I have a ginger male called Murphy. He is around 15 to 16 years old. He was a stray cat on the street I live on when years ago he kept coming back after his owner moved down the road. They gave up coming back for him years ago. Basically I moved in the street 2 years ago as a house share with a woman who owns the house and has her own 2 cats.

After much pestering she finally let me keep him in the house and it has been happy days for 2 years even though he doesn't get on with her male cat. Well anyway, she has got a new fella and he lives down south and she is going to move down there. She said I could stay in the house and pay her mortgage and look after her 2 cats as well as Murphy because her boyfriend doesn't like cats, but I can't afford it so I am looking for another house share and will be moving out when she has found a job down south. Her mum and dad are having her 2 cats but Murphy is my responsibility, so they won't have him too. She has said it is best if he is put down. Unfortunately that seems the only option as I can't afford my own place at this moment in time so I will be house sharing again and it's not going to work out moving an old cat away from his home even if I could take him. I don't want to take him to the vets to be put down, he has never been in a car, so wanted them to come and do it at home wh e n the time comes and I have to move. Does anyone know what home euthanasia costs?

Poor cat :-(

I agree, but what can I do? She reckons she can give me a minimum of 6 weeks notice and it could be at least July before that happens. I am hoping in a way he dies naturally before then, I don't like the thought of euthanasia but I can't just leave him here. He is too old to live on the street now.

I was thinking of even trying to pay her mortgage and stay here were I live now, but he might die within a month, then am stuck paying someone elses mortgage til the notice period is up.

kieran if this lady moves out .you carnt pay her mortgage its classed as fraud ..if it went tits up you wouldnt have a leg to stand on ..and the poor cat i hope it gets a good buppa home

If you tell the mortgage lender you intend to rent then that is enough, they came a few weeks ago. I would love to take him with me, but finding a house share in Bromborough willing to have a cat there will be difficult.

A picture of Murphy not long after I moved in 2 years ago.

Another from 2 years ago, drinking in the bath

These were taken around 1 year ago I think.

I taken this at 2am on 7th of December 2011, I was getting ready to go to The Gambia for a week.

This is Murphy recently, looking more rough than in months gone by. I suspect he may be diabetic or have hyperthyroidism as he lost quite a bit of weight, but started putting it back on again so maybe he was just a little poorly, still happy as ever though.

ginger moggy's are my favourite, what a stunner he is ..

Yeah he is, he is a great cat, he sometimes tries to bite you when playing and has some matted fur near his tail that he won't let me cut out, but all round good cat. I wish that woman I do house share with didn't have that boyfriend, I would have been able to stay then.

Hope he finds someone if you cant keep him, he is lovely!!!!

I want to find someone in the Bromborough area who would have him so I could still see him every so often easily enough. I would be prepared to supply his food, I would rather that option of someone having him than have to get him put down when he is happy etc, I would feel bad.

Aw this is so sad Kieran,
am sure there maybe a foster home for Murphy,he needs a quiet warm place to live.
16 is a ripe old age x

Cat rescue would take him, or rspca

Very sorry, Hoseman, but you must be joking! Have you tried to get a cat taken in by any rescue place recently?
Everywhere is bulging at the seams with unwanted cats just thrown out or abandoned and now is the kitten season!
I see there is yet another post today wanting a home for two cats, there's just no end to it. PLEASE get your cats neutered!!!!!!!!!!!

Do NOT contact the RSPCA, they operate a destruction policy where animals cannot be rehomed, contact Cats Protection, South Wirral Branch tel 355 9813. They are a brilliant organisation and most importantly, Murphy will NOT be put down.
good luck!

I wonder if its possible to find maybe an elderly person or housebound person who would love a cat but cant afford to keep one ? (noted earlier you said you would pay for food etc) Not sure how youd go about finding one though - local shop ad? Age Concern/UK . Sad story . Hats off to you for making so much effort for a pet you didnt even set out to have in the first place. So many people are 'easy come easy go' when it comes to animals. Do hope you find a solution.

Kieran, i will pm you later a website you can try, does fostering to adoption all over the uk.
i know you want local but as long as he can live out his last days in comfort.
no raspca i agree.

he is so cute : )

Thanks for all your replies everyone, Murphy gone all shy now lol

If we didnt have our three monsters we would take him no problem.

UPDATE:

Murphy has found a new home with Muzzy2 and will be moving in on Wednesday. He will be getting all the care and treatment he needs to live out the rest of his life in peace and quiet. Muzzy2 is experienced with older cats and I am very happy with Murphy to go there, she can do so much more for him than me and he is a lucky cat to be given this chance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Muzzy2 for helping and taking Murphy in and I would also like to thank Lightning for her input and help throughout finding Murphy a new home.

He isn't quite out of the woods yet, as he may have too many problems to be treatable, but I do feel he would live a good length of time regardless, and hopefully the vet that Muzzy2 deals with will find that things are looking positive for Murphy. I will update people as and when I get updates from Muzzy2. Thanks again everyone, it just goes to show how a website like this can bring people together and help each other out. Over and out til Murphy settles in his new home.

Aw am so happy about this kieran as you did want the best for him.
Thats why Muzzy and myself supported you throughout.
you took him in and still putting him first.
Thanks muzzy2, at least this is good news for murphy xx
good wiki can do something worthwhile and help one another x

Update:

Murphy has moved in with Muzzy2 today, there was a delay due to concerns one of her cats had flu, so he has gone today and will be going to the vets on Monday to see if he has any immediate problems that need addressing. I will update as the weeks go by.

I am sad to see him be re-homed, but it's for the best for him and he has found someone who can provide a more stable home for him than I can as I can't take him with me when the time comes I have to move, so on the other hand I am happy about that.

Aw thats nice news Kieran,as we all stuck by you and Murhpy and on this.
Am sure Muzzy will know what she is doing for this old boy.
Well done Muzzy and all the support in this.
xx

Murphy went to the vet today with Muzzy2 and he appears to be mostly ok, just some suspected palps in the throat and other bits and bobs they will hopefully sort out when he goes back on Friday. I will update again on Friday how it went when Muzzy2 lets me know.

Awwwww bless

oh i do like a happy ending,he's a lovely cat and 16 is a good age,now he can live out his days in comfort.

Murphy went to the vet today for his second visit this week with muzzy2, he has had his matted fur sorted out, had his claws trimmed, his teeth checked and am pleased to say that everything else is ok. The vet said to muzzy2 that his kidneys were slighty off, but not enough to cause concern, he is 16 after all. So he has been given a clean bill of health officially as of today.

He didn't need any palps removing from his throat, that was causing him to breath noisily sometimes, steroid injections sorted it out in just a few days. He was sedated so they could groom him and do blood tests and x-rays etc, so he has had a good going over. I will be able to go and see him the end of next week when he will have fully settled in. I am looking forward to it.

I guess when he started going tatty looking and loosing weight at the beginning of the year was down to him being a bit poorly at the time, but his matted fur is common in old cats as they nearly all get arthritis at that age so they can't reach their back easily to groom themselves. So my original theory of him having hyperthyroidism was thankfully not true.

I would like to thank everyone for their help with this again, especially muzzy2, who has given Murphy a secure home with lots of care. I am actually glad he is living there as I know he will be safe and I can now move without the worry of not being able to rehome him when the time comes I have to leave where I am. I can still visit him too which is an added bonus.

aw this is brill Kieran,
big thanks and hugs for muzzy for helping this boy.
let us know how you get on when you go to see him Kieran.

Lovely, heart warming story Kieron. Lovely to read a happy ending.

be nice to get nice pios up

Hiya Helen, yeah I will get some pictures up when I go and see him next.

I went to see Murphy today at Muzzy2's place, he is doing great and is really happy. Here are some photos I taken of him there today.

Aw Kieran,he looks well content there what a big difference in him.
did he reconise you when you went to visit.
he is so cute what a lovely cat.
Glad to see he has settled well with Muzzy as that was your worry.
A happy endinh eh xx

Hiya yeah he did recognize me, it's a happy ending here. In the pictures he is looking at the glass of water, he ended up knocking it over everywhere the clumsy cat lol. He is doing great though, gets on with the other cats there.

Thats good Kieran,and it is a happy ending.
well done Muzzy hun xx

Oh and just to explain the laptop bag he is sat on, he is obsessed with it lol. I got it him 2 years ago as he kept sitting on mine. He loves scratching it and sleeping on it. Muzzy has left it on the window ledge for him.

aw he is sweet i bet you miis him. keep us updated
laters x

Went to visit Murphy again yesterday, he is doing really well. Here are some pictures and a video.

Click here to see a video of Murphy

Great stuff Kieran mate! cheers for the update's, ive quietly been following Murphy's Journey and glad to see him looking well and settled in. You and Muzzy both have my total respect and if any of you ever need anything at all, transport for anything or just a hand with anything that i can help out with etc then dont hesitate to pm me. Ive got all the time in the world for animal lovers! Kev

i am so happy that murphy has settled in his new home i was really worried you would nt be able to find somewhere for him i have two cats myself and i would go to pieces if i had been in your position so good on you for persisting in looking for him, he is a lovely cat

Hi thanks for your offer of help kevin, it is nice you offered. And yes flossy he is a nice cat, he is doing well where he is and is happy there.