Wed Mar 30, 2022, 05:13 PM
Jilly_in_VA (6,489 posts)
Another senior dumped
Last week I went back to work, finally, at the shelter (yay!) and last night I was working my new gig, which is the foster clinic, where all the "foster parents" bring their critters in for shots, medical checks, and whatnot. I had gone back in the back to get some litter for one of the foster cat parents and happened upon one of the Animal Control officers unloading a HUGE orange cat into a kennel in Intake. I asked her kiddingly, "Are you sure that's not a mountain lion?" because the cat was absolutely enormous--not fat, just BIG. She said, "No, he's just a big, sweet old boy." When I went back out front I sneaked a peek at his papers, which were lying by the computer. He's an owner surrender, 12 years old, nothing major wrong with him apparently, but there's a place on the papers for "annoying habits" and she'd written "loud meowing" and "throws up when he gets a hairball or eats too fast". Then under "reasons for surrender" she wrote "moving" and "asthma and allergies". Really, Karen? Suddenly you developed allergies? Sounded to all of us like she just got tired of him. He is a very sweet boy. When I went back to check on him before I left, he was crouched in the kennel with his face pressed against the corner. I have seen that enough to know what it means. Poor guy. I will see him again on Friday when I go in to clean, maybe tomorrow if the clinic has any appointments scheduled (none so far).
On the good news front, remember Tiger, the blind cat that hated everyone? He's been in foster care for several months and is doing well. They had to remove his eyes but he doesn't seem to be bothered. He gets along with the other cat in the house and the foster mom and visitors. AND he has a potential adopter!!!!
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16 replies, 3583 views
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Author | Time | Post |
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Jilly_in_VA | Mar 2022 | OP |
Quakerfriend | Mar 2022 | #1 | |
Jilly_in_VA | Mar 2022 | #2 | |
multigraincracker | Mar 2022 | #3 | |
Jilly_in_VA | Mar 2022 | #4 | |
wnylib | Mar 2022 | #6 | |
delisen | Mar 2022 | #5 | |
Jilly_in_VA | Mar 2022 | #8 | |
PatrickforB | Mar 2022 | #12 | |
3catwoman3 | Mar 2022 | #7 | |
Demobrat | Mar 2022 | #9 | |
Karadeniz | Mar 2022 | #10 | |
CyraKitty2 | Mar 2022 | #11 | |
Rhiannon12866 | Mar 2022 | #13 | |
Jilly_in_VA | Mar 2022 | #14 | |
gopiscrap | Mar 2022 | #15 | |
hamsterjill | Mar 2022 | #16 |
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 05:22 PM
Quakerfriend (4,436 posts)
1. Could he be a Maine Coon? I've heard they can
be quite big.
I hope you get to see him again. |
Response to Quakerfriend (Reply #1)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 05:39 PM
Jilly_in_VA (6,489 posts)
2. Nope
He is a big, very big, shorthaired ginger cat with pretty yellow eyes. I'm guessing his weight in the neighborhood of 20-22 lbs and he isn't fat. His paws are enormous.
We have some other big orange shorthaired cats in the stray jail right now, but not that big. More like 12-14 lbs. One is stocky and the other is pretty tall and rangy. Seems to be the week for them. We have another blind cat too. She's very strange and we don't know what to make of her yet. |
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #2)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 05:41 PM
multigraincracker (28,019 posts)
3. Biggest house cat in the world....
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Response to multigraincracker (Reply #3)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:04 PM
Jilly_in_VA (6,489 posts)
4. Well now
That's pretty surely a Maine Coon or one of its cousins. Siberians get pretty big too, as do Norwegian Forest cats. But that guy has the tufts between the toes and all.
I had a cat that was mostly Maine Coon. I had to rehome him because he was more like a dog in that he needed so much attention. He got up to 22 lbs in his new home once he was full grown but his new mom was told to cut back on the food and he is now a more svelte 20. Still a handsome boy though. His name is Don Bosco after the patron saint of street kids. |
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #2)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:18 PM
wnylib (13,744 posts)
6. I once had a short-haired cat who was huge.
He weighed 20 to 22 pounds, but was not fat, just big. We knew that he was half Siamese, but had no idea what the other half was.
Whenever we took him to the vet, the vet techs used to joke about getting a whip and chair to handle him. But, in reality, he was very cooperative and happy to please people. He loved the extra attention that he got from everyone who remarked about his size. He was so well behaved that we just carried him in our arms without a carrier and he sat on my lap. Well, once he did tap a great Dane on the nose for getting too close and nosy, but it was just a tap. No hissing or attempt to fight and the dog got the message. |
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:05 PM
delisen (5,568 posts)
5. Yes it is not uncommon to suddenlY develop allergies in adulthood
People are told to bring their pet to a shelter if they can no longer care. |
Response to delisen (Reply #5)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:44 PM
Jilly_in_VA (6,489 posts)
8. Well
there were just too many other red flags on that intake form.
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Response to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #8)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 08:13 PM
PatrickforB (13,630 posts)
12. Yeah, I'm with you. After 12 years of having that cat, 'surrendering' him
like this is despicable.
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Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:31 PM
3catwoman3 (20,138 posts)
7. Allergies are a matter of exposures over time.
Those who are not very sensitive to an allergen may take multiple exposures over decades before the immune system finally decides, "I don't LIKE that!"
Highly sensitive individuals may react quite badly early on - just a couple of exposures - shellfish/ peanuts/ bee stings. I would take allergy shots before I would be without my cats. |
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 06:59 PM
Demobrat (7,834 posts)
9. What does it mean
when he presses his face in the corner? Guessing scared and unhappy?
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Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 08:10 PM
Karadeniz (16,707 posts)
10. Yes, one gets so frustrated working at a shelter and seeing owners who aren't as good as their pets!
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 08:11 PM
CyraKitty2 (1 post)
11. Interested
Jilly,
I am interested in adopting this huge kitty, could you give me some information? Like where in VA? Is he still available and what is the adoption fee? My kitty passed away last October and I'm looking for a new cuddle buddy 😁 Thank you, Amanda |
Response to CyraKitty2 (Reply #11)
Wed Mar 30, 2022, 08:42 PM
Rhiannon12866 (158,998 posts)
13. Kudos to you and welcome to DU!
Looks like Jilly hasn't seen your reply yet, but this is great news. I've adopted older animals, too - they are the best. And with care, most cats can live long lives. I also adopted a cat at age 12 - her owner had moved as well.
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Response to CyraKitty2 (Reply #11)
Thu Mar 31, 2022, 09:18 AM
Jilly_in_VA (6,489 posts)
14. Check your DU Mail for particulars.
Response to CyraKitty2 (Reply #11)
Thu Mar 31, 2022, 02:56 PM
gopiscrap (22,518 posts)
15. welcome to DU
Response to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)
Thu Mar 31, 2022, 04:42 PM
hamsterjill (14,226 posts)
16. Thank you for what you do.
I said a prayer for strength for you and a miracle for the orange older guy.
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