To rehome my cats?

[billyholiday]

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?

See previous post...

I think YABU because you have made a commitment to your fur babies.

I do wish people would look into the expense of owning pets before they get them 😠

We took on our dog from a family who got her as a puppy and realised they couldn't cope with her when their job hours changed. We wanted her, they couldn't cope and she needed us. Win win. If you can't cope with your pets any longer, they should go to someone who can. It's not a 'failure' it's life - some people are better suited and have better set ups for pets than others.

Pets are not like human babies though. Dog and cat needs do not always run smoothly alongside human needs. That's why we have so many dog behaviourists dealing with pets left at home for long hours and bored witless, and cats that get squirted with water when they wander into the wrong garden etc etc. Humans live best with other humans. Dogs and cats (and other animals) may live with us but it is not always smooth sailing because sometimes our needs conflict. When those conflicts happen too often, then the animal is better with someone who has a set up that is more suited to that animal.

The issue of money is a big one because these days the cost of having a pet is massive. You have food, grooming items, ongoing flea/worm treatments, illnesses, injuries, old age, bedding, replacing stuff puked/shat on. On top of that you need time to play with the animal, to give them time they need on walks or taking to the vets. Insurance. It all adds up to an amount I'm sure most people would be surprised at, even if they thought they'd costed it all out.

If you have a set of circumstances that all coincide - say you lose your job, cat gets sick/injured - you all of a sudden are in a position where the animal may suffer, despite costing it all out before you got them. At that point you should always consider rehoming above and beyond your committment to that animal because committment is not enough. You need money, time and space too.

Well said toptoe. Perhaps the OP shouldn't have got them but she did. Now she realises it may not be a good thing and it is better that the are rehoused. I think that is the responsible decision. Keeping them because she should feel obliged to is not a good reason to hang on to them for what could be another 20 yrs. All this ridiculous talk about children is just a distraction, have these people never heard of adoption, abortion or children going into care? Absent parents, those who walk out on their kids without a second thought? Of course it happens with children. I'm not saying that's to be recommended but to pretend people don't do it with their own children is nonsense. I don't suppose that it was easy either in many cases but is often the only option available.

Wow I didn't get chance to come back on here until now, didn't realise I had all these responses. They are approximately 12 months old and such gorgeous girls. I'm absolutely devastated but I'm just not in a position to keep them. Believe me if I'd known I'd be in this situation a few months later I wouldn't have adopted them but I had no idea. The food, flea/worming treatments etc adds up and one of them is extremely fussy with regards to food so I can't even buy cheap - butchers for example.

Bishop - my friend prioritised her own life over her pet. She was escaping hideous emotional, financial and physical abuse.

She was given a lifeline and had to take it. Rehoming her cats to two loving homes (who incidentally she is still in touch with) was the least of her worries

Ew, please don't anyone ever say 'fur babies' ever again. I just gipped a bit.

Pets aren't children, however cute they might be.
I don't have cats or dogs because I live in a rented property that doesn't allow. I actually like them and have looked after and enjoyed pets in the past.

Caught between pets and a decent rental for my family, the house would win hands down.

Read all the replies now. I never knew them when they were in the 'cute and fluffy' stage so I'm certainly not just getting bored of them because they're bigger now. And for those comparing children to pets - I genuinely can't be bothered to argue because it's ridiculous.

My partner left me and I'm left in a house I can barely afford, living on cereal with my 2 year old to take care of.

I do have insurance for the cats but from what I understand they rarely pay out and the general week to week costs of having pets can mount up.

I feel bloody awful but I can't see another option.

Think some people are being a bit unfair. Our life can change in ways we couldn't possibky have imagined and yes there are feckless people out there but we dont have eniugh evidence to brand the OP as one of them IMHO.

OP I feel for you, it must be sad but if you can't afford to insure them it may be the best option Who would you give them to?

Sorry, wrote that before I saw your post OP!

If it was a sibling that was playing up on a new baby, you'd give it whatever time it needed to calm the situation, adoption of the older sibling would be abhorrent

It always baffles me that there are actually people that think this way.

You don't have to explain yourself. I'm sure you are doing the best you can.

Who are you insured with?

They most certainly DO pay out. I've been with various insurers and never had a problem. They won't pay out for routine things or things that could have been avoided with prompt treatment (e.g flea issues)

There will be an excess though, usually about £50 for young healthy cats.

Please don't rehomable them based on the assumption that insurers wouldn't pay out.

"If it was a sibling that was playing up on a new baby, you'd give it whatever time it needed to calm the situation, adoption of the older sibling would be abhorrent"

"It always baffles me that there are actually people that think this way."

It might be mumsnet, but not everyone has the same opinion on children. Some people prefer pets to kids, others treat everyone in the family the same regardless of whether human or not. I prefer my cats to most humans, big or little.

I agree, children are not pets. Children grow up, pets continue to be dependent for their whole lives. Pets tend to be better toilet and house trained than small children. Its fine to prefer our own species, but not everyone thinks alike.

Wow. I am crazy cat lady and often judgy as fuck about people who rehome their animals, but FFS unforseen circumstances happen. We can't all be so rich that we can adopt cats in the certain knowledge that we will NEVER find ourselves too tight to look after them financially.

OP we have insurance through Pets at Home and they paid out a massive amount no problem a few years ago...(£3000!!).

But I do understand. My insurance for our two this year is £700, they're on special food and some long term medication as well. It's not cheap. I would live off baked beans myself before they went hungry, but you're already doing that!

I'm so so sorry, your situation sounds generally shitty - are there any prospects on the horizon that might make a difference re the money and housing situation? It sounds like the cats bring you happiness and people, unfortunately, are right that adult cats can be hard to rehome. Don't make a snap decision when everything seems bleak unless it's absolutely unavoidable. Maybe give it a while, if you can manage it? I wonder if you're worrying about the cats so much as a distraction from bigger worries? You must have a lot of stress right now.

If you are anywhere within reach of Croydon contact Croydon Animal Samaritans. They're lovely lovely people who foster in their own homes and then rehome. They might be able to help or advise.

I'd offer to take them temporarily myself but my two wouldn't stand for it (both rather emotionally delicate ex-rescues).

My experience of insurers is that they pay out.
I assume with your partner leaving, that you've made sure you are claiming everything you can benefits wise? Do you have maintenence sorted?
You could always look into fostering if you wanted a bit of time to see if your finances sort themselves out?

And you sound like a lovely cat owner- you got them as adults, you insure them, care about giving them the food they like, treat them when they're ill, love them and worry about doing right by them.

People have been very unfair.

OP, I adopted a cat through The Cats Protection League and my toddler son the became ill with asthma so very sadly the cat had to be returned. You've had some unkind responses which you don't deserve.

Call around or better still ask if the person or place they came from could take them back. Better cared for elsewhere than you or your family going without. Circumstances do change and pet charities know this.

Sometimes changes in circumstance is unavoidable. Having said that. I would rather claw out my own eyes than give up my cats, and trust me my circumstances have changed a lot in the years I've had them (financial & housing) and never even for one second I thought about giving them away. If it was an affordability issue, make sure you have insurance. (it's not expensive ) and cut down on the treats etc. You don't just get a pet for 6 months then decide actually i can't afford you, that's just cruel

Apologies, haven't read all the posts yet. I think this is a difficult situation and can see both sides. I grew up with lots of different animals, and adore my two cats. They are a big part of our family and if I was desperate I would spend money buying them food rather than myself. Like other posters have said, cat insurance is a must, we would have had to pay a few thousand to treat one cat if we hadn't had insurance. I personally could never imagine rehoming any of my cats.

I also appreciate that there are a lot of people out there who get a pet and then want to rehome them for dubious reasons, however OP must care to post on here. Furthermore, as sad as it is, sometimes it is best for a pet to be rehomed. Our latest addition was very reluctantly let go by his previous owners. They wanted to keep him so much but realised that he wasn't happy as the environment wasn't best for him. He is thriving here. We have no idea of OP's circumstances so as long as she does her best to find a good home, how can we judge? Also, to add, the majority of cats I have rehomed have been adults. True, it's not as easy as kittens but it is possible that they will go to a good home.

I am another one who had to pay a much larger deposit to convince our landlord to allow us to have cats. I recall hearing from someone recently that for the first time, the numbers of cats at Battersea have overtaken the number of dogs due to landlords not allowing cats in rented properties. Best of luck OP

I will say fur babies as much as I like thank you! My cats are family to me and even though we are by no means rich, they are treated to the best I can offer them. My view is that when you get a pet you have to consider all costs and impact they have on your life BEFORE you get them.
My two were born in a rescue centre and the person who rehomed them gave them up after 4 months - and they ended up in another rescue centre - where we adopted them from. We would never give our fur babies up.
I have insurance with petplan- roughly £20 per month. They paid out over £3000 last year no problem.
If you join a healthy pet club at your vet it will cost around £10 per cat per month for year round flea/worming and annual vaccinations etc.
PDSA will help with all costs until you are back on your feet- if that is what you want.

"I would rather claw out my own eyes than give up my cats,"

Utter bollocks.

OP you will get no judgement from me.

Try and rehome them, or give them over to a sanctuary who can take them. You have enough on your plate to deal with without keyboard warriors attempting to make you feel worse for even thinking about giving them up.

You obviously love them, but yours and your daughter's life is the bigger concern right now. Cut yourself some slack and don't accept a mn flogging.

Good luck to you

"I would rather claw out my own eyes than give up my cats,"

Over dramatic nonsense and I say that as a cat owner.