or dont even tell them its your roommates cat- tell them its you and you have to move within the next month- that might help speed up the process.  MSCPA and the ARL usually can't keep animals very long.  The no kill shelter is the way to go with this little guy. even if the cat is skitish- as long as he isn't sick or feral they will make every effort to help.

---- Her other cat has already become my cat. She says I can't take him when we eventually part ways, but... we'll see about that. :) -----

Hi lucy,

Your irresponsible room mate have ANOTHER cat (which now is yours)? If this room mate is not taking care of her cats, she should not have any.

Well to answer your OP. You said the cat keep crying for hours in front of her bedroom door? Well, if you have tried everything else - I would just get up and let her (the cat) in. Ok, so your RM will throw her in the basement and the cat will cry there. Let her out of the basement and open your room mates door. She is so inconsiderate to you and your 3rd room mate, that I do not think you need to be considerate to her.

I hope your emotions will not take over, so you keep her cat - whenever you two parts. It is her cat, and she should be responsible for it. It is not fair to put this burden on you - unless you really love the cat to death.

With burden I only mean - finding another place to live and someone to take care of him/her whenever you want to go someplace for a longer period of time. I know the daughter to my secretary had the hardest time to find a place to live, where she could keep the cat. So she ended up moving back to her mom, cat in tow. Her mom lost her couch and her favorite chair in the process - and she had to get rid of most of her plants. For almost a year, I heard nothing but complaints every morning she would get to work. She finally gave her daughter an ultimatum. Your cat needs to go.

All that cat needs is some attention - it will keep crying as long as she feels that it is being neglected.  If the roommate does not want it, then you or maybe the MSPCA may need to take charge of her.  

Sounds like the neglectful, selfish roommate-owner needs to go.

your roommate is an a**hole. the cat needs to be taken away from her.

Why haven't we heard from the roommate who originally posted this issue nearly 3 years ago?   There are so many people who have voiced opinions and suggestions and would appreciate a follow-up on the fate of this innocent cat.

I totally agree with "Toytrumpet".  If The roommate can't be more responsible for the care of an animal....and...the crying is a way of needing affection. It's not the other roommates responsibily...though....they are to be commended for trying to care. Confront her!!!

Good Luck :=)

felinelove09

"I'm starting to think that I could say nothing and give the cat away and she wouldn't notice"

If I were in your position, I would talk to your other roommate and the two of you together face her with a joint "majority" decision - she obviously is not pet owner material and shouldn't have those cats, and that she can't keep them and continue to live there. It's not fair to the cats or to the two of you who are left to care for them and to worry about their welfare. In the meantime, be asking around for someone who is truly looking for a "pet", and be prepared with a name(s) of someone ready and willing to take the cat(s) and give them a home. I put the plural in parenthesis, because it seems as tho you yourself may want to keep the "other" cat. Think long and hard about that before you do, it's an ongoing commitment that involves care of the cat when you may want to go away for a few days.

Good luck.

tt

My cat is a talker.  My husband can't stand him talking all the time. He calls it crying.  All he (cat not husband) needs is to be cuddled for a few minutes.  Once he gets his fill he either curls up and sleeps on my lap or goes to his spot by the window...all is quiet.
People should not have animals if they are not going to take care of their basic physical and emotional needs! 

Time for the roommate to either give up the cat or start paying attention to the animal.  Cats depending on the breed need lots of attention.  The crying will continue until someone shows affection to the cat and talks/plays with it for a while.  20 minutes or more is not a lot to ask, like having an unattended child who will eventually cry and become anti-social.  People who take in animals and just expect them to exist on food alone should NOT have pets of any kind.    I have 3 cats all of which I took in as strays and all of my cats get equal attention.  Please have an adult discussion with your roomie, failing that although not your pet, please pay some attention to the cat.  You will find that it will in return give unconditonal love.

The problem is not the cat, its your roommate and her neglect of this animal. It sounds like she has no business being a pet owner. Cats are not a lot of work, but that does not mean they can be neglected and treated the way its being treated. My suggestion is to talk to the MSPCA or your local animal control, they may have suggestions as to how you can deal with the situation and any legal ramifications for her actions - which may prompt her to change or give up the animal.

Try a synthetic phermone dispenser for cats like Feliway. I use it with my cat and it works wonders.

http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/behaviortraining/a/Feliway.htm

I don't know what part of the country you live in, but around here (MA) it's on the news that shelters (ARL included) are running out of funds to house and feed the animals. So many people aren't able to afford to keep them now and are abandoning them. Much better, if possible, would be to find home for the two cats yourself.

tt

I know i'm jumping in late here so I'll try not to add to the confusion or repeat anything ad nauseum.

From your description, it sounds like the cat is ignored.  Not abused, not hurt or hungry.  Cats have different personalities and some cats are just more needy that others.

Given, your roommate may not be the cat mother of the year, but if the cat is hers and you either A: steal it, or B: surrender it, you're kinda acting in an unethical manner. 

Given you have to live with this roommate and you like cats, I'd consider the following:

Someone mentioned Feliway.  It's a great product and on the off chance the cat is stressed,  it will help calm her down.

Small steps.  If you really think you'd like to be friends with the cat, I'd suggest slowly warming up to the cat.  Put a boogie mat and some toys, just inside your bedroom door.  Maybe the cat will come in to see what's up.  Then slowly move the may to the foot of your bed.  She may decide she likes sleeping with you and not crying.

Cat's are creatures of habit and this one has gotten into the habit of crying.  Cats don't cry tears, so it's more of a verbal way to try and get her "mom's" attention.  When she cries, try to change her focus.  Don't use food for this or you'll end up with a fat cat who cries because she doesn't get enough food.

Try a water bottle when she cries.  Change her space.  If you have the patience make a noise so she moves from outside your roomies door.  Leave a heating pad plugged in and turned on low.  Spritz it with Feliway and a small amount of catnip and see if she gravitates towards it for warmth and comfort.

Find a really great toy that will keep her entertained, but not wake up the neighborhood.  And DO have that talk with your roommate.  Have a "Like, but" talk.  "I really "like" having you for a roommate because...."But", I feel as though you don't consider my need to sleep or the cats need to have attention.  Could you please let her in your room at night for a trial period and see if we all get a good nights sleep?  Putting the cat in the basement is not an option as it's not fair to her.  She feels as if she's being punished and pet parents love their pets unconditionally.. Did you bite off more than you bargained for?"

Give it a try and see what you can do!

Good luck 

In Response to Re: What to Do with a Cat that Won't Stop Crying?:
[QUOTE]Why haven't we heard from the roommate who originally posted this issue nearly 3 years ago?   There are so many people who have voiced opinions and suggestions and would appreciate a follow-up on the fate of this innocent cat.

Hopefully she moved away with all the cats!  I'm starting to think that people really should have to pass a test in order to have kids or animals.

I agree, give her an ultimatum: If you have not bougth cat food, cleaned the cat box and fed and watered the cat every day int he next week, I'm taking your cat to the Animal Rescue League.


[Quote]Reporting her? What an odd way to put it.

Look, the cat's neglected. If no one wants to spend time with the cat, someone ought to drop the cat off at the MSPCA. The cat's just being a cat.

Personally, I'd corner your roommate, get 2 or 3 inches from her face and scream at her for being a irresponsible twat and demand she take responsibilty for her pet before you take it and give it to someone who will take care of it. I'd call her a number of nasty names and remind her that it's a goddamned animal and neither a stuffed toy nor an accessory.

But that's just me.[/Quote]

Bring her cats to the ARL, explain the situation to them. When your roommate comes back, if she wants her cats, she'll have to submit an adoption application and I'm sure she won't pass the screening process.

[Quote]You're all right. What can I say? It is difficult to give her an ultimatum when she hasn't been home in four days. She decided to go skiing, without informing me or my other roommate, without purchasing cat food, without filling the water dish, without cleaning the litter box, and without asking anyone to feed them.

I'm starting to think that I could say nothing and give the cat away and she wouldn't notice.[/Quote]