Reader Suzanne has a big cat problem:
Unfortunately I need to find a new home for one of my kitties. He is a 6 year old altered male and a Maine Coon cat (non-pedigreed). That means he is a BIG BOY (about 18lbs.) Like all Maine Coon cats, he is very affectionate and loves people. He will even go up to strangers after initial reluctance. so he is not a shy boy. His name is Tiger and he will come when you call his name.
He cannot be in a home with other cats (part of the problem at our home). He has been badgered by his sibling which he was able to withstand for 4 years until a stray cat appeared in the neighborhood and lurked around our home. That became too much for him and he began to spray on the windows. (Curse the person who dumped this stray cat ! ) We were able to deal with this for two years by keeping those rooms off-limits. But bad habits like this once gained are hard to break and they can escalate. After the stray cat so freaked him out, he began inappropriate marking - targeting areas where his sibling (the one who likes to badger him) liked to sit. We were able to deal with this by removing things conducive to marking (i.e. rugs, pillows and keeping bedroom doors closed.) Oddly enough, he never marked on our bed where he likes to sleep - only areas where he wouldn't normally sleep and other cats would.
Something must have happened this week because his sibling is being unusually aggresive to him and he is responding very badly. We decided to make him an outdoor cat (he has been a house cat all his life) and only allow him in at night. His first night out he hid on a patio all day. The second day, he found that the yard was "heaven" and he wanted to be there. He adapted very quickly to this change of environment and was eager to be outside. Problem was that when the other house cats saw him through the windows, WWIII broke out in the house.
Bottom line is that he needs to be an outdoor cat - which, in Altadena carries great risk. It is possible that in a house with no other cats, he could be fine inside - but I cannot guarantee that. He does use a litter box (he will only use a box that no other cat uses AND it must be with newspaper and not cat liter).
We have few options for him if we cannot find a home for this sweetheart of a cat. We have tried medications to calm him (Ovaban) - no luck. I write this with a heavy heart because we love him and feel that once you adopt a cat - you are responsible for him for the entirety of his life.
If you, or someone you know would want to love him, please call me (Suzanne) at (626) 797-2831.
