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Original poster

Rehoming a cat

23 replies

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 18:23

We are looking to adopt a cat. As we have children, there is not much about. All the cats in the rescue places seem to want to live away from children. We have been approached by friends to rehome their young cat (6 months). She looks lovely but isn't getting on with the older cat in his house. She is pooing all over the house. Would you rehome this cat (as in, take it on), or hold out for another? Or buy a kitten, or 2?
We have 3 youngish kids (youngest is 4), a large house with utility room for a cat, and large garden. I work 2 days so it would be alone in that time. My dh has a lot of experience with cats but I don't.
Thanks

OP posts:

milinhas · 26/04/2021 18:25

I would take this cat for a trial month and see how you get on. Having a slightly older one will be easier to leave (though 6 months is basically a kitten still anyway!).

Redtartanshoes · 26/04/2021 18:25

Sounds like the kitten has had a poor start in life, and pooing all over the house is a sign of massive stress. If you can be sure to give it a forever hone, and that you are confident your kids will respect the kitten, accept it’s not a toy, and give it the space it needs to settle in then I’d go for it.

Redtartanshoes · 26/04/2021 18:26

I wouldn’t worry about leaving it alone. Plenty of toys, access to a tray and food and water it will be more than happy.

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Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 18:26

Thanks for the opinions, this is helpful.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 26/04/2021 18:29

I would not take in a cat which clearly has serious anxiety/stress issues, especially with children in the home. Not a chance.

helpfulperson · 26/04/2021 18:30

When you say 'a utility room for a cat' I presume you mean for its food dishes, litter tray etc rather than permanently although initially it could be a good place for it to feel secure whilst getting used to you. I would go for if you think you can cope with challenging behaviour whilst it settles down.

sunshinesupermum · 26/04/2021 18:32

I agree with Aquamarine1029 an already stressed cat/ kitten shouldn't be exposed to children. It needs a calm household!

Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 18:32

Yes I meant a place to keep its food, basket and litter tray. It's a decent sized room.

OP posts:

ImaginaryCat · 26/04/2021 18:38

I agree that in an ideal world this cat, which is clearly stressed, would prefer a calm house to recuperate. But this isn't an ideal world and that poor cat is about to be dumped at a rescue, which will already be heaving with other poorly thought through lockdown pets.
So if you can commit to giving it a forever home, and will teach your children to be calm around the cat and give it space to adapt to a new home, then do it. If it's being stressed out by another cat, then being the only animal in your house will immediately go a long way towards helping it.
And 6 months is still a kitten, you've got plenty of time to help it grow into a happy loving pet, as long as you promise to give it all the affection and space it needs.

StationView · 26/04/2021 18:38

The very fact that you are thinking carefully about this shows that you would be a responsible cat owner. I'd give the youngster a new start.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/04/2021 18:41

I foster for a rescue charity.

We almost never rehome kittens alone under about 4 months as they need a sibling to play with, cuddle up to and learn how to be a cat with. Above that age, it depends on whether they have a friend they've bonded with, or shown themselves to be independent.
I agree that the source of the younger cats stress is likely that it doesn't get on with the older one. Some cats simply don't want to share their space with another cat and it usually comes to a head as they get to a few months old.

Do your friends have DC? Could they also be stressing the young cat?

We don't let families with preschoolers have kittens as they pester and and stress them and can't understand they need to leave them alone. Result is stressed kitten and scratched child.

In your case with a slightly older cat it might work with DC, providing they don't pester it and let it have its own space. But I wouldn't bank on it staying in the utility room. It might decide it likes another room better.

I'm on the fence with this one. It might work, but it might also stress out an already stressed out cat further.

Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 18:47

Thanks again. My dh is very keen, I am more reticent. The cat lives with small kids now. Genuinely, my children are not boisterous and are likely to be calm with the cat.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 26/04/2021 18:57

Getting a cat who you know soils around the house is madness. It's going to ruin everything. I'm a lifelong cat owner, multiples at all times, and I have 5 now, and even I would not take in a cat with known anxiety issues.

MouseholeCat · 26/04/2021 19:09

It sounds like that cat needs a very dedicated carer who can give it a calm home to recuperate in. Chances are a lot of the cats in rescue have notes on their files about preferring a home without children because they are prone to stress and anxiety and have exhibited issues like your friend's cat. I don't think a house with 3 youngish kids will give that.

If you do choose to take it in, I would give it a very quiet and dedicated space for around about a week and slowly introduce it both to family members and the rest of your house. When you let it out of that area, make sure it's at a time where kids aren't around.

Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 22:37

Thanks for all the advice. We've decided against it. Now I am wondering what is best moving forward, as shelters rarely have cats suitable for homes with children. But I will keep an eye out.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 26/04/2021 23:06

Now I am wondering what is best moving forward

With young children in the house, I strongly recommend you get sibling kittens. It should be very smooth sailing.

Warmduscher · 26/04/2021 23:16

@Aquamarine1029

Now I am wondering what is best moving forward

With young children in the house, I strongly recommend you get sibling kittens. It should be very smooth sailing.

I agree with this.

When our DC were aged 4 and 7 we adopted two sibling kittens from a litter of 9 . They live to be 16 and 17 respectively.

We had previously adopted two rescue cats that were apparently “bomb-proof” but we weren’t told they’d come from a home where there had been an acrimonious relationship break-up and they were traumatised. They only came out from under our bed after our DC had gone to sleep. We had to give them back as they were clearly unhappy.

Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 23:29

Thanks. Would sibling kittens come into rescue centres, or would we have to buy them?

OP posts:

Warmduscher · 26/04/2021 23:36

We got ours from asking at our local vet. It was just by chance that he knew of someone whose cat had just had nine kittens.

I wouldn’t buy kittens. You are just encouraging a trade in living creatures when there are already far too many unwanted adult cats in rescue centres. As long as you’re patient, the right one / ones will come along.

Original poster

DipSwimSwoosh · 26/04/2021 23:44

I will be patient!

OP posts:

CausingChaos2 · 26/04/2021 23:51

Please don’t buy kittens - it just encourages more backyard breeding. I would have taken the cat offered to you on a trial basis, but if you’ve decided against it, then I’d hold out for a rescue cat/ kittens. Smaller rescues may be more open minded to young children.

Aquamarine1029 · 27/04/2021 03:18

I wouldn't ever buy kittens, either. All of my cats I got as kittens either through rescues or other adoption centers.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/04/2021 06:42

I wouldn’t get a kitten with a 4yo in the house, accidental deaths have been a problem which is why rescues won’t rehome kittens to families with young kids.

I would’ve taken the 6 month old cat, most likely it’s pooing as the other cats resource guarding the tray. Cats don’t just do these things out of naughtiness they do it as a reaction to other cats.

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