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What is a "no-kill" shelter?

If I returned a kitten to the animal shelter after adopting it from that very shelter, can I readopt it?

  • I shall enlighten you (the answerers) on the situation at hand. About two months ago, my girlfriend and I went to the local animal shelter, which, mind you, is a very loving and professional shelter, and adopted a kitten which, at the time, was basically newborn. He was about 8 weeks old when we adopted him. We took care of him for two months and loved him so dearly. Well, he started to piss on our bed frequently. We went everywhere and asked everyone what we should do. We tried every store bought remedy possible. He never used his scratching post---only the furniture. He placed bite marks and claw marks on the window sill, the blinds, and our 200$ leather bar stools. As I stated before, we tried every store bought remedy to keep him off of the furniture. We sprayed NO STAY on the basically the entire apartment, which he actually liked (lol). We put sticky tape on the side of the couch to prevent him from clawing the couch. He played with it and like it. Everything normal cats hate, he liked, which I found hilarious and quite frustrating simultaneously. We then made a quite flustered trip to the veterinarian when all our attempts to calm him down and make him stop pissing on our bed had been extinguished. Even the vet's remedies didn't work. We considered allergies as well. He pooped in his litter, but never peed in it. He would hold it just to piss on our bed. For example, one morning (this is after we banned him from our room for peeing on the bed), he sat at the door after we had awakened, and meowed, and it was sooo cute. So we let him in. He then proceeded to sit between my girlfriend and I and purr so innocently. When he moved, I rolled over where he had just sat down, only to roll into a HUGE puddle of cat urine, which pissed me off. We then looked up to see that he not only peed there, but on most of the bed. I thought about it, and he was meowing at the door as if he had to pee, which led me to believe that he held it just to pee on the bed. For some reason, he will, as I said before, poop in his litter box, but not pee in it, only in our bed and bedroom. So, we finally returned him to the animal shelter we bought him from after a decision when we were faced with warnings from our landlord of whom did an inspection and said that the destruction he caused would result in enormous fines. So, after a long, grueling decision, we returned him to the shelter of which we adopted him from. My girlfriend and, yes, even i cried when I saw them take him from our arms. I miss him, and my girlfriend is utterly heart broken over this. After only one day, we've both decided that neither of us can live without him, despite the fines. I paid them, and will continue to pay any further fines, and now I want to return to the animal shelter in the morning and readopt him. Is this most likely even possible? Even if I use my driver's license and identification instead of hers? They know we weren't returning him because of hate, because they saw us both crying, so they should give him back right? I really miss my baby, and would do anything to get that little dude back. Thanks in advance. And please, no irrational criticism. We regret out decision, which is why we want him back, so please, no irrational and bias criticism.

  • Answer:

    The sad part about this story is that there may have been a simple medical problem with this kitty, if he was peeing on the bed, and around the house. I notice that nowhere in your story did you mention that you had him to the vet for an examination to make sure that he did not have a urinary tract infection. Kittens can be destructive . . . not out of meanness but out of high energy and love of life. They are into everything and anything that is interesting to them. They need to have this high energy behavior redirected slowly and patiently so their behavior is less destructive. Scratching posts, interactive toys, and lots of positive reinforcements for good behavior works wonders with kittens and cats. Kittens at 8 weeks of age are hardly mature enough to be able to grasp certain concepts, so one has to be very consistent and very gentle and patient. 8 week old kittens, in fact are too young to be adopted, in my opinion. They need several more weeks to learn more from their mothers and to be more socialized with people. This kitten, being returned for "inappropriate" elimination and "destructive" normal kitten behavior may have been euthanized already. I have to agree with Ken as my first reaction was that I hope this kitty has a new home, as a best scenario and is living a normal and loving life. No matter what kitten you adopt, or if you can even get this kitten back, you have to learn about cat behavior and how to work with kitties. Cats are extremely sensitive animals and any change in their environment can cause reactions that need to be understood and handled rationally. This kitten more than likely has been traumatized by now. You lost his trust. You failed to take him to the vet to see what was wrong. He was probably telling you that he had a medical or behavioral problem that you only got angry about. Do you think you are ready to deal with his problems? Do you think that you are ready to handle any behavioral/medical conditions that need attention? Only you can decide this,but I have to say that you failed this kitten greatly. I am not giving you "irrational and biased" criticism. I am giving you the facts as objectively as I can, and trying to get you to think as objectively as you can about whether you are in a financial position or a suffiently mature and responsible position to really be able to care for this kitten and take care of him unconditionally. Troublesniffer owned by cats for over 40 years and presently owned by two special needs kitties

drummerg... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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My first reaction was I hope not'. All dam day on answers, all I have read is about people giving their cats up and kittens being born 8 million cats a year killed just for being born. It is sickening Then i thought about it and despite the damage you want him back I assume you realize that more damage will occur and so will sickness and expenses. You want him back, you should have him back and I cannot see them not giving him back to you if you tell them what you wrote here and i do hope he comes back with you. I will even say when he is back with you that he has found a real home which in truth is rare I hope when you get him back, you send me an email with a link to this post and maybe we can find a way to solve the problems that caused the trouble Best of luck

Ken S

You'll only know if you ask. I rescue cats, and although I know you both feel bad and want the kitten back...I'd be hesitant to adopt it back out to you. I think the kiten may need to be retrained to use the box. Keep it in a small room/dog crate with a litterbox and it'll use it after a while.

If this is a kill shelter, it's highly likely the kitten was put down as soon as you left. Owner turn in's are frequently put down immediately upon arrival. Him being so young may have saved him though. It's also possible he has been adopted. Shelters normally don't like people who bring pets back and will place them on a Do Not Adopt list which they share with other surrounding shelters. You could possibly be banned from adopting anywhere if they don't think you had a legitimate reason for bringing him back. They question your commitment to the cat. All you can do is go to the shelter and talk to them. If you do happen to get him back, here are some good articles with info on dealing with the issues you had http://www.catinfo.org/litterbox.htm http://www.pawsneedclaws.com/Cat_Scratching_Solutions.php

♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥

I really can't say. I guess it's up to the shelter. I'd be honest though. If you do get him back... some cats don't like to pee and poo in the same tray, so you should get him a second one, and, since it seems he might be fussy, make sure it's kept really clean. If he isn't neutered, get him done quick too, as it could be marking behavior. He needs to scratch to exercise, stretch and flake the old layers off his claws. And scent mark (though you can't smell it in this case). So you need to provide suitable scratching posts. They need to be high enough for him to get a good stretch, and stable enough not to rock when he works on them. Some cats prefer different surfaces too (wood, sisal, carpet, cardboard). Most like upright, but some like horizontal. Position is important too: they won't get used if they are in a distant corner somewhere. Best places are at 'junctions' where they make good 'notice boards', and near to where he sleeps and eats. Right now you'd be best putting posts in front of the places he already scratches. That you are laughing at him (you said he was hilarious) makes me think he may also have learnt to do some bad behavior to get attention. If so you need to totally ignore him when he does it: no laughing or saying 'I'm ignoring you'. Hopefully my suggestions will help. If not you might want to consult a behaviorist. Your vet should be able to refer you to one. Sounds like things are pretty complex, and might be beyond Yahoo Answers! Good luck and do let us know if you get him back.

Rowan G

Nope. And not only are you not going to be allowed to adopt him but you'll never be allowed to adopt - PERIOD. The last thing shelters want are people that are wishy washy about pet ownership. They want responsible, caring pet owners that will do whatever it takes to keep the animal - not throw their arms up right away and give it back. Remember the contract you signed? On it it stated that you would provide a lifetime of care for this animal. And you gave him TWO MONTHS! You reneged on your contract. Once you return an animal you're put on a "do not adopt" list for that shelter. They also share this information with every other shelter around. And don't think you can lie and give them false info. Shelters reserve the right to follow up on adoptions and they WILL find out. Your landlord clearly doesn't want a cat there and you two are not a suitable home for this kitten. You're complaining about not just the peeing issue but claw and bite marks on your precious furniture - your "$200 bar stools" - and blinds. Your complaining about that I'm sure IMMEDIATELY put up a red flag to the shelter that you'd be the type of person to declaw since you value your possessions more than this kitten. A more suitable pet for you two would be - NONE. Materialism and kittens are not suitable company. Move on.

Café Mocha Valencia

they will probably not let you have him back. They will view your decisions as emotional and perhaps not what is best for the cat. It is a difficult and painful situation, but it really sounds like it is best for the cat that he not be with you. it seems there was something in your home that bothered him and you couldn't figure it out in time to help him. It is really odd since he was a kitten when you got him. I adopted a cat with behavioral problems but she was 3 when I took her to try to help. She would do the same thing as you mention with the bed. She was placed in a home as a single pet thinking that would help and her first 10 minutes, she jumped on a big white $5,000 sofa and took a pee and poop. She was brought back. I took her 4 months later and used a lengthy indoctrinating program that worked for her (she is 14 now). So I know what you went through with your efforts but I knew her history and she was older. Again, your baby is baffling. So sorry for your loss. You could try to get him back but you have to resolve this if you do not only for you but for the kitty too. There is something that is causing this. Cats,by nature, are clean and tidy and fastidious about their potty habits and grooming. Sorry I can't help more. Hope you get it worked out.

Barefoottrimmer

Probably not. I used to volenteer at a shelter (but it was no-kill so it might be different) but after you returned or brought in an animal that was yours they wouldn't sell any animals to you.

Kim

no not that I've heard of

froggy7chic

Cats will be cats-- dogs will be dogs-- I have stepped on pee, poop and puke-- this happens-- I have cleaned it up and did my best to find out why it happened -- for the pee-- the cat had a Urinary Tract Infection -- for the poop - she was being territorial, for the puke-- she was sick. For all three behaviors, I took her to the vet, asked questions, had her examined and LEARNED even more about my cats and cats in general. Dogs will eat bathrobes, sofas, jars of chili peppers, toilet paper, and anything you leave out that is or is not bite-sized. Expect the unexpected with pets-- just as you would with babies-- a pet is like a perpetual baby -- ever see a baby try to eat poop that it has just poooped on the floor? That, and MORe happens with babies, and toddlers. Animals have their own BREED-SPECIFIC behaviors, and most humans do not even know what that means. Why should you fault the cat for peeing on the bed and not using a scratching post? They are not mechanical toys that do everything we expect them to. Can you be patient and understanding for 15 or MORE years with a pet who WILL do all kinds of unexpected things? And when they get old and infirm or feeble they WILL pee and poop in the wrong places -- you CAN deal with that if you are patient and understanding. I have done that and I will continue to do that -- I had one cat who died of cancer when she was 13 -- I took care of her round-the clock, because she deserved the best of care, just like a beloved human being deserved. Can you do all you can to LEARN about pet care and pet behavior? Not two pets are alike. NO pet will EVER pee somewhere to spite you or to be disobedient-- please do not label human traits onto pet behaviors. I hope the shelter has found a loving home for that cat. I understand your sorrow, but I thnk you need to be more aware of pet behavior and how to be a patient pet owner before you adopt another pet. Perhaps the shelter will agree with me on that too. Why not VOLUNTEER at an animal shelter and care for the pets in those cages -- that way, you will be interacting with shelter workers and LEARNING about cats and dogs-- and their behaviors. THEN you will be on the road to becoming a LOVING, PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING pet owner. I wish you the very best.

aattura

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