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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU Rehoming our cat.

39 replies

Jakie7700 · 29/05/2017 17:52

This is my first time posting but I really need to know AIBU.
I have just found out our cat which we took in as a stray last year is the cause of my 2 year olds recently developed eczema which is so painful for him. I have asked close family and friends if they would consider taking her but none of them want a cat which is fair enough. So I feel very sadly I have no other option than to contact someone to rehome her but my husband thinks I am completely evil for thinking this and I am wrong. Would you agree?

OP posts:

ceceliajames · 29/05/2017 19:56

@Wolfiefan I put an advert on gumtree, I was very selective about who I wanted the cat go to and met with the Mum, Dad and three kids before letting them adopt her. Gumtree is fine as long as you don't let the first person who replies take them!

NameNotANumber · 29/05/2017 19:59

If you really feel that re-homing is the only way then find a shelter with a no-kill policy and fund the cost of your cat for the rest of their life / until they are re-homed? The RSPCA do destroy animals I have heard, but other shelters are usually small local charities without the fundraising / profile of the RSPCA so are usually on their knees financially, so at least help them bear the cost of taking your cat on if you are going to rheum them.

BarbarianMum · 29/05/2017 20:07

Please don't make your child suffer out of some misplaced loyalty to the cat. Find a good home/shelter for it, you can even contribute to its weekly upkeep whilst they look for a new home for it. If he's tested positive for cat allergy then all the fucking around with damp dusting in the world won't help. And please bear in mind that allegies can get worse as well as better. I have a life-threatening allergy to rabbits which originally developed as the result of a family pet - my parents rehomed after my first hospital admission which followed minths of worstening symptoms.

Original poster

Jakie7700 · 29/05/2017 20:16

Thank you all for your help and tips.
I have persuaded my MIL (she is good with animals) to foster her for six months obviously we pay for all food and insurance etc and see if we can either find her a good home in the mean time. Or if by some miracle little ones eczema gets better. Think time will tell.

OP posts:

RainyDayBear · 29/05/2017 20:18

YANBU as obviously your child has to come first. I think seeing if it's definitely the cat is important, could you put her in a nice cattery for a week or two to check? If you do rehome, maybe ask on the local areas Facebook page?

ForalltheSaints · 29/05/2017 20:32

I am glad to read of the help your MIL is giving.

BewtySkoolDropowt · 29/05/2017 21:21

Oh that's a great solution op, meantime, to give you a chance to see how things go, and still be able to see your lovely cat.

Wolfiefan · 29/05/2017 21:22

Fantastic news OP.

EezerGoode · 29/05/2017 21:27

Good old mil

witwootoodleoo · 29/05/2017 21:28

Could you find a really nice cattery with really big pens and put the cat in for a month or two to see if child improves? There are some lovely catteries with spacious runs around and at least that way you would know before giving the cat up

DJBaggySmalls · 29/05/2017 21:30

Thats such a responsible way to tackle the problem, I wish more people would sponsor the animals they need to rehome.

Have you tried grooming the cat and wiping it over with a damp cloth to remove the dander? you have to do it every day and it doesn't work for everyone.
There was also some research into infecting people with whip worms to lower their immune response.

BarbarianMum · 29/05/2017 21:39

You think the OP should have her son infected with whipworm rather than rehome the cat? Fuck me! Can I ask if you've ever had whipworm ? That's quite some suggestion.

Original poster

Jakie7700 · 29/05/2017 21:39

I no MIL is fantastic. Exactly if he doesn't get any better in that time it clearly isn't the cat.
We do groom her very often, haven't tried the damp cloth though although we do hoover and wipe the house round at least once a day to try and remove any hair.

OP posts:

wonderwoo · 29/05/2017 21:41

Well done OP, great solution. I had to rehome my much-loved cat due to ds1 severe allergy to cats. His consultant said we needed to and my son's health improved a lot after our cat had gone. I was told that it's very difficult to keep cat dander under control and it hangs around for a long time.

Definitely avoid the RSPCA. Cats protection league were amazing and very understanding and supportive. They really love cats.

It was one of the hardest things I have done, saying goodbye to my cat. We did find him a loving home through a friend of a friend in the end. It wasn't easy because most people who love cats, already have them. Hopefully your MIL will fall in love with him and decide to keep him so he stays within the family! I hope your dc eczema improves.

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