I'm now staying in Rochester, NY with friends (my goddaughter's family) and I found a stray (probably feral really) cat... or she found me. I've never been particularly fond of cats, but this little one has stolen my heart and I'm desperate to find her some help.
The family I'm staying with has a 6-month-old baby, and they don't want kitty anywhere near the house for fear of disease or allergies. In fact, I tried to keep kitty in a box on their back porch and the husband went ballistic and tried to get me to leave!
I've been feeding kitty, but she needs so much more. She needs a medical check up, shots, SPAYING (there are so many feral/stray cats in this poor neighborhood. Her getting pregnant is my biggest fear), a loving home. If I had my own home, I'd keep her, but I've been homeless and bouncing around from one place to the next since April. My own best friend, Tucker, is now in foster care in Fredericksburg, VA - thanks to our wonderful 4freedom.
I've contacted the local SPCA (Lollipop Farm) and they said that because she's feral, the policy is to keep her 5 days to monitor her, then if she passes some arbitrary test, they'll put her up for adoption, but doubt anyone will take her because she's feral. I asked what would happen then, and they said they'd put her down. I asked if they'd contact me first so I could come back and get her, they said they couldn't do that. I could never take the cat to her possible death. I asked them if they knew any local rescues and the woman told me all the rescues are full.
At first I thought she was a stray and I made up some fliers and posted them around the neighborhood. I didn't even get a crank call.
Someone on Facebook said she would adopt kitty, but she was supposed to come this past Saturday to pick her up and never showed.
It's getting cold up here in NY and I'd love to find a home for her before the winter comes.
Can anyone help? She's so sweet and gentle. Very playful. She'd make a great pet.
8:06 AM PT: Thanks to everyone who participated, and an especially great big thanks to kishik who has offered to send a carrier for kitty. It will be a big help. Once I get the carrier, I can take her to a vet who's willing to donate the necessary services - including checking her for a chip. BTW, I live in a really poor neighborhood. The likelihood of this cat having a chip is small to none, but I will ask that she be checked anyway. This is the closet vet to me, which is at least an hour away by bus: http://goo.gl/...
Please continue to keep kitty in mind. Please reach out to anyone you think might be able to help. She still needs a home, and hopefully before winter gets here.
Thanks and happy Columbus Day.
Fri Oct 12, 2012 at 10:58 AM PT: Kitty's carrier came yesterday! Yay! Thank you, kishik!
I have an appointment for next Tuesday at Banfield to get her a free check up. Will update after that.