What's the best (humane) way to get rid of two cats?

Question

I have two cats that I have had for 7 years. They are brothers, and I got them from a shelter. I am moving and getting married, and cannot keep the cats. I don't know anyone who wants to take the cats. I worry that if I take them back to a shelter, they will maybe get split apart from each other, or get "put to sleep." My kids are all in college, and cannot take the cats, either, but I need to be able to explain to them what I did with the cats, too. Any thoughts? And don't tell me to kill them, dump them etc., Thanks.

Answer 1

You are pretty sorry. I got married and kept my 2 cats.

1. Check with your vet because sometimes vets will accept owner surrendered cats and find homes for them. The vet my mother works for does.

2. Check with any senior living facilities because seniors are often looking for companions and can't go out to find them.

3. Put an ad on Craig's List.

4. Talk to everyone you know that you think would be a good choice for the cats.

When you take in a pet you are its owner for life even if it's not convenient. There is a lot you can do in the interim for them. You could give them their own room in your house. It's not fair. It's not right.

Ask your college kids if they can put up fliers at school looking for a home for the 2 cats.  

Answer 2

Take them to the shelter, and tell them that they NEED to be adopted together, thats what people did with my two cats, they were in a cage together, and we said we wanted two cats, they gave us brother and sister, that the original owner wanted them adopted together. If they wont promise they are adopted together, bring them to the quincy, michigan humane society, they are a no kill society that cares which animals are adopted together., if you dont live close enough to michigan, find a different shelter, or put up posters for the cats. you can also take them to a local pet store, and have them put a sign on a cage that they cant be seperated.

Answer 3

I would suggest giving them to a friend that you know will take good care of them. Or put them up for adoption in a really nice home. That's really the best you can do if you don't want to put them in a shelter.

I've had a cat and a dog be put to sleep (because they were old) and I would not suggest doing that if their as close as you say.

Answer 4

It seems to me that you do know what your options are.  The shelter or another person who may be interested.  Now, there is a website in my area (Freecycle.com - which is a yahoo group if there is one in your area) that you may be able to post these cats on and someone may be interested.  Otherwise, if you are unwilling or unable to take the cats with you, then you will need to turn them in to the nearest shelter.  You could certainly, if you wanted to, attempt to find a no-kill private shelter that may be able to take them.  Good luck.

Answer 5

Poor poor cats. Why can't you keep them - you managed it for 7 years already ?

Advertise them as "must be kept together".

But seriously - would you re-home your kids too ?

Answer 6

my choice would be to put the on craigslist. That way they can most likely stay together. Another last resort option is to take them to the pond. i know its sad but thats if there is no other choice. So yea i would try craigslist. Goodluck!

Answer 7

Just search around, there are many shelters that are now no kill shelters, and if you explain to the shelter people that they are bonded and must be adopted out together, they will do their best to make that work. I would suggest calling the local vets offices and shelters and asking their advice, most if not all shelters will require a surrender fee to be able to help care for them. And working at a humane society myself, thank you, thank you for doing what you can..it's very admirable. Hopefully you find somewhere that can take them.

Answer 8

You should keep them! Why can't you take the cats with you when you move? You shouldn't get rid of them, that is incredibly irresponsible. How about your kids- do you also think you should get rid of them now you have a new life to begin?

Do NOT give them to anywherew that will kill them. Here in the UK that never happens, so any shelter/rspca is fine, but i know in the USA they kill cats that dont get homes so you need to find one that wont do that...best to find a friend or take them with you. How can you have cats for 7 YEARS and 'get rid ' of them?!

Answer 9

Ask your local non-kill shelter if you can request that your two cats you have to surrender stay together and are adopted together. Most shelters honor these requests. Non-kill shelters only put animals to sleep if they are deathly ill and in alot of pain, hurt or harm humans to an extent that can't be acceptable, or are concidered non-adoptable for their age and/or the previous two reasons. Your cats are concidered seniors but, if they're in a healthy state and are kind loveable cats, they will be quite adoptable. Have you tried seeing if other family members can take them in? Put an add in the newspaper and ask an adoption fee and resorces to ensure your pets a good home. Do whats best for your cats and you. Good luck.

EDIT:

You can also post an add at http://www.petfinder.com

under their classifides. You can explain your situation and give your email address and if someone wants them, they'll contact you. Good luck.

http://www.petfinder.com/local.html

Answer 10

find a friend or bring them to a no kill shelter or adoption organization. To be honest I hate that people adopt animals into their family and are willing to give them up for any reason. But if you have no other option a no kill shelter will not put animals down because there is not enough room or because they are too old. 7 years old is not that old for a cat but you have severally hurt their chances of them staying together and finding a happy PERMANENT home.  

Answer 11

Would you like to be humanely excused for wanting to "get rid of two cats"?  You are an adult and you are responsible for the lives of these cats.  You seem to be more concerned about explaining things to your kids and looking like you've done the right thing.

Find a way to keep the cats with you until you can find a good, loving home for them.  That's what responsible adults do!  Sometimes life is just not as convenient as we would like it to be.

Answer 12

First congratulations on the nups. I strongly suggest the local American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, aka the ASPCA. They are "No Kill" shelters. They will make sure your cats are in good health, give necessary shots, and spay or neuter before they are put up for adoption. DON'T put out adds to give them away for free.  They WILL VERY  LIKELY wind up as bait to train fighting dogs, or go for lab animal experiments.  If these suggestions fail, you may just have to take them to the vet, and have them humanely put down.

Answer 13

I would post them on craigslist as brother and sister that need to stay together. I got 2 sisters from there. they were moving couldnt bring cats etx. alot of people are looking for cats for free. hope you try it and see what kind of response you get.. good luck