My cousin died and I have two cats. I need help.

[OregonBlue]

He lived in Salem, Oregon. His parents are dead, he is not married and he has no kids. I am his only relative living in Oregon and will be assigned as the administrator of his estate. He had two wonderful kitties. They are mature females, 6 & 8 years old and just the sweetest cats. I don't know where to start. I brought them home with me (a three hour drive which freaked them out) but I run an import business and I will be leaving for SE Asia in 3 weeks. I am then home for 3 weeks and then have several textile shows at museums on the west coast. I am gone almost 6 months out of the year and when my old kitty died at 14 I did not get another since I don't think it's fair to them to be left alone all the time.

What do I do? I don't want to advertise and take a chance they will be adopted by someone who actually will sell them for research or some such. Anyone have good advice on how I go about finding them a good home?

Thanks.

[haele]

1. Try the lounge and the Oregon forum.

Someone there might be able to take them in. And since two cats are easier to care for and less destructive than one, it shouldn't be too hard to find a loving home - even in a house that already has kitties.
But - if you are thinking of keeping them, because there are two of them that are not kittens, if you have someone come in daily for an hour or so, they should be fine alone, even for three weeks.
When I lived alone and had Moggy and Willy, I used to take them with me on travel when I was going to be gone to one worksite for more than a month, but if it was under a month, I'd get enough food and litter to last longer than a month and make arrangements with a couple friends to alternate coming in and clean, feed, and play with the boys for about an hour a day (since I reciprocated when they went on vacation, it wasn't usually a big deal).
There are also pet-sitters that will do the same for you for a small fee.
It's good of you to care for them. They're probably missing their "daddy", and have no idea what is happening to them. I've heard of too many executors in this case that just dump the pets at the pound, no matter how close the person who's estate they were overseeing thought they were to them.

Haele

[OregonBlue]

2. I have been trying to find someone but no luck so far. If it was just this one trip it would be

okay but it's every couple of months that I am gone for a month or two. I will try the lounge, I didn't think of that. Thanks. I love animals and couldn't bear to drop them at the pound even though my cousin and I weren't actually very close, the animals should not be made to suffer. They are still in shock but recovering. Starting to play and romp around the house. That makes me happy.

[undeterred]

3. You might want to try putting an ad up craigslist.

I took in a black lab a couple of years ago and he was too much for me to handle. I put an ad on craigslist, and I had more than 10 inquiries, so I got to choose a home for him that was a really good fit.

[OregonBlue]

4. Yes, I may try that I just don't want someone to take them and have it turn out they wanted them for

research or something awful like that. If I don't find someone soon, I will list them on Craigs list. Thanks.

[glinda]

5. Yes. People can be mean and very good at lying. They might even

separate them. I think it best they be together.
I would see if there is a "cat" rescue person that might be listed in your area.(not a shelter, etc....) Some non-profit that fosters and then places them carefully into a loving home. This situation is so very sad.
Personally....I think if you are home most of the year, getting a cat sitter might work. Maybe. But they need love and care. Good luck.

[MadMaddie]

6. Here are No-Kill Shelters in Oregon

You may want to give them a call and perhaps visit to see what kind of vibes you get. PAWS has always been a wonderful organization.

http://www.animalliberationfront.com/AR_Orgs/No%20Kill%20Animal%20Shelters.htm

The Cat Adoption Team - 8 locations

Family Dogs New Life Shelter - Portland

Animal Aid. Portland

Florence Area Humane Society, Florence

Humane Society of the Ochocos -Prineville, the only no-kill facility east of Portland
[e-mail]; 541-447-7178

PAWS Animal Shelter for free roaming Cats and for newborn orphaned animals. West Linn, Oregon 97068. 503-650-0855.

Safe Haven, Albany

Good Luck! You are very caring by ensuring that they get the attention they need.

[glinda]

7. Shelters may break them up though. I suggest an actual "cat rescue/foster"

person that fosters until they find the right home for them.
I would look on the Web and attempt to locate one nearest you. If they are a breed specific rescue person then maybe they would know of someone who might be able to do it.We got our Wheaten from a "poodle rescue".

[MadMaddie]

8. You are probably right.

[spooky3]

9. agreed. S/he could check petfinder.com

to find names of rescue orgs. in his/her area.

SPCA probably has a chapter there, as one example.

Since I didn't know OregonBlue's city, I did a search for Salem, but this could be re-done with OregonBlue's city:

http://www.petfinder.com/awo/index.cgi?location=Salem%2C+Or&keyword=

produces the first page of:

Organization Pet List City, State/Prov Phone
Salem Friends of Felines Adoptable pets at Salem Friends of Felines in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503 362-5611
Dogs Deserve Better Adoptable pets at Dogs Deserve Better in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503-881-6055
Willamette Humane Society Adoptable pets at Willamette Humane Society in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503-585-5900
Marion County Dog Shelter Adoptable pets at Marion County Dog Shelter in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503-566-6966
Oregon Keeshond Rescue and Railroad Adoptable pets at Oregon Keeshond Rescue and Railroad in Salem, OR Salem, OR
Tiny Treasures Rescue Adoptable pets at Tiny Treasures Rescue in Salem, OR Salem, OR
Northwest Airedale Terrier Rescue Adoptable pets at Northwest Airedale Terrier Rescue in Salem, OR Salem, OR [phone]
Big Hearts Horse Rescue Adoptable pets at Big Hearts Horse Rescue in Keizer, OR Keizer, OR 503-580-0552
Willamette Animal Rescue Adoptable pets at Willamette Animal Rescue in Salem, OR Salem, OR
Hopes Haven Adoptable pets at Hopes Haven in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503-763-6499
Oregon Pekingese Rescue Network Adoptable pets at Oregon Pekingese Rescue Network in Salem, OR Salem, OR 5033638928
Kitty Orphans Adoptable pets at Kitty Orphans in Salem, OR Salem, OR 503-362-1466
Oregon Animal Care Center Adoptable pets at Oregon Animal Care Center in Turner, OR Turner, OR 503 743-2598
Smitten Kitten Adoptable pets at Smitten Kitten in Woodburn, OR Woodburn, OR 503-951-8195
Cuddly Companions Adoptable pets at Cuddly Companions in Hubbard, OR Hubbard, OR 503-632-8930
Homeward Bound Pets Adoptable pets at Homeward Bound Pets in Dayton, OR Dayton, OR 503-472-0341
AARRFF Adoptable pets at AARRFF in Scio, OR Scio, OR Please use e/mail
SafeHaven Humane Society Adoptable pets at SafeHaven Humane Society in Albany, OR Albany, OR [phone]
Linn County Dog Control Adoptable pets at Linn County Dog Control in Albany, OR Albany, OR 541-967-3925
K-9 Homefinders & Rescue, Inc. Adoptable pets at K-9 Homefinders & Rescue, Inc. in Albany, OR Albany, OR 541-926-5629
Albany Animal Hospital Adoptable pets at Albany Animal Hospital in Albany, OR Albany, OR [phone]
Kitten Ka-boo-tal Adoption Adoptable pets at Kitten Ka-boo-tal Adoption in Albany, OR Albany, OR
Mastiff Rescue Oregon Adoptable pets at Mastiff Rescue Oregon in McMinnville, OR McMinnville, OR 503-472-3792
Friends of Rescued Mastiffs Inc. Adoptable pets at Friends of Rescued Mastiffs Inc. in McMinnville, OR McMinnville, OR 253-884-2930
Yamhill County Dog Control Adoptable pets at Yamhill County Dog Control in McMinnville, OR McMinnville, OR 503-434-7538

[glinda]

11. Petfinder is a super source. I might also suggest to offer a financial

contribution to the responsible Foster person for the pair of kitties care. It is such a financial struggle for them and they do such great work.

[spooky3]

10. thank you for taking on this responsibility. I am sure a rescue group will help you.

if all else fails, please PM and I can help you find a rescue group near where you are. I do a little with three different groups in my area (NoVA). I'm sure someone will know someone who knows someone, etc.