To want to rehome our bloody miserable cat?

[user1473509591]

Okay so he's 5, and he's just an awful, kid hating cat. It's not so bad during the summer, he's perfectly happy to spend days at a time sleeping outside and just coming home for food. But during winter, obviously, he wants to come in more. Now, my kids are 2 and 5 and are naturally curious. They're not rough (although my eldest used to be which is probably why he's quite cautious of kids now) but the kids just have to walk past him and they end up being scratched. Our house is tiny, we've set up a little bed at the top of the stairs separated by a gate for him but the stupid effing thing insists on trying to sleep in the living room, the busiest room in the house. I can't be sympathetic if he's going to be a bloody idiot. He cant sleep in our room because I'm mildly allergic to cat hair, and I don't want him in the kids room. I don't really know what to do with him, he really doesn't seem to suit a house with young children but whenever I even consider rehoming him it's met with outcry from family and friends. I had to give our dog to my mum when our daughter was about 9 months old because she would just pee everywhere and would nip and growl at my daughter when she started moving so I think they just think I'm crap with pets when in reality, the only reason why he's still here is because I won't give him to just anyone!

[ChequeOff]

Stop getting pets.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

I agree with chequeoff

[user1473509591]

Well that's a bit unfair. Both our dog and cat were from before having children, and it certainly wasn't our intention for the two to get along. The cat was sort of thrust upon us aswell, he was my dad's and he didn't want him either, I said ide think about having him and my dad turned up a week later with him in a basket and sped off again

[MrsJamin]

I was all set to be sympathetic to you but anyone who repeatedly calls their cat stupid and a bloody idiot needs to not have pets. You obviously don't have the patience and flexibility to give an animal above what you have for your children.

[PlumsGalore]

Not all cats are nice, like not all people and as someone who has had 7 in 40 years I can tell you that cats and small children are not a good mix.

Cats need peace, quiet and security on their terms, if you can't give it to them you shouldn't have cats. I currently have a nice one and a really odd strange cat that bites and scratches if things are not on her terms, she is happy however with minimal contact. She has always been like is, she is 15, I accept it, we don't force love and affection on her as she hates it.

If you can find a happy, cat experienced, loving home for her, probably where she is the only cat and there are no small children, go for it. But seriously you don't sound like an animal friendly family.

[bikerlou]

Quite honestly, you're not happy and the cat isn't happy. I think the kindest thing to do would be to get kitty rehomed through somewhere safe like the cat's protection league who will find a good home. Either that or a friend you know who wants a cat.
Very young children and cats rarely get on in my experience unless you have an enormous home where they can escape each other.
I've had to rehome one of mine just recently becasue the other two cats hate her with a passion and they are all unhappy as a result. I found a lovely home for her with a male friend of mine and they are as happy as larry now.
Have a pet when the children are much older.

[Soubriquet]

It's what cats do

They are awkward sods

My two have a few scratches on them but if she keeps attacking, I shut her out the room

[CrimsonKing]

I think you do care for the cat as you clearly want to find a solution. You don't want to give the cat to anyone but I can see why the cat might be happier in a house without young children. The fact that you see that means you care.

Ignore the people who will no doubt call you names and do what is in the best interest of your family of which your cat is part.

[Lilaclily]

Put a note in your local shop asking if anyone is interested

[user1473509591]

Well, I don't think he'll be terribly offended by the name calling, I don't think he's on mumsnet 😂 in all seriousness he's a nice car, and there's a reason why I haven't rehomed him yet. I've tried to be accommodating to him, but what else can I do? I don't think it's really fair to judge me on my pet keeping skills because I called him a few names, he's a well looked after cat.

[AliceInUnderpants]

Please try to rehome the cat, you obviously aren't working out together.

[ClaudiaWankleman]

You are crap with pets.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Re home him and don't get any more pets, ever

[WaitrosePigeon]

I think you do care for the cat as you clearly want to find a solution. You don't want to give the cat to anyone but I can see why the cat might be happier in a house without young children. The fact that you see that means you care.

Ignore the people who will no doubt call you names and do what is in the best interest of your family of which your cat is part.

I agree with this. Sorry you're getting a pasting.

[MrsGwyn]

have you tried cat furniture, towers , cat shelves?

So it can be in the living room but have it's own space? Seen that kind of thing work on cats from hell TV show - but yea if it not happy and your not I'd think of re-homing long term.

[bikerlou]

For God's sake don't advertise him in the shop - I'm sure you wouldn't - around here they pick them up for dog baiting. I'd only ever go through a cat charity or rehome with a friend!

[Milzilla]

What about a high cat tree so he has somewhere up high to escape to?

[missbishi]

They're not rough (although my eldest used to be which is probably why he's quite cautious of kids now) but the kids just have to walk past him and they end up being scratched.

What, so the cat literally jumps at them and scratches them every time they walk past?

[user1473509591]

No he wouldn't be rehomed to anyone I don't know personally. Believe it or not I am actually a good pet owner, I would still want to be involved with him. Heck I gave my dog to my mum 4 years ago and I still pay for her insurance! And I help with fees and vaccines ect, which if my cat needed, I would continue to provide also.

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

Nothing wrong with calling cats stupid and idiotic. I've had over twenty cats and foster kittens living here over the past few years and they've ranged from quite dim to spectacularly thick.

It doesn't sound like your cat is cut out for life with young children unfortunately. You have a choice of giving him space and Feliway and resigning yourself to applying TCP and bandaids to the DC for the next few years or looking for a quiet adult home for him.

[user1473509591]

Missbishi you'd think I was exaggerating but I'm not. What prompted this post was the cat was hiding under the coffee table, my 2 year old son walked past, knelt to pick up a toy and got a lovely big scratch on his arm. If the cat thinks the kids are going to touch him, he attacks.

[user1473509591]

What's Feliway? X

[DorindaJ]

Maybe give your cat the space s/he needs in the living room for now. It won't be forever, cats like get bored and will seek somewhere else soon enough. Your children will be fine, a few scratches is nothing major. They'll get used to the cat's ways.

I have a cat who is very similar. Everything on her terms, she is who she is, we accommodate her. Strangely she was wonderful with my dear mum who had dementia.

[SpookyMooky]

Have you considered putting a cat tree up so he has somewhere completely safe from the kids? Zooplus has some that are tall but narrow for not much money. He'll probably be much happier up high.

He's not likely to pick a drafty landing over the living room which is probably the warmest room in the house. If you want to get him to default to a different room, start by confining him there for a few days - but obviously that would be hard again on the landing. Make his beds high, cosy, draftproof, and so he can see out.

It does sound like this cat could be happier elsewhere and he is rehomable. There's other stuff you can do if you do want to keep him.

[orangebird69]

So your cat is defensive because you didn't manage to control your child with it and it's the cats fault?