goodbye and good luck

[kindkit]

The kitty has gone to the shelter. It ended up being a bit of a production. While he was astonishingly willing to let me put him in a box for transport, he did not at all care to stay inside with the lid taped shut, and as I was starting to carry him out to the car, he pushed/clawed through the tape and got out. Again astonishingly, he let me coax him back inside the apartment. At that point, I went to the pet supply store and bought a cardboard cat carrier. Managed to assemble it, and yet again he let me pick him up and put him inside.

Naturally he objected, loudly and continuously, to being carried downstairs, put in my car, and driven away. So for the next twenty odd minutes I'm trying to drive to somewhere I've never been and which isn't easy to find, following directions from Google Maps while the poor cat yowls and cries. I felt like the worst person in the world.

Got him to the shelter finally, and of course he leaped out as soon as the box was opened and had to be hunted down, though once the shelter person had him he calmed down immediately and let her carry him. He turned out not to have a microchip.

I had to pay the shelter a fee to turn him over, which I was not expecting. *sigh*

Naturally I was crying buckets while I filled out the paperwork, because he's a lovely sweet cat and I would've liked to keep him, but I can't afford to.

I feel quite shattered right now. I know it was the right thing to do, because it gives him the chance to either be reunited with his people or get new people (preferably more responsible people who will have him neutered and get him a collar and a microchip). And even if the worst happens, it's better than him being hit by a car or starving or something, and dying in pain and fear.

I still feel awful, and I miss him, even though he was only here for three hours.

Comments

[cathexys]

I'm so sorry! It's so hard to lose a pet even if they were with you only a short time.

You did the right thing!

Also, I can't believe they charged you!!!

[kindkit]

Yeah, the charge was a bit of a shock, especially since the website didn't mention it. (I think technically it's "voluntary," since I said I couldn't afford all of it and they let me pay only part, but it still seems like a disincentive for people to bring in stray animals.)

[lilliburlero]

That does sound upsetting. I hope he's rehomed soon, and that you are able to get a cat of your own too.

[kindkit]

I might have been okay if it hadn't been for the car ride from hell. But animals in distress really upset me, and knowing I was the cause of it was painful. Of course I knew that it was all with the intent of helping him, but he didn't know that.

His picture is up at the animal shelter website now, looking calm in his little cage, so I feel better.

[hagsrus]

Headbonks!

[sovay]

I still feel awful, and I miss him, even though he was only here for three hours.

You were good to a cat when he needed you. If he gets new people who take as much care of him as you did for those three hours, he will be a lucky cat.

[kindkit]

Thanks. I'm doing better now, but it was a rough morning. It's amazing how much of a gap there can be between doing something you know is right and it feeling right.

[lilacsigil]

And if he's constantly crying like that, he might not be 100% well, either. (Not the car crying, that's normal, but the rest of it.) And he'll get checked out and get vet treatment at the shelter. He was very lucky that he came to your window!

[kindkit]

He actually calmed down a lot after the first forty-five minutes or so, and even went to sleep. Still, people who didn't bother to have him neutered might not have taken him in for other veterinary care, so it's a good thing he'll be checked out.

Poor guy. I'm kind of hoping the original owners don't reclaim him, so he can be adopted.

[laurajv]

It's very odd that they made you pay, for a cat that wasn't even yours. :(

[conuly]

I guess if they made you pay only for your own animals then people would always claim "he's just a stray".

[magnetic_pole]

*tea for you and scritches for the cat, poor thing, if that's what he likes*

So stressful. Hope you both recover quickly. M.

[halotolerant]

*hugs* Ugh yes when we puppy sat it was heart rending when we did such evil things as 'closing the toilet door, not letting puppy in with you' and she just cried and scratched at the door like the demons of hell were behind her...

I'm sorry you had the stress of getting and having to lose the cat. I really hope you can get a cat into your life very soon. And I cannot believe they make you pay a fee that's insane.

*moar hugs*