Did I really do the right thing?

Question

Ok, a stray cat came to my house about two weeks ago. I got very attached to her and tried to convince my parents to let me keep her. She got to stick around for a while but they told me I had to find her a home. No luck in finding her a home and my dad was getting frustrating and threatening to take her off and dump her somewhere b/c he didn't want her around, anymore. When I packed her up to take her to our nearest animal shelter, my sister started babbling about how they would kill her in three days if she wasn't adopted b/c she was out of the county the shelter was in. I had to debate between the poor cat being put down in 3 days if she didn't find a home or my awful daddy dumping her side the road somewhere and her starve to death. I took her to the pound risking her being uthenized... did I do the right thing? I was an emotional wreck all the way to the shelter and back home. I'm still very upset. I really cared for her and made the decision I thought was best for her. Was it??

Thanks everyone for your responses. They all made me feel so much better. Sucks, though.. they were all so good it's going to be hard picking a best answer.

Answer 1

You made the right decision. In the end, you chose the better of the two options. A stray animal typically does not last long and the life that they do have can be both hard and dangerous. They will have to fend for food, tough out the elements and avoid predators as strays.

At the shelter, she will receive good treatment while she is there and a very good possibility of finding a nice home. Think of it this way, if you fell for her so quickly someone else probably will too. Keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer that she gets adopted and know you made the humane choice.

Answer 2

It's hard not to get attached to cats that you try to help out. I've learned the hard way to stay distant and not get emotionally attached to strays.
About two months ago I had to put down my cat of 15 yrs and I was so upset for three days. On the fourth day I was a little better. I've heard that a habit takes three days to make or break, and daily care for a cat is a habit of sorts.
So did I make the right decision? Yes, but it didn't make me feel good. You did the best you could, so just hang in there.

Answer 3

Although I am against putting animals down as a general rule (except vicious animals), of the two choices that you had, you did do the right thing. You gave her the opportunity to have a loving family. If she had been taken and dumped somewhere she would have been hungry and grown weak and more likely to get seriously ill. At least putting her to sleep, if it comes to that, is a gentler way to die. If you are ever in that situation again try to look up no kill shelters on the Internet. Sometimes they will even travel two or three counties to pick up the animal. You can look at the website below for no kill shelters or rescue shelters in your area at the link below.

Answer 4

I`m sorry you had to make that choice but i think you made the correct decision. There is a chance the original owner reported it to the shelter or Simone on its data base so Kitty is probably safe and sound with mummy and daddy right now also if you Ind`t take it in and it wasn`t desexed instead of one missing cat there could be a cat and 5 or 6 kittens trying to fend for them selves. The world has a big problem with feral animals and the only choice they have eventually is to cull its sad but true so you definitely have made the right choice you most probably have saved his life.

Answer 5

I think so when I go to the humane society they have tons of cats either way its better than her trying to make it on her own and she probably found a good home so you did what was right if she would have been out somewhere in the wild she might have gotten killed by a animal or starved if she had been a family cat for very long so cheer up you did what is right

Answer 6

It was a hard decision, but far better than just dumping her on the side of the road where she could have been run over or attacked by other animals. At least at the shelter she'll be comfortable and be fed on a routine basis. And if she is lucky, hopefully she'll get adopted and live a long and happy life (and have you to thank for it).

Answer 7

Probably.
Some shelters do not kill any animals. Some shelters think that it's better for the animal to die peacefully rather than get hit by a car, starving to death or having a bunch of kids torture the poor thing. Those shelters are probably right.
You did the right thing.

Answer 8

Of course you did. My friend found a cat that waz dropped off by the side of the road at her house and the poor thing allmost starved. Finally she had a litter of kittens and everthing went uphill. Dont worry about it. The cat might have found a home with a little old lady who sits by the fire in a rocking chair with the cat currled on her lap. Thatz what my mom allways told me after having to give up my cat & if u think of that it all seems better.

Answer 9

Most shelters don't euthanize cats that quickly. I adopted my cat after she'd been in the Humane Society for a month. My roommate adopted a cat that had been in for over five months. It really depends on the shelter.

You definitely did the right thing. It's always best to error on the side of life.

Answer 10

It depends if it was the pound or a shelter. Both you mentioned. Most shelters offer low rates to spay/neuter cats and protect/no kill unless a must situation. Our pound here kills in 3 days accept in cases of bad sickness or pregnant. I believe the alternative to starving either would work. Did you not think of an ade in paper, american classified? Or even someone you knew that would take her in? Don't worry I believe it was right considering the situation. GOD BLESS YOU! [e-mail]