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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To rehome my cats?

129 replies

billyholiday · 12/09/2016 22:41

I've had them for 6 months and due to unforeseen circumstances I can't afford to keep them any longer. I love them and believe me it will hurt a lot to see them go but I'm struggling to find any other option. One of them was ill over the weekend (she's fine now) and it made me realise that if something went wrong and one of them needed expensive vet treatments etc then I won't be able to afford it. It's making me miserable.

AIBU to rehome them before I get even more attached?

OP posts:

Sonders · 13/09/2016 09:30

I volunteer for a cat rehoming charity (non-destruction) and about 70-80% of the cats are turned over because the owners had a totally foreseeable unforeseen change of circumstances.

Like having a baby, moving house, changing jobs etc - cats live up to 2 decades, chances are that you're going to encounter a couple of those along the way!

Anyway OP, it sounds like you don't want your cats - it's easier to rehome them when they're younger so research the rehoming places near you and be prepared to spend a couple of months on a waiting list.

ShotsFired · 13/09/2016 09:52

If you explain your situation in all honesty to Cats Protection or similar, they may be able to help you out with some costs/food (if that is the issue). They do have discretionary funds - but the word discretionary is key, and it down to individual branches.

They may also be able to do a home from home foster, whereby they are advertised and new owners take them directly from you, without having to go via foster care or temporary cattery.

(ex-cat fosterer for CP and now home from home owner)

caitlinohara · 13/09/2016 10:28

She's talking about rehoming them, not dumping them in a canal!

OP I would ring round a few centres, but at this time of year they will likely be full of kittens so be prepared to be put on a waiting list.

user1471438981 · 13/09/2016 10:45

Hmm six months, the age when kittens grow out of bring 'kitteny' and sweet, and become mad bundles of teenage cat
Still, YANBU to rehome, not something I'd do but if you are bored of them already then you may as well rehome while they're younger and more adoptable.
Though if you really do love them and this is purely a money worry you can save alot of money and time buying catfood in bulk over the Internet (having lots in is also handy if you find yourself between jobs too).

Blackfellpony · 13/09/2016 10:54

We have fallen on hard times a few times over the years but never once have I considered getting rid of any of my pets.

Cats aren't expensive to be honest. You can get insurance for less than £10 per month.

You could try a rescue but the waiting lists are often very long.

BorpBorpBorp · 13/09/2016 11:05

We got our cats on gumtree, from a family who had taken on one cat from somebody else, it turned out she was pregnant so they ended up with 2 cats. Life went on, things changed, and after a year they couldn't afford to keep them.

It is unfortunate. It's sad. But if you're sure you can't afford to keep them, there's nothing else you can do.

allthecarbs · 13/09/2016 11:10

Was a bit much to get 2 at once? If you are going to do it then do it now while they're still relatively young. Please make sure they go to a good home though.

JacquesHammer · 13/09/2016 11:10

It really makes me cross when people (on here and on a local cat's rescue page I am on) immediately berate the person asking without considering circumstances.

Some poor woman got a slating for "dumping her pets when it got tricky". She was caring for a child with severe special needs and her mother with terminal cancer and said she just couldn't cope. So of course she was frightened off the board before she could get any help

carefreeeee · 13/09/2016 11:12

It's fine as long as you find them a nice home and never get any more pets ever again

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/09/2016 11:16

I disagree cats are cheap.

At least £7 a week on food in this house if I had two it would be 14,plus insurance x2.

Nothing else you can do OP x

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/09/2016 11:17

If you really do have to rehome them, please make sure you do it properly and don't advertise them on FB or Gumtree or any other free site.

Are you sure you can't cut expenses? I'd rather live off beans on toast than rehome mine.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/09/2016 11:18

It's fine as long as you find them a nice home and never get any more pets ever again

Yes, even if your circumstances change make sure you wear a hair shirt and flog yourself daily

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/09/2016 11:20

My mum adopted 2 cats and a dog on gumtree from people who had to move, they're not all puppy farmers. She visited their homes etc and now the animals are lived and happy.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/09/2016 11:21

**loved

BertrandRussell · 13/09/2016 11:22

God, some people are so fucking sanctimonious and superior. Circumstances change.
People have to move house or take on unforeseen responsibilities. People lose their jobs. Divorce. Get ill. Nobody can say with certainty how their live is going to go for the next 18 years.

Pardonwhat · 13/09/2016 11:24

If there's a big vet bill you just arrange a payment plan. No big deal.
Adult cats are very difficult to rehome.

Bountybarsyuk · 13/09/2016 11:28

What I have learned from this thread is only very wealthy home-owners over the age of 50 but who are very healthy and don't think they will get sick themselves/need to retire early should have cats.

Everyone else is being selfish and inconsiderate...

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 13/09/2016 11:29

My mum adopted 2 cats and a dog on gumtree from people who had to move, they're not all puppy farmers. She visited their homes etc and now the animals are lived and happy.

And sadly not all people adopting through Gumtree are as nice as your Mum Dame. The sooner they ban pets from Gumtree the better.

BarbarianMum · 13/09/2016 11:31

God people are so unimaginative sometimes - can you really not conceive of a change in circumstances necessitating a pet be rehomed? If the OP didn't care about her animals I doubt she'd post on here, so why not give her the benefit of the doubt until you have at least got the facts.

My thing is tortoises. There are many tortoise rehoming centres and Trusts exactly because a tortoise can live for 60+ years and strangely, not many people can plan that far ahead.

BishopBrennansArse · 13/09/2016 11:32

YABU.
My eldest cat is 17. I've had her since she was 8 weeks old. We've been together through divorce, 5 house moves, job losses and me having 3 babies. I'm now disabled and she's in poor health (fortunately insured).

When you get an animal you commit to it and do your best for it.

AGruffaloCrumble · 13/09/2016 11:32

These people that say there is no excuse, what happens when the life changes make the cat miserable? I had to rehome an adult cat I had adopted because he wouldn't come inside my house anymore as he hated my daughter from day one. Was I supposed to just force him to live a miserable life? Believe me, I tried everything I could to make him happy but nothing worked.

OP, stuff happens but to be honest how did you not take insurance into account when getting these cats? I think YABU to rehome for a reason you should have definitely foreseen.

BarbarianMum · 13/09/2016 11:35

I think you're meant to sell your body on the streets Gruffalo or maybe start dealing drugs or put your kids in care - anything really, at any price to yourself, because the cat comes first.

AGruffaloCrumble · 13/09/2016 11:38

Barbarian In all seriousness the only way the cat would have been happy with us was if we rehomed our DD instead which I only consider occasionally.

BertrandRussell · 13/09/2016 11:39

We have our dog because she was owned by a couple who were told they couldn't have children, got the dog then got pregnant. The woman was very ill during pregnancy and unable to walk far. Dog was then very jealous and unhappy. Howled when the baby cried. Everyone miserable. Dog now has very happy home with us. By mumsnet rules they should have had the baby adopted because they had the dog first!

allthecarbs · 13/09/2016 11:40

BishopBrennansArse
Do you want a medal?

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