From commentor Madeleine:
When I took in Precious, he already had a good home. Due to some unfortunate circumstances that involved the other cat becoming aggressive, he needed a place to stay for about a month and a half. I returned Precious to his owner hoping that things had worked out. Unfortunately, a couple of months later, the situation hasn’t improved and the owner decided that rehoming Precious would be the best option. Here’s her post from Facebook:
I made a very difficult decision to re-home Precious. I tried everything I could possibly do as an owner, but there has not been progress. Leo opened the door and entered the room Precious was kept and viciously attacked poor Precious. Now, Precious is living in fear. I can’t do this to my kitties anymore, for they deserve to be happy and safe. I decided to give up Precious because he’s a sweetheart, indeed, the sweetest cats I’ve ever had, and I know he will be loved by his new family. If anyone is willing to take Precious before the rescue organization finds someone, please let me know. I am willing to pay for his insurance, food, and other supplies for the first year, and I will definitely volunteer to cat sit when you’re away. This was never an easy decision, and my heart is broken.
Precious is now with the rescue organization I foster for. He’s 7 years old, could stand to lose a bit more weight but otherwise in good health. While he was with me, he was extremely sweet and loving, and mellow. He loves hanging out with you as much as possible. I’ve attached several photos I took while he was with me, that shows how cute he can be, and can provide more from his owner as needed. (The pink belly is from over-grooming due to stress; his fur’s grown back now.)
Hope the Balloon Juice community can help. It’s a sad situation and I hope someone can make it better by giving Precious a new loving home.
If you are interested — or know someone who might be looking for a Precious of their own — email me at AnneLaurie @ verizon dot net (click on my name in the right-hand column) and I’ll put you in touch with Madeleine.
ADS
Gorgeous cat, reminds me of my Tigra.
PurpleGirl
Oh, he’s gorgeous. Hope he finds a good forever home.
Maude
I found the phrase could stand to lose a bit more weight funny. Tunch is floofy.
Alison
What a pretty baby. I FB’d this and tagged a friend in SD to see if she knows anyone.
Funkula
What a magnificent hunk of cat.
MikeJ
It’s a pity that cat wasn’t packing when it was attacked.
gogol's wife
Best wishes on finding this sweetie a home.
WaterGirl
What a beautiful boy, you can
almostsee how sweet he is.WaterGirl
AL, I hope you will post this again. Looks like not many people have seen it.
Triassic Sands
I have three cats in a small house. One, the last to arrive, is an indoor-outdoor cat who can never be in the presence of the other two. When she is in the house, she lives in my bedroom, while the other two have the rest of the place to themselves. When she wants/needs to go out, I do one of two things. I carry her to the front door, protecting her from the other two, and drop her outside or I put the other two in the bathroom and close the door. Then, I let the outdoor cat run through the empty kitchen and living room and open the outside door for her. When she wants to come in, she jumps up on my bedroom screen and hangs there until I acknowledge her. I then let the other two know what is happening — it’s become automatic — one runs in the bathroom, the other climbs to the top of the cat tree I built in the living room. I open the door and let the outdoor cat run to the bedroom. I close the bedroom door and let the cat out of the bathroom.
This has been going on for almost eight years — after extensive, failed efforts to get the three cats to co-exist. It’s so automatic, it’s no longer annoying, the only participant who doesn’t know his or her part perfectly is the outdoor cat, who tries to insist on being allowed to go to the front door on her own four feet. It would be simpler if she would let me carry her, but despite years of experience telling her that when she gets carried there is never a problem, she still wants to make the dash for the door on her own. Cat instinct.
Obviously, with this kind of arrangement, I can’t help with another adoption, but I mention it as a possible alternative to re-homing. Of course, it depends on the size and layout of the residence in question, but it is possible, even in a small home, to safely have incompatible cats. This kind of arrangement involves careful observance of safety measures — doors always closed fully and care that a sprinting cat doesn’t get where it doesn’t belong. They are sneaky.
But, in our case, it has provided a safe home for three cats, when superficial analysis of the situation would tell any rational human that one cat would have to be re-homed.
The last time they got together resulted in a smashed lamp and a broken tail — suffered by the aggressor, one of the indoor cats, when she fell out of a cat hammock attached to the ceiling and landed on my bedside lamp, destroying it. She had sprinted past me when I opened the bedroom door, and blasted her way into the hammock to attack the sleeping outdoor cat. Their tussle was so violent they both fell headlong out of the hammock. That was years ago and I’ve taken measures to prevent even the possibility of that happening again. Apart from the tail, which healed perfectly, there has never been a serious injury, but the indoor female is extremely territorial and has never shown any willingness to just get along.
Precious' owner
Thank you very much for spreading the words about Precious, and thank you for the kind comments.
The stress amassed between the cats, and because of my limited time and ability to pay more attention to each cat, I had to make this very difficult decision to re-home the victim cat, Precious.
Currently, Precious is separated and kept in a small bedroom. He wants to come out to walk around the house, but every time he meows, my other cat gets aroused, stalks and intimidates Precious from under the door. Every night, I lock up the bully cat in another room and let Precious walk around the house only for a short time. I also set the alarm in the middle of the night so that I can sleep with both cats alternatively since that’s the only way I can spend my time exclusively with each cat.
I’ve been working with a professional, board certified animal behaviorist, diligently following the instructions, but things are not improving. A few trips to ER to receive IV’s and shots were made in the last month when I tried to shield Precious from the other cat (both incidents occurred accidentally). If I had a family member to help me, the situation might have been easier to handle, but there is a limit if I am on my own, especially as I work full time and being a full-time student at the same time.
Giving up Precious would save both cats; if I gave up the aggressive one (who is very friendly if he’s not around Precious), and if he hurts anyone, his fate of ending up in a pound is inevitable; thus the decision. The cats were inseparable for many years, but a recent environment change affected their behaviors completely.
I gave a lot of thoughts and made this hard decision. I want both cats to be happy and safe and be able to walk around and sleep at anywhere they want.
I appreciate you continue spreading words to find a loving home for this gentle-soul fur ball I love very much.
THANK YOU, Ann Laurie for this article.
Cain
Someone must find a home for this cutie.. the coloring on him is just in fact “precious”!
MazeDancer
@Precious’ owner:
You have been valiant and devoted and must be acknowledged for how hard you tried. May Precious find the safe, happy home you want for him soon.
Precious' owner
Update:
Precious has found a new home today. His new family came to interview him, and Precious handled it very well!
Precious liked his new momma right away as the new mom fell in love with Precious instantly. Next Saturday and on, he will be the only cat in the house in a two story home with lots and lots of love for him. His new mom has bought everything for him and is anxiously waiting.
I can’t thank enough to Madeline (the contributor of the article) for her tender loving care for Precious when he stayed with her, and I appreciate all the kind comments posted here.