For 2 years, I have owned a pair of cats that are in general well behaved. A year ago, our black and white medium hair cat got sick. When we took him to the vet, x-rays showed 4 hair bands with the metal connection pieces. They opened him for surgery and discovered what the x-rays didn't show. His tummy was full and he was diagnosed with Pica. Since then we have had to keep a close eye on him to make sure he hasn't gotten ahold of anything that can hurt him.

Recently our situation changed. My wife and I had our first child on veteran's day and we can't keep up with this cat's needs. We don't want to see him put down, but we can't put him anywhere near our baby or the millions of chewable objects associated with him. He has to go because it isn't fair for him to be locked away like that. Does anyone know of any rescue groups or a person that would be interested in giving him a better life? We are at our wits end.

well this is just sad you had the cats before you had the kid and now you just want to dump the cat because you got a new baby in the house. You need to learn how to take care of the baby and cats.

I got a puppy this year and she takes a lot of time from me I didn't get rid of my cats because we got the puppy. I think you both can handle taking care of both. It doesn't take that much extra time to care for a cat as far as I know. all you need to do is make sure things stay picked up and you will have no issues.

It sounds like this is a special needs cat. It may just be impractical for them to keep it and provide it with an acceptable quality of life.

I agree, in general, that people shouldn't just duck out on the responsibility they have to the animals they've chosen to befriend; but, it doesn't sound like this is a case of selfishness on new dad's part. Seems more likely that a sincere concern for the well-being and happiness of their cat is motivating them to give him up. I'm sure it is not without angst that they will do so.

Best of luck, new dad, in finding a better home for him. I don't know where to tell you to look. Perhaps, now that this thread has been bumped, some of the people on here that work with rescues will respond.

I was waiting to see who was going to jump on this guy first.

He said....It's not fair to the cat. He's right, he's doing the right thing. Sometimes we have to make these kinds of decisions and the poster is trying to go about it the right way.

Now...give him some info that will help!

I was waiting to see who was going to jump on this guy first.

Bunch of F'in idiots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)

Good god - and if his kid was sick would he dump it?

Bunch of F'in idiots.

I assume you are talking about the posters who are giving the guy a hard time about doing whats best for the cat.

:yay:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder)

Good god - and if his kid was sick would he dump it?

Your link has no info

i wonder the same thing hoover.

I guess it is easier to get rid of the cat than to get it treated!

What would he do if his child developed PICA? Get rid of the kid too?

Working linkof PICA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(disorder))

If any of you have ever dealt with Pica, then you know how exhausting it can be to try to contain a the pet and keep it safe from itself. Don't judge this fellow unless you've actually been in his shoes.

If any of you have ever dealt with Pica, then you know how exhausting it can be to try to contain a the pet and keep it safe from itself. Don't judge this fellow unless you've actually been in his shoes.

You saying you have been in his shoes?
What did you do with the cat?

You saying you have been in his shoes?
What did you do with the cat?

My daughter has..it was a dog. The dog went to a home where the new owners were in a better position to care for the dog. He's doing very well.

Sometimes there are valid reasons for needing to rehome a beloved pet.

My daughter has..it was a dog. The dog went to a home where the new owners were in a better position to care for the dog. He's doing very well.

Sometimes there are valid reasons for needing to rehome a beloved pet.

You dont know then..as it was your kid and her pet...not you and your cat.

When we took him to the vet... he was diagnosed with Pica.Did the vet attempt to treat it or simply tell you to keep small objects out of access? It appears the exact causes are unknown, but anemia is believed to result in this condition; I'd be curious if there was a physical cause or if it truly was a mental issue.


If any of you have ever dealt with Pica, then you know how exhausting it can be to try to contain a the pet and keep it safe from itself. Don't judge this fellow unless you've actually been in his shoes.He seems to be holding the cat in a separate room, without any small objects. What house wouldn't have stuff laying around? I mean, wherever the cat ends up, won't that person do much the same as his current owner is doing? I'm not trying to judge the guy, but wondering what would be a "good" solution for the animal. :shrug:

You dont know then..as it was your kid and her pet...not you and your cat.

Give up...you have no clue. And I know who you are and don't want to argue with you but there are reasons for rehoming animals. I've done it..it's not easy.

He seems to be holding the cat in a separate room, without any small objects. What house wouldn't have stuff laying around? I mean, wherever the cat ends up, won't that person do much the same as his current owner is doing? I'm not trying to judge the guy, but wondering what would be a "good" solution for the animal. :shrug:

I know..I can't imagine having a cat like that. What kind of life for a cat having to be contained constantly. At least with a dog you can keep an on eye on them because most of the time they're with you...you have to walk them, they can't be allowed out in a yard alone...or unattended in any way. Cats tend to wander around the house, etc. Keeping it in a cage or room sure doesn't seem to be much of a life for the cat.

Keeping it in a cage or room sure doesn't seem to be much of a life for the cat.This may sound stupid... but is there any kind of muzzle that might allow the cat to lick and drink water while preventing it from eating unwanted stuff?

This may sound stupid... but is there any kind of muzzle that might allow the cat to lick and drink water while preventing it from eating unwanted stuff?

This is the reason the guy wanted information about rescues. he doesn't want to muzzle the cat or keep it caged or locked in a room. He has a new baby to look after. A person or family without children is the best solution.

This is the reason the guy wanted information about rescues. he doesn't want to muzzle the cat or keep it caged or locked in a room. He has a new baby to look after. A person or family without children is the best solution.And that is why I asked the questions I did in post 15; because virtually any home is bound to have stuff laying around that may be ingested, even if the owner is diligent. Given that, I'd do everything I could to keep the cat myself - but I say that with the grain of salt of never having dealt with this sort of thing.

I was waiting to see who was going to jump on this guy first.

He said....It's not fair to the cat. He's right, he's doing the right thing. Sometimes we have to make these kinds of decisions and the poster is trying to go about it the right way.

Now...give him some info that will help!

No sh1t, I find the animal worshipers who compare rehoming an animal to dumping your baby particularly amusing.

No sh1t, I find the animal worshipers who compare rehoming an animal to dumping your baby particularly amusing.

Agreed, but I don't find them amusing so much as downright frightening.

I don't know exactly what information I thought I would get from this forum, but this is not it. I came on here because I see what animal lovers hang out on here. People who have been there and done that. Though I have found a handful of you on here to be compassionate and helpful, others among you are downright a$$holes.

Of course I would not get rid of my son if he had a mental, physical, or emotional issue as one of you mentioned. I am not trying to get "rid" of the cat, but rather give it a better opportunity at having a life outside our cramped laundry room. I am feeling damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I'd have haters for keeping him locked up in 1 room and I'd have haters for trying to place him in another home.

To all those who have tried to help, I do appreciate it. It's my first post, so thanks for helping me see there might be some useful information on here after all

New Dad,

Give these people a call. I've just finished fostering a litter of kittens for them and they're really nice people to work with and very dedicated to helping adult cats find homes. Let me know how it works out..I have other connections as well, if you like to send me a pm, I'll see what I can do.

PAWS
Phone: 410 326-1616
St. Mary's, St. Leonard, Bowie, LaPlata, Annapolis, Maryland.

I don't know exactly what information I thought I would get from this forum, but this is not it. I came on here because I see what animal lovers hang out on here. People who have been there and done that. Though I have found a handful of you on here to be compassionate and helpful, others among you are downright a$$holes.

Of course I would not get rid of my son if he had a mental, physical, or emotional issue as one of you mentioned. I am not trying to get "rid" of the cat, but rather give it a better opportunity at having a life outside our cramped laundry room. I am feeling damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I'd have haters for keeping him locked up in 1 room and I'd have haters for trying to place him in another home.

To all those who have tried to help, I do appreciate it. It's my first post, so thanks for helping me see there might be some useful information on here after all

I wish you good luck in finding a new home for your pet.

I don't know exactly what information I thought I would get from this forum, but this is not it. I came on here because I see what animal lovers hang out on here. People who have been there and done that. Though I have found a handful of you on here to be compassionate and helpful, others among you are downright a$$holes.

Of course I would not get rid of my son if he had a mental, physical, or emotional issue as one of you mentioned. I am not trying to get "rid" of the cat, but rather give it a better opportunity at having a life outside our cramped laundry room. I am feeling damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I'd have haters for keeping him locked up in 1 room and I'd have haters for trying to place him in another home.

To all those who have tried to help, I do appreciate it. It's my first post, so thanks for helping me see there might be some useful information on here after all

New Dad...
You have to wade through the "Perfect Pet Owners" in here. There are some good people that give good info though. Sorry your first post in the forums was not a good experience.

Congrats on the new baby!

I wouldn't want to be dealing with a cat with Pica, hard enough with a dog and even placing a dog with Pica would be tough. I would think placing a cat with Pica would be impossible. It is said that Pica is the hardest behavioral problem to work with, if you want to even call it a behavioral problem, seems more like a mental illness among the fur creatures to me. New-dad, I have to give you credit for keeping your kitty this long, because a good many would not have and they may have even considered or would have had kitty put to sleep. I know it would be a thought I would consider, as much as we love our animals, they are animals and one can only do so much! :ohwell: Good luck!

I just had to give up a cat myself. She wasn't getting along with the cat that I'd adopted before after trying for 6 months give or take. I cried. It was hard. She was also special needs, and the added stress wasn't conducive to her health. She was returned to a wonderful woman who knows how to take care of her at SMAWL (smawl.org).

I also have a cat that eats plastic. There was an occasion where we were convinced he had swallowed some, and it wouldn't pass. We took him to the emergency vet for the removal of the obstruction, and ended up spending $2k on a fruitless exploratory. Turned out he just needed a good dose of antibiotics; he was back to normal once he came out of the anaestesia. We've always just made sure that plastic is always picked up or put away, and have trash cans with lids that snap shut for things like that. The other trash cans are strictly for non-plastic items, unless you can cram the plastic into an empty soda can in there or something like that. It takes some adjustment, effort, and time. I can appreciate not being able to handle that, especially with a new baby. You don't always know what to expect with a new child, and unfortunately the child's health can outweigh that of a cat. Fortunately, we have groups like PAWS, SMAWL, and Second Hope Rescue. I'm sure there's more, and a good way to find them might actually be through petfinder.com. Plug in your zip code and all or most of the adoption agencies will pop up with their animals and contact information. Best of luck. I know it's hard to give up a pet. It's better than seeing them put down.