Yes, I have that problem also. Knowing that there are so many animals that need homes, and feeling guilty if you think you might be able to add just one more.

Right now you are doing so much with fostering Brooke and the babies. You are making a difference for so many little lives. Perhaps you could wait until they have been sent to new homes before you worry about adding another cat to the house?

 

Yes, I have that problem also. Knowing that there are so many animals that need homes, and feeling guilty if you think you might be able to add just one more.

Right now you are doing so much with fostering Brooke and the babies. You are making a difference for so many little lives. Perhaps you could wait until they have been sent to new homes before you worry about adding another cat to the house?

You (and Jake) are right. It's really too much for us to handle right now. It's so hard going to the shelter to volunteer, though. I keep seeing their little faces...they keep meowing at me and rubbing up against the bars of the cage and sticking their paws through the bars to touch me. There's one that keeps staring at me and cocking his head and giving the most plaintive little "meows" while rubbing his head against the bars. It's like he's saying "Please take me home. I want to go home and love you."

 

My hubby and I had to stop going to the shelter to help out for just that reason. We were driving ourselves nuts with feeling bad about the animals. Everyone of our cats came home because they had a sad story and hubby couldn't stand to leave them behind.

We finally realized that we had to do the best that we can for the animals we had at home. When we can we send money to the shelter. Other people are able to help out at the shelter and do well emotionally, we just couldn't do it.

Don't wear yourself out. Focus on what you are doing right now, and let the future come as it is supposed to.

 

I feel the same way about volunteering at the shelter. That may be why I've taken home two cats in the last two and a half weeks. When I got my first cat, Widget, an adult black cat, I had no idea black cats didn't get adopted easily until the vet told me how happy he was I got a black cat. I didn't care less what color she was. She was friendly and I liked her. But when I got my first orange tabby, I felt so guilty about getting an orange tabby that I adopted a black cat as well. But even then picked the first one that came up to me, curled up in my lap, and purred. Although, after some time I am glad I adopted him because he can be annoying and is a nibbler so I know a lot of people would have returned him. Fred came home a couple weeks ago and the main reason I brought him home was because I felt bad for him. I was thinking about having a third cat again and Fred needed a home. I didn't fall in love with him instantly or feel a connection with him, but no one wanted him because of his hair loss from a flea allergy. I am so glad I got him though because he is fantastic cat. He wrestles with Jinx, cuddles with Widget and just walks around the house purring and rubbing on everything, including the dog. I finally brought home another orange tabby this week, and I still feel a little guilty about it. This little guy is a little sick with minor things and in quarantine for a couple weeks, so I at least know that a lot of people wouldn't want a sick cat and he could have stayed in the shelter for awhile longer or could have gotten sicker.

Just remember this... no matter what kind of cat you take home, when you adopt a shelter cat you're opening up room to save the life of another cat. I have had pretty good luck with adopting animals that no one else wanted. Despite Jinx's nibbling and the slight damage the dog has done to a couple rooms in our house, they are both loving, affectionate animals. I'm happy every time I look at them and I know that I gave them a chance at life when no one else would. Nothing will ever take that feeling away or make me regret my decisions.

But when I volunteer I usually try to focus on the good feeling I get when I help a cat find a good home with someone else. It helps me from wanting to take everyone home.

 

When I took Gigi in for her paw last week, there were three little kittens in a huge cage in my vet's lobby. It was so hard not to take the long-haired black kitten home. You have no idea!!! Well, you probably do.

Renting keeps me in check. If I owned my own home, goodness knows how many cats I would have. 8O

 

Coda and Allegro, Forte or Fermata, depending on the gender

Sorry, I know this was serious but I love the musical references: going back to, fast, loud, and holding out. Fermata could be nicknamed "birdseye" thats what our band director calls them.

On a more serious note, if getting a cat just isn't possible (money, space, etc.) at least you can take comfort in how your volunteering helps all the cats waiting for a home! With the fostering, you can help so many more cats/kittens! Look at what a great job you're doing already.

 

I deff do. While I was still volunteering at the shelter (before my car accident) I fell absolutely INLOVE with this one, wonderful, black boy! He was the sweetest thing and would love on me constantly, but with a deployed husband, 3 daughters, 2 dogs and 2 cats at home, DH put his "foot" down and said no more (he wasn't too thrilled with me bringing home Zoey either but I didn't give him much choice, LOL!). I know it's hard but good things come to those who wait. Eventually you'll find the kitty of your dreams and you'll give him/her/them a wonderful home

 

I don't think you should feel bad about not adopting a cat right away. Fostering is just as important, sometimes more important for particular cats as what adopting is. You need to adopt when the time is right for you guys. If you can foster in the meantime, you are making such a difference already.

When I decided to get a second cat, I was going to get a Ragdoll. I then decided I'd rather save a life. I did go looking for a specific kitty (my then bf, now fiance) preferred a grey/blue colour and I had my heart set on long hair. I found a GORGEOUS long hair grey kitty at the local pound after weeks of searching shelters up to an hours drive away. Yes, this gorgeous kitty would have probably been adopted by the next person that came in looking for a kitten but I still felt good that I had changed my mind from getting a cat from a breeder when I made space for another kitty to be saved. And you know what? While we were processing the payment, a lady came in to surrender 2 kittens, one of which was identical to the one I'd just adopted, only younger. Meeka was about 13 weeks and so skinny.

Being part of this forum makes me want to adopt another cat so bad but I know it's not a good time for us. We already have 2 cats and 2 rats in a house that the landlords and Real Estate don't know we have any pets! I am very open to adopting a black kitty and hopefully in the next few years, that will be possible. Almost everytime I come on to CF and read about shelters and adoptions, I go onto the local shelter sites and break my own heart by looking at all the babies (and adults) that need a new home. Really, what's the difference between 2 and 3 cats? Hehe.. Maybe when we don't have rats anymore. I just have to keep telling myself NOT NOW!

 

If I could, I would adopt every kitty. Our shelter, unfortunately is a kill shelter. Cats/dogs don't last long. It's very sad. Our shelter in this county is small. They are trying to move to a bigger facility so they can house more animals and keep some around longer in attempts to get them adopted out. I don't go there. If I did, I would want to bring them all home and I just simply can't afford any more at this time.

I don't think I could work at that shelter...I would get too attached to the cats.

 

Not only are black cats hard to adopt, at the rescue group I volunteer for, we don't adopt any in the month of October because some people use them for other things than a pet (some activities I could "safely" mention, like using them for decoration/props, others...well, I don't even like to think about, let alone say)

The only reason I don't like having a black cat (which I adopted because after 2 years of fostering, the rescue director told me I might as well just give up and keep her! LOL), is that she blends into the darkness at night, and if I don't turn on a light in the hall, I step on her!

As somebody else said, the renting thing helps. I'm only allowed 2 cats inside. My landlord said if I get any more, they have to stay outside... and I'm kinda against that idea. Too many wild critters (racoons, foxes, stray dogs), busy road, and other hazards out there.

 

This topic, among others made me really want to adopt another kitty. The other day when my fiance came home from work, I asked him if we can get another cat. His response initially was "not while we have 2 others" I pointed out that 3 cats is not much more than 2 and that I'm not talking tomorrow but a bit down the track. I told him I'd read alot online that black cats are often the hardest to adopt out. He said he'd always liked black cats, and told me about one in particular he had growing up.

It's not going to happen for awhile. As I mentioned earlier, we're not supposed to have pets and already have 2 cats and 2 rats.. We're getting married early next year and going away for at least 2 weeks so maybe sometime after that we can increase our kitty family. Sammy was trying to play with Meeka the other day and she wanted nothing to do with it and I said to my fiance "when we get another cat, I think it has to be a boy to rough play with Sammy" and his response was "and black, a black boy". Yay! So even if it doesn't happen next year, at least I know that sometime in the future, we will adopt another cat and my fiance (who will by then be my husband) is happy with it. I'm so excited. I wish things were different so I could go out and adopt one tomorrow!

 

I used a similar argument that 4 cats isn't much more than 3 cats when deciding on another orange tabby. Although my husband could care less I was just trying to convince myself. Lol

Three of my cats are black and they are fantastic! It is a little funny looking when they are all hovering over treats or some poor dying bug and there's just this big ball of black fur bobbing around.

Black cats and dogs have trouble getting adopted. I'm sure superstition has something to do with cats but it's mainly because black cats and dogs don't really have unique markings on them like other colors and they just blend into the background more than other colors. It made me sad when I was working anadoptionevent and a lady came into the cat area and shuddered and said "ugh. No black cats". Our shelter doesn't put down animalsonce they are put in the adoption program but I'm sureblack cats are more likely to be put down when they run out of room for animals waiting to
Go into the adoption program.