Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To rehome the elderly cat?

275 replies

Lazyginger · 09/08/2017 23:10

The elderly cat (15) keeps pissing in the house. The house stinks.
I have tried everything! I've taken it to the vets (several times) for expensive tests - apparently there's nothing wrong.
I've thrown out countless carpet and door mat.
I've tried everything Google suggests. Tin foil. Orange peel. Aversion therapy.
Locking her out works whilst she's out! But as soon as I let her in again she pisses somewhere! Soon it will be winter again and I didnt really want to lock her out.
Thing is, apart from making the house stink, I've got a 4 month old ds who will soon be crawling and the last thing I want is for him to find a lake of cat piss.
I'm at the end of the road and considering taking her back to the cats protection as awful as it makes me feel. Is this unreasonable? Im at my wits end!

OP posts:
BlackJesus · 10/08/2017 02:15

Who's going to want her!?

perper · 10/08/2017 02:18

It's not clear from the OP whether the cat has litterboxes available- if it's always gone outside in the past, it will now struggle with that, so make sure there are multiple litterboxes in different parts of the house (if it's not littertrained you'll need to work on that too).

As pps have said, low protein diet, plenty of water, and make sure you're using a proper biological cleaner when there are accidents as most cleaning products won't break down the smell.

If necessary keep it confined to non-carpeted areas if you're able to, but for god's sake don't just give up on it because it's got too old.

perper · 10/08/2017 02:20

notevernotnevernotnohow there is also nothing in the OP to suggest she does, hence some of the blunter responses here. She's asked if she's being unreasonable- many people (including me) strongly believe she would be unreasonable to dump the cat.

MyLittlePickleBoo · 10/08/2017 02:22

OP, please PM me and I'll do what I can to help. Don't put her to sleep.

perper · 10/08/2017 02:22

If it seems to be marking territory rather than confusion/unable to reach an appropriate place, there are some suggestions here: <a class="break-all" href="http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/marking_territory.html?referrer=www.google.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/marking_territory.html?referrer=www.google.co.uk/

OfficerVanHalen · 10/08/2017 02:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elfinpre · 10/08/2017 02:24

It's probably a stress reaction in the cat to your having a baby. Our cat did this when DD1 was born but we never once thought of rehoming him. It's a pain but you just clean up the mess, put bicarbonate of soda down for the smell, give the cat lots of love and treats and a litter tray, get Feliway and keep talking to the vet.

notevernotnevernotnohow · 10/08/2017 02:25

Yeah i think 15 years is the age of the cat, not the length of time it has been pissing itself, notnever hmm

It's been 15 years that she has the cat was what I said.

OfficerVanHalen · 10/08/2017 02:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

notevernotnevernotnohow · 10/08/2017 02:30

It doesn't, but that wasn't the question you asked.

Didn't you read the OP? She has been to the vets several times, done all the tests available, tried all the advice and is getting nowhere. It wasn't convenient long ago, and she still has it. So how is she "dumping it as soon as its not convenient"?

I think some peoples self righteousness blinds them to the facts of the thread.

OfficerVanHalen · 10/08/2017 02:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nooka · 10/08/2017 02:40

We adopted two older cats and a few years later the surviving one (his sister had to be PTS fairly quickly as she had a tumour) started to poo and pee all over the place. Our vet said he was healthy but senile and there was essentially nothing we could do to stop him. We ended up keeping him in one small area of the house at night and having to supervise him all the time. Then he got out the front of our house one night somehow (usually he stayed in the fenced garden) and got hit by a car and we had him PTS. Which as very sad but also a relief, which was also sad.

However in retrospect we gave him five years of happy life after adoption, and we have subsequently adopted other rescue cats afterward so I think we weren't really so bad owners. It was pretty hard to love our cat when he was peeing and pooing all over the place - it really was very grim and his quality of life wasn't great either.

If I was the OP I'd try destressing measures to see if that helps, but if not I'd really start to think about PTS. 15 is a pretty good age for a cat. Sure they can live into their 20s but the average life span is closer to 12.

stonecircle · 10/08/2017 02:41

I think the fact that the op has thrown out 'countless carpets' suggests she's been grappling with the problem for quite some time ...

Imknackeredzzz · 10/08/2017 02:41

Agree cat has to go-
Sorry but can't have a any rolling in cat piss. Unfortunate but true.

Come on people- she has to put baby before cat for god sake!!!

notevernotnevernotnohow · 10/08/2017 02:41

Look if you don't believe the OP you can report her post, but please try to understand what it actually says. You can't just make up scenarios to justify your indignation.
I know pet people on here can get very frothy, but it's better to be sensible.

Imknackeredzzz · 10/08/2017 02:42

Clearly I meant "you can't have a baby rolling in cat piss!"

TheMaddHugger · 10/08/2017 02:46

we had our recently departed 22 yr old kitty in nappies. for this very same reason. I could never rehome a family member.

get Newborn nappies and cut holes for the tail

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 10/08/2017 03:21

Your cat will end up PTS if you give her up. And she'll be alone and miserable first. If you can't live with her any longer then at least have the kindness to take her to the vet yourself than send her away. She is attached to you and your family. Poor kitty.

silentpool · 10/08/2017 03:46

Please take your cat to the vet and see if there is a health issue. Our cat was puking daily and a change of food fixed that quickly, for example.

However, incontinence is vile and unhygienic, there is no getting around that. I've always said that when our cat gets to that stage, he will be PTS as he will have lost all dignity by then. So, if its not a health problem, I would be more inclined to look into putting him to sleep as opposed to the devastation of getting re-homed.

SilverBirchTree · 10/08/2017 04:21

That is so mean!!! You can't honestly believe she will be rehomed?!

If you've tried everything & the vet is out of ideas, then it would be much kinder to have her put down in her own home.

If you have her to a shelter you'd be tearing her from her home and her family, putting her in a scary and unfamiliar environment.

Don't make her last days scary and cold.

And don't buy another pet if you're not willing to do right by them. Angry

SouthWindsWesterly · 10/08/2017 04:39

I have a 14yo cat that wee's. I put down tarp and have extra litter trays. Part of the problem is smell which is why they keep going back to the same spot - cleaning with lemon products lessens the problem but doesn't solve it.

I've thrown out rugs and steam mop the floors. Other than the odd wee accident at night, my cats are healthy and full of life - I've had them since kittens. I couldn't regime or PTS for my convenience if they're not in distress. If the problem gets worse, I will rethink for her comfort but until then, it's not biggie to mop and wipe up.

How many incidents are we talking about? My cats started with the stress of moving and then water infections. They also did the same when I brought my babies home. The "unauthorised" wee's are lessening now though. I've made safe quiet areas for them that are easy to clean up and where they can quietly sleep.

user53592952153 · 10/08/2017 04:42

She's your cat, to her you are her family and are where she feels safe. Rehoming her would make her feel scared, confused and would make her life awful. You sound very heartless. Poor, poor cat.

Namechangetempissue · 10/08/2017 05:00

I would try and few things. Feliway and keep the cat in one room of the house (kitchen? Utility?) that has a hard floor and a cozy bed, litter tray (you may need to find the right material for this as some cats can be fussy) and where it is relatively baby free most of the time. Make this space "safe" and somewhere to hide. If the cat likes to be outside you can also make a safe and cozy space in a shed. Fit a magnetic cat flap so only your cat can use it and keep water/biscuits/blankets topped up as needed.
If all medical issues have been ruled out, then it sounds like chronic stress to me. You can medicate this if necessary.
I personally wouldn't give up on my old pet easily. You won't rehome it, I guarantee.

Firefries · 10/08/2017 05:06

She's in her last days. Enjoy her before she goes. As someone else said keep her in one cleanable room with a bed and food. Give her cuddles when you can but she's elderly now. It's time to look after her, and help keep her and the house clean. 15 years old is amazing for a cat by the way. Keep going with her. She needs you.

RadioGaGoo · 10/08/2017 05:23

Notever, you are accuse OfficerVH for making up scenarios whilst making up assumptions and 'facts'. The OP clearly states 'several tests' which you have turned into 'all the tests' and the OP mentions a few Google tactics, which you have turn into 'all the advice'.

Swipe left for the next trending thread