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What level of disability would force you into selling your pedigree cat..or indeed any cat. I ask because I saw an advert on a selling site from a person who was/is 'reluctantly' selling their pedigree cat for a three figure sum because of worsening disability.

Now, I may be doing this person a mis justice, and I do not wish to be harsh, but I cannot think of any disability which could impede one looking after a cat. They don't need to be walked, they can go out via a cat flap, there are automatic feeders which a carer could set up for the day, plus dry food. And if the disability was that bad, there would be carers or family or a good neighbour.

In my opinion, a cat would be good for anyone who is ill or disabled. And if you loved your cat, you'd do anything to keep your companion. Cats are, as we all know, therapeutic and good for anyone's health.

What do you think?

It may be that they have a heart/lung condition,and no longer be able to move around much at all, and if they have no help where cat is concerned, ( ie no one to bend, clear out cat litter trays etc ) perhaps they do need to rehome... BUT

myself i have 7 medications on a repeat prescription, know that i will probably get some form of rheumatism,& allergic to cats but i would never give them up, sometimes when i get so down with all the problems i am having, its only the cats and their antics that make me smile again, and so i HAVE to get out and about to restock their food and everything, so for me they are forever!

Grace56 wrote: And if the disability was that bad, there would be carers or family or a good neighbour.

Not necessarily. The advertisements and facebook brainwash us into believing everybody's part of a 'family' and has a wide circle of 'friends' but I live alone, from choice, and although my ex-husband is still a very good friend and would step in to look after my cats short-term, he wouldn't be able to do this long-term and I'd have to make alternative arrangements for the cats if illness (heaven forbid) forced me into long-term hospital (again heaven forbid) or prevented me in any way from looking after them...and my snakes! He doesn't do snakes! I could contact the Cinnamon Trust (I'm retired) but worst case scenario would be handing them over to a rescue...2 are in their teens and one is terrified of anybody but me. The younger one is a madam and not an instant cuddly cat...rescues are snowed under with 'normal' rehomeable cats...

Neighbours...in this street they seem to fall into two groups. A nucleus of very stuffy gossips and a transient population of renters who stay for a while and then move on. Some of the latter are great, others not, c'est la vie. I'm sort of in the middle and I refuse to get involved in the politics of the gossips. I'm an awkward git!

Family...none of my immediate family live round here. Friends...I'm not very good at meeting people face to face so I don't socialise. Oh boy, am I weird lol, but there must be loads of people like me, just happy on their own but of course there's the downside of no support for the animals if I can't look after them.

Carers...I believe there is, or was, a section of the Social Services Act that enables the Social Services to arrange for boarding of a pet or pets if an owner has to be taken into hospital and can make no other arrangements. However, if still at home, someone wouldn't be able to ask an NHS carer to do the cat tray for them...well I've no doubt there are some kind souls out there who've walked the extra mile for their patients, but still not an option to be relied on.

Sorry to go on at such length but in my situation the subject's very close to my heart. I have screeds of instructions/emergency phone numbers, written down, just in case.

I understand your concern - I'm afraid I'm very cynical about this sort of thing myself; 'genuine reason for sale' is another slogan that gets my back up. But the high price asked is a good idea. To advertise any animal 'free to a good home' can attract all kinds of unscrupulous people so to charge what is probably the going rate for a pedigree nowadays is protecting that cat.

It is hard to say what kind or degree of disability prevents somebody from looking after a cat but if someone had to face ending up in a wheelchair, say, it could be commonsense to rehome the cat now rather than later because of the time it could take to place the cat. If I had a pedigree in this situation I'd be approaching the appropriate pedigree rescue, but maybe this isn't always practicable, say if they can't collect the cat, if they are a long way away etc.

For me, the very worst deterrent to parting with my cats would be the thought of how bewildered they would be, away from their own home. You can't explain the situation to a cat. I hope I'll never be forced to give them up.

Lilith wrote:

Grace56 wrote: And if the disability was that bad, there would be carers or family or a good neighbour.

I understand your concern - I'm afraid I'm very cynical about this sort of thing myself; 'genuine reason for sale' is another slogan that gets my back up. But the high price asked is a good idea. To advertise any animal 'free to a good home' can attract all kinds of unscrupulous people so to charge what is probably the going rate for a pedigree nowadays is protecting that cat.

.

This is sadly a very common reason for cats to end up in rescue, what makes me cynical about this is asking a 3 figure sum for the cat, I have to wonder if the disability is an excuse, and they are more interested in money - while asking for money detracts from the people that free to good home encourage, I'm sceptical about them asking for that kind of money.

every pedigree cat association has a welfare section, whose job it is to rehome, whatever the circumstances - very often a member of the association can step in and take on the cat, but of course no money changes hands

when I was a member of the Russian Blue Association, it was heartwarming to see how several people rallied round when one of their breeders/judges suddenly died leaving 10 pedigree Russian Blues needing new homes

this is the way forward for a really responsible cat owner, I think

booktigger wrote:

Lilith wrote:

Grace56 wrote: And if the disability was that bad, there would be carers or family or a good neighbour.

I understand your concern - I'm afraid I'm very cynical about this sort of thing myself; 'genuine reason for sale' is another slogan that gets my back up. But the high price asked is a good idea. To advertise any animal 'free to a good home' can attract all kinds of unscrupulous people so to charge what is probably the going rate for a pedigree nowadays is protecting that cat.

.

This is sadly a very common reason for cats to end up in rescue, what makes me cynical about this is asking a 3 figure sum for the cat, I have to wonder if the disability is an excuse, and they are more interested in money - while asking for money detracts from the people that free to good home encourage, I'm sceptical about them asking for that kind of money.

Yes, those thoughts went through my head as well, but I didn't want to have a go at that particular seller just in case they were genuine. That's why I wondered why they hadn't approached pedigree rescue, although these are rarely local.

But yes, many people will tell all sorts of stories to get an animal off their hands. One of my snakes came from a 'home' where the seller wanted to concentrate on another breed, hence reluctant sale etc etc...As soon as I got in the place I could see they were dealers. And she brought snake mites home with her

On the other hand I bought another snake who was very honestly described as 'having an attitude problem' - didn't she just lol. She's a great big placid lass now but the seller could have talked her up as 'unusual morph, great family pet' only he didn't, good on him.

So, hard to tell, so I preferred to err on the side of tact, but yes, I do realise what you mean; I too have been known to go through the small ads growling, 'a likely story!' ...

nannymcfee wrote:It may be that they have a heart/lung condition,and no longer be able to move around much at all, and if they have no help where cat is concerned, ( ie no one to bend, clear out cat litter trays etc ) perhaps they do need to rehome... BUT

While it is true there are circumstances where poor health and no support might mean a cat needed rehoming, there is NO WAY on God's good earth I would sell any of mine!

I'd do everything I could to find loving homes - and not with strangers.

Yes...I'm afraid I thought...'yeah, right' when I read the add. I would have to be Steven Hawking level of disability before I'd even consider getting rid of Dave. But then I would move Heaven and Earth to find a way to keep him.

My cat is more to me than any amount of money.

Thank you for your thoughts, folks and taking time to answer.

The fact the person is" selling" makes me wonder the motive. And a three figure sum at that. I would want my cat to go to a genuine cat lover, preferably someone I knew. And I wouldn't think of taking money as long as it was going to a good home. But everyone different I suppose.

The fact the person is" selling" makes me wonder the motive. And a three figure sum at that. I would want my cat to go to a genuine cat lover, preferably someone I knew. And I wouldn't think of taking money as long as it was going to a good home. But everyone different I suppose.[quote][/quote]


Sums up very well my views


And as regulars know I am pants at things like quotes and links and I am too tired to change it!

This is sadly a very common reason for cats to end up in rescue, what makes me cynical about this is asking a 3 figure sum for the cat, I have to wonder if the disability is an excuse, and they are more interested in money - while asking for money detracts from the people that free to good home encourage, I'm sceptical about them asking for that kind of money.

It's sad that pedigrees are thought of as better when they have so many problems. They remind me in a way of collectors edition merchandise. Okay to look at, but any problems and they are out the door.

Pedigrees can have so many problems. My sisters roommate has a pedigree cat (given away because it was long haired instead of short haired) at the moment who is still young but is already showing stomach problems and teeth issues despite having a "wonderful" 4 page family history of breeding. I wonder sometimes why we even allow this kind of nonsense. It's not approved for humans, why should it be approved for any other animal when we know the problems it can cause to offspring?

A three figure sum is bogus, even for a "sick" pedigree. This cat better be made of gold if they expect that kind of money. They're probably looking for a naiive buyer who thinks buying pedigree will help them in some way.