I don't know what is best for these strays. If I leave, they will die

[fionasmom]

Take one step at a time. I am still guessing that they will be happy to be inside with you and will not be that difficult to handle. When you need to leave, you can address that issue as it might depend on how Lily and Cooper are doing and what their daily routine is like.

You will meet many people in your life you will tell you to leave cats behind...worse with cats than with dogs as we associate cats with the ability to survive on the streets or in the wilderness.

 

[walli]

don't worry you will figure out how to take care of the cats when you're gone.
you have a good plan right now! Yay!

sorry posted on top of yours fionasmom !

 

[Jcatbird]

My family told me the same thing but that’s not true. They are now dependent on you to survive and the love makes it possible. They did choose you and did so because they see something special in you. We see it too.
An indoor place will work. There will be an adjustment period but everyone here can help you get through that . Another person here is also in school and just went through rescuing a very active young Tom. She already had an indoor male so she is working to introduce the two. Lol They are doing quite well now that they are learning to play.
Having space up in the cage will help. You can get some that come with shelves but you can also get cat hammocks to add interesting places for them to get which leaves the floor of the cage free for food, water and a litter box. I have several cages now. My favorite has two fours. It isn’t totally necessary but does make it easier to clean boxes and feed until the kitties are used to the new space. A stiff piece of cardboard can work to keep them from getting out of the cage though. I found some cages at yard sales for cheap! Online is a good way too. My vet has one that has two levels inside that I would love but haven’t been able to find one. I think it may have been meant for other types of animals. Some cages are on wheels which can be useful. Some fold for storage if I needed but I doubt that will be important here.
Once you start building the catio you can figure on the opening matching up exactly with the window so that you can take the window screen out temporarily. You could use a solid panel there and just put a prebuilt cat door in for access. They can be fastened shut when needed. For trying to gauge space you can do this. Buy a litter box, water dish and food dishes. Put them down on the floor and allow some distance between the litter and feeding area. The cats need enough room to maneuver easily there. That should give you a rough idea of the floor dimensions required. Some cages take up floor space and some are oriented for height. I would go for height if possible so they can get more exercise by jumping up and being able to look out windows. I have seen people put small cat trees inside them too. A box or carrier can be put inside to give them a place to hide out. I like using carriers because the cats will treat that as their safe spot which makes it easy to get them in the carrier for transport and vet visits. I continue to use those as permanent hiding places for each cat. That’s another thing I often find at yard sales. I always clean and sanitize them after buying. I have had to buy a lot of these over the past couple of years so cost became a big factor.
If you are out on the weekends, watch the yard/garage sales. You might find a good deal. Newspapers advertise many as well. We have a free paper here that always has stuff like that. With carriers just make sure they latch securely at the door and all sides. I’ve paid as little as 5 dollars for cages that would hold a litter of kittens. If needed you can always stack two cages. If you need ideas, go visit a good shelter and see how they house kitties. Some shelters have great ideas and catios on site.

 

[walli]

Jcatbird I meant when she was on vacation! she was worried about taking trips

 

[Hannaaaw]

Thank you again for the info!! Yes that is awesome advice, I'll be on the look out for cages and was actually going to visit the shelter this week to check up on the 4th kitten that I had brought in! He was way more unsocial than the other kittens so I can't wait to see how different he'll be. I'll check out the cages while I'm there too, to form some ideas!

Sadly have to wait now until Friday to check out the house but once I get approved, I plan on drawing up some ideas for the catio and a way to connect it indoors to their inside cages. I definitely want them inside, due to LA's chilly weather at night. I feel absolutely awful for them tonight, it's supposed to be as low as 48F. Poor things, wish I could move and get their new setup just started ASAP. Can't wait to get them inside and safe. Each day they're getting more and more desperate to come indoors, but I just need them to stick it out for the next month until we're all able to get out of this mess. Like today.... my awful roommates dog almost injured Cooper, and she just sat there blaming her dogs behavior on the cats. She didn't even try to stop it and just let her wreck of a dog harass them for no reason. All they wanted to do was come say hi to me. ;[ She is a delusional person who thinks the world revolves around her... can't wait to be gone from here and take these babies somewhere safe.

 

[walli]

Hang in there! I know it's hard to have patience, I'm in San Diego so our weather is similar
It has gotten cold early this year, but 48 is still ok for them.
I built shelters for my outside ferals, just got it done recently but they haven't gone in them yet
I'm worried about them too, but it's the December/January/February weather that is really cold for us.
Just make sure they get lots to eat during the cold.

 

[fionasmom]

If it is any comfort, I have all sorts of samsonite cat beds in the back yard, and heated beds in the garage with real beds and fleece. The cats all know where these things are as they have been there for a year. No one is using them and they are all safe, dog free, and in the general area where they readily come for food. Same temps as you have which is not that bad yet.

 

[Hannaaaw]

I wanted to make cat shelters just out of some cheap materials that I saw shelters do (tub-aware, hay, blankets, insulation, etc) but I know I'll never hear the end of it from the crazy roommate. She'll cry about how "that will just attract more cats and she doesn't want those awful creatures near her precious dog". Literally, that is what she'd say. These cats could be out there freezing to death and this girl would think it's a good thing... She is absolutely sick.

I feel even worse now though. Tonight, there were two new cats in our yard huddling under our bushes to stay warm. One had a collar on, the other didn't (I've only seen this one once or twice, I believe it's another stray). I went ahead and fed them all because I couldn't feed Lily without the other two trying to steal her food lol. My heart just breaks but I know they'll be okay, just sucks I have to leave them there. Crossing my fingers for good news tomorrow and getting approved for the house, I seriously cannot WAIT to get out of here. As soon as we're out of here, these two are heading straight to the vet and getting their official collars. Then they'll move on inside their cat condo and will be allowed to adjust indoors, until I'm able to get their catio made at the new place. Goodness I'm so excited, it's just going to be a stressful next few weeks. I honestly wish I could find someone or someplace to take them in while I'm moving, because I have no idea what this girl will do to them just to get back at us for leaving. Is there any place I can contact to let them know about the situation? That their safety is possibly at risk? I honestly see this girl poisoning them or intentionally hurting them just to be an awful person, because she really is THAT mentally unstable. I'm just praying that my two babies can just survive with me the next few weeks otherwise.

 

[walli]

can you take them to the vet while your moving, they may be able to keep them a couple days for low cost
if you explain your situation

 

[fionasmom]

I agree with asking the vet about boarding them so that you can remove them from the property before you go, preferrably as soon as you start to leave. Usually vets will ask that vaccines be up to date to board, so they could begin their vaccines while they are there. Price could be between $15 and $30 per day/night depending on where you are but that is usually the range with no discount.

 

[marmoset]

Your love for these two is really coming across loud and clear. I think by now you have decided not to leave them behind (Yay!) and to take them and make it work. I have taken in my share of cats from outside and it's all gone fine. Some take a little longer but eventually it's rainbows. I mean each day I am in awe of how happy I am and how happy they are. I personally don't do indoor/ outdoor. Where I live it's just far far better for a cat to be inside. IME once they come in and settle they don't want to go back out so I don't make them. Of course my sample size is small- I've only had 14 cats in my lifetime (not including those that I do consider mine but are colony cats so don't live with me). Of those 14 only one was born indoors the rest all came from the streets.

So my experience colors my opinion, but I think you just might find that they will settle in and be very happy in your room and after some months you will trust them in your room when you are not home. The only thing that gives me pause is your reptile(s). I've had snakes and lizards and my lizard set-up was constantly damaged by my cats. So I had a reptile room that the cats did not go in (though I did foster kittens in there). Heat lamps, wires, screen tops can all be easily damaged by adult cats (especially if they get a tad portly). If you don't have a cabinet system to keep those things secure that might be another project you'd want to look into.

As far as finding people to check in and pet sit during break I think the best way to find good petsitters is to network through volunteering with an animal shelter. When you finalize your next apartment look at shelters closest to you and see if they need volunteers (they probably do). Of course they will need people willing to clean and wash litter boxes but that's just part of it. Some volunteers only work at fundraising events sitting at a table handing out raffle tickets or baking cookies for events or making items to be raffled off at tricky tray events, or making follow up phone calls to people who have applied to volunteer and they never do regular shelter shifts which are admittedly more physically strenuous. The last event I worked at I was pouring beer while listening to a great live band. It doesn't have to be an obligation that take many hours each week. It doesn't have to be physical work. There are so many ways to volunteer- but it will be good networking. There's no better way to find good petsitters or to get connections to good vets, affordable vets, and specialist vets than to have that network of people who are devoting some of their life to animals.

I do echo the other recommendations of getting the two secure before you move. While you are physically living there you have some sway with the bad roommate but once you are out they are free to be as awful as they please. You should inquire about temporary boarding with the shelter that looked them over already or a vet they recommend or see if they have anyone who could temporarily foster them or for help trapping if you need to go that route. They might need to be updated on shots and SNAP tested before they can be boarded which can be very expensive if you just go to a random vet but very affordable if you ask around a bit and specifically mention rescue or have a recommendation from a shelter.

 

[moxiewild]

Boarding -

I would even suggest looking into your city’s animal control to board them. Ours offers this service for only $10/day which isn’t so bad. Whether they offer the service or how much it is will vary obviously, but it might be worth a shot.

I would also call around to vets and explain your situation. You might very well find something affordable for you.

General Networking for boarding/temporary fostering -

Try finding private/closed Facebook groups of animal advocates. I don’t mean rescues or rescue/shelter pages, I mean a group of private citizens. I honestly find the most help BY FAR with these groups than I EVER have with any rescue, ever, combined. I also help people on these groups on a near weakly basis by lending traps/cages/carriers, trapping, transporting, taking strays/ferals to vet appointments, donating supplies and money, fostering, etc.

They are the absolute, single most valuable resource I have ever found in private rescue - and I actually WORK for a rescue in the nonprofit sector and have a million connections through that!!!

But rescues are always too overwhelmed. These private citizen groups make things happen, and usually have strict rules about transparency, like knowing who a foster or rescue is to ensure they are legit.

Temporary fostering is very, very common on these groups, it is requested and arranged multiple times a day, especially in larger cities. Because these two cats are friendly, have a home lined up, need only very temporary fostering, and are in potential danger, your chances of finding a foster are basically as high as they could possibly be, especially if you send them to the foster with all the supplies (food, litter, box, bedding, preferably crate) so that the foster doesn’t have to pay a dime.

Go to the Facebook search bar (don’t use Google, for some reason most of these groups don’t show up in the results there) and type your city, you County, and other nearby cities and counties and search each area separately and combine them with each of these keywords: “pet”, “animal/s”, “advocacy/advocates”, “rescue”, “stray”, “feral”, “cat”, “colony”, “TNR”, “spay/neuter”, “fix” (combine more vague ones like this with cat/pets/low cost/etc), “foster/ing”, “save”, “lost/found”, and remotely anything you can think of related to animals and animal lovers whatsoever.

I have found groups in areas so small and remote that I was this close to not even searching that area because I felt there was no way they’d have a group like this, yet they did, and I promptly received help. You can even use your state as one of the locations.

Don’t be afraid to post on lost/found pet groups, spay/neuter groups, etc that seem to not quite fit what you’re looking for. I’ve found that a LOT of those groups have actually been able to point me to rescues, people, and Facebook groups who CAN help, even if he person themselves could not (this same principle applies to using your state as a keyword in the search - The point is to network, not necessarily find hands on help within the group itself). I’ve even done this on local online garage sale groups when allowed and Nextdoor and was pointed to a group or person who could help (and found a foster among the members themselves on a few occasions).

Bonus, you may find someone willing to TNR or take in the other strays in the area that you’ll be forced to leave behind. You may also find someone who could come in handy for future pet sitting options.

Affording materials -

Definitely try to source materials like crates, carriers, fencing, fencing materials, tools, etc at yard sales, estate sales, thrift shops, flea markets, Craigslist ads, and Facebook marketplace. Also post to Facebook online Garage Sale groups and Nextdoor with an ISO (in search of) post to see if anyone has anything they can lend, give, or sell to you cheaply.

I source a lot of those things from all of those resources (and I’ve actually found a wholeee lot of building materials completely free, especially at garage sales and Craigslist). I just picked up a Kitty Tube shelter in “like new” condition this weekend for $30 (retails for $150+) from a Craigslist ad.

So don’t discount these resources that are available to you!!! They can really help make things more financially feasible for you.

Future Petsitting -

Some of the resources I’ve already mentioned can already potentially help you with this. But another thing I would add would be to connect with your neighbors, as many as possible, whenever you move (Nextdoor will be a huge help for this!).

Try to find a nice neighbor you like and trust, who also seems to love and have experience with animals/pets, especially cats.

When the time comes for you to leave, neighbors can often be an invaluable option for petsitting.

I frequently pet sit for neighbors I have a decent relationship with for free since it isn’t particularly inconvenient to do so for someone who lives within walking distance to me. And if you have the opportunity to do something similar for them, always do it if possible. Most gladly return the favor later on.

I also use services of neighbor’s teenage kids who often do stuff cheaper than other alternatives. I’ve found that petsitting is something a lot of them are interested in and can responsibly handle for healthy pets.

Also don’t forget to seriously consider whether taking the kitties with you is ever an option whenever you travel!

You’re doing a great job, keep up the good work!!!

 

[Hannaaaw]

Hi everyone, little update (and thank you for the additional info guys, seriously a life saver).

I'm still waiting to hear back on our house situation, we will find out tomorrow what the verdict is but as it stands, I think it will work out and we will be moving in within 2 weeks should the owner sign off. The only drawback was, they didn't want the cats... but I agreed to keep them purely outdoor in the enclosure I've already planned up for them, so sadly they can't come inside but it's still better than being left to die. I'll be making the enclosure about 8ft x 8ft x 8ft and my school's workshop people have offered to help me assemble it once I gather all of the materials! So thank goodness these babies will be okay as soon as we just get the approval for them.

Things with the 3rd roommate blew up today and she continues threatening to call animal control on them for no reason, mainly to get back at us. I'm in panic mode about to contact rescues and shelters first thing in the morning to see if I can have them protected for about 2-3 weeks until I'm in the new place. If I'm not here even for a day, she WILL call them especially once we tell her tomorrow about our 30 day notice. I'm so desperate to get these cats to safety, she is such a cruel individual that I don't know what to do anymore if no ones willing to take them in. I can barely afford them as is, and unless the shelter agrees to hold them for free/discounted rates then I just have to pray she's bluffing. I will be getting them a cat condo / carriers so I can move them in first thing on the 15th to the new place, but realistically their enclosure won't be ready until that weekend. I'll just have to do what works, I can't lose these two. If anyone on here is willing to even take them in for a few days, I'd pay what needs to be done, but I am seriously worried for these two. She hates them and today she made it clear she doesn't care if they die. I can't understand how awful people are sometimes, I really can't.

 

[Hannaaaw]

Is there a spot on this forum I can post requesting a temporary foster for these two? I looked around but I can't seem to find it. I'm going to post on Facebook as well and try my best to get them out ASAP. So worried for them, completely just over this whole situation with this girl and wish she could just leave them alone.

 

[moxiewild]

Did you see my post above yours? You need to look for one of those Facebook groups. If you can PM me your city and/or county, I could start looking for you.

You can try posting on the SOS forum here, but frankly it’s a long shot.

You might try going to Reddit and locating a sub for your city or area and post there. If you aren’t familiar with Reddit, I can help walk you through it.

Also try people at your school. If you have the groupme app, a student portal with a more social section, even just an old school flyer on a bulletin board, it’s potentially a way to network. The best way to make connections in rescue is to basically just blast any and everyone, leaving no stone unturned.

If you have friends or people willing to help in other ways, then consider crowd funding to help raise money to cover boarding or a pet sitter (some pet sitter’s, especially on Rover, offer the option to sit your pet at their own home). This could also help to financially support a potential foster, so rescues might be more willing and able to connect you with one.

Cover all your bases here - reach out to your local community, contact vets (vet techs often pet sit in the side!), rescues, pet supply shops, groomers, pet sitters. It’s going to be a numbers game, reach out enough and someone will step up because of how unique and urgent your situation is and these cats already having homes.

If I were you, I would call animal control to let them know what’s going on. That way if she does call them, they’ll recognize the address and contact you first. If you can send them photos of the cats, that can also help just in case anyone brings them in.

If your roommate has ever made anything resembling a direct threat to the cats, you might consider reporting it, at least to have it on record in case something does happen. Owned or not, it is illegal to cause them harm or dump them, and in this case, you can consider these cats yours and your property since you’ve all but adopted them already. I would be sure to claim them at this point.

I would share with AC that so long as you’re living with her, you don’t feel safe bringing them inside out of fear of what she might do to them.Make sure they know you’ve been responsible and have had them neutered, and that you’re literally moving in order to get them to safety (you can just leave your reasons for moving at that... ). Do not be shy about sharing the lengths you are going to in order to protect these cats, let them know about your plans to build an enclosure once you move and everything.

Anytime I’m in an uncertain and dicey situation like this, I call Animal Control and ask to speak to whoever is in charge. Then I just speak with them and explain the situation and ask what my best recourse may be or whether I/the animal has any legal protection. They’ve always been amicable to this.

Don’t give up. I know it’s overwhelming but you just have to get through this main obstacle.

 

[Hannaaaw]

Hey moxie, thank you again for all of the info above. I was feeling overwhelmed and just started panic-messaging groups, rescues, etc to try and get these cats out ASAP. I will check everything you mentioned as well, I have to get them out today before the next blow-up with the roommate occurs.

I thankfully seem to have found someone at the humane society (he works with the TNR program) that is going to call me today to help. Praying he can take them away and just get them as far as possible from this place, I think she did something to them tonight while I was out because they were both hiding when I found them. They were spooked/scared by something, that's for sure... they always run to me and meow, they're never just sitting there hiding. God if I ever saw her do something to them, you know I'd be calling AC on her for animal abuse, but if she has been doing things to them then she's doing it while I'm not there. I just pray today goes well and we get approved for the house, and the guy from the shelter can figure out a solution / temporary foster for these babies. If not, I have sent a few messages out and am waiting to hear back. I also live in the Pasadena/Altadena area Moxie, if you are able to find something that could help I'd be forever grateful. I'm so stressed between this, moving, and school/work that I feel like I'm just losing this battle. Gosh, I just need good news today, and I know I'll be fine. :[

 

[Hannaaaw]

Well, things went south. We were denied the house due to being students and "too much liability" with that, plus the pets + other things. We almost had it too and were denied at the last minute, so I now have no where to go. We are looking for new places but none will allow this many pets to move in with me. I've talked to the guy that was willing to help me and all he said was I could bring them in and impound them, that is the only thing I can do. No one will take them and assure me they have a shot at a home.

I'm thinking I will sneak them onto the new property once we find something and just claim they were strays living in the area. How I will acclimate them, I have no idea. I can't build anything for them at this point like I originally planned at the new place. This is the only thing left that I can do to take these cats with me, otherwise they risk going to the shelter. I'm heartbroken.

 

[moxiewild]

That’s odd about the student thing. Did y’all discuss someone else co-signing for you guys at all? I moved due to... undesirable... roommates too quite a lot when I was in school and I never had anyone blink twice about the student thing. That was only a few years ago.

How many animals do y’all have combined? I think you said you have reptiles too, most landlords and apartment complexes don’t count small animals like that.

I’ll keep trying to find something in your area. There is unfortunately a Pasedena quite close to me so it was making the search a bit more complicated than usual when I tried looking before.

You could not mention them, and if you’re caught, say you’re just watching them temporarily for a friend or family member. If it comes up again later, you could say the owner basically abandoned them and left them with you, and you didn’t want to turn them over to AC because they would be euthanized - most people in general will be understanding and willing to overlook this to some extent.

A minority won’t though, so of course it’s always a risk and finding a place where you don’t have to hide them is ideal.

None of the rescues you’ve contacted have had a temporary foster available to take them until you can get your situation sorted out?

Remember, you can still acclimate them by isolating them in your room, or an extra large dog crate or a tall “cat cage” (you can search on Amazon and Chewy for those) until you can figure something else out if you have to.

 

[Hannaaaw]

I think the biggest issue they had was the amount of pets ( a dog, 2 cats, 2 lizards) as well as they didn't feel secure about us being students who were being supported by parents. The property manager even told me she was surprised we were denied and that the landlord was being extremely picky ( first time landlords). It really sucks since we were expecting to move out within 2 weeks, but we're back to square one. At this point I'm not mentioning the cats because I need a place ASAP and many places won't even reply when they hear the amount of pets I have total.

We have a bunch of houses that we're waiting to look at, and I plan on getting one of those cat condos to keep the kitties in outside for the first few weeks. I may sneak them inside at night but they have to be in cages. I hate to do it this way but every rescue group I've contacted had told me the same generic response of "we are full and can't take them" or "because they are feral/strays, they must be left there and we can't take them". I explain to them these are very sweet stray cats, not feral.... But no one is willing to take them. I don't think even animal control will come out and get them because they are considered community/feral cats, so they're just left alone to live out their lives outside. I have to physically bring them in and impound them if I want to take them to the humane society. The stray cat population is so bad here that it's impossible finding anyone who even has room for them. They all just tell me to leave them me outside.

I'm actually going to the humane society later today to speak with them and am hoping to learn more about the farm cat thing many shelters take part of. That would give them a home and a safe place to live out their life, and it's honestly the last option I have at this point. If all else fails, I will just take them and acclimate them to the new house. If they ask, I'll just tell the landlord they were strays, and I had a spare cage that I set up for them to sleep in at night to stay warm.... So she'll see that I'm just caring for them. Also may keep them in the garage if the temperature is okay, that way they'd have more space. Honestly I'm trying to think of anything at this point. If they become acclimated properly, I may mention it to the landlord and tell her they were abandoned here, and that I'd like to adopt them. If she agrees, then I can start bringing them indoors and officially keep them, maybe even making them an enclosure outside as planned. If she says no, then they'll just continue being strays that live outside until I graduate and can take them with me, or until I find a home for them.

Thank you so much for helping me look for places, I really cannot thank you enough. I have been avoiding the problem roommate until we have to give her our 30 day notice, so she's been leaving me and the cats alone for now, but our goal is still to get out of here immediately for everyone's safety. I still cannot bring myself to drop these cats off at the shelter, because I know their faith so I'm still doing everything I can to either find homes, temporary fosters, or any rescue that will take them. It just breaks my heart that no group is even willing to give them a chance.... I understand though. All of these places are filled to the max with cats as it is, so no one has the ability to take them. I feel so helpless honestly,I really do. I know they are capable of being loving pets but they just need to be given a chance: (

 

[jefferd18]

Hannaaw, how are the kitties doing?