Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dazed and Confused]

White female with 3 grey kittens need new home(s). They are not neutured or spayed but seem in good health. Located in Incheon near Songdo.

I'm in a bit of a sticky stituation here and need some help. My neighbors have a cat with 3 kittens. The look old enough to be already weened. She is not 100% an indoor cat. She roams around outside and sleeps in the garage at night. She's friendly and sweet and I have no problems with her or her cute kittens. The problem I have is with my neighbor. They don't provide her a litter box or clean up after her. We've spoken to the neighbor and asked for a litter box. They always say they'll get one but don't. My husband and I are tired of cleaning up 2-3 piles of cat poop every morning and the building is starting to smell. I am not willing to get a box because it isn't my cat. I think if you aren't willing to care for pets you shouldn't have them.

If no one takes the cats they will end up in the local pound. I'm allergic to cats and can't take her. I'm sure my dog would rip her to shreds anyway. He does not like her.

I'd really appreciate if you'd keep negative comments to yourself. I do have the cats interests at heart but we (cats & humans) cannot live in the current situation.

[Poltergeist]

[Xylox]

[Meow?]

[Justin Trullinger]

I don't mean to make negative comments. If my apartment accepted pets, I would probably be on the way over. I know it's hard to deal with people with problem animals, and irresponsible pet owners.

I recommend the link the other person provided as a possible alternative after you've had this out with the neighbors a few more times.

But let's be straight- You do not think your neighbors' pet ownership meets the standards it should. I sympathize with you, and know that's a hard situation to deal with. I don't see why it give the right, however, to:

A) Steal their pets and give them away.

or

B) Kill the cats. (And let's be honest- that is what taking them to a Korean pound means. Killing them without having to do it.)


It's just hard to see how you feel you have the right to do either of those- and while you probably aren't interested in my opinion, the law probably is closer to mine than yours. If you steal your neighbors cats, you're quite likely to cause problemes for you. And if they get the law involved, that probably won't go in your favour.

Were I you, I might talk to them about your offer to help find homes for the kittens. But I'd be careful not to threaten anything drastic, or of questionable legality.

Best,
Justin

[Dazed and Confused]

Justin,
We have spoken to the neighbor several times. They have promised to get a litter box but have failed to do so. The neighbor has even asked if we want him to THROW THE CATS OUT ON THE STREET. We have assured him that is not what we want. And truely we don't. I think making her and the kittens homeless would be far worse than being rehomed, in a shelter, or euthanized by the pound. The cats are using the bathroom inside the building. The owner won't clean up after them. I live in this building too. I'm tired of walking in after a 12 hour day to navigate a cat poop minefeild and having to do the same thing in the morning. My patience has become non-existant. Please understand I have no wishes to break the law. However, Korean law isn't on my side in any way as far as I know or I would take advantage of it. Finding homes for only the kittens still wouldn't solve the problem of the older cat as she will still be here. Nor would it solve the problem of the next litter of kittens that will arrive in 6 months.

[Poltergeist]

[Dazed and Confused]

I do not know why the cat has not been spayed. I'd personally not look forward to litter after litter of kittens. I can only speculate from what I've heard from Koreans that many see spaying and neutering as cruel. They think it causes too much pain for the animal and the recovery is too long.

As I have said we have spoken several times to the owner about getting a litter box for her and the kittens. If they had a box, and used it and the kitter litter was changed every week, I would have no problems. I do genuinely like the cat. She is sweet and greets me at the door. The kittens are cute too. However, the owner has made no effort to get them a box or kitty litter. Last night he locked them in the garage. This doesn't solve the litter box problem or the smell. As for the comment of throwing her one the street. I think he may have seen it as a possible solution.

If anyone on this board would be willing to pay for the spaying/neutering of her and the kittens then by all means do so. I will take them to my very good vet myself. It still doesn't take care of the cat poop minefield I'm dealing with on a daily basis.

[Poltergeist]

[Justin Trullinger]

I understand what it's like to be at wit's end. Hang in there; keep trying to communicate, and don't do anything you'll feel bad about after.

I guess I'm still not picturing the whole housing situation- don't quite visualize where the cats live, and where you live. Are you sharing an apartment with these people? If the cats are "going" in your bathroom, that seems way over the line. But if it's not your bathroom, why are you going in there and cleaning it? I know there's something I'm missing here, so pardon me for being obtuse.

My thought- you may want to involve the owner, of your apartment, the building, or whatever. The neighbors may be more willing to listen then. Specifically- what are your requirements? (LItter tray and regular cleaning up after sounds like a good start.) If the owner of your place presents that, it may be more forceful, and the neighbor may get the hang of it. If your owner isn't willing/accessible, I might try to communicate same, using a trusted Korean so that it gets through with a minimum of language barrier.

Another option, if your housing is employer provided, might be to talk to your employer. They have a responsibility to provide liveable housing, and if this is as bad as you say, then they may be willing to help communicate with/put pressure on your neighbor.

Looking for a home for the kitties, big and small, may be a solution as well, if that's something you're willing to help do. AND if they accept your offer. But doing it on your own still seems...not quite on.

And your feeling that the cats situation would be somehow improved if they were "euthanised" mystifies me. I understand and believe that you don't want to do anything illegal or immoral. It's just a question of balancing your interests (which are very important) and humane interest in animals (probably less important, but killed over a little poop seems extreme.)

It seems to me that the best way to find that balance is to treat this, not as a cat problem, but as a housing conditions problem- time to involve your employers, the owners, or...whoever the neighbor might listen to.

Or...I wonder. If it's just the cats, then maybe it's just the cats. If this is one of many problems, you might consider moving. After all- are the other neighbors bothered by the cats?


All the best
Justin

[Dazed and Confused]

Justin,
I will try to clarify this for you.



[i][b]I guess I'm still not picturing the whole housing situation- don't quite visualize where the cats live, and where you live.[/b][/i]

[color=red]I live in a 3 story building.
The garage is on the first/ground floor. Everyone parks their cars inside at nights and weekends.
A business is on the second floor. The cats owner runs the business but doesn't live there. The cats stay here overnight and on weekends in the garage.
I live on the third floor.
The kittens are in the garage and as of yesterday the mother cat is locked in there at night and weekends without a litter box or access outside. Her owners leave the main door to the building open for her to wander in and out as she pleases but only while they are in the office.This is the door I use as well to go upstairs to the third floor where I live.[/color]

[i][b]Are you sharing an apartment with these people?[/b][/i]
[color=red]No, we are not housemates. Their business is on the second floor and my house is on the third floor.[/color]

[i][b] If the cats are "going" in your bathroom, that seems way over the line. But if it's not your bathroom, why are you going in there and cleaning it? I know there's something I'm missing here, so pardon me for being obtuse.[/b][/i]

[color=red]The cats are pooping & peeing in the garage, on the stairs, and directily in front of my door. When I am in the garage I have to step over cat poop. Going upstairs/downstairs I have to avoid cat poop. Unlocking & opening my door I have to avoid cat poop. I do this everyday twice a day. They refuse to pick it up and they have neglected to get a litter box. We pick it up.[/color]

[i][b]My thought- you may want to involve the owner,[/b][/i]
[color=red]I will most likely have my husband call them this weekend.[/color]

[i][b] Specifically- what are your requirements? [/b][/i]
[color=red]The cats need a litter box and it needs to be cleaned regularly. I would be really happy if she is spayed as well to avoid adding to the feral cat over population of this country.[/color]

[i][b]If your owner isn't willing/accessible, I might try to communicate same, using a trusted Korean so that it gets through with a minimum of language barrier. [/b][/i]
[color=red]My husband is full blooded-never lived overseas-Korean. There is no language barrier.[/color]

[i][b]Another option, if your housing is employer provided....[/b][/i]It [color=red]isn't. The lease is in my husband's name.[/color]

[i][b]Looking for a home for the kitties, big and small, may be a solution as well, if that's something you're willing to help do. [/b][/i]
[color=red]I feel that would be the best solution and it is what I'm trying to do.[/color]

[i][b]But doing it on your own still seems...not quite on. [/b][/i]
[color=red]Come pick up the poop of four cats on a daily basis and see if you feel the same way. [/color]

[i][b]And your feeling that the cats situation would be somehow improved if they were "euthanised" mystifies me.[/b][/i]
[color=red]I only mean to say....Euthanizaion is would be a last resort and far better option than left on the streets to be treated inhumanely by the locals and starve slowly to death while feasting on 3 day old Kimchi soup. Hence the reason for rehoming them.[/color]

[i][b]......... but killed over a little poop seems extreme.....[/b][/i]
[color=red]It isn't "a little poop"! It is a whole heck of a lot and the cat owners are not taking care of it.[/color]

[i][b]It seems to me that the best way to find that balance is to treat this, not as a cat problem, but as a housing conditions problem- time to involve your employers, the owners, or...whoever the neighbor might listen to. [/b][/i]
[color=red]I agree with you. But in the event the cat owner does nothing, what should I do? [/color]

[i][b]Or...I wonder. If it's just the cats, then maybe it's just the cats. If this is one of many problems, you might consider moving. [/b][/i]

[color=red]I am bothered by the fact they don't take out the garbage but I consider it a minor nuisance. The biggest issue is not the cats-it is the cat poop! There are very few houses in this area that are a) affordable and b) half-way decent. I like living where I am. We still have 18 months on the lease, so moving really isn't an option.[/color]
[i][b]
After all- are the other neighbors bothered by the cats?[/b][/i]

[color=red]To the left is a restaurant and on the right is an empty lot. I have heard no complaints by anyone except the stray tom who wandered in last week and got his butt kicked by the momma cat protecting her kittens.[/color]

[Poltergeist]

I'm glad there's no language barrier. I think it would be best to ask your husband to ask some questions:

- Are these your cats, or would you like me to help find homes for them?

(It could be that she took in a cat she didn't really want because she felt sorry for her. Maybe she feels she's doing the best she can and that it's the only alternative to letting them live in the streets. If she says yes to the offer of help, I suggest advertising them for adoption on ARK and buying them a litterbox in the meantime.)

If she wants to keep one or more of the cats:

- Do you need financial help getting them spayed and neutered? I know a good vet ...

(I wish I could offer to pay for this myself, but I just spent a lot of money on my foster dog and my next donation is set aside for some shelter dogs I've personally gotten to know over the past 2.5 years. If you can't pay for the surgery, I suggest starting a thread in ARK's donation section and asking people to chip in.)

She may not have been serious about throwing them out into the streets, but I wouldn't push her. I don't think life in a garage is a good life for a cat, but many other cats in Korea have it much worse. (Not only Korea, but this is Korea.) I think you should only take them if you can offer a better alternative, and buy them a litterbox to address the crisis in the meantime.

[Dazed and Confused]

I don't know how they obtained the cat or why they brought the her with them when they moved in several months ago. All I know is this is the business and the cat stays here 24/7. They were locked in the garage tonight (Friday) at 6pm with no litter box and no way to get outside. The owner will come in on Monday morning. You can guess what it is going to look like & smell like then. I agree that a life in the garage is not a good life for a cat. When the owners are here she gets to wander in and out as much as she wants. However, the evenings and weekends they are now locked away inside the garage without a litter box. If I bought with my own litter this woudln't be a one time thing. Kitty litter needs to be purchased every week/month/whatever. If I start buying it now they will never take the initiative to replace it. I have no way to pay for spaying/neutering of 4 cats or the litter to supply for them. I am currently taking care of my own financial obligations.

[Poltergeist]

[Mr. Peabody]

Since your neighbors aren't doing anything, why don't you take this issue up with your landlord/owner of your building?