Took a stray to the shelter

I took a stray to the Hennipin county Humane Society Shelter this weekend. Ever since then I've been pretty upset and I guess I wanted some reassurance that I did the right thing. A woman who lives in my building told me that cat had been hanging around for a week or more. He was very friendly and was thin, but not starving. My guess is that he was recently abandonded (I would love to get my hands on people who do this). Right now the weather in Minneapolis is beautiful but that is certainly not going to last. I couldn't stand to think of that hungry cat outside as the weather got colder and colder. And he was an unnuetered male, so he could contribute to the over-population problem. The shelter says that they are no-kill. But the stray kitty cried the whole drive to the shelter, and I was in tears by the time I dropped him off. You don't have to give a donation if you are dropping off a stray, but I did anyway. I already have 2 cats in a small one bedroom apartment so I couldn't take him. I suppose it was for the best, but I can't get the image of that poor, scared kitty in a cage, out of my mind.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Dear Sue,

You definitely did the right thing. Taking him into your home would have been traumatic for him with your other cats there, even with all the love you would have given him. And as for leaving him to wander around outside, with cars, dogs and winter approaching... I just don't know how people can abandon their pets, but they do. It's heartbreaking.

He won't be scared for long, don't worry. He's got regular meals, warmth, and the kindness of the shelter volunteers. He was scared in the car, for sure, but most cats are even if they're secure house pets! Mine hate it. He wasn't saying to you, keep me please, I'm so small and lonely - he was just scared.

You would have given him all the love and care you could if it was possible for you to keep him, but as you couldn't, you did the best thing by taking him to a place of shelter. And there he has the chance of a new home as well. He will soon adjust to the pen in the shelter, and then hopefully be adopted by new people who will care for him.

There are thousands and thousands of stray cats out there, but at least this one was found by a kind caring person, and given back security, food and warmth, and in time a new home. So don't let the scared kitten image stay in your mind for long. He'll be safe and contented, not lost, hungry and cold as he surely would have been otherwise.

I joined the Cats Protection League here in Britain because it was so heartbreaking to know of all the lost and abused cats out there, and at least now I am doing my small part in helping them, by fostering kittens and cats until they find new homes. I have a 14-week old female at the moment, born to a feral mother in a back garden, and now discovering the joys of living with humans. (I hope!)

So, don't be sad anymore - he'll be fine! You gave him the best chance possible.

Best wishes,

Debbie Cats Protection League (UK)

Hi Sue

I had to do this once, too. A beautiful, very thin all grey unneutered male was abandoned near my apartment also. (All people who abandon cats should be left in the Arctic to fend for themselves).

I've been sorry ever since that I did not keep him, but was also in a situation like yours.

One good thing though, was that the SPCA gave me a number to call (and a reference number for the kitty) to inquire as to whether he had been placed with in a home. About 9 days later when I called to check on hime, they told me he had been adopted and neutered so I knew he was safe. Maybe you could check on the kitty you left with the shelter and see how he's doing.

You did what you could for him, so don't feel bad (hard not to, I know) but even a shelter is better than outside and no food in winter.

You really shouldn't feel bad about this. I have rescued many cats and found homes for them, but have had to resort to shelters a couple of times. The one that I remember most clearly was abandoned by the previous tenants when I and my roommates moved in. Unfortunately, one of my roommates was allergic. I had only one short-haired cat at the time and the roommate could tolerate her but the abandoned cat was long-haired and caused my roommate to have severe attacks. The poor thing had terrible worms and desparately wanted to come inside (after all, it was his home). I tried for a few days to find him a home, unsuccessfully. He was so miserable I couldn't stand it so I took him to a shelter, figuring that was his best shot. Sometimes a shelter is the best alternative and doing something is always better than doing nothing.

I think I heard that Minneapolis got hit with terrible weather this weekend, so definitely I think you did the right thing. Probably the only thing you could do in your circumstances.

Absolutely, you did the right thing

Look at it this way - if he was abandoned, you saved him from a slow painful death. If he DID have a home, then obviously he was not being cared for properly, so you did him a great service.

By placing him in the shelter, you gave him a very good chance of having a happy, healthy life. Don't ever regret what you did. If there were more people like you in the world, there would be a lot less suffering.