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AIBU?

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Original poster

How to cope with cat hair

37 replies

DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 13:55

My fiancée has 5 cats. Personally I think this way too many for one house but obviously we’re not getting rid of any.
I just hate living in a house that constantly full of hair. We have top of the range pet hair Hoover etc but I still have to get down on my hands and knees and squeegee the carpets to get it all out. My clothes are constantly covered in hair, they jump up on the sides, bring in dead animals. They’re the only source of arguments between us. I’m due to give birth in a month and I just want too relax but I just hate them being here so much. I think because I’m trying to nest it’s not helping. One of them has worms so is leaving little bloody puddles of wee everywhere but have to wait till fiancees day off to do anything as I can’t wrangle them into carriers and take them to the vets. For some reason the verbs won’t give us the tablets, they have to go there for it.
One of them walks around howling all night. The fight. I’m so miserable but need to find ways to adapt! Any ideas?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:37

I’m trying not to be too resentful of fiancée as he didn’t mean to end up with 5 cats but here we are.

He knows how to use a scrubbing brush though, right?

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:33

The house just smells all the time too. I spent two days scraping the hair out of the carpet and my Mum said the house smelt so much better. I lost my sense of smell with covid so I’m even more paranoid about it now!

We can’t afford to change the carpet atm. I’ve bought a stuff outdoor brush and ever two days I make a hot mop bucket up with washing powder and softener and scrub the hell out of the carpets which I’m hoping will help with the smell.

I’m trying not to be too resentful of fiancée as he didn’t mean to end up with 5 cats but here we are.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:32

Why are you doing so much cleaning up after his cats?

If it's urgent, he'll have to take a couple of hours off work to help get them to a vet.

Mammma91 · 07/10/2021 14:30

I have 2 cats. Male and female. Both neutered and dressed so no howling throughout the night. Absolutely love my 2 but even when I was nesting in late pregnancy, the cat hair was driving me wild.
I do agree 5 cats is too much for one house. They need enough space to roam freely.
Op, I suggest getting the worms sorted ASAP, your partner must take a day off as a matter of urgency, if one has it, it’s likely they all do. Also, they will fight for territory. Sorry I’m no help with the cat hair situation - I have the same problem 😩

GermioneHranger · 07/10/2021 14:22

If the cats are unhappy that can really impact behaviour - you've mentioned one horrible bully cat, if they're not feeling happy and comfortable in their home they might be leaving piles of wee / scratching / rubbing hair excessively to mark territory's from the aggressive cat.

5 seems like a lot! Shutting them in the kitchen (do they have a cat flap?) won't help unless it's part of their routine and they're used to it, or unless they actually get along - otherwise the stress will make them a bit fractious.

The vet will need to see the cat before prescribing, especially if they were only treated 4 weeks ago. Hopefully they'll be able to get to the bottom of it.

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:18

Vet has said it’s worms that’s causing it. They were only wormed a month ago.

I’ve tried shutting them in the kitchen at night but they just shout even louder. There’s one big cat that just picks on all of the others. He’s horrible.

I have a cat who i spent a lot of time training from a kitten. He knows not to steal food off your plates, scratch the carpets and jump up on the sides. Fiancées cats have been described as feral by a vet before.

OP posts:
Housebears · 07/10/2021 14:12

Worms do not cause cats to have puddles of bloody wee everywhere.

Cat needs to see a vet for a proper appointment!

MonkeyToez · 07/10/2021 14:06

Dust with a wet cloth for the hair, you will probably get used to it eventually. You will spend the rest of the cats lives with your clothes covered in hair though. Also brush them regularly.

Everything else is just part and parcel of being a cat owner - they're infuriating but also adorable, smart and hilarious. At least in my opinion!

I have started to limit where my pets are allowed though, they are now banned from the bedroom and baby's room as I don't want cat hair all over the the baby's clothes/furniture

Burnt0utMum · 07/10/2021 14:05

I was going to say YABU but the worms is really not on. Let the cats out as much as possible and keep the door closed so they can only come back in when you let them. That should stop them being able to bring dead animals in but they should also have a bell to at least give the animals a chance to get away. Carpets aren't great as they will collect the hair, hard floors are better but that depends if you can afford to replace them. We have 1 cat and hard floors, send the robot hoover round each day and that's enough to get any hair up. Also they need regular brushing (outside). They can be trained not to jump up on sides but that might be difficult if they've always been allowed in the past.

minipie · 07/10/2021 14:01

I’m a cat person but that sounds awful.

The worm thing - the vet gives me the tablet, I crush and mix with food. I don’t understand why your vet won’t. Find a new vet!!

Are they shut downstairs at night? Mine is and that’s a non negotiable for me, I’ve spent years being woken by DC I’m not being woken by a cat. This may help with the yowling?

How bad is the fighting ? If one is being bullied or they injure each other then that is a good argument for one of them at least to be rehomed if they are not living happily together.

Could you swap to hard floors at least downstairs??

Basically I think you need to accept the cats but there are things you can do to make it less overwhelming.

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 13:58

It’s really not.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 07/10/2021 13:56

Ah I don't know 5 cats sound like heaven to me!