AIBU to expect 4 cats to stay in utility room/study?

I have two outdoor cats, kept in from sundown to sunrise with one litter tray changed daily. No pooing or peeing anywhere else, are yours very old? Otherwise I recon the litter isn't changed often enough.

Aaah gotta love AIBU. Asks "AIBU" get told yes. Then they say "no l am not" and then flounce off

They 100% need 5 litter trays, advice is 1 more litter tray than there are cats. Your husband needs to step up with cleaning up after them or they need to be re-homed. I say that as a cat lover with 3 cats

Your poor cats! They need outside access at least during the day and their litter boxes cleaned at least once a day. They also sound dreadfully stressed. You can't confine them to two rooms - they aren't Victorian children. You both need to look after them properly or re-home them.

Are you planning to only change your baby's nappy every three days or only let them stay in the utility room most of the time?

We are wasting our time, the Op isn't coming back.

despite being advised by several posters that the cats need 5 litter trays her final reply on this thread was

'notaurewhatusername · Yesterday 08:20
Two of th poo outstide so we don't need five litter trays

Rehome the poor cats, that's no way for them to live, as seemingly neither of you are able or willing to look after them properly. Also you clearly don't like them ( as you said, you are not a cat person).

Which two are soiling and weeing in the bath / your dressing room / any other inappropriate places? Is it the two kittens that you kept? Are they male or female?

Hi @notaurewhatusername having four cats who wee and poo all over the place is unusual. We’ve had four cats and they either go outside or use their tray. So, they must be under stress or elderly? Have you taken them to the vets to check for kidney issues etc? Meds or adjusting diet may help. Also, get some feliway plug-ins to reduce their stress.
Apologies if previous posters have already mentioned this.

OP and her husband sound like a right scuzzy pair. They haven't got the mental capacity to look after cats, let alone a baby. I assume they'll keep having babies, like they did with cats, but maybe social services might intervene on that one. I feel so incredibly sorry for the cats.

I agree with this.
OP is not blameless with this.
She posted previously that the second time one of the cats got pregnant she wanted to keep one of the kittens - which she did...because she ''didn't think it was fair to get rid of the whole litter''
OP has also stated in a previous post that the cats are not randomly pooing outside the litter tray every day, but about once a week.
Obviously they shouldn't be doing it at all, but once a week is very different to every day.
As for shutting them in a utility room/study with access to the garden...OP wants to do this PERMANENTLY, not just overnight or when they are out.
Neither OP or her husband seem bothered about the well being of the cats and OP just wants them gone.
No wonder the cats are stressed, it's hardly a loving environment.

This thread has had a lot of responses so I don't feel the need to pile on @coffeesaveslives has it correct, but all I can think of is how foul this house must smell. Feel sick just thinking about it.

This. Those poor animals.

And good luck to the new baby. I doubt he'll transform into father of the year.

Well aware. Which is why, when I was pregnant I spoke to my midwife. Who stated that as long as precautions were taken then there was little risk. I aren't making it up.

This

If you’re a cat lover and want to take the risk nobody will stop you.

The OP isn’t a cat lover and made it clear before her husband got the first one that she wouldn’t be doing any of their care. She has particularly said she finds dealing with the poop objectionable.

Are you seriously suggesting she should get on her Marigolds and roll her sleeves up now?

The virus can be fatal to foetuses. I know a woman who lost her baby at 35 weeks because she had toxoplasmosis. She herself hadn’t had any symptoms but her baby died. I don’t think anyone should be so blasé about telling a pregnant woman that there is “little to no risk”. It’s not true and it’s not fair.

Put all the cats out in the garden during the day and let them back in in the evening. Allow them closely supervised access to the lounge when you're in it during the evening so they can get some attention then put them in the utility area at night with open cat flap in case they need to go to the toilet during the night. Leave clean litter trays available just in case. I think the cats are feeling too restricted. Cats like to roam freely but will return home when hungry. I have never kept mine locked up but have restricted them to downstairs only in the past. Always free access to out doors and prior to cat flaps they were out during the day and in at night,
Hope you get it sorted

I had cats and have 2 dc. As long as hands are washed and the litter trays are cleaned there is little to no risk. Gloves can be worn as well. 30% of humans in the UK have already had the virus without even knowing.

The OP can’t get involved with the litter tray/ poop situation due to her pregnancy. Her husband is in denial and uncooperative.

In her case, yes, I think rehoming is the only feasible option.

So your solution is to just get rid of the cats, instead of fixing the problem by making their home suitable. No wonder pet shelters are overwhelmed 🙄

Ultimatum - look after the cats or they go. Simple!

Sounds like you need to get rid of the cats and the husband!

He's not taken responsibility for them after you said you weren't getting involved and if he can't clean up after HIS pet cats, do you really think he's going to take responsibility for a baby?

Kick them all out and deep clean the house ready for your new arrival.

“I'm guessing you don't like cats.”

You guessed wrong. I do like cats, and had cats for years but I like humans more and would never advocate for a newborn human baby to be brought into a home with four cats peeing and pooing everywhere. 🙄

I think people are wasting their time posting with advice about litter trays, diet, medication and plug-ins.

I'm sure OP has posted about these cats before and the situation was just as bad then as it is now. Neither of them care about the cats and they deserve to be re-homed to owners who actually give a shit about their wellbeing.

I'm guessing you don't like cats. Which is your prerogative, but means you've no idea what you're talking about.

@notaurewhatusername You absolutely can have cats with a newborn, as long as the cats are looked after correctly - which unfortunately is not the case here. Cats need space, clean trays (1 per cat +1) which are spaced around and not near their food or water. Impossible to achieve when 4 cats are cooped up in two rooms. Especially when they don't all get on.

The trays need to be scooped as soon as they are pooped, and cleaned regularly - trays washed and fresh litter put in. Cats can be fussy about the type of litter used; try different types to see what works.

You say 2 (?) of the cats are indoor only, but you have a cat flap for those that go outside - how does that work? Is the flap locked to contain the indoor cats, or do they not want to go out?

Cats need to play to reduce boredom and stress, do they have any toys, does DH interact with them at all? You don't need expensive tatt; a stick with a long piece of string to wave around, scrunched up paper, crisp packet tied into a knot, or a cable tie they can chase.

Cats love to climb, a cat tree (with scratching posts) is a good investment, and shelves they can jump onto.

A pp mentioned UTI being a possibility. Get the cat(s) to a vet for a checkup. If you've ever had a UTI you will know how unpleasant they are! It can be managed, but first it needs to diagnosed.

Your DH needs to step up, now. These are his pets and he is not looking after them correctly. But no, you absolutely cannot rehome them without his knowledge.