Need some cat advice...

[cynatnite]

My daughter is living back with us and she brought her dog and cat. My husband has serious cat allergies as is a child I babysit from time to time.

The cat has been kept downstairs in the unfinished basement. My daughter found it running around and decided she wanted it. The problem is that it has taken to hiding along the insulation and heating duct. Some insulation has fallen out and the heating duct has some small holes in it. It's also gotten rather rambuctious and knocked over some things. My daughter can approach her just fine. If my son or I do, she takes off and hides. A couple of times she hissed at us. The cat has never been spayed either.

We've called some of the local no-kill animal places to see if they can take her and they are full. We were considering the county animal shelter, but my daughter was told that they sometimes sell cats for animal testing. I don't know how true this is.

The cat has become more of a problem than a pet. It's not good for it to be in the basement all the time. We generally only go down there for laundry and the basement is for storage. My husband is due to be home in a couple of days and he is adamant about getting rid of the cat even if it means letting it loose somewhere.

I don't know what to do so any advice would be appreciated.

[Kali]

1. so science is worse than abandoning it?

sorry that is kind of harsh, but I have this "thing" about releasing animals that need to be gotten rid of. I feel one should take the responsibility of their deaths more directly, rather than fooling yourself.

Anyway, if I were you I would try some ads (craigslist, bulleting boards etc) though I doubt if anybody wants a difficult cat anymore than you all do. If it hunts you MIGHT have a shot at unloading it on a rural resident, but for fucks sake don't just drop it off at the end of some farm road. Probably going to end up at the county place anyway, might as well face up to it and take it in. At least it should have a humane death.

[riderinthestorm]

2. +1000000. I am the farm at the end of the road and while I won't kill it

It will cost me money to vax and neuter it. Chances are the coyotes will get it anyway if it won't socialize and come into the barns. That's a terrible end for any living creature.

I'll go even further, your husband's health (and your relationship with your husband) is far more important than the cat.

Do the right thing. Get a carrier or trap it, take it in.

[cynatnite]

4. We're going to try craigslist again....

We took new pictures of her and hope this time might get her a home. As a last resort, we will drop it off at the local animal shelter. It would be better than abandoning her. I still think she has a chance of getting a home.

[ceile]

3. Get her fixed and make her an outdoor cat.

If that's not possible (being outdoors) then try to find someone on petfinder that can take her. But she's got to be fixed first. Part of her behaviour issues stem from being in heat (most likely) and a new environment with little human contact.

[LynneSin]

6. I would definately get the cat fixed

If it's a matter of cost there are some pet groups that can do low cost spaying.

As for the outdoors thing - maybe there is a local farm where they could adopt the cat. It sounds like the cat has a bit of feral tendencies and could probably do well as a barn cat?

[grasswire]

5. have you had the cat checked for a micro-chip?

Maybe someone owns this animal. Any animal clinic or shelter will check it free to find a microchip.

Good luck finding someone to adopt a fairly hostile cat. Poor kitty. I'm sure it's feeling the stress, and reacting in behavior normal to felines. It's scared.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. Please don't abandon the cat. Euthanizing an animal is kinder than abandonment.

I grew up in the country and people dumped dogs and cats near our house on a regular basis. If they didn't get run over, they went hungry, got sick or some were shot by neighbors. We tried to find homes for as many as we could, but most of them came to an unhappy end.

[cynatnite]

8. May have good news...

A lady is looking for a young cat for her autistic son. She said she wants to check it out and see if the temperment is something she can work with. This is our best hope right now.

I did speak with the local animal shelter and she said they will make room for the cat and do their best to find a home.

I already decided that abandoning the cat is out of the question.

We are very hopeful.