Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not sticking to feeding requirements for MIL cat

84 replies

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 18:27

MIL in hospital, DH agreed to look after her cat (I’m mildly allergic so not impressed but antihistamines are working).

The thing is I have a fish and shellfish allergy. Cat is given fish or prawns every day. Obviously we can’t do that and have been giving alternatives but DH thinks it’s unfair on the cat, has told MIL who is now sad in hospital and texting about it - all the time. I’ve told dh is anyone mentions it to me one more time I’m putting the cat in the carrier and taking it over to SIL flat and that will be the end of us looking after it as I’m not prepared to risk my health.

Apparently I’m unkind and should be putting cat first as she’s in a strange house and being given different food

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
amusedbush · 08/11/2024 12:43

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 21:06

Update

It seems that I have a new very best friend who is ‘common’ and loves Tesco ham as an evening treat 😂

I use the cheapest possible ham from Tesco as a bribe when I need to trim my dog's nails. He goes nuts for it 😁

BlueMum16 · 07/11/2024 21:19

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 21:06

Update

It seems that I have a new very best friend who is ‘common’ and loves Tesco ham as an evening treat 😂

Love it!

You are doing MIL and cat a favour by exploring better/other food options.

I've heard Aldi/Asda chicken is loved too....

RandomMess · 07/11/2024 21:13

😂

gamerchick · 07/11/2024 21:12

Roosnoodles · 07/11/2024 18:38

You need to stop her feeding the cat fish and seafood everyday. It contains mercury. We can’t even eat this amount. She will end up with a cat with hyperthyroidism.

Right. Mine loves a bit of seafood but it's an occasional treat. Does she know that shes actively harming her animal?

Wellingtonspie · 07/11/2024 21:07

Got to love some Tesco ham haha

Original poster
Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 21:06

Update

It seems that I have a new very best friend who is ‘common’ and loves Tesco ham as an evening treat 😂

OP posts:
PortiasBiscuit · 07/11/2024 21:04

I’m sure fish all the time isn’t good for them, don’t they get vitamin A poisoning or something?

Wellingtonspie · 07/11/2024 21:04

AutumnLeaves24 · 07/11/2024 21:01

Lots of dogs love carrots, they're a great treat. Frozen is even better!

Show quote history

Oh no he won’t touch them cold they have to be at least room temperature and only on the floor not from hands or food bowl and they must be peeled.

AutumnLeaves24 · 07/11/2024 21:01

Wellingtonspie · 07/11/2024 18:56

Animals are weird little things. My mums dog loves carrots

Show quote history

Lots of dogs love carrots, they're a great treat. Frozen is even better!

AutumnLeaves24 · 07/11/2024 20:57

Dotto · 07/11/2024 18:40

Oh for Christ's sake, so it's not even for the cat's main meals?! Now I think your DH is being even more unreasonable and petty for telling her!

^^ this, with bells on!!

Your DH really doesn't have your back does he? What's the point of him?

no DH, no MIL, no cat care...

Incakewetrust · 07/11/2024 20:21

Well obviously it needs to be Waitrose ham! Poor cat doesn't want to be eating that Lidl muck like a commoner!! 😱
*faints in upper middle class

lasagnelle · 07/11/2024 19:50

Why doesn't DH have your back on this? Does he want you to die?

MrsJoanDanvers · 07/11/2024 19:48

My cat won’t eat ‘common treats’. They have to be the freeze dried chicken malarkey or she turns her nose up!

lasagnelle · 07/11/2024 19:47

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 18:35

This is what I’ve suggested either SIL can help or dh can take the cat to MIL and look after it there or he could stay there if he thinks the cat will be lonely

Show quote history

Thst sounds ideal

SettlerOfDivan · 07/11/2024 19:44

I bet that cat would eat those "common" treats faster than you could get them out of the packet.

lasagnelle · 07/11/2024 19:39

Floralnomad · 07/11/2024 18:31

If nobody is asking you to actually handle the prawns would it really hurt , it does smack a bit of just being a bit mean . I’m sure your MIL would rather not be in hospital and I would imagine the cat is a bit sad being in a strange house and not getting his usual food .

Wtf. OP knows her allergy better than you

Tulip32 · 07/11/2024 19:38

Honestly I am just gobsmacked by the level of ignorance about allergies demonstrated in some of these responses!

Mostlyoblivious · 07/11/2024 19:37

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 18:33

Literally can’t have fish/shellfish near me as I react and if the cat eats it and gets any on itself it’s then going to get round the house.

You know you’re not being unreasonable here.

Your house (I imagine) is a shell fish and fish free zone for good reason. I say this as a cat owner and an epi pen owner.

godmum56 · 07/11/2024 19:11

PrettyParrot · 07/11/2024 18:58

Off topic, but I learned the other day that grapes can be very bad for dogs. My friend went pale at this and said that her dog who has had a mystery illness for several months has been fed a lot of grapes in that time, by her.

OP, the cat does not NEED fish/prawns - YANBU!

not just grapes but raisins, currants, sultanas and all grape products including stuff like fruit cake.

Autumn38 · 07/11/2024 19:11

Demandingcat · 07/11/2024 18:37

I got some cat treats as an alternative but apparently they are ‘common’ and MIL doesn’t want them to be consumed 😂

OMG this made me laugh! I adore that she doesn’t want her cat to eat ‘common’ food.

can’t you just pretend you are giving the cat fish so MIL doesn’t worry about the cat’s reduced circumstances? Or give it tuna??

adorablecat · 07/11/2024 19:10

Apparently I’m unkind and should be putting cat first as she’s in a strange house and being given different food

Pussy will have to suck it up. I like cats but under no circumstances would I be putting a cat's preferences ahead of my own health.

DoIHaveToRepeatMyself · 07/11/2024 19:07

Why can't the cat stay in its own home, with someone going to feed it? Cats are generally happier in their own familiar surroundings. Get your husband to go. Cats need Taurine. It's found in meat, eggs, liver, and some fish.

mitogoshigg · 07/11/2024 19:05

Bit of chicken? Sure dcat won't care.

mumsm · 07/11/2024 19:02

I think the only solution if for the cat to go back to MIL's in its familiar surroundings and for DH to stay there too for company.

Livinginaclock · 07/11/2024 19:01

Haha, carrots 🥕
Honestly my mushroom loving cat has to kill the mushroom before she eats it.
She zebedees around the room in murderous mode, then settles down with her kill.
Weirdo.