I’m a member of Orkut and in my quest for possibly placing Zoë, I sent out notices to the Austin and cat lover communities there. The note was brief, saying I’m moving cross country and needed a new home for her, asking if anyone who lives in central Texas and is interested to contact me. I provided a link to the blog post so people could learn more.

Although the cynical part of me knows better, I’m amazed that people won’t bother to read before making a judgment about the kind of person I am. I’m amazed at the intensity and vitriol of some of the responses. It makes me reconsider the concept of “social networks” like Orkut. If asking for help results in condemnation and unconstructive feedback, this removes the incentive to reach out. People who rescue animals plead and urge pet owners to tap all resources if they choose not to keep a pet, and yet the response to my call has been mostly unhelpful.

I received one inquiry from someone local expressing interest in discussing adoption. I’ll be exploring it. One other respondent empathized and provided practical advice on helping her through the move. I’ve not made the final decision yet; I was putting out feelers to see what options might be available.

I’ve been criticized for abandoning my cat and being a nasty person who doesn’t deserve the cat I have. But my goodness, if it’s taboo to ask the question or consider alternatives, how can I make a fully informed decision? This reminds me of religious paradigms which make it a sin to doubt or question. A good decision comes from exploration.

If you have helpful information on how to move a cat such as Zoë 1500 miles — keeping in mind the move will take four days and we’ll then live in a motel for up to 15 days after arrival while we wait for our furniture to arrive and will have two other cats with us — I welcome hearing from you. I you have helpful information about resources in Austin or might want to adopt her, please contact me. If your only message is to ask me why I’m considering this or tell me I’m an awful person, I would rather not hear from you. This is not an easy or painless situation.

I have three cat companions, and one of them, I fear, will not survive the move cross-country. She’s a little neurotic. Her name is Zoë, and she’s six years old, spayed, declawed, and updated on her annual shots. She’s really gorgeous and has a gentle personality.

So what’s the problem, you ask? I adopted Zoë from foster care when she was six months. She and a sibling were abandoned at six weeks of age. They were left in a box, and the rescuer had a number of large dogs that attacked the box. The traumatic experience altered Zoë. Her caregivers said she was psychotic and totally untouchable when they got her. Over time she calmed down (she lived in a room with 30 other cats to be socialized), but remained skittish. She was beautiful, and I’ve got a soft spot for cast-offs, so I adopted her along with another cat.

Over the years, Zoë has become as tame as she will probably ever be. I think she has post-traumatic stress disorder. She likes to sleep in enclosed, quiet places, and it is a rare visitor who ever lays eyes on her. If you sneeze loudly or make a sudden movement, she nearly jumps out of her skin. However, she also is a come-sit-beside-you cat who loves to snuggle. Don’t try to pick her up. She freaks out. If you let her come to you, however, she will roll on her back and let you rub her belly. She is playful. Zoë brings to mind a quote I like:

Happiness is like a butterfly,the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and softly sits on your shoulder.

–By Nathanial Hawthorne

My concern is that the four days to California might just undo what stability she’s achieved. Each cat will travel in a carrier, and at night we’ll let them out in the motel room to eat and use the litterbox. We will consider tranquilzers, but adminstering a pill to her is virtually impossible. If she’s too lethargic, she won’t be up to eating and such in the evenings. It just doesn’t seem like a happy situation. Furthermore, we’ll rent an apartment in CA, and most places have a limit of two pets.

What Zoë needs is a place to live that is quiet (no dogs!) with someone who can accept a cat who is very cat-like (aloof, interacts with you on her terms). She socializes well with other cats, mostly because she does not try to dominate. She finds her niche. I’ve been hoping and praying to find a loving home for her, but this is proving difficult. If we don’t succeed, and decide not to take her, we have but one alternative, and that is to put her down. I dearly wish to avoid that.

Please consider giving sweet Zoë a home, and ask your among your friends and family if anyone could adopt her. Email me at kathryn at pobox dot com.

You can see a photo of her below.
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