The house is quiet this morning and I feel badly about events of

[yy4me]

the last few days. You will remember from my recent posts, that I recently adopted a kitty from our local shelter. She was thin, but otherwise in good health and seemed to adopt to her new surroundings very well. She would jump on my lap all the time and insist on bumping heads and patting. She did however, frequently try to bite me. Not hard but enough to concern me. I did the "no" thing and immediately put her on the floor. I credited this behavior to strangeness and figured she had to get to know her surroundings and me.

I have had her a month and the casual(I thought) biting attempts did not stop.
Saturday something happened that scared the heck out of me and my daughter.
For several years, I have cared for her yellow lab 2 days a week. She is a wonderful and laid back dog. Accepts kitties with nothing more than a curious look. She is 9 and has slowed down a lot. She has not been here since I get the cat.

Saturday was the day we decided to try and introduce the kitty and the dog. Daughter arrived, sat in kitchen chair holding the dogs collar and had the leash in the other hand. I let the kitty out of the den and she came into the kitchen, saw the dog, immediately puffed up to about 3 times her size and attacked the dog. She charged at the stunned dog screeching like a banshee and lashed onto her neck. My daughter and I struggled to get the cat off without being shredded ourselves or causing injury to the dog. When we broke them up, my daughter ran out of the house with the dog and I closed the cat in the den.

An hour later I let the kitty out. I was washing dishes and kitty jumped on the counter. This is a no-no. I picked up the hand towel to dry my hands prior to putting her on the floor. I was not even near her yet and she lunged at my face hissing and puffed up. I tried to shield myself but she got me on my left cheek and I now have a nasty long scratch to show.

I ignored her for the rest of the day and admitted to myself that this kitty is frightening me a little. Something latent that is now coming to light?

Sunday came. I made coffee and sat at the table to read the paper. Up jumped the kitty on my lap. She immediately bit me on the arm. Deep bite of the fangs. It bled like the devil and hurt. Back into the den for the cat.

I called the adoption people immediately, they are available 24 hours a day. After telling them what happened, they insisted they come over immediately and remove the kitty. This is not normal behavior.
I will have grandchildren here in June when school lets out plus I fear for those visiting. Suppose she decides to jump on their laps? I would be in serious trouble.

They took the kitty and told me she would have another full Vet exam and be quarantined for 10 days. They will find her a new home with no kids and no dogs. I had to make a report to the town Animal Control office about the incident and have made my doctor aware of the scratches and bite. I am told they can be real nasty and cause terrible problems if they get infected.

The bottom line is that I feel so badly about this. She deserves a good life and, without the biting, is a sweet and loving kitty. What went wrong? I treated her well, she ate like a horse and gained weight. I gave her all the attention I could and it still went bad.

I gave the shelter all the toys and will later bring them the food and litter I just recently bought.

It will be a while before I think of another cat. Trying the shelter route is a gamble I guess. My conscience bothers me terribly. I hope she is OK and finds a new home.

I tried.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. I know how it feels

We adopted a Border Collie this fall from a "reputable" rescue. Within a few days, SEVERE epilepsy began to manifest. We had to return her to the rescue. We felt terrible, because she had already been through so much, but there was no way we could give her the supervision she needed and the seizures were absolutely terrifying our other pets.

The shittiest part about it is, according to our vet, there is no way the rescue didn't know about her epilepsy, and we were told she was 100% healthy.

[Coyote_Bandit]

11. Had the same thing happen to me

Dog had serious health problems. He couldn't walk around the block - much less wlak the quarter of a mile to the local park. After observing him for two days it was apparent that he just simply did not feel good. He was tired and grumpy and short tempered. He had a foul disposition toward my dog who was smaller and younger and vision impaired and completely lacking in the alpha dog category. My vet advised that the adoptee had very serious heart problems and a very limited life expectancy. Yet he had been represented to me by the rescue group as being perfectly healthy. No mention made of the fluid retention signaling congestive heart failure. Not what I signed up for. Not fair to my other dog. And at the time it would have been a significant financial burden. Back to the shelter he went.

There are a lot of animals that need homes. They can be found in lots of places other than shelters and rescue groups. I prefer to make a commitment to an animal rather than a rescue group. And I've learned to condition acceptance of the animal on a veterinary exam and behavioral observation in my home.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Yeah, both of our Border Collies are rescues, but not from official rescues

Both were just given up and destined for the pound, when people stepped in to find them a new home.

Mick was given up for running around and chewing on things. Just dropped off at a vet office with his records and ABCA papers. A local sheep farmer took him in. He got to live on her farm with her working dogs, until we found out about him. If he wasn't so stubborn, she was going to keep him, but he's a real hard-headed dog and she didn't have time to train him. The thing is, even though chewing was one of the reasons he was given up, he has never chewed on anything he wasn't supposed to. I guess his previous owner didn't give him toys. And, he was housebroken in a day (at 5 months old), which is just amazing, because he lived outside when he was at the farm.

Beag came from a cattle ranch in Arizona. Some guy bought her, and moved cross country to PA a week later. He was going to give her to the pound, because he didn't have time for a puppy with the move. Lucky for her, his neighbor was a Border Collie breeder who took her in to place her in a new home. She is much sweeter and friendly than the average Border Collie. A total cuddle monster.

[northernlights]

2. I'm so sorry this happened

and you did the right thing by returning her.

It sounds pretty unusual to me and I wouldn't be too quick to let one problem cat (or dog) prevent me from trying again with another. I would, however, be more careful the next time to give up more quickly on a cat that showed signs of being a biter, even in new surroundings. Most shelter pets are grateful to have a home and at least initially put on their best behavior. They usually don't start testing limits until they feel comfortable and safe -- and then they back down once they learn a behavior is not acceptable.

I had adopted 2 feral cats for my barn -- both ran away as soon as they were able. I felt terrible, but the shelter simply gave me a nonferal surrendered cat that was miserable at the shelter and she has done wonderfully.

So I'm sorry this happened, but hope you try again once your wounds have healed.

[ginnyinWI]

3. a truly unusual case IMO; I'd try again.

There are so many kitties out there who also deserve a home but are very well behaved. I encourage you to try again. The kitty you had seems to have had a very unfortunate past, and some are simply too damaged to be helped. It would take years, maybe, for her to learn to trust again.

But most kitties are sweet-tempered and make great companions. Try again--you'll probably get a great kitty and be so glad you did! Try to have a play session at the shelter before you take it home. See if you can hold it, carry it around, and if it lets you pet it, handle its paws, etc. See if you can hold it with outstretched arms without it becoming afraid. A passive, trusting cat will let you do these things. If there are any warning signs, don't assume they will go away. Move on to the next prospect. Because there are so many sweeties pining away in shelters that deserve your love.

A cat should never bite people,dogs or other cats, even in play. The only normal "bite" is the "stop petting me now" mouthing they do-- but it doesn't break the skin--it's just a warning signal. If a cat does bite for real, it is either feral, sick or has been made to be afraid of humans.

[virgdem]

4. I'm so sorry this didn't work out..

but you really did try and that's what counts. Please go to a doctor ASAP and see about those bite wounds. You could get a nasty staph infection and possibly lose a limb if the wound is not treated immediately. I know how badly you feel as I would feel the same way. But don't blame yourself - you gave it your best and the kitty just has too many problems.

[yy4me]

10. Just got back from the Doctors office .The Animal Control office

told me to call him and when I did, they prescribed some antibiotic that put me back $40.00 because I have no drug coverage with Medicaid. It was $50.00 but Target has a program for "no-insurance" and gave me that discount. I also had me come in for a Tetanus shot. The last one was too many years ago to even remember.

I so hope they find out what is bothering this kitty because she could make someone a great pet.
Remember, "when she was good, she was very, very good but when she was bad, she was horrid"? That just came to me, some memory from my youth. True in this case. Thanks to all for making me feel better about my decision.

[ceile]

5. That really sucks!

You did what you could-don't feel bad. :hug:

[undergroundnomore]

6. first of all

thank you for adopting from a shelter. We have obtained every pet either as a stray or rescued from a shelter.

When I adopted our dogs they were generally loving and became instant family members. Had anyone of my pets been a threat to my children I would have removed them from the home. I love my pets but I love my children too.

I think some pet, maybe due to past cruelty, are unadoptable into home with children. Some pets get along great with kids and some don't. My cocker loves to have people pet him, fuss all over him, and generally worship the ground he walks on. If my Grandkids come over he tends to get his pets roll over on his tummy and then after more adulation he proceeds to sit in the corner and pout. He's so jealous. I know someone else with a cocker who tries to nip kids who want to play with him. When it's just the owner and other adults her dog never acts that way.

I understand why you feel sad but I don't think you should feel guilty. It sounds as though you tried your best and in your heart you gave this cat your love. I think you did the right thing.

[MiniMe]

7. Unfortunately, with rescues, you can never be sure of their background

You don't know what the kitty went through before she got to you. The rescue probably never had her in that situation before. Unfortunately, some rescues just can't be saved. I foster dogs for a rescue, and I have had a few that just couldn't adapt. I had one little boy who was scared to death of everything, and I do mean everything. A pillow from the couch fell onto the floor, and he came into the room and stopped, and started barking at it. Something was different and it scared him to death. I put the pillow back on the couch and he was fine. The poor boy was about 8 months when I got him, and he came from a puppy mill. I worked hard at socializing him. He loved women once he got to know them, but he never accepted men. He was a great dog, I really loved him and I could do anything to him. He got along great with other dogs. My friends would come over, and one guy would lay on the floor and not move to try to make the dog more at ease. They would give him treats, talk sweetly to him, and not to anything to scare him. In the end, none of it mattered. As he got older (I had him for about 3 months), he got more agressive towards men. He actually got adopted once, got out, and I had to spend a morning trudging through the mud to catch him. The rescue finally put him down, and I really think it as the kindest thing for him. To live your life so terrified is a terrible thing. We even tried putting him on xanax to see if that would help, but it didn't. The women always loved him to pieces because he was a really sweet boy, he just couldn't accept men. I don't know what happened to him when he was young, or if it was really poor breeding, but the poor dog not meant for the real world.

I have other fosters who have been extremely fearful too. Some could overcome it, and some couldn't. One of my current dogs is another puppy mill dog. He is full of fear too, but he has gotten much better as time has gone on. And he chooses to run from something that scares him rather than stand his ground.

Don't give up on rescuing animals. When you look for your next kitty, make sure it is one that you know gets along with dogs. Rescues sometimes know. I'm sorry you went through this experience. It isn't your fault.

[Warpy]

8. You can't save them all

and either this cat has a serious physical problem or she was never properly socialized, at all. I find it a little shocking the shelter people would consider re placing her after she's done full-on attacks with no provocation. This is not normal cat behavior, period.

Cat bites are puncture wounds and should be treated as such, meaning making sure you've had a tetanus booster within the past 10 years.

I have adopted 2 shelter kitties. If I were younger, I'd do it again. Hell, I might crack after the old lady goes and do it again, finding an older animal sitting on death row because s/he isn't cute any more. It can work out, in other words, and shelter cats are grateful cats.

My own kitty test involves picking them up and holding them in my lap while petting them. A little tail motion is OK because they don't know me. If they don't stick their claws out, it means they've been socialized enough to trust having people handle them.

If they purr, I've made friends. A nose lick or falling asleep in my lap means I've got another kitty.

Something was very wrong with that kitty. There was no way you could have kept her unless you'd kept her in a cage and I don't think she'd like that, do you?

[yellerpup]

9. The only time I've ever seen this good kitty/bad kitty schizo behavior

was when the office cat started attacking people willy-nilly. He would climb up on my lap and purr, but grab my hand and bite if I moved in a way he didn't like. Didn't have to be a sudden move, didn't have to be threatening, didn't even have to be me -- he was attacking everyone without warning. His problem turned out to be that he had terrible dental problems and that he was in almost constant pain. After a tooth cleaning and a change of diet he sweetened up considerably. I am guessing that your poor kitty was suffering some kind of pain as well. No one is at their best when they hurt. You did what you could. I hope she doesn't have something that is transmittable through her saliva and I trust the Animal Control office will contact you if it turns out that is true. Don't feel guilty. You gave her more chances than many people would have. Poor darlings can't explain what is wrong or what they need, and you should give yourself credit because you really worked hard to understand.

[CountAllVotes]

12. you gave it your best shot

I really think the dog freaked the cat out. However, being you were badly bit, it is not the least bit acceptable.

I've been there myself (having to return a dog/cat) and it made me feel like a piece of crap.

Maybe you'll feel like getting another pet again later.

I would not do anything right now.

Some of the biggest mistakes I have made with adoption of pets has turned into nightmare situations for me too.

Hopefully, someone else will come along and will want to adopt this cat we can hope.

I hope those bites do not get infected! Keep a close eye on them!

In the meantime - a :hug: is in order for you and please, DO NOT FEEL GUILTY!

[japple]

14. So sorry this didn't work out. It sounds like this kitty was never

properly socialized, or possibly had some sort of brain damage. It was beyond your control. If kittens are taken away from their litter too soon, or are born to feral mothers, they need to spend some time in a "halfway" house before being adopted out. They need socialization in order to fit into a human family. Please don't let this keep you from letting another pet into your life. My male cat, Oscar, was 3 yrs. old when I got him, and had been living at the animal shelter for 3 years. He was a bit "institutionalized" when he came to live with us, but it didn't take long before he learned that he had a real home and a family to love him. 6 years later, he is sweet, loving, and a wonderful uncle cat to the newest female member of our cat family.