To want to rehome our bloody miserable cat?

[user1473509591]

Okay so he's 5, and he's just an awful, kid hating cat. It's not so bad during the summer, he's perfectly happy to spend days at a time sleeping outside and just coming home for food. But during winter, obviously, he wants to come in more. Now, my kids are 2 and 5 and are naturally curious. They're not rough (although my eldest used to be which is probably why he's quite cautious of kids now) but the kids just have to walk past him and they end up being scratched. Our house is tiny, we've set up a little bed at the top of the stairs separated by a gate for him but the stupid effing thing insists on trying to sleep in the living room, the busiest room in the house. I can't be sympathetic if he's going to be a bloody idiot. He cant sleep in our room because I'm mildly allergic to cat hair, and I don't want him in the kids room. I don't really know what to do with him, he really doesn't seem to suit a house with young children but whenever I even consider rehoming him it's met with outcry from family and friends. I had to give our dog to my mum when our daughter was about 9 months old because she would just pee everywhere and would nip and growl at my daughter when she started moving so I think they just think I'm crap with pets when in reality, the only reason why he's still here is because I won't give him to just anyone!

[AintNobodyHereButUsKittens]

It's cat pheromone that you plug into the wall like Glade and chills out your cat. Well worth a try for a stressed cat - costs about twenty quid I think.

[DorindaJ]

*like people,

[amazingtracy]

I just LOVE how you're getting a pasting for putting the safety of your children over your pets!
Who in their right mind would have a dog that growls at their child?????
Who wouldn't mind their children being scratched by a cat repeatedly?

[RoundandAroundSheGoes]

They're not rough (although my eldest used to be which is probably why he's quite cautious of kids now)

By rough, what do you mean? What did your kid do to this cat?

[orangebird69]

amazing if both the dog and the cat had been better managed I doubt neither rehoming situation would've been necessary. I live in a household with 2 dogs, 2 cats and a 1 year old. Not growling, scratching or rehoming necessary. Because I put the effort in to make sure it doesnt happen.

[miaowmix]

You just don't sound like you like cats and their cat-like ways much.
Rehome the cat to a good home.

[TheoriginalLEM]

I call my little fuckers dogs all the names under the sun, I berate them and moan like hell, especially when one of the bastards pisses on my sofa. I am not rehoming them though.

Teach your children respect for animals and please don't get anymore animals, your track record proves you really don't do pets.

[MrsGwyn]

I do remember a cat that waited under a hall table and for everyone entering the house - I think they solved that by going it better territory that was it's so if didn't feel the need to claim the hall table and defend it.

If it was hurting my children I would be putting the first and re-homing.

[ItShouldHaveBeenJessCastismas]

I don't think the OP would have posted if she wasn't trying to find a reasonable solution for all..... In my book, that means she does care.

[IzzyIsBusy]

Tut tut Op.

You must know that on mn you can call your DC stupid, idiots, shits etc and all is fine and you are just venting BUT you must never ever say the same about your cat

[TheoriginalLEM]

The sad thing is that cats are actually not that easy to rehome. I work in the vets and we regularly have strays thrust upon us, especially if they are not little balls of fluff that the children can cuddle torment I would like to say that we successfully rehome them all..... RSPCA wont take them, Cats protection league have no room....

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Yes, rehome your cat please.

The fact that both cat and dog show/showed behaviour problems and symptoms of stress and anxiety suggests your home/management are not suited to pets at this point.

[amazingtracy]

Orange I wouldn't care who's at fault- If a dog in my home growled at my baby- it would be gone! My child is more important than any pet.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

Like Plums I have two cats, one of which is pleasant enough, and the other of which is a bastard - attacks the dogs, attacks his brother, bites people, jumps on my and DD;s heads and grabs gobfuls of our hair - frankly, he's a git!

I wouldn't re-home him because it's his personality, and he didn't ask to be in our house, we picked him (more fool us!).

BUT - and it's a big "BUT" - we don't have young children who could either upset the cat or be hurt by him. I don't like being bitten and scratched, but I'm big enough to take it. I would really need to know that the cat could be kept out of the way if I had tinies in the house. It isn't fair on the cat or the kids.

Spooky has suggested a cat tree - these can be really good, or if you have a shelf that you could make cosy for him in the living room, he would probably settle himself on that and just keep out of the way.

It can be hard to re-home cats, because there are so many needing homes, and putting them into a shelter can be a death warrant. I really sympathise with you not wanting him to go just anywhere - I think you do care.

I would try to make him a comfortable nook in the living room or if you have a dining room, in there - he probably likes a bit of company (it will be interesting for him) as well as the warmth and comfort. If that doesn't work, then I hope that you can find him a suitable home.

[missmoz]

Really don't understand why you're getting a hard time about this. The op didn't choose to get a cat, it was thrust upon her by her Dad before she had kids...

"Teach children respect for animals"?? A lot of children can be rough when petting an animal at first when they're little. Some cats can handle that, some can't. Doesn't mean your children should have to put up with being scratched constantly.

Can't help feel there would be a different response if it was a dog growling and scratching at your children. I suggest you give the cat back to your dad and say it's not working anymore. Failing that yes you should re home him.

And yes it's sensible to rehome your dog if it's growling at your daughter, doesn't mean your crap?? Wasn't there a thread on this only a few days ago.

[starboyz]

Your cat doesnt like your kids because they bother him, he lashes out with scratches because he doesnt want them to hurt him.
Maybe try some pet calming drops and felaway he seems stressed out.

I dont think it is fair to rehome him but if you must please dont get another pet, they are for life not when you have children you get rid of them.

(owner of 7yr old and 4yr old cat)

[yesterdaysunshine]

I call my cats worse.

Having said that, the "rehome" comments are a bit - there are already many loving adult cats up for adoption: one with an attitude problem is going to be in a pen for a long time.

[Cantusethatname]

The Cats Protection could help him find a home that would suit him better. I'm not judging you - I gave away my beloved cat (to my aunt) when I brought my first baby home from hospital. The cat had a spiteful side and I just didn't trust him. The Cats Protection are good at matching cats to owners.

[yesterdaysunshine]

Cats Protection are a great charity and all my cats are from there.

BUT - the prospective owners choose. They will suggest and guide but if someone says 'actually I'd rather have the cat who purrs and headbutts me' then they can't thrust a scratching cat with 'tude onto them.

[Cantusethatname]

I described my manic teenage boys house and they matched me with a manic teenage male cat! He's just ideal!

[MrsGwyn]

Maybe could help change how the children and cat interact.

I don't think re-homing any pet is easy - but sometimes I think it's necessary.

[user1473509591]

I no longer speak to my dad (for other reasons, not just for this) and I wouldn't give him back to him anyway, I don't think it was so much him but his girlfriend who wanted the cat rehomed, he wasn't castrated or had any of his jabs when he came to me so I don't think he was much of a responsible owner either. I wouldn't give him to charity either because I know they're overstretched, and it's not an urgent issue. As I said before I would only rehome him with someone I know and trust, as I did with my dog.
I will try some of these helpful suggestions and thankyou for them. Trust me rehoming is a last resort, I do love him. I'm just having a moan, he's not mistreated in any way.
Oh and in regards to teaching my kids how to properly treat animals, I have done. That's why my 5 year old is gentle, or rather leaves him alone, and my son is curious but not rough.

[user1473509591]

He's also pure black, another reason he won't go to a charity, I know black cats get overlooked alot and I don't want that for him.

[yesterdaysunshine]

I got matched with a fat lazy ginger wonder what that says about me