Conference misery::feline_v1

    Find another apartment that takes cats? 
    
    As a pet owner I know this is hard but take me take my pet.
    
    Barbara

    
    Barbara,
    
    I would love to do that.  And I will be moving to an apartment in
    July that does allow cats (my boyfriend's house).  We have one
    cat there already so I know they will let us have one.
    The problem is that my Mom does not want to wait until July.
    I have tried other options with friends and such.  But noone
    can take her for various reasons.  So the time has come so to speak.
    
    Michele

    Re: .0
    
>    and I refuse to bring her to an adoption kennel/center.
>    She is a timid little thing that loves to talk.  I know she
>    would probably die from fright if she were put in a cage
>   with other dogs and cats being in the same room.  I have

>    I don't want to put her down, but at this point feel that this
>    is my only option.  I feel terrible about this whole thing.
>    I also don't feel that I have a right to decide whether she
>    lives or not.  She is afterall one of God's creatures.
 
    
    I think if these end up being your only 2 options the kitty would be
    better off in a no-kill shelter. At least there she will find a home
    and have a chance verses putting her down where she has no chance
    at all!
    
    Just my 2 cents
    
    Debbi

    Can you smuggle her into your apartment until you move in July?
    

    You might try some intensive litter box training.  Confine her to
    the smallest possible space (a bathroom) with a litter box in it.
    Kitty's only option will be to use the box or leave a mess in such
    a small area.  This method has worked very well for my sister and
    the 9 Birman kittens she's training.  They don't like to do their
    business where they have to eat and sleep, etc.
    
    Hope you can work something out.
    
    Jan  

    You know, I keep hearing this and I've finally decided to say 
    something. 
      I just don't understand why people who have cats and insist
    that they love them go and rent an apartment that does not 
    allow pets!  Then they either smuggle the cat in or go crazy
    trying to find homes.
      I have had from one to three cats (and a waterbed) over a
    nine year period when I rented apartments in the Boston area -
    mostly Dorchester and Quincy - and I ALWAYS managed to find
    places that would agree to my having spayed indoor pets.  And
    they always were willing to put that in writing in the lease.
    I wouldn't have it any other way.
      I found that many places that claimed NO PETS would, when asked,
    allow cats.  I believe the NO PETS clause was there to keep out
    dogs and to allow them to chose on a personal basis, which
    tenants could have cats.  If I called a place and they said no
    cats then I didn't even look at the apartment.
      I never wanted to find myself in the position that some of these
    folks are in.  If you bring in a cat illegally you risk being
    told to get rid of the cat or get out!  It really upsets me to
    hear folks crying over the fate of their beloved cats when, I
    feel, the situation could have been avoided with a little foresight.
      Please understand that I'm not targeting this particular 
    incident or trying to take a "holier than thou" attitude here.
    I'm just pointing out that I believe that these situations are
    avoidable.  And its hard to keep your mouth shut when you see
    such a situation.
      Good luck finding a home for Sebastian.
       Nancy DC
    

    Why can't Sebastian move into your boyfriend's house now?  

    
    
    
    I've found that too.  when looking for an apartment, I would call
    the places that said no pets and said well I've got two female cats,
    fixed (even if they weren't just to let them no I wasn't having
    kittens).  Nine times out of ten they thought about it and said
    fine.
    
    My new place my landlord put in the option he would inspect the
    place monthly for any damage (why I have to declaw) and I said fine.
    He put a special option in my lease - NO PETS with the exception
    of two female cats, no more, and a monthly inspection.
    
    Alot of times if you talk with the landlord and say listen, they
    are cats, they don't spray, they are fixed, etc. come in and look
    at the place, etc. etc. they will submit...
    
    No guarantee, but it works sometimes..
    
    F.

    
    
    re. 7
    
    We thought about doing that, but that really wouldnt work.
    
    My boyfriend's roommate likes to party with his friends.
    Unfortunately they do most of this partying in my boyfriend's
    apartment.  Consequently, there is always a loud group of
    19-22 year old males who are always walking in and out of
    the apt.  It sometimes seems like a train station with the
    amount of traffic constantly going in and out. 
    Sebbie is timid and she is afraid of men (dont know why) until
    they take the time to sit quietly with her and get to know each
    other.  These folks would not do that, and I think at this stage
    with her acting up and all it would probably do her harm.
    
    But my boyfriend's brother is moving in July so the apartment
    will once again become quiet and peaceful.  Dennis, the cat that
    is currently there, is a big guy.  But he also runs and hides
    when there is alot of activity going on.  Until that activity
    ceases then this apartment isn't an option.
    
    Michele

    Maybe you could find someone to foster the cat for you until July?
    
    Deb

    Michele-
    
    When I lived in boston, I smuggled Nippa in and out for 3 months.
    There were times I had to leave her @ my ex's.  These guyes were
    the same age group as the ones you described, and very rowdy(you
    might know some of them, NU football players). But, 
    it was funny to see them turn into ol'softies when she had to go
    there.  They all loved to play/tease her.  they were careful not
    to let her out, and if a lot of comotion was going on she was 
    confined to a room.  Her size might have been a big plus (she was
    probably 12 weeks old @ the time....but she survived, and it
    worked...                                
    
    I realize she was not there on a permant basis, like your kitty
    would, but it worked.
    
    I also think a foster home might be a worthwhile option, tough to
    find but something to consider.
                  
    Is he an outside type cat?  If he is, I might have a couple of 
    people in mind.
    
    Michele

    I just have to agree with .6 -- I would not rent in an apartment
    if I had to give up my cats. They are my family. Sometimes
    Landlords will give in, especially to cats, since they are small
    and don't make a lot of noise like dogs. If I ever had to move
    to an apartment, the requirement would be they allowed cats. I
    could never abandon them.
    

    People who love and have cats can live in a No Pets apartment or
    house.  They just have to be willing to move if they are instructed
    to get rid of the cats.  Ken and I could never find a place to rent
    that was willing to agree to 12+ cats inside only, some of them
    breeding.  So, until we bought our house, we had to sneak.  We did
    get our last place to agree to 2 outdoor only cats (which we did
    not have, but told them we did figuring if they ever came over we
    would tell them the cat was sick and had to be in for a few days).
    
    Whenever the landlord was due over, we would pack up all the cats,
    put them in their carriers and haul them to my husbands office,
    disassemble the cat tree, throw all cat toys into closets, put all
    food and water bowls in the dishwasher, and we would be cat free
    (at first glance, anyway).  Since our guys weren't claw-ers, this
    worked for us.
    
    Jo

    
    I also have to agree with .6 !
    
    I've moved 5 times in the last 6 years, and, yes, it's very difficult
    to find a place that allows pets, smokers, and waterbeds.  Although,
    I can live without the waterbed, it would be tough to quit smoking,
    but there is no way I would give up my babys.