I think I did the right thing, but why do I feel so bad?

Question

First of all, I want to say that I have my own two house kitties, that are well taken care of and I love them dearly. For a while now there has been a little stray cat that was so starving coming to my door. I can't stand the thought of a starving animal, so I've been feeding her. Lately the temps. here have been horrendously
cold, and I decided to take her to the Humane Society today. I wished I could have kept her myself, but with two cats of my own already, and the cost of vet bills to have her spayed and vaccinated, I just couldn't afford to. I know at least now she will have a warm shelter to stay in, but I feel so awful about taking her there anyway! Can anyone help me feel better?

Answer 1

Please don't feel bad - you absolutely did the right thing. The humane society is just for this purpose. So many strays are killed or hurt or reproduce a ton more babies when they are left to their own defenses. I volunteer at the local spca, and the cats are well taken care of and most are adopted quickly. Upon their arrival, they are given a health check and updated with shots and spayed if need be. They are given plenty of food and a warm place to live in while waiting for a home. Without people like you, so many more pets would be out in the world all alone. To my knowledge, the humane society and spca will not euthanize an animal just because it hasn't been adopted. They have "no kill" policies in place - unless there is extreme circumstances (illness, aggression) You did the right thing.

Answer 2

I think you did the right thing. A lot of people take in animals that they can't afford and then end up taking them to the Humane Society later or not taking proper care of them. You are responsible enough to know that you can't afford to care for her. She will have a warm place to live and food at the Humane Society and hopefully somebody will adopt her. Truly, if they really can't find a home for her and have to put her to sleep, it's still better than if she would have frozen or starved to death outside, but since it sounds like she's young and friendly, she has pretty good chances of finding a home.

Answer 3

I know how you feel. I had to take a starving stray to the shelter and at first I thought for sure I was doing the wrong thing so I went to the shelter a week later and she had already been adopted! I had already 1 cat in my home and he was very protective so I couldn't take in the stray but I felt good that I had turned her in because if I hadn't she probably would have died. If you think of it this way, you and I both did one huge thing to be proud of........ We saved an animals life. If you would have took the stray into your home there would have been total chaos. Especially with those 2 cats of yours. I have already tried to take in a stray but strays are used to fending for themselves and if you add other animals to the equation it is difficult.

Answer 4

I think that you did the right thing, too. You gave the cat another chance at life. If you can't afford to provide for another cat (which is understandable) then you were right to take it to the Humane Society, where there might be another family that will see her and want her. Think of it this way: you helped prevent her from freezing to death and you have helped her possibly find a great home. There is nothing more that you could have done for her. You did well.
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Answer 5

Of course you did the right thing. You took that little kitty to a place where they will love her, feed her, spay her and find her a wonderful home.

We can't save them all--I'd have 42 dogs if my husband didn't keep threatening to divorce me for offering to take just one more stray. ;-)

You took the time to do what many people wouldn't. When there are so many people who look the other way, you took the time to make sure that kitty found help and eventually a good home.

Give your kitties a hug tonight and sleep well knowing that that little kitty isn't freezing or hungry any more, thanks to you.

Answer 6

You did the right thing. If you would have left her she would have died, most likely. The Humane Society will find her a good home. I live on a farm and have had to take many cats and dogs there, all of them strays that have found ways into my barn to get my other animals food. You most likely saved her life. A lot of other people would have just left her. =[

Answer 7

You did the best thing for by keeping it alive by feeding it, and bringing it in ur home until u took it to the humane society, don't feel bad I am sure the kitty will find a great home that will provide her a loving home. Cheer up u did the right thing..alot of ppl won't even do that....

Answer 8

you have done the right thing, most people would have just let the cat outside and ignore him, you are a good person and I understand you because I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and whenever I see a homeless animal I wish I could take him in but I can´t because I don´t have enough room so I take them to shelters were they get good homes. So congratulations it´s nice to see there are nice people like you!

Answer 9

Much as we would like too we cannot "save" all the world's abandoned and homeless cats. Whatever her fate may be you have done the right thing and she will not have to suffer in the cold, with diseases, pregnancy, starvation or abuse.

We can only do what we can to make life better for cats everywhere. Until people take reponsibility to care for their animals there will be many who will not make it into loving and caring homes.

Answer 10

You did the right thing....cats do not do well in the cold, she could have froze out there. Now she will have a chance of being adopted and finding a permanent home.