Cats moving to Australia- what would you do?

purple.sarah

I can totally understand how talking about putting pets to sleep is an issue that upsets animal lovers but lets think about the cats here and help them by offering the OP some useful advice instead of arguing.

On that note, the Oldies Club also helps rehome cats, contact them and see if they can help.

lostinrates

MillieMoodle wrote: »

oh and I might add, just as I see the comment about not knowing what the future could hold for the poster, well we certainly didn't. In fact, our lives haven't been easy since coming here and we've moved 3 more times, apart from our international move, across the country. So life isn't easy and no we can't know that we have security but it depends on if you have the persistence to see it through - all kitties (including the one who was the oldest) made it through all of that! 4 moves and 5 different houses. Not trying to be rude but I feel it is necessary to say it isn't impossible - I am proof of 5 years of much uncertainty in a new country and difficulty and bringing kitties who have been happy and healthy with me each step of the way.

We didn't, and like you took them, and certainly had persistence and love. It wasn't enough to stop one of our cat suffering in quarantine and dying. While the other coped admirably. they were different people. It's not something that is right for EVERY animal personality, just as international moves aren't right for all people. I make different choices now based on that experience, just as you make yours based on your experiences.

MillieMoodle

of course we all have to make choices but I think that is the key here of course - that we have a choice. One is that in moving, unless the government has forced you out you don't have to move - that is a choice. Another is to find a home for the pet, that is another choice. And another choice is to prepare yourself well and take your pets with you, all I was trying to say was that it wasn't impossible. Those without the experience of anything often say things are impossible, then you hear of someone else who did it and find that yes, it is possible but until you hear that story, you keep believing in one way and many opportunities go and many pets get put down or whatever. So I felt it was important to share a story of success and persistence with pets going overseas.

I guess what I don't find to be a choice is to take your pet to be put to sleep because you have chosen to move. I won't assign anything to the poster in saying that, only that many people say 'I have to move so I can't keep my cat, dog, fill in the blank' - I am pretty sure that in many cases 'have to' and 'want to' aren't too dissimilar (a better, high paying job is still a want). I can tell you that my last cat who lived till 18 and died due to cancer, had to be put to sleep last year, it was the most horrible situation to watch. I wished I could have done anything to help her more and so when I, and I am sure others who read it, see two healthy kitties who could live another 10 years and be able to have the choice to give them life, I couldn't do anything to take that away. Yes, we sometimes have to make the hard choice for a pet who is unhealthy to be put to sleep to end their suffering but I feel that sometimes get confused with a power to do that when it is no longer convenient or when we determine that it will be too difficult for them (so assigning an illness beforehand). Cats can be much more resilient than you think - they can move with other people, they can move to another country. It seems unfair that we assign an illness to them of how they can't cope, so I told my story of how they can in hopes that it helps and gives them a chance.

Georgiegirl256

Mojisola wrote: »

Sometimes choices have to be made which are very difficult. I may be going to upset some people but if I was in candy's situation and I couldn't rehome the cats with people I was confident would care for them, I would rather they were put to sleep.

Knowing that they had gone gently after a good life with me would be preferable to them spending their last years separated or not cared for or having health issues neglected and so on.

Putting them through the journey to Australia and all the stress involved with that wouldn't even be an option I'd consider.

I agree with not taking them to Australia, it wouldn't be a good decision at all. If they were younger cats then maybe, but even then I would seriously have to consider the options.

But I have to disagree with the pts option. Not having a go at the OP or anyone else, this is just my own personal opinion, but I really don't know how anyone could even consider that as an option....that thought wouldn't have even entered my head in the first place. Again, maybe this is just me, but I couldn't live with myself knowing that I had put down a (relatively) healthy cat, and would do everything within my powers to get them rehomed together, happy and safe.

ETA: pts for anything other than health reasons/put them out of pain etc is never for the best.

Person_one

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

OP was asking advice - she has had the cats for most of their lifetime and wanted to know if they are likely to survive being taken to Australia, or even being re-homed. It is a fair question.

Or if it was legal to kill them, don't forget, which is not really a 'fair question'.

Person_one

Mojisola wrote: »

Sometimes choices have to be made which are very difficult. I may be going to upset some people but if I was in candy's situation and I couldn't rehome the cats with people I was confident would care for them, I would rather they were put to sleep.

Knowing that they had gone gently after a good life with me would be preferable to them spending their last years separated or not cared for or having health issues neglected and so on.

Putting them through the journey to Australia and all the stress involved with that wouldn't even be an option I'd consider.

Probably best that you don't move to Australia then.

You try make it sound all very reasonable, but the thought of looking at your beloved, healthy pets who could have years and years left to live and thinking about killing them.

No, its horrible, its despicable, sorry, but it is. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Mojisola

Person_one wrote: »

Probably best that you don't move to Australia then.

You make it sound all very reasonable, but the thought of looking at your beloved, healthy pets who could have years and years left to live and thinking about killing them.

No, its horrible, its despicable, sorry, but it is. It makes me sick to my stomach.

candytwinkle wrote: »

They are both 13 years old, one has recently had a thyroid removed and also has a slight heart murmer.

But that's not the candy's situation. The cats are elderly and one has health problems.

Person_one

Mojisola wrote: »

But that's not the candy's situation. The cats are elderly and one has health problems.

13 is not particularly elderly for a cat, and a heart murmur and no thyroid won't necessarily have any impact on their life expectancy. Plenty of humans have either or both and are walking around perfectly happy, you wouldn't suggest their life wasn't worth saving.

Also, that's only one...

Mojisola

Person_one wrote: »

13 is not particularly elderly for a cat, and a heart murmur and no thyroid won't necessarily have any impact on their life expectancy. Plenty of humans have either or both and are walking around perfectly happy, you wouldn't suggest their life wasn't worth saving.

Also, that's only one...

But it affects whether anyone will take them on and continue to care for them as they age.

Given the choice of them not being cared for or PTS, I would choose the second. It would have to be a total last resort and, with a year to find new owners, candy probably won't have to face that decision.

lostinrates

Mojisola wrote: »

But it affect whether anyone will take them on and continue to care for them as they age.

Given the choice of them not being cared for or PTS, I would choose the second. It would have to be a total last resort and, with a year to find new owners, candy probably won't have to face that decision.

I think the continued care for ill health is what would concern me.

Incidentally, and rhetorically, I am always surprised at how few people have care plans in place for their pets with nominated care providers.