When someone meets Onyx, their first comment is generally something like: “My, he’s so friendly -- he’s acts more like a dog than a cat!” He’s fearless. When the doorbell rings he’s the first one to answer it – greeting whoever is there with a rub on their leg and a warm “meow”. And maybe that was his demise.
Unlike the retirement cats we previously introduced, Onyx was not an “”owner turn-in” -- he was a “stray”. His family had less than 10 days to claim him before the shelter would move him from the hold area to the euthanasia room (because of his age) – if he was (or appeared) feral they have no obligation to hold him at all.
You may think that 10 days is sufficient for someone to claim their cat. Think again. If Onyx, for example, was an indoor cat, his family would have been out full-time looking for him during the first week or so that he got out. After that, they would grieve his loss and give up on finding him. But the odds of a cat being taken to a shelter during the first 10 days they’re missing are pretty slim -- here’s why.
If a cat is outgoing (like Onyx) -- and he’s seen alone outdoors by a cat Samaritan -- they often jump to the conclusion that he is lost or abandoned -- not considering the possibility he may be an indoor cat with outdoor privileges and be standing in front of his own home -- not lost or abandoned.
To “help” the cat, they pick him up and take him home and debate what is best for him. They may decide to keep him as their pet – if he fits in with their other pets – or they may network to find a permanent home with someone else – or try to find a no-kill shelter to take him. Hopefully they also contact veterinary clinics and shelters to report finding a lost cat. Only after these options all fail, the cat is taken to the animal control shelter. This may be weeks – or months – after the initial rescue. Long after the time the typical family quit looking for their beloved pet.
Another problem in rehoming lost cats is that many shelters are very protective of their stray holds and refuse to give out information over the phone requiring -- their guardians to physically visit the hold area to see if their cat is there. Few keep track of who is reporting their lost pets and so if months later the cat shows up, they don’t make any attempt at matching the stray cat to an earlier report. The likelihood of retrieving your lost cat from an animal control shelter is abysmal. Our local shelter, for example, in 2007 rehomed only 68 cats -- out of an intake of almost 3,000.
We’re glad we were there to take Onyx -- but are sad that someone else lost him -- and may still worry about what happened to him. Unlike seeing a cat through to a natural death,there is no closure when the cat simply disappears into thin air.
Onyx has been with us since January, 2003. He wasn’t a good candidate for our Older Cat foster program because he gets nippy when he’s excited. That’s been okay -- for Onyx truly relishes the company of other cats – the more the merrier. You often find him sleeping or grooming another cat – and start to wonder if he could be part dog – but then he jumps up on your lap, curls into a ball and starts purring loud rhythmic purrs and you know he’s definitely a cat – a sweet, friendly, curious and delightful cat.
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