Please Advise on Cat Adoption and Yo-yo effect?

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The 9 Kitty Brats - 22 Sep 2003 00:41 GMT

Hi,

I was wanting to know how any of you that do private adoption is handling
the Yo-yo effect? I have had two cats returned to me yesterday. One after 3
weeks the other after only 6 hours.
The one that was returned after 6 hours was almost killed from the young
College student sticking him in a sports duffle bag to return him. He was
gasping for breath for 30 minutes after he got out. I was SOOOO mad. He had
peed and pooped himself in it. So to add to his stress I had to dry wash him.
The other one that was gone for 3 weeks is having a hard time finding her
place in the house. She shied away from our hands for a while. Her returning
threw all the cats out of wack. All are hissing and spitting at eachother not
at just her.
I just want to cry I love each and every one of these cats and want to find
good homes for them. At this point though I'm about ready to give up on
adopting them and keep them all.
Please any advise would be very much appreciated.

Amber, and the 10 Rescued Kitty Brats, 6 Fish, 3 LOUD Birds, & 1 Snake.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
S*T*R*E*S*S That confusion created when ones mind overrides the bodies basic
desire to choke the living crap out of some jerk that deserves it.

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zuzu22@webtv.net - 22 Sep 2003 01:17 GMT

Amber wrote:

> I was wanting to know how any of you
> that do private adoption is handling the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> pooped himself in it. So to add to his
> stress I had to dry wash him.

The first rule of adoption (for me anyway) is that I NEVER will adopt to
a student. They are notorious for abandoning pets and, although there
may very will be responsible ones out there, I'm not going to take the
risk. It sounds like you are very lucky to have had the poor kitty
returned to you so soon.

> The other one that was gone for
> 3 weeks is having a hard time finding
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> wack. All are hissing and spitting at
> eachother not at just her.

Did you just put her in the mix without isolating her for several days
and then doing a second introduction? If so that is why you are having
problems. Separating her for a few days to let her de-stress would be
the best thing you can do for her. Why was she returned?

> I just want to cry I love each and
> every one of these cats and want to find
> good homes for them. At this point
> though I'm about ready to give up on
> adopting them and keep them all.

If you have the means and ability to give them all good food, care and
veterinary attention when needed there's nothing wrong with that
scenario.

> Please any advise would be very
> much appreciated.

What criteria are you using for your adoptions? Do you have a contract?
Are you advertising or putting up flyers? If so where?
As far as returns go, my own personal policy is that if a cat is
returned to me (which has happened) it stays. Sometimes there have been
some pretty serious issues behind the returns and I don't want to stress
the cat out putting it in another home only to have it returned again.
It's difficult to find people that are willing to deal with aggression,
assorted behavioral or litterbox issues, etc. I am willing to deal with
any issue no matter how long it takes so in the end I feel at that point
they are better off here, and so far I've been successful and the cats
are happy. YMMV.

Megan

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The 9 Kitty Brats - 22 Sep 2003 13:16 GMT

Hi Megan,

I did isolate Kafira when she returned but they go to the door and start
hissing even at each other. It doesn't stop though when they are away from the
door. It did calm down a bit when she ran out of the room and they all had a
good butt sniffing. LoL She was only out for about 5 minutes today.
Kafira was returned because the guy that adopted her got laid off. He is a
young widowed father with 4 kids. That I have known for 7 years.
The one that got returned after just 6 hours was because the girl couldn't
stand to keep him in the bedroom and tried to just throw him in with her dog.
The dog is use to cats but Mischue was terrified. I told her to return him,
because she couldn't keep him isolated for a week or so.
When I adopt out an animal I ask to see vet records on all animals in the
house and prefer to adopt out to people that already have a pet.
This girl was referred to me by my vet so I thought for sure she would be a
good owner. She has had her dog for 4 years takes it to the vet regularly and
had a cat that died about a year ago from complications from diabetes.
Most adopties are referred to me by my vets office or friends only. I also
have a contract wrote up stating that the animal has to be returned to me if
they cannot keep it. I also do a 2 week checkup to make sure that everything is
going smoothly. I refuse to adopt out kittens because the fact that a lot of
people want a kitten till it is grown and loses that cute little kitten look.
I know what you mean about some that you can't really adopt out we have 4
that either have health issues or behavioral. So they are not up for adoption.
Thanks so very much and have a wonderful day!
Amber, and the 10 Rescued Kitty Brats, 6 Fish, 3 LOUD Birds, & 1 Snake.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
S*T*R*E*S*S That confusion created when ones mind overrides the bodies basic
desire to choke the living crap out of some jerk that deserves it.

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Cat Protector - 22 Sep 2003 16:39 GMT

This is disgusting. If I were you I'd take that kid's name to those who
enforce the animal cruelty laws in your state and let them know about him.
If the sport bag is just scratching the surface who knows how many other
animals he has harmed. As for the yo-yo effect, shelters seem to have that
on an ongoing basis because instead of solving an easy problem working to
solve an easy problem, some humans feel it is easier to dump animals back at
the shelter. Don't give up. With every bad human there is also another who
is willing to take the responsibility and give the cat a good and loving
home.

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> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> S*T*R*E*S*S That confusion created when ones mind overrides the bodies basic
> desire to choke the living crap out of some jerk that deserves it.

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