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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to get rid of the cat?

79 replies

ihatemycat · 19/01/2012 17:28

I never thought I would be the sort of person who wanted to get rid of a pet but she is really pissing me off.

She is fed the best tins I can buy but insists on going out and eating grass. She has just been sick all over our (top loading) washing machine despite having access to go outside.

She's also started shitting next to the (large and regularly cleaned) litter tray or sometimes in the most awkward places I can hardly reach into, this is also despite having the opportunity to go outside.

She also like to wake DS1 (age 5) up in teh night by walking on his head and also wakes us up several times a night for no reason other than she sleeps all day so wants to arse around all night.

I'm pregnant and frankly the smell and aggro of cleaning it up after her is just making me utterly fed up. I am just so fed up and feel she probably deserves better than a family who are all pissed off with her...

OP posts:

jade80 · 19/01/2012 17:43

Have you got a radiator in the conservatory? You can get sheepskin sling things that hook over them for cats to sleep in- some love them. Have you tried using several litter trays in different places?
The grass thing they do if their stomach is a bit dodgy- could you try a different food to see if it makes a difference?
And yes, as above, shut the bedroom doors!

fullofxmascheer1 · 19/01/2012 17:43

What litter do you use? I can't recommend 'cat's best oko plus' highly enough - the litter could look and smell fine to you but the cat thinks otherwise - they're very particular about clenliness.

As for the eating grass and being sick that's totally normal behaviour - she had a bad tummy, she ate the grass to feel better and then was sick - I'm sure she didnt go out of her way to spew on your washing machine.

As for waking your child up - shut his bedroom door!

Seriously though, iId take the poor little thing along to the vet to rule anything out. Getting annoyed with her isn't going to help - if anything it'll make it worse. Cats are very clean animals and she wouldn't intentionally be sick and start pooing everywhere.

If you're thinking about rehoming her over a few minor (and they are....really...!) issues then maybe she would be better off wih a family who has experience with cats and their behaviour. Our cat has been through stages of pooing, weeing and sicking everywhere (different reasons for each - not 'just because'), hundreds spent in vets bills for an illness that he had before we got him, waking us up at all hours with meowing, knocking things over and climbing up the curtains....all sorts but I can honestly say that not once did we consider rehoming him, we took him on with the view that we would look after him and love him whatever happened. Too many people get animals and then get rid when it's not all perfect fluffy cuddles.

Mrsrobertduvall · 19/01/2012 17:44

My cat doesn't vomit or shit in the house....she's 10 and goes outside...never had a litter tray.
However she jumps around the house like a lunatic after midnight, we have to shut bedroom doors otherwise she is all over us, and has taken to scratching the doors.

Original poster

ihatemycat · 19/01/2012 17:45

Also I'm not a new cat owner, this is cat no 3 and we've had her 7 yrs or so... maybe I am being extra hormonal as thinking about it her behaviour hasn't changed but I suppose my tolerance for it has...

OP posts:

Original poster

ihatemycat · 19/01/2012 17:46

Sorry, when i say cat no 3 i don't mean we have 2 other cats (she hates other cats!) I mean we've previously had cats before..

OP posts:

TheOnlyWayIsEnfield · 19/01/2012 17:48

My cat is a temperamental little fucker too. He used to shit on our bed when we first got him. I rang the vet and spoke to them about it, they were really helpful and suggested loads of things to help, without even charging us a fortune like they usually do for everything! Might be worth a try to ring them if you didn't already mention it to them when you took her?
Cats shit places to piss you off on purpose, definitely. For our cat it was because he was stressed that my husband was away a lot at the time. We used feliway, I know it costs a bomb, but better than having to clean cat shit off your bed every day! It sounds like she's is stressed too. Hard to believe, what with all the fuck all they have to do all the time, but there you go.
Can't blame you for being pissed off. It isn't nice having to clear up after them, even though you are a cat lover really.
Good luck, hope you sort it out without having to get rid of her, which you obviously don't really want to do.

OriginalJamie · 19/01/2012 17:51

I can see where you are coming from, but I think you should try and hang in there.

Our cat went a bit mental while I was pg and when the DCs were small - spraying, scratching, careering round the house like a loon. DH started to actively dislike her , and I found her annoying. Like you say, i was intolerant, what with looking after baies and small children. But she calmed down and now none of us would be without her. She is lovely with the DC and they with her. Even DH loves her again.

OriginalJamie · 19/01/2012 17:52

yy. I think it's stress

RainboweBrite · 19/01/2012 17:57

Come on, you wouldn't actually get rid of her, would you??? It's normal for them to get on your nerves from time to time, especially if your tolerance is already low, but you know she's part of the family really...

Heswall · 19/01/2012 17:58

Our cat goes out at night so she doesn't shit everywhere and can hunt things rather than walk all over my bedding. In fact i'd vomit if she even went on my bed so the doors are all kept shut.

Original poster

ihatemycat · 19/01/2012 17:59

Maybe I'll try different litter again... thanks for the tips, and sorry for venting. Don't think I could actually bring myself to really get rid of her...

Sadly no radiator in the conservatory which is why it's so freezing... has anyone tried a heat pad? Maybe that will mean she can do at least some of the annoying stuff outside and not all over the house...?

OP posts:

HeadfirstForHalos · 19/01/2012 18:04

Aww, your cat must really love your ds if he walks on his head. One of ours does this to me only, purring his head off. It's normal cat behaviour, just keep the cat downstairs at night.

Sluttybuttons · 19/01/2012 18:05

My cat used to do the shitting thing right outside his tray. I bought this and it was the best thing i ever bought. Seems a bit pricey but i save a lot on litter now. Just every time you walk past it clean it (takes seconds) and now its not a problem

farewellfigure · 19/01/2012 18:07

That is so freaky. I could have written the same post. Our cat has started pooing everywhere as there is a MASSIVE ginger cat in the garden that keeps beating her up. Our house continually smells of poo and wee despite having 2 litter trays. She also jumps on my head at least twice a night. I can't remember the last time I had a night's sleep without her waking me. We'll probably get a feliway after pay day!

I completely sympathise. We can't close our door either as she would yowl loudly enough to wake DS and pick the door and floor to shreds. We accidentally shut her in the spare room the other day and she picked the carpet through to the floorboards.

I don't have the heart to lock her in the garage. I just couldn't do it. I totally and utterly sympathise. Cats are just total pitas. I suggest making a cuppa and watching Simon's Cat films on YouTube until you remember why you love her (somewhere deep down).

quirrelquarrel · 19/01/2012 18:12

Wish I could take the catty in myself :-( sounds like you'd find any pet a nuisance...or maybe you just haven't bonded. But why not?

Ephiny · 19/01/2012 18:15

YANBU to be annoyed and have a moan on here about it all - I have a new rescue dog so you don't need to tell me about being fed up cleaning up messes! - but you would be unreasonable IMO to get rid of your cat. She is basically just being a cat.

As for her being better off with another family, or however you put it - unfortunately there are already a lot more cats needing homes than there are good homes for them, this is a huge and increasing problem. And if you don't want her because of her annoying habits, why would you think anyone else would? Most people want a cute kitten anyway, not an older cat with a dodgy tummy and a habit of pooing in the house...

Original poster

ihatemycat · 19/01/2012 18:16

My goodness, that litter thing looks amazing... I wonder if I can persuare DH to part with the cash - does it need special litter to make it work?

I'm kind of glad I'm not alone with the extremely annoying cat...

I had some feliway yonks ago (she was one of a pair of sisters who bickered but the other has died) I seem to think it didn't do a lot for us...

OP posts:

Rhubarbgarden · 19/01/2012 18:16

Pooing in strange places is a sign of stress. Grass eating is a sign of upset stomach. Try to find out what is behind his discomfort and you are halfway there. Feliway plug-ins are excellent.

And be aware that a seven year old cat has little chance of finding a new home if you send him to a cat rescue. He will be likely to spend the rest of his life there. If you have derived any pleasure at all from his company please give him a break.

Rhubarbgarden · 19/01/2012 18:18

Her not him, sorry.

SecretNutellaFix · 19/01/2012 18:20

Have you tried changing her diet? Ours used to, eons ago when kittens, have wet food regularly and their poo would smell pretty horrible, so we gradually swapped over to a complete dry diet and lets just say the poos are nowhere near as offensive as they once were.

Catsdontcare · 19/01/2012 18:24

She will be fine in the conservatory with one of those heated mats. Put some old carpet under it too so the cold floor diesn't extract the heat.

piratecat · 19/01/2012 18:28

could be that the cat food is too rich and causing an upset tummy?

how long ago did she last go to the vets to be checked over?

I would buy a heat pad, a comfy pile of snuggly towels, and one of the huge fleeces. Make a lovely bed in the conservatory, and put her in there, with another litter tray at night.

She might like the space and the new lodgings. You will get some sleep.

piratecat · 19/01/2012 18:30

put the bed out of sight of a window tho, behind a chair or cardboard box. they like their privacy. There could well be a new cat bullying her on the block so if she has somewhere to hide she will prefer it.

Sluttybuttons · 19/01/2012 18:33

I use worlds best cat litter with it but any clumping litter will work. I find that even though its expensive to buy the litter lasts ages because you just take out the used stuff and occasionally top it up. I give mine a complete clean once a month but tbh it doesnt really need it since you get rid of the dirty stuff often.

PinotVaggio · 19/01/2012 18:58

Awwww, it's those pregnancy hormones making you feel all angsty. I hope you can sort it all out.

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