That was my reaction at first, until I looked at the newest thread the OP had started and had to agree it was a good idea to at least consider before they all get so attached they make the animal suffer by surrendering it several months or years from now.
Please, that’s terrible advice. If everyone spent all of their time Googling cat pictures, then who would be taking all of the cat pictures and posting them?
Please, that’s terrible advice. If everyone spent all of their time Googling cat pictures, then who would be taking all of the cat pictures and posting them?
Ghost is doing well, sorta. Since somebody already mentioned it, yeah, my wife is gone, and it’s just me and the cat she foisted on me. And I’m living with this beautiful cat who knows something is wrong, and fuck me because I didn’t do this, but I have to deal with it.
It was already apparent to me that Ghost has abandonment issues, being taken away from his mother, and then his new family handing him off to me and my wife. Every time either of us left the house, Ghost would completely freak out. Before my wife got arrested, I could leave for work knowing that she was there to keep him company.
Now, I leave for work, and Ghost completely flips out at me leaving. Because I have to leave him totally alone for hours. I swapped out his little food dish for a great big bowl that I fill up to make sure he doesn’t run out of food while I’m gone.
Tonight, I had dinner with my sister, and I invited her in to meet Ghost. And, ever since, he has been giving me the stinkeye. Like, “How dare you bring this stranger in here!”
And my sister is a former animal control officer who worked for the Humane Society and has this uncanny knack for making animals like her. But, no, Ghost is all, “Who the fuck is this? GET OUT!”
You could try leaving the tv or a radio playing while you’re gone; if you have a wifi tv you can put it on Youtube and play bird or squirrel videos. My cats enjoyed those.
The use of your word “foisted” makes me nervous, since it sounds like you don’t want him. If that’s the case, please do take him back. But if you’re willing to give an emotionally fragile kitty a good home, then more power to you. In time you two will become the best of buddies.
I know your money picture is uncertain. My mom is a shelter kitty toy making MACHINE. If you want to PM me a mailing address, I can send you a cubic buttload of toys for him.
Those aren’t shelter-approved. She crochets heavy-duty things with catnip and bells, among other creations suitable for hanging on kennel doors. When I walk in there’s a lot of meowing, but after I finish passing out toys there’s thumping around, not meowing.
Make sure Ghost has a spot to call his own- it doesn’t have to be fancy, even an big cardboard box with an old blanket in it. Add a shirt of yours that has your scent on it. This will give him a sense of security while you are gone.
Your cat plays golf and demonstrate how it really should be done. “Never mind the light-and-noise box. If you’re ever going to catch the round white mousie, you have to do it like this. <meaningful look>I tell you this for your own good.”
