Shoulder to cry on please

Claddagh_Noir

KxMx said:

I haven't felt ready to adopt again after losing my Lily 3 years ago- and after being turned down for fostering, I now volunteer two mornings a week as a foster support volunteer (cat cuddler).
I absolutely love it and it fills my cat cravings nicely. I get all the nice parts of caring and looking after them with none of the responsibility. I admit since losing Lily not having that responsibility has been nice and i've enjoyed the freedom.
I don't see myself as catless forever but certainly for the longer term.

I could have written this, especially where you have wrote about the responsibility and now having freedom.  I admire cats and dogs from afar now, especially on walks seeing strangers, or with friends and family.  We have considered fostering dogs, in years to come, for now, I will happily petsit for friends or family.  

At the moment there are a couple of black cats in the neighbourhood that seem to have taken a liking to me and come running  when they see me! Anyone would think they were my long lost pets!

I like what you say about volunteering.  In my city there is a Cat Cafe, we usually frequent there every so often. It is full of pedigree cats who are all full of character (when they are awake anyway!)  It's such a serene environment with nice soothing music and it seems like a sanctuary for us humans and cats. 

Shineyhappy

I am so sorry for your loss, it’s a hard decision to make but I know you will have their best interests at heart.

We had to have our previous cat put to sleep after nearly two years with heart failure. It was really tough and took a lot out us. We had given him the best life we could and the anxiety of having an I’ll cat really took its toll. Although he managed to have a great quality of life, it came at a high financial and emotional cost to us. 

Murphybear

Thank you all again for the stories, some lovely and some a bit sad.

I would like to get another cat eventually, out of my 69 years I’ve only had about 5 without a cat, mostly when I was in a University hall of residence.  The problem is we live in a lovely Housing Association property and technically although pets are allowed, we are not supposed to replace them when they go, hopefully I can talk them round.  An indoor cat maybe, perfect 

Silvertabby

Good breeders retire their queens after just a few litters, then look for loving 'forever' homes for them.  These will be indoor cats, so won't have to adapt to a new way of life.  

You may have to register your interest with more than one breeder, and then wait for the right match to come along - but perhaps you'll get your maine coon!

Murphybear

Silvertabby said:

Good breeders retire their queens after just a few litters, then look for loving 'forever' homes for them.  These will be indoor cats, so won't have to adapt to a new way of life.  

You may have to register your interest with more than one breeder, and then wait for the right match to come along - but perhaps you'll get your maine coon!

Thanks

we have some friends who did that, they have 2 Norwegian Forest cats which are nearly as nice as MCs.

Silvertabby

Murphybear said:

Silvertabby said:

Good breeders retire their queens after just a few litters, then look for loving 'forever' homes for them.  These will be indoor cats, so won't have to adapt to a new way of life.  

You may have to register your interest with more than one breeder, and then wait for the right match to come along - but perhaps you'll get your maine coon!

Thanks

we have some friends who did that, they have 2 Norwegian Forest cats which are nearly as nice as MCs.

Got our much loved and still very much missed silvertabby that way.  Were going to do the same thing but, to cut a long story short, the breeder said that she didn't expect to be retiring any of her queens in the near future, but she had a 20 week old kitten....

She had intended to keep the kitten for breeding and showing, but as she got a little older it became clear that while she was a perfectly healthy little girl, her colouring and markings weren't quite what the breeder expected.

She wasn't free, obviously, but she has been worth every penny!  If you can't find a NFC or MC do have a look at BSHs (British Short Hairs).  I'm probably biased, but they make ideal house cats due to their (usually!) laid back natures.

Then, if you've never had a house cat before but want to open your windows, have a look at streme pet screens.  We've got the patio door screens as well, but fitting those could be a problem in a rented house.  The window screen fittings would be easily disguised, though.

I hope you are starting to feel a little  better.  Just give yourself time.

Murphybear

Silvertabby said:

Murphybear said:

Silvertabby said:

Good breeders retire their queens after just a few litters, then look for loving 'forever' homes for them.  These will be indoor cats, so won't have to adapt to a new way of life.  

You may have to register your interest with more than one breeder, and then wait for the right match to come along - but perhaps you'll get your maine coon!

Thanks

we have some friends who did that, they have 2 Norwegian Forest cats which are nearly as nice as MCs.

Got our much loved and still very much missed silvertabby that way.  Were going to do the same thing but, to cut a long story short, the breeder said that she didn't expect to be retiring any of her queens in the near future, but she had a 20 week old kitten....

She had intended to keep the kitten for breeding and showing, but as she got a little older it became clear that while she was a perfectly healthy little girl, her colouring and markings weren't quite what the breeder expected.

She wasn't free, obviously, but she has been worth every penny!  If you can't find a NFC or MC do have a look at BSHs (British Short Hairs).  I'm probably biased, but they make ideal house cats due to their (usually!) laid back natures.

Then, if you've never had a house cat before but want to open your windows, have a look at streme pet screens.  We've got the patio door screens as well, but fitting those could be a problem in a rented house.  The window screen fittings would be easily disguised, though.

I hope you are starting to feel a little  better.  Just give yourself time.

Thanks, that’s helpful.  

Murphybear

We had a beautiful card this morning with a picture of  a lovely forget me not.  It was from everyone at the vets commiserating us for the loss of dear friend Squeaky.  

Some vets are worth their weight in gold 

ladyholly

I am so sorry for your loss. I know it is too soon for you to consider at present but my brother in law who is almost 90 and recently adopted an older cat from cats pretection who have a scheme where if you are taken too ill to care for the cat or you die they will rehome the cat. When and if you are ready it may be worth you looking into.

TripleH

We've just got back from the vets.

Our Queen had a stroke this morning and lost nearly all use of the left hand side of her body.

I feel numb.