Papy on 4/7/2007 at 01:01
Life sucks.
For the last 3 or 4 weeks, I was giving food to a stray cat. I already have a cat, so I couldn't adopt it. I wanted to bring it to my local SPCA shelter, but I know summer is a time when they are overcrowded. So I thought I could just feed it for a while, let summer pass, and then bring it to the shelter around September. I made a little box where the cat could be protected from rain and sleep comfortably.
I love cats, and I think I know them quite well. This cat was exceptional. Intelligent, joyful, extremely sociable and not aggressive at all, even towards other cats. It was to a point where I had no choice but to adopt it. Unfortunately my own cat obviously did not appreciate the idea of sharing its house, but I was working on it. Little by little, my cat was beginning to get used to the other one. It was even beginning to be curious about it, and I figured it was a matter of another two weeks at most.
During the last week-end, I was a little worried as I didn't saw the stray cat for two days. Sunday evening I finally saw it, but it was badly injured. It lost one of its eye and it was badly infected. I'm not sure if it's because of a fight with another animal, or if it is someone who decided to "have fun" with it, but the result is it had to be euthanized.
It sucks. I'm not someone on a mission to save and protect all life on earth, but I really fell in love with this particular cat. Now, I can't help myself but to wonder what would have happened if I did things differently. Maybe I should have brought it to the shelter the first day. Maybe I should have let it inside immediately and locked it in a room until my own cat came to accept it. Unfortunately, what is done cannot be changed, the only thing that could change is what will happen in the future.
I don't like the idea that this cat died for nothing. Not this one. Of course, I gave some money again to the shelter as they are badly in need, but I alone won't change much. What I'm hoping is that at least some of you who read this will take the time to give some spare change to their local animal shelter. Even if it's only 50 cents, it's worth it.
Please.
Phatose on 4/7/2007 at 04:12
I already give yearly.
It's not enough. Money can help deal with the present, but unless overpopulation is stemmed, there will never be enough money.
Spay and neuter, and for god's sake, adopt, never buy.
aguywhoplaysthief on 4/7/2007 at 04:21
Or you could give money to your local human shelter.
Phatose on 4/7/2007 at 04:23
If they start euthanizing the homeless when homeless shelters become overcrowded, I will.
Quixada on 4/7/2007 at 04:24
Quote Posted by aguywhoplaysthief
Or you could give money to your local human shelter.
Nah. People suck.
aguywhoplaysthief on 4/7/2007 at 05:43
That's funny, I didn't know there were any 15-year-old girls on these forums.
Shayde on 4/7/2007 at 06:29
Oh shut it! There's no need to shit all over a good intentioned thread just to further your own views and vent your spleen.
Papy I adopted a kitten that had boiling oil thrown onto him and had been badly beaten. He only lived for a year or so, the damage was so bad, but at least he had a nice year before he went.
I agree that people should always consider adopting animals first. They always seem to have the best natures.
ilweran on 4/7/2007 at 10:27
I'm sorry to hear about your cat :(
It's hard with stray or abandoned animals, we've taken in a few over the years- a rabbit who was probably dumped by her owners because she'd broken her leg, a cat we still have whose owners moved and left him behind, an elderly cat who had a lot of health problems but had such a wonderful feisty personality.
I'm sure your stray was happier for those weeks you were looking after it than it would have been in a shelter and even if you had taken it in you may have let it out - or it may have got out - and something like this could have happened. I don't know if you let your cat out, but the stray probably wouldn't have taken it well being kept in too much.
Thief13x on 4/7/2007 at 10:46
sorry to hear:( I've lost pets before, it sucks. AGWPT, I agree that people should be helped before animals, and I generally dislike any trace of personification, but I absolutly disagree on the homeless issue. If my grandpa could afford and get a 4.0 in college in Engineering, work a fulltime job, and raise a family of 7 kids and a stay-at-home wife, all with a wooden leg since before any of his kids were born, the homeless can survive on their own in the country which offers the most opportunity in the world, and the most food too:P Not meaning to start an argument, I just get irritated with the amount of handouts they get sometimes
SD on 4/7/2007 at 11:02
Look on the bright side: more dead cats = fewer dead animals.
