UPDATE!!! Good news!!! - Johnny Shelton's cats need homes.

My house is WAY past carrying capacity and I'm in northern California, so I'm kicking in hopes someone more local can help these kitties!

I'm way far out of your area. Best of luck!

I will make a day's drive in any direction if it will get them a home!

I'm in NY, but I'm sure your effort will pay off for those fur babies.

I am sure he had pics, but I don't know if he shared them with anyone, and I don't want to bother his family, as the memorial service was just this morning. If I do get pics, I will share them.

these sweeties.

I will try to send this out to someone in TX also but they do dog rescues but maybe they will know people?
I want to add.... I have FOUR cats and to be honest, it really seems like TWO. They all sleep around the house and I rarely see them all at once so four is not unmanageable at all. Too bad his family could not take three. Just sayin'.

I have 7, so I just can't take more. I think the family already has other pets, fwiw.

I would happily go anywhere I can get in a day's drive, and would consider going farther if needed for a home.

A literal network--I get messages all the time like, "Transport coming from Houston on Wednesday," and we'll try to arrange for any Houston rescues to be in that car.

I can post a message to my group, but it will help to know more about them and have pics. I can put up courtesy web pages on my group's site, but it's a Siamese rescue, and most people go there looking for Siamese. That's not to say that it's a hopeless cause, just that it might be better to target them more.

I could go ahead and post this message to my group, and if you'll send me details & pics as you have them, I'll be able to answer questions better.

A young man from south of Houston recently passed away. He left behind 6 beautiful cats. He could never say no to an animal in need of a home. His family can take 2 cats back to Dallas. That leaves 4 males who need homes - Napolean, Diablo, Tiger, and Wing Nut. They are all fixed and have been kept indoors most of the time. We have a week to find a place for them. Can you help?

Send me any edits you want to make, and I'll post early tomorrow morning, with a note to cross post.

PS. I have 10 cats at home--mostly fosters--so that's why I can't offer space.

Johnny was 65, so not exactly young, but too young to lose. He had been in good health, so this sudden decline was certainly a surprise. I don't know if he shared pics with anyone. I have emailed to ask if they have any I can share. I don't even know ages or anything. All I know is that he loved them, and if I can help place them, that is the best memorial I can provide.

I don't want to publicly share the contact info of the woman who is working to place them, but I will send you a PM with the info.

Thank you!!

I'd just come back from Adoption Day and feeling so good that 3--maybe 4--kitties found forever homes, and then seeing that 4 more needed help was a real downer. I'm glad it all worked out quickly.

I saw a similar outcome several years ago. I saw a note on one of my lists that someone's neighbor had died and the relatives were planning to take her cats to the shelter (and almost certain death). The poster sent out notices to all her mailing lists, begging for someone to take the cats. The family decided that they could provide for the cats after all. They were amazed that neighbors and strangers cared so much. I'm not sure of the dynamic working there, but I'm glad Johnny's family stepped up.

A note to other pet owners: Our rescue organization requires that adopters over 50 specify in their records and ours who will take their pets if they die. It's a great idea for anyone of any age. My best friend and I have agreed to find homes for each other's animals--well, I suppose only one of us will get to do it, and we'd better have backup animal administrators.

Thanks for your efforts, Lisa!

who would take care of their pets if something happened to them. In this case, Johnny had taken the cats directly off the street himself, not by going through a rescue. I am sure he had thought about such things, but this happened rather suddenly, so I don't think he thought he had to have a plan already.

I actually got a life insurance policy not connected to my employment specifically with the intention that it would cover not only my final expenses, but provide a sufficient amount of money to a friend to take care of my cats if anything happened to me. I call her my cats' "god mother." Since I have 7, I thought I didn't want them to be a financial burden to someone who would be following my wishes, and I also wanted there to be enough money to handle any serious vet bills that might come up.

As you said, his passing was sudden. I only wanted other people to take the opportunity to think about planning for their animals--we've rescued so many pets from the shelter whose owners died, maybe almost as many as suddenly develop allergies or move without trying to take their pets. Okay, I won't get started.

Does your insurance money just go to your friend? I was trying to figure out how to designate part of mine for pet relocation and vet bills, maybe with two trustees who would receive a percentage for their administration efforts. I imagine my cat family will be split up, though I hope the bonded pairs can stay together. I've promised my son not to add to the herd from here on out, though there's a 1-year-old foster that looks like she might not be going places--too shy for Adoption Days, takes weeks to warm up to someone, though she gets really attached.

I just meant that had he gone through a shelter, he might have had to designate someone, but since he rescued on his own, he may not have specifically made those plans.

I made some general statements in my will about which portion should be designated to my cat caretaker(s), and have expressed my wishes to my friends and family. Things can change over time, like who would be in a better situation to be able to help, but I do trust my sister and my best friends to do their best to follow my wishes.

decided to take three so all would be accounted for!

The other two folks were cousins, and I don't know this for sure, but I wonder if once they found out about the full court press trying to find homes for all, they decided to step up. Whatever the reason, I am so thankful that everyone now has a home. I wasn't going to let it end any other way, no matter what it took.

The power of coming together with positive, focused intention.

Even if DUers didn't directly lead to these babies getting homes, the power of coming together to focus on your request, as a community, and lend emotional support can be PRICELESS.

I'm so glad this was resolved so quickly!!!

So sad to learn about Johnny's departure.

We live southwest of Houston. We lost our cat Monty last month and are down to two, Morrissey and Sunny. I just told my husband about the situation, and he told me to keep an eye on it. We are moving to Illinois in February, and the timing wouldn't have been great, but we would have taken one if needed. I know that sounds empty after the fact, but I just told my husband, and he felt sad for the kitties. Thank you for putting out the word. I am sad for Johnny's family and friends.