Hello all,
I am new to this forum... seeking advice about my current situation. I moved into the Los Angeles area two months prior, and in our neighborhood, there are tons of stray and feral animals. On our property, there was a pregnant stray momma cat that long story short, I found the kittens, and rehomed 3 (a couple took ALL 3 together!!) and took the 4th one to the shelter. I also trapped both the mom and dad and they are now sterilized and were given rabies vaccines.
After 2 months of caring for these cats, they've grown on me. They aren't ferals at all, but instead seem like strays that were just dumped here. I feed and play with them, and am getting them flea meds soon- so at this point, they are "my cats". I'm not financially capable of even having these two cats, nor can I bring them inside the house (tenants are allergic) so they basically just live outside on our property. I have contacted shelters and rescue groups to ask if they'd be able to possibly get them into homes, but I haven't heard back from any. Because it's the LA area, shelters everywhere are just packed with cats. Even my local shelter told me that truthfully, they are flooded as is with cats/kittens and that these two would most likely be overlooked. I know they both deserve an inside life, because they both are dying to come inside with me. They are always at my heels, purring and rubbing, and they look at me so defeated when I have to close that door on them. They try so hard to come inside with me though and it breaks my heart each time, but I'm doing the best I can with this situation.
I'm in a horrible position right now, however, because my roommate and I are trying to leave this house ASAP. The third roommate is psychotic with a wide range of mental issues, and she has said threatening things to us as well as those cats. She told me I should have "left those kittens out there to die" instead of rescuing and re-homing them, so we don't have even MORE cats on our property. Yeah. She's crazy. So we're in this emergency rush to find a new place for our own safety, as well as my other pets, and now I'm worrying for these two cats. They have no one else, it's only me that they trust and know they can rely on. And it's absolutely destroying me to think I have to leave them here with this witch, who I KNOW will call animal control and request they be euthanized. She's said she'll just tell animal control the cats are "feral and attack her dog all the time". I'm essentially the only thing standing in the way from her doing that.
My goal was to take them with me, and just let them be outdoor cats at the new place but I have no idea how to even HAVE a cat. I've never had one, and I'm a student so money is tight as is and truthfully, I just don't have the time. I love these two angels to death, they are part of my family but I don't know what to do that will be best for them. If I leave them at the only home they knew (my current house), they risk being killed by this wackjob. And no one would feed and care for them. I can't just abandon them like that... but I also don't know how I'd bring two cats to a new place and even acclimate them to the new outdoor area. It's a complete mess and I don't know what to do.
I'm still trying desperately to find people to adopt them but it's difficult finding anyone to take in two adult strays. I'm grateful that I found those kittens homes but I want the same for these two. I'd do anything to be able to keep them, but I don't know how I can do that at this time. They deserve better than what I can give them, but I know if I dropped them off at the shelter, they'd never leave. Please... any advice as to what I can do? I'm heartbroken over this.
I am new to this forum... seeking advice about my current situation. I moved into the Los Angeles area two months prior, and in our neighborhood, there are tons of stray and feral animals. On our property, there was a pregnant stray momma cat that long story short, I found the kittens, and rehomed 3 (a couple took ALL 3 together!!) and took the 4th one to the shelter. I also trapped both the mom and dad and they are now sterilized and were given rabies vaccines.
After 2 months of caring for these cats, they've grown on me. They aren't ferals at all, but instead seem like strays that were just dumped here. I feed and play with them, and am getting them flea meds soon- so at this point, they are "my cats". I'm not financially capable of even having these two cats, nor can I bring them inside the house (tenants are allergic) so they basically just live outside on our property. I have contacted shelters and rescue groups to ask if they'd be able to possibly get them into homes, but I haven't heard back from any. Because it's the LA area, shelters everywhere are just packed with cats. Even my local shelter told me that truthfully, they are flooded as is with cats/kittens and that these two would most likely be overlooked. I know they both deserve an inside life, because they both are dying to come inside with me. They are always at my heels, purring and rubbing, and they look at me so defeated when I have to close that door on them. They try so hard to come inside with me though and it breaks my heart each time, but I'm doing the best I can with this situation.
I'm in a horrible position right now, however, because my roommate and I are trying to leave this house ASAP. The third roommate is psychotic with a wide range of mental issues, and she has said threatening things to us as well as those cats. She told me I should have "left those kittens out there to die" instead of rescuing and re-homing them, so we don't have even MORE cats on our property. Yeah. She's crazy. So we're in this emergency rush to find a new place for our own safety, as well as my other pets, and now I'm worrying for these two cats. They have no one else, it's only me that they trust and know they can rely on. And it's absolutely destroying me to think I have to leave them here with this witch, who I KNOW will call animal control and request they be euthanized. She's said she'll just tell animal control the cats are "feral and attack her dog all the time". I'm essentially the only thing standing in the way from her doing that.
My goal was to take them with me, and just let them be outdoor cats at the new place but I have no idea how to even HAVE a cat. I've never had one, and I'm a student so money is tight as is and truthfully, I just don't have the time. I love these two angels to death, they are part of my family but I don't know what to do that will be best for them. If I leave them at the only home they knew (my current house), they risk being killed by this wackjob. And no one would feed and care for them. I can't just abandon them like that... but I also don't know how I'd bring two cats to a new place and even acclimate them to the new outdoor area. It's a complete mess and I don't know what to do.
I'm still trying desperately to find people to adopt them but it's difficult finding anyone to take in two adult strays. I'm grateful that I found those kittens homes but I want the same for these two. I'd do anything to be able to keep them, but I don't know how I can do that at this time. They deserve better than what I can give them, but I know if I dropped them off at the shelter, they'd never leave. Please... any advice as to what I can do? I'm heartbroken over this.