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Any suggestions about a poor cat?

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PombinhaCoco7
  1/12/2020 14:54 EST

My heart is breaking for Coco.
Coco is a cat that was born in our complex about 10 years ago (we weren't here yet).
He is semi-feral and semi domesticated,
Most of the times he doesn't want to be touched.
Even though he is a good hunter and he drinks from the pool, he also eats the cat food that we buy him (dry and canned).
He likes to sleep on our bed during the day.
Two days ago he slept on my bed for over 7 hours.
We pay for his vaccines as well.
The problem is this:
Our HOA made a new law few years ago and they don't want any pets here.
My husband had to plea for his case.
He stayed.
Now with a lot of new owners the complains have increased.
There are 2 families here (ourselves and a Tico guy) who love Coco and he is allowed in both condos.
The French Canadians who spend several months here also love him.
Today someone came to me very upset saying that he enters her condo and she doesn't want that.
I can't even conceive the idea of someone taking the poor animal to a remote place where he may not have water and exposed to raccoons, dogs and other animals.
I even sent a message to a Vet telling her about this situation and asking her if by law he would be allowed to be put to sleep so that he won't suffer more.
Someone else already told me that they can't do that.
I know there are animal refugees but I don't think they take cats. Only sloths, parrots, etc...
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks.

Kohl
  1/12/2020 16:12 EST

Can't you try to keep him as an 'inside cat?'

I adopted an older 'bonded pair' of tortoiseshell cats from the SPCA when I returned, and was told they were inside cats. Now, I don't think that this was correct, but I do now keep them inside due to living near a reasonably busy road...and they are not living a bad life. You will just have to keep your door closed...

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PombinhaCoco7
  1/12/2020 17:32 EST

Khol,
He never stays indoor during the night.
Two nights ago I was surprised that he stayed here until 3 AM. Then he awoke me up and comes to the door asking me to open it.
He likes to come and go and after 10 years of hunting iguanas, mice and even birds not to mention that he has killed a chicken, it's very hard to keep him.
Sometimes I don't understand why he feels the need to kill birds after all the food we buy him but it's his nature.
What amazes me is how sometimes
he doesn't mind to be held by strangers (tourists) and other times he gets so aggressive. if someone tries to pet him.
I feel so nervous that my stomach hurts.
What surprises me as well is that the lady who complained Today about him entering her condo has a farm in
Canada. So I guess she must be used to animals.

ILuvCR
  1/12/2020 20:25 EST

Post it for adoption @ TNR Expat Cat Lovers in Costa Rica 'Purr-a-Vida'

https://www.facebook.com/groups/232761550629730/

or ask Lilian Schnog ! A.H.P.P.A. Heredia, https://www.facebook.com/AHPPA/

PombinhaCoco7
  1/12/2020 22:17 EST

lindyluvsCR
It's hard to do that because we never know what to expect from him when we try to pick him up and hold him.
I had a French Canadian who used to come to my condo while he was asleep and pick him up very gently and put him in a crate to take him to the Vet.
Then the Vet started coming to our condo to vaccine him.
She is coming back in 2 weeks.
To some people he responds very well like with my daughter when she comes here but later he scratched her. We never know what to expect from him. I'm just so concerned.

ILuvCR
  1/13/2020 07:10 EST

lindyluvsCR or ILuvCR?

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lindyluvsCR
  1/13/2020 08:15 EST

Pombinha - I think you responded to me in error.

Kohl
  1/13/2020 08:52 EST

In an adoption ad., it could state that the cat is more suited to a rural life...such as a farm cat.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 09:56 EST

One of the owners just emailed me from Canada begging me not to get rid of Coco.
She says that he was born here and that he has the right to live here.
He doesn't bother anyone, she says.
Right now he is asleep on my bed.
Yes Khol, a farm would be better for him but I think he would always try to find his way home and probably would leave that place.
My heart and my stomach have been hurting since Yesterday.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 14:31 EST

The Vet replied to me and she said (and I agree) that is not fair to do that to a healthy cat.
I told her that if I was a Tica I would report these people to La Polizia de Imigracion.
Last year they separated a raccoon mom from her 2 babies. Then 3 days later they caught the mother and took her to the same area where they had taken the babies.
I think I already mentioned it here before. Sick!
Some owners are advising me not to do anything and wait to see if this thing goes away.
Unfortunately I have been waiting for this thing to go away since 2016.
Khol, come back so that you can take care of Coco. Yes, either a farm or a big property would be the ideal for him but we love him so much!
I'm grateful for those aspirins from Canada that they suggest that people take when they suspect they are about to have a heart attack.
Not the regular ones.
Those aspirins have helped me many times when my heart is so heavy and hurting so much and I have trouble breathing.
In Canada there is a commercial where they tell people to call 911 and take one of those aspirins.

Kohl
  1/13/2020 14:50 EST

'They' are saying now that this really doesn't help.

The 'asperina' they give out at CAJA is also very low, 100mg.
I also read that instead of the 'baby aspirin' 81mg, eat some dark chocolate ... 8-)

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RebeCR
  1/13/2020 14:56 EST

For my animals when stressed I administer a few drops of a natural oil, either CBD (for animals, no thc) or at some Fishel Farmacias: Rescue Remedy. Depending on size/weight of cat start with 2 drops (not full dropper) if Coco will let you. Less effective: put in his food or water. Try 2 drops 2x per day and watch how he reacts and adjust accordingly. Poor kitty.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 15:47 EST

ILuvCR
I apologize for confusing you with lindyluvsCR.
I "envy" you for having 3 dogs.
We used to have 2 beagles in Canada.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 19:23 EST

RebeCR
Thank you so much for this information.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 19:57 EST

Khol
My husband and I have noticed a huge difference every time we take that aspirin.
We don't take it on regular basis.
Only when our hearts are giving us trouble (pain, uptight, hard to breathe, etc...)
It really helps us.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/13/2020 20:18 EST

Khol
The tourists and owners are under the palapo by the pool (there is a bar) having drinks and Coco just sat there watching them.
He looks so cute!

1952cajun
  1/13/2020 20:49 EST

I live in Atenas and there is an animal rescue here. If you can bring the cat here, Dora will find a good home for the cat.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 06:11 EST

1952 Cajun
Thank you so much for your information. For the first time I hear something that gives me hope.
We are planning to wait for our AGM (Jan. 25th) and see if they will bring up this subject.
I just think it will be hard to keep him indoors 24 hours a day. He likes to come and go as he pleases.
I even think that our complex won't be the same without Coco.
I really appreciate your offer and I'm going to copy and paste it and keep it.
Thank you so much.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 06:13 EST

I never check my PM and I don't even know if we can post a photo there.
However I'm going to try to see if it works. I would like for some of you to see Coco with his Christmas hat.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 06:31 EST

1952Cajun
My daughter is coming here for 5 days. She is in Panama.
She will leave before AGM (one day before) but it would be great if she could take Coco to Atenas with my husband since she will have a rental care. We don't have one.
I don't have the courage to go.
The photo thing didn't work.
I hope you will stay in this Forum.
I will give you my email in your PM.
I'm just going to leave a message here for lindyluvsCR first.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 06:38 EST

lindyluvsCR
I looked for one of your old emails from when you and I were trying to help a family from Canada that rented here in my complex and planned to go to Grecia. Then they changed their minds.
Anyway, I just sent you Coco's photo with his Christmas hat.
There is one more I would like to send you. I was dog sitting while a lady was at the hospital and at that time we didn't have these new rules yet against pets.
So Coco and Mia took a nap together on my bed. There was some jealousy there because Coco felt that Mia had replaced him. That's when he started coming to our condo more often.
I'm so thankful for this lady from Atenas. It woud be a good thing if they complain about Coco in the meeting (I believe they will, at least one lady) to be able to say: Coco will no longer be an issue. He has found a good place in Atenas.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 08:25 EST

1952Cajun
My daughter is telling me that she can take Coco on January 20th in the morning before she goes to Cano Negro where she already booked and paid for a hotel and boat tour.
January 20th (Monday) is the only morning she has available.
I think it's a trip of 3 1/2 hours.
From Liberia they say it's 2.45.
Now I contacted a local Vet to ask if she has a crate that I can borrow.
Can you please give me the directions for Linda's place?- My daughter plans to leave probably at 9 AM from Playas del Coco.
I just hope we'll be ale to have Coco inside the crate by then.
I already cried a river of tears. I'm going to miss him so much!-I hope I won't have a heart attack.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 09:26 EST

1952Cajun
Correction:
Sorry, your friends's name is Dora.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/14/2020 10:13 EST

I Googled the shelter but it is closed Today.
I don't see any email adress. for Dora.
I need to ask her if we can take Coco because I don't want for my daughter to drive for 3. 18 minutes for nothing.
I would appreciate if someone could give me that information.
Thanks.

Kohl
  1/14/2020 14:39 EST

Have you checked with the group that rescues street dogs in Coco? I had an acquaintance with a women in it, but she has passed away and I don't know whether or not it still exists?t

acastillo
  1/15/2020 07:15 EST

I've heard HOAs are notorious for coming up with absurd rules like telling everyone what color their house can be, but telling people they have to give up their pets? Is that even legal? Maybe you should tell them to get bent.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/15/2020 07:47 EST

acastillo
I decided not to take Coco anywhere.
I cried all day long Yesterday.
My heart and my stomach were hurting.
I had owners and former renters and present renters (long term) and tourists begging me not to take him away.
The thought of having him in a confined space maybe forever since he doesn't like to be touched was breaking my heart.
Coco was born here before any of us (owners) ever came to this place.
Every morning he sits on my window ledge waiting for me to get up.
Then he walks around the pool.
He is par of our big family.
He comes back whenever he wants and he goes to my bed and sometimes sleeps all day long.
Now with so many tourists here that he knows very well (the majority) because they rent here for 5-6 months every year he likes to visit everyone.
The problem is that one of those tourists who love Coco shares the stairs that go to the second floor with a new owner that doesn't want Coco there.
We used to have a mice problem and Coco got rid of them all. He even brought one to us as a gift and I was calling him a bad boy when someone told me it was a gift. So I apologized to Coco (not sure if he understood).
We used to have a beach chair with his name and people were always taking photos of him. Then it broke and he started using my neighbors chair and she loves when I send her photos of Coco on her chair.
These people come from other countries and then they want to get rid of the animals that were already here before they arrived.
Owners and renters come and go but Coco has stayed here all this time.
If he wanted he could jump the fence and leave.
Even though I buy him cat food he is a hunter and he drinks from the pool.
He rarely drinks of the bottled water I give him.
Thank you for your words.
I totally agree.

PombinhaCoco7
  1/15/2020 07:51 EST

Hi Khol,
One of the owners is friends with Amy Lentz. One of the ladies who also has helped many pets.
Since Coco is a semi-feral cat it's hard to keep him indoors and he could even scratch or bit someone if they would pet him a lot. He did it to my husband even though he slept with him during the big storm 2-3 years ago.
I say semi-feral because he also likes to be part of the group whenever he sees a lot of people together. He just prefers that no one picks him up.

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