Here’s the story. Me and girl were going to a movie (K-Pax, if it matters) at a theater in Hartford (Crown Plaza for any neighbors reading this). We parked, and walked through the crowded parking lot to the entrance. About 50 yards or so from the entrance, I tell her that I saw a cat run across the lot. When we got closer we saw the cat sitting behind a car across from the entrance. We stood there watching it for a few moments, and it came over to us and meowed.
I’m more of a dog person, but the girl I was with owns two cats, and this was a tabby exactly like hers. She couldn’t resist. She picked up the cat and brought it to the car. After searching a phone book for any local shelters an finding none, we took the cat back to her house.
Soon after her parents came home and a big arguement started up, the results of which are still pending. The three options seem to be:
(1 - Mom) Bring her back to Hartford and drop her where we found her. (!)
(2 - Dad) Bring her to a shelter tommorow morning.
(3 - Girl) Keep her and place an ad in the paper about it. Adopt her if no one responds.
(4 - Girl’s Sister) Keep her.
The choice is totally out of my hands now, so I don’t know why I’m posting this. I guess it is to ask if we did the right thing in the first place taking the cat. The “yes” side seems to be, the cat was in a crowded lot on a crowded street on a cold night without a collar. The “no” side only developed after talking to some friends. They seem to think that cats usually find their way home, and this may be a normal wandering spot for the cat (or something along those lines). So, did I do the right thing? And what should be done now? (Even though I no longer have a say.)
Since I believe your heart was in the right place, I think you did the right thing as you believed it to be. Now, did the cat look well fed and groomed, or scruffy and hungry? What about posting a “found cat” sign near that area with their phone number? Dropping the cat off is a BAD idea. I would try to avoid the shelter as long as possible, but it’s better than just dumping the cat. Keeping it seems to be up to the parents.
Bringing the cat home and placing an ad is the best idea, I’d think. Also, there are some shelters that take in animals that only euthanize sick ones. And post a few signs near where you found her. (once I lost a dog and it was found standing patiently right UNDER the sign!)
Funny you mention this. Just three days ago a beautiful but bedraggled persian cat started hanging around our apartment, so it seems I have a new kitty. I’ve placed an ad in the local paper but haven’t received any calls. She’s a real sweetie, but I don’t know what to do with her. I already have a dog and a ferret, but the cat seems perfectly happy here. Tonight I even bathed her and combed out some pretty bad matted places. She enjoyed the attention so she must be used to the grooming.
Surely she must belong to someone! I am just hoping, not ME!~
If anyone is interested and lives close to Memphis PLEASE let me know.
If the cat is a neighborhood cat that was just wandering for the evening, then you need to leave a sign in that area. The owners might be heartsick, looking for the kitty.
But don’t take the cat to the pound, or drop it off. You never know.
The sign will tip off any owners who truly are looking for their cat. Put several signs up. In public areas, that the owners will be bound to pass by.