Cat ethics- what is the right descision?

Question

I have an ornry people hating cat at home. I've had her for six years. Nobody likes her but me...i have a soft spot in my heart for her. She also smells funny (like skunk), is overweight, and attacks me and other people at random. This all sounds pretty bad, but when it's just us at home, she's pretty mellow. Likes her space, is posessive, but really loves and trusts me. I found a starving to death, dehydrated baby kitty on a country road in the middle of nowhere when i was out biking one night. I took her in (the garage) and she is the most adorable, loving cat you'll ever meet. Everyone says to get rid of the bitchy cat and keep the new one. I can't make a descision. For all the times I've wanted to hand my old cat off to anyone who would take her, I don't have the heart to put her in a shelter. She was here first- I took her into my life and I feel like I need to care for her till the day she dies. On the other hand, here's this new life that hasn't had the chance to live the good life she deserves. She is going to live on a farm tonight if i cant make a descision. I can't have both, because I already have two cats at home, and my living space is rather small.

Answer 1

This is a question that only you can answer.  

Here is something to consider:

Are you the only human inhabitant in your house?  Or do you share your home with other roomates, or family members?

It sounds like you have a connection with the 'ornery' cat.  If so, I think taking her to a shelter would be bad for both of you!

I had a somewhat similar situation...where I had to make a decision..I have an elderly cat...who's been here for a very very long time.  Two stray kittens showed up...and they were so cute...but they were upsetting my existing elderly cat to the point where she started going to the bathroom in inappropriate places and hiding and she was pretty much depressed.

The two newbie cats were feral, not tame at all...they stayed outside but I had started feeding them...

I went through the neighborhood trying to find a potential existing or new home for them with no success.

Ultimately, I had to take them to the animal rescue foundation.

I don't know if this helps...but if you can find a home for the new kitten, great!  it sounds like you have your hands full already.

Only you can decide if you want to stick it out with your unfriendly kitty.

.too bad you are limited in space, maybe the sweet new kitty could become an influential companion to your ornery old kitty!

It sounds like you love the existing kitty and have found a home for the baby...kitten...lucky for both of them that they found you!  And you have given both of them a safe home....yours and the one at the farm:)

cheers!

Good luck

  

Answer 2

Your first cat would probably never survive with any other mom or dad because of it's personality. Your cat would probably never trust anyone else either. May I ask if your cat is fixed? If not your cats personality may get better if it is fixed. I have a two year old cat named GreyMoon. She was the meanest cat and kitten that I had ever laid my eye's on. She would attack everyone especially my children. I also have three other cats. And she was terrible to them to. I almost took her to the shelter several times. But I kept thinking that it wouldn't be fair to take her to the shelter because if someone were to adopt her they would then feel the wrath of her personality. And I didn't want that. So I finally got her fixed. All my cats are fixed and they still have their claws. Anyway, GreyMoon's behaviors changed almost immediately. She's now a great cat. If I had to make the choice that you have to make regarding your cats I would send your first cat to the farm and not the new one because of the behavior issues. Good luck!!!  That's a hard decision to make.    

Answer 3

You need to find a new home for the kitten. How could you even consider giving up your cat that you've had for 6 years. I don't know who "everyone else" is, but it's your decision, and I'm sure you know what the right choice is.  

Answer 4

3 or 4 cats what's the difference?

I have had both and really it's not any more trouble.

Your onery cat deserves your love and loyalty ... The kitten is the one you can find a home for easiest.  Your old cat would just be put to sleep if you take her to a shelter.

Keep your old cat/

Keep or give away the kitten.

good luck  

Answer 5

I think you know what the right thing to do is, could you live with yourself if you gave up your 6 year old cat.  Who cares what other people think, you just described how much she loves and trusts you.  Cats are not disposable or replaceable.  you know what the right thing to do is, call a rescue for the kitten and let your cat live the rest of his days out with you, where he was meant to be :)

Answer 6

Let me tell you Kitty Kat's story, and I hope this will help you make the right decision. I thought of her, when I read your post. :-)

Back in the late 80's, a friend found this cat in a snowbank, in the middle of winter, starved and severly abused.  The cat was spayed and declawed, so someone owned her at one time.  The vet estimated she was about 2 yrs old.

The lady took her to the vets, got her back in good health, then her husband would not let her keep the cat.  They took her to a dog groomer friend and put her in a cage, trying to find her a home. Although she was very pretty, tortishell, no one wanted her, because when you tried to  pet her, she bite you.  The dog groomer wanted her gone, so they called me. They knew I never said no to a cat in need.

I said I would take her, but she would have to stay in the barn. At least she would have a home, food, water, shelter and trips to the vet. The althernative was they were going to put her in a shelter, where, with her personality, there was no way anyone was going to adopt her, and she would most likely have been put down.

She hung out in the hay loft, very anti social, hated the other cats.  She would not eat with the other cats, so had to feed her in my truck, every morn/night, when I got to the barn. She would never come, so starting calling here kitty, kitty, kitty. After awhile she would come when I called here kitty kitty, hence the name, Kitty Kat.

It got so when she heard my truck, she jumped down from the hayloft, and just got in my truck, she stayed there until I was done with my chores, I let her out, she ran back to the hayloft, still would not let you pet her, and didn't like to be held.

I went to a horse show, left Fri, would be back late Sun night, told the people how to feed her, that was in May. I came back, no Kitty Kat. I asked the people where she was, they said they never saw her. I walked the roads and back pastures, looking for her, for months, never found her.

Come late Sept, was riding in one of the very far back pastures, and I heard a meow.  She had a very distinctive meow, and I knew it was her. I called and called her, she finally came out from the tall grass. I was so happy to see her!! I tried putting her on the horse with me, she wouldn't stay, so I rode back slowly, calling her, and she followed my horse, I was a good mile out, it was slow progress, but she followed me all the way back.

Who knows where she had been for 4 months?

My situation at home changed, so I decided it was time to take her home.  It took me a long time, before she would let me pet her, and she was head man at home, the other cats just walked around her, never any hissing or fighting.

With alot alot of time and patience, she turned into a very loving cat, and always came in the bathroom, when I took a shower, and licked the water off my legs.

She passed away about 3 yrs ago, and I am very very thankful, that they called me, to take the mean cat, nobody wanted.  She brought so much joy to my life, and she truly loved her mommy.  Never trusted anybody but me.

Sorry this got so long, I thought you might enjoy the story, and I hope it helps you make the right decision. :-) :-) :-)          

Answer 7

It's really very simple.  You have had a cat for six years that is bonded with you -- and seemingly only you.  You could acclimate the kitten to your group, or re-home her once you've tamed and healed her.  Under no circumstances should you abandon your existing cat.  If you're willing to dump her in a shelter to have a new baby (kitten), then you shouldn't have pets.  Adopting an animal means giving it a forever-home.  If you can't provide that, please don't bring them into your home.  Foster them and re-home them, at most.   Animals bond intensely to their humans, and to abandon them is cruel, at best.   While I'm touched to know you'd care for the lost, stray kitten, that baby will be easier to re-home once he/she is well and healthy than a grumpy 6-year old who is a strictly one person cat.  As to space, unless there's a landlord issue, one more probably be doable, if you had the will to do so.