970]

PurrEver ranch is on Facebook too!!