To think this isn't my problem now...

[sneezycat]

I recently got my cats rehomed, due to a number of reasons. It wasn't an easy decision, but a necessary one. I found a lady who I thought was ideal...she is familiar with the breed and used to be a veterinary nurse. She also runs a cattery, and my cats have stayed there once.

I explained beforehand that one of the cats had cat flu as a kitten and she still goes through periods of being a bit snotty and sneezy. She said it wasn't a problem and she'd still take them. She told me to cancel their insurance as she would sort all that out. Cats settle in well, lots of pics of them with the family etc...

Fast forward 3 weeks, I have received an email saying she can't keep them as the snotty cat has probably got feline herpes as a result of having cat flu previously, which means it could shed onto her clothes and therefore be passed on to the cats staying in the cattery. She has asked me to sort out a new home for them.

AIBU thinking she had all the relevant info before taking them on, so now rehoming them should be her problem? I'm not in a position to take them back. I should add that I'm not usually this flippant about things like this, but I have so much stress at the moment, I really could do without this as well.

Not ideal but yes, you're right, they are her cats now.

I would say it's not your problem. If you were honest about everything then she took them in, she has to deal with the cats now.

Yep I'd say it's not your problem. And you're not in a position to have them back which is why you rehomed them in the first place

If you’d passed on a car or pram etc with all the relevant information, then YWNBU to wash your hands of it.

But these were once pets that I assume you cared about (and probably still do). Do you care if she advertises them for Free To A Good Home on GumTree or gets them put down as she can’t be bothered trying to find a decent home?

Her problem, not yours.

She did take responsibility, but I wouldn’t feel happy leaving the cats there if I thought she might PTS or give them away to an unsuitable home.

I'm glad others agree, I wanted to check before I respond to her email.

@PennyMordauntsLadyBrain Yes I do care what happens to them, but circumstances dictate that I cannot have them back, so I need to prioritise. It's not ideal at all, and it does upset me, but there's no other way.

I would say it’s not your problem, but if it were my animal I’d want to make sure they went on to good homes, so I’d take on the problem to ensure this.

“Hi, sorry to hear of the complications with the cat. As you know I sadly needed to re-home them so am not in a position to help. I’m sure if you phone the cats protection league/ RSPCA etc they will be able to advise. Thanks”

Why doesn’t she have snotty cat swabbed for herpes to confirm it one way or another.

Seems weird as surely someone who runs a cattery is most ideally suited to knowing lots of people who might take on cats!

This is odd. She has vast experience of cats, and is qualified as a veterinarian nurse, yet is only now thinking about this? As others have said why not get the cats checked by the vet?

Poor cats - will have a third home on a very short space of time.

If you were honest about the cats medical history then it’s not your problem. However, you may not want to shipwreck the door completely as I would need to know there will be in a safe home and not in danger of being put down.

How very strange.
If you can’t take them back then, as harsh as it sounds, they’re not your problem.

If it was me OP, I'd say I'll help her rehome them.
You don't want these cats to be bought by someone then used as dog bait do you? If they are pedigrees you will easily rehome them.

I think the cats welfare has to come first, not whos problem it is.

Yes I thought it was a bit of an odd turnaround seeing as she was so blasé about the whole cat flu thing in the first place. I would've expected her to know all the possible risks given her background.

@busybarbara the problem with feline herpes is that you if you take on a cat that has it then it will probably infect your other cats, so I expect she wouldn't want to try to rehome them with other cats.

Get in touch with the breeds rescues and local ones. Someone will foster them. I know that.

@Rudgie47 yes I agree and I didn't intend to just say 'your problem, not mine' but she's fully aware of the circumstances as to why I can't have them back, so I'm just a bit surprised that she would suggest this. I will suggest to her that I will try to help in as much as I will put her in touch with anyone I find that may be suitable.

Yes that's what I would do. Hope you get somewhere nice for them. I'm a Facbook friend of a few rescues and once a big snowshoe came in to be rehomed. I think they had about 100 people wanting him, that's how I know. People love a pedigree.

You say she is familiar with the breed.... would I be right in assuming they are pedigree cats instead of moggies?

Did you get them from a good breeder? If the cat world is anything like the dog world, a good breeder is happy for owners of their kittens to contact them at any point in the cats life and will help with rehoming or take back cats if necessary. Do you still have contact?

I have only had old rescue cats but imagine it would be the same.

She should have known about her Concerns at the get go, you were honest, she took on animals she shouldn’t have agreed to if the possible health conditions were an issue.

She can quarantine the cats while they are tested, if she had a cattery it shouldn’t be an issue to use aprons and follow good hygiene rules and should be something she is doing already.

In all honesty I would ask her to try asking some of her clients if they are willing to take on the cats, rescue centres often need you to wait a while for space to become free so going down that route she would need to hold them a while - it would be the best option though. If you can put up adverts yourself in your local vets and perhaps ask the breed club relevant to the cats breed you might get somewhere as well.

I think the responsible thing to do would be to do whatever is in your power to find these animals a suitable home.

Technically yes, her problem and clearly you can't have them back, but morally/ethically I'd say you should practically help her find them new homes.

It’s not your problem but I am sure they won’t be alive to see in 2019 if you don’t take them back.

or proactively help to find them a new home and fast.

Due to my circumstances, if I had them back, I would have to keep them shut in a small room and as they don't go outside and have previously had full run of the house, this would be completely unfair and cruel. This lady knows this. I will try as much as I can to help her, but as far as looking after them until a suitable home is found, the onus is on her.

@user1485816612 we didn't get them from a reputable breeder, but when we discovered this, it was too late and we had already bought them, so we definitely wouldn't look to her to rehome them.

Okay, but cats do sometimes have to be confined temporarily for health reasons. It isn't ideal, but it's not cruel. You'd be doing it so they ended up going to a good home.

I really don't think this is the other lady's fault at all. She was trying to do something kind and now she is lumbered.