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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

436 replies

notaurewhatusername · 17/10/2024 22:00

We have 4 cats that are causing major issues. They're constantly pooing and weeing all over the house, including in the bath. I'm 14 weeks pregnant and worried about having a baby crawling around cat mess.

The utility room and study combined are the size of 2 bedrooms and have a cat flap, so they'd still have plenty of space and outdoor access. They've had their jabs to go outside.

DH lets them roam freely 24/7, even when we're not home. I want them confined to that room, maybe let out for a couple hours in the evening under supervision.

DH loves them but they're completely uncontrollable. The mess is disgusting and I'm at my wit's end. AIBU to insist on this compromise? I'm not a cat person but I think it's reasonable. DH won't budge and it's really getting me down.

How would you handle this? Am I being unfair to the cats?

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 17/10/2024 22:07

Cat litter trays need changing a minimum of once a day, each cat probably needs it's own tray. Is this a new thing or have they always done this?

whatatodoaboutnothing · 17/10/2024 22:07

Well he needs to start clearing out the litter trays each day, how gross no wonder the cats are going elsewhere
lets hope he’s a more responsible parent as he doesn’t sound like a very responsible pet owner

stayathomer · 17/10/2024 22:07

You need to change the litter tray more often, have one each and change the brand if they’re not using it. Cats are clean animals and don’t want to leave a mess so they must not like the conditions in the litter tray.

ladycardamom · 17/10/2024 22:07

That's very unusual. I dont know why they are pooping everywhere. I do think it's unreasonable to confine cats like you are suggesting. However, I think it's more unreasonable to live in a house covered in cat poop. It's disgusting and dangerous (toxoplasmosis). Does he seriously think your baby is going to be crawling around in this mess? Can the cats be trained? If not, rehomed? Is your partner understanding the danger?

Original poster
notaurewhatusername · 17/10/2024 22:06

How do you stop cats from pooing and weeing where they're not supposed to? I also think DH loves cats but not respond of them.despite me saying I won't get involved I was the one that took them to vets to get their snips and vaccines - he's always 'too busy' and I just can't take anymore

OP posts:
MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira · 17/10/2024 22:06

4 cats is too many unless you have a very large property and/or they've grown up together, it's seems like you've just added cats. Their behaviour is showing you they are stressed and not happy, no you can't confine them to two rooms that will only make it worse

Original poster
notaurewhatusername · 17/10/2024 22:05

@ZippyLimeSnake they each have their own tray but I think some of them share but some of them won't. I'm not quite sure but this really getting me down

OP posts:
Original poster
notaurewhatusername · 17/10/2024 22:04

We don't know how to stop it, they have litter trays but DH changes once every three days on average, I am not touching the litter trays due to pregnancy and also, u don't like cats that much! From the first cat I made it very clear I will not be doing anything with them, yet I do end up doing the morning feeds but I don't like cat poo and wee it's repulsive worse than human and I just refuse to do it

OP posts:
ZippyLimeSnake · 17/10/2024 22:04

How many litter trays do you have? Sometimes cats will not share trays, so when you have more than one especially if they’re indoor cats it’s best to have one tray for each cat. Has them toileting in the house always been a thing? As stress can also lead them to toilet outside of the tray as you have multiple I can’t imagine it’s anything to do with their health as that’s usually another thing to look at.

PerpetualStudent · 17/10/2024 22:04

If you have 4 non-house-trained cats and you are expecting a baby you need to either get them trained or rehome them to someone who can sharpish. Is your DH planning to wash your baby in a bath that has had cat shit in it?! (I say this as a cat owner myself)

ElsaLion · 17/10/2024 22:02

Are any of the cats litter trained? Do they have access to the outdoors? Your concerns about the impact and health implications of their mess are understandable, but surely a more concerning matter is that they are being allowed to toilet around your home in the first place.

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