Cats spraying garage

[AuntB]

My child has asthma attacks in direct response to cats. She will always encounter allergens in the world, but her home should be and will be a safe place. I love the cat but I love my child MUCH more. I already watched my oldest child on life support from RSV and I refuse to watch another child struggle to breath. All environmental improvements inside the home have been done including removing all carpet. Her allergist didn't jump to anything. She actually tried another med to see if that would hold us over until we found Lucy a home...sadly it didn't work leaving us in this situation. The cat was never in the bedroom.

No, this is not what I expected when I rescued Lucy. She was supposed to be a household member of our family. Now, while she is outside she still gets tons of attention so she is not wondering if she has been forgotten or is unloved. My husband and I will even sit on the porch and let her nap in our laps while we read...she's still getting plenty of lap time.

Thank you for the suggestion of putting up fliers in the vet's offices. We have tons around here as we are in a suburb of Atlanta. I will do this this week. As I will continue to regularly do what I've been doing on a constant basis to find Lucy a safe/indoor home. Thanks for reminding me that I AM the one with manual dexterity to dial a phone. Guess I forgot that while making regular phone calls... Sorry...I'm being sensitive.

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by AuntB

Guess I forgot that while making regular phone calls... Sorry...I'm being sensitive.

It's okay. I won't take it personally. (I've been involved with animals far, far too long to have anything less than a hide of a rhino.)

However, I'm not a mind reader. So I'll only know what you put up here.

Edited to add: I'm not giving up or in. I'm just waiting for a list of what you've done/tried - and more importantly where (i.e. location) so as not to... well, add insult to injury. I'm sure this is just awful for you, and I truly sympathise. One thing: if Lucy got a rescue/shelter space would you consider that?

[AuntB]

Edited to add: I'm not giving up or in. I'm just waiting for a list of what you've done/tried - and more importantly where (i.e. location) so as not to... well, add insult to injury. I'm sure this is just awful for you, and I truly sympathise. One thing: if Lucy got a rescue/shelter space would you consider that?

My husband has advertised her at his work....the CDC. There are a ton of animal loving folks there but so many of his immediate co-workers are already foster homes or have several animals. Fortunately this situation is regularly talked about there and the good folks say they continue to look for friends who may be able to take her. There are also a couple of online bulletins that he has been able to regularly keep her posted on there. Oh, and one his co-workers does volunteer work for the shelter I mention below and she's trying to secure a spot.

There are about three rescues that I stay in contact with on a monthly basis. It is difficult for them as they have SO many cats and with kitten season coming up they just don't have many spots available...and when they do it gets filled pretty quickly by an animal that has been dumped. Of course if a spot opened up I would let them care for her. There is one particular shelter that we have worked with in the past to re-home an aggressive dog we rescued. They were awesome and found her the perfect home without children and even kept us updated with photos of her new family. My husband worked to raise money for that shelter by doing a benefit so we were able to give back to them (just had to add that so we don't seem like animal dumpers). I know if they have a spot open they will take the cat but nothing has opened up in about 6 months. Honestly, I would prefer finding a home for Lucy this way as these rescues go the extra mile to ensure the animals are going to truly good homes. Unless of course I was able to find someone I know and trust to take her.

I am always reminding my neighbors and friends to be helping by asking in their circles. We almost thought we had a home with my neighbor's sister, but her husband said no more cats...she would have made cat #4 for them.

I won't advertise her on general classifieds but I have discovered a pet classifieds that may be a good option.

Any more suggestions??

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by AuntB

I won't advertise her on general classifieds but I have discovered a pet classifieds that may be a good option.

Any more suggestions??

I mentioned it before - but just to double check - fliers in vet's offices? You could also try fliers at the local libraries if they allow it. A good colour photo is a must as I'm sure you realise.

Do any of the rescues that you've been in contact with have a slot at the local Petsmart or similar - i.e. adoption hour or whatever they call it? I just wondered if perhaps they'd allow you to bring Lucy to some (i.e. you get the benefit of their exposure without taking up a space as it were). I'd ask anyway, the worst they can say is no.

On the pet classified ... I don't know if it would fly, but again, could you state something in the ad to the effect that rehoming would be subject to whatever rules and regs of one of the shelters? This should help deter undesirables. Ask shelter to see a copy of their rehoming contract or whatever it is they use and use that as a template. A genuine adopter (albeit a complete stranger which is why I suggest this) would have no issues with this I wouldn't have thought.

Do any of the shelters/rescues work together with or are they knowledgable about any others further afield? You're in a big metro area I seem to remember, so Lucy faces stiff competion, it's just the reality. Perhaps going some distance in any direction might increase the odds of her being rehomed and/or securing her a rescue spot.

You can try the classified section here on citydata too.

I'll keep thinking. Keep us posted.

[AuntB]

Thanks again for the great suggestions!! All quite helpful and hopefully will speed up the process.

[FiveHorses]

My heart goes out to you. Everything crossed for a speedy and successful resolution for both your sakes.