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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To rehome our cat

22 replies

MaybeBKK · 20/10/2019 19:53

We adopted our cat about 4 years ago when she was aged 1-2 so she's still quite a young cat now.

She practically lives outdoors and loves being outside. When it's colder, she'll come in for a cuddle and now she's a bit older spends a bit more time inside but even in winter spends much of her time outside.

We have a house on a quiet street which backs on to a park so it's really cat heaven for her.

Anyway, we're relocating to Bangkok in a few months. We've moved quite a bit over the years and always took our pets with us as part of the move (including the cat previously) but I'm wondering if IABU to think of rehoming our cat.

In Bangkok, we're going to be living in an apartment fairly centrally so she'll need to become an indoor cat plus the whole move is always quite traumatic for the pets (yes, they get over it but it's not easy for them).

I'm wondering if the kindest thing for the cat is to find her a new family where she can continue the happy cat life that she has now. As I said, she's independent and doesn't seem particularly attached to us so I think she'd be fine moving (and the feeling's mutual with the family members!). Obviously, I'd only rehome her if I can find her a good home - I won't just dump her at a shelter.

Would you rehome the cat or take her with you? I feel really guilty about the thought of rehoming her!

OP posts:

Clappingforjoy · 20/10/2019 20:28

I would rehome she will be fine

frostedviolets · 20/10/2019 20:32

I would also rehome

Junkmail · 20/10/2019 20:33

I would re-home her. I think that’s actually the less selfish of the two options because it sounds as though the new environment may not suit her and the stress of a re-home may be easier for her to cope with. I’m usually of the thought that no pet should be re-homed unless there’s absolutely no other option but that’s not only a big move but a big change of lifestyle for her. Do you have a friend or family member who would adopt her? Only so that you can be certain she’s going to a good home which would be my only concern.

Toriadoria · 20/10/2019 20:36

We had 2 cats and moved abroad the female was a hunter and loved being outdoors we re-homed her with my parents who had 11 acres she enjoyed 13 years with them. We kept the male cat he lived in our flat for 4 years had a balcony still managed to kill a bird and bring it inside from balcony . We then moved back to UK where he had another happy 8 years having access to a garden. I'd rehome but make sure it's a good one!

Chesntoots · 20/10/2019 21:04

I think by rehoming you are doing an unselfish thing.

I hate people who think animals are disposable, but in your situation you are clearly thinking about what is best for her.

Good luck with your move too - I love Bangkok!!

Blubluboo · 20/10/2019 21:12

Given that you're moving to Bangkok and will be living in an apartment, I don't think you would be unreasonable. I hope you find a lovely home.

TrickyD · 20/10/2019 21:18

If you decide to rehome, please do it with a respectable organisation such as Cats Protection or a local rescue centre. On no account do it via Gumtree or similar. Horrible people use it as a way to acquire cats to use as bait for dog fights.

Original poster

MaybeBKK · 20/10/2019 21:31

Thanks for such positive and supportive input! I was expecting far more negative responses.
Definitely finding her a good home is top priority. Otherwise I think we'd bring her. I'll start sending out feelers among our friends and niehhbours.

OP posts:

OpportunityKnocks · 20/10/2019 21:39

Return her to the rescue if you got her from one. Otherwise find a rescue that will rehome with all the checks etc www.catchat.org has a list of local rescues. Get on their lists, make sure vaccs etc up to date, be willing to make a donation towards the cost of rehoming. And be totally honest about her character.
But yes, rehome rather than relocate her. I say that as a cat rescue volunteer.

Mollypolly2610 · 20/10/2019 21:40

We rehomed ours when we moved abroad and she got a fantastic home! Through a Cat Society.

OpportunityKnocks · 20/10/2019 21:41

A good rescue in my opinion is a foster based rescue that will do a home visit on a prospective owner. The big rescues rarely do that

Redshoesandtheblues · 20/10/2019 21:42

Rehome vote here, too.
Her change of lifestyle sounds far too stressful for an outdoor cat.

Good luck.

Howmanychildrentoomanychildren · 20/10/2019 21:42

Definitely rehome. Sometimes it is the best option for the animal. I took on an older cat a few years ago as her owners were moving abroad and the vets felt at her age she wouldn't cope with the move. She settled in well and is a happy sofa dweller 23 hours a day (and hair shedder 24 hours a day much to DH's disgust).

Wheat2Harvest · 20/10/2019 21:49

I would ask the neighbours if they would be interested in having her either on a permanent basis (if you're not intending to come back to the same address) or while you're away.

Obviously it would need to be phrased in such a way that they would feel comfortable about saying no!

JaceLancs · 20/10/2019 21:51

I agree try neighbours first
If you lived near me I would consider adopting

Original poster

MaybeBKK · 20/10/2019 21:56

We actually adopted her from another country and moved with her to our current place so can't return her to the rescue we adopted her from. (But then the move was a far less dramatic change of lifestyle for her.)

OP posts:

OpportunityKnocks · 20/10/2019 21:59

Op, you've already moved country with your cat? That's a true cat owner.

Must be a hard decision, but the right one with her best interests at heart. Best of luck

Original poster

MaybeBKK · 20/10/2019 22:06

Yes, already moved country with her once.

She's really a very easy cat, doesn't ask for much other than to be fed and let out and have a warm place to sleep every now and then (other than the odd 'present' she brings back from her hunts) so I think she should be easy to rehome. .

OP posts:

sunlighthitsmyface · 21/10/2019 16:49

Yes it's just a cat, rehome and be very thankful you're not suggesting rehoming a DOG because that would be totally unacceptable and everyone would have destroyed you on here.

MelonSlice · 21/10/2019 17:05

@sunlighthitsmyface

What? Rehoming any pet under Ops circumstances has to be the right thing to do. The flight alone would be horrendous.

Bluesheep8 · 21/10/2019 17:16

Another one saying re home her. From the sound of her, she'd HATE being forced to be an indoor cat, wherever that was. I live rurally and would offer to adopt her myself if I didn't already have a cat who HATES other cats.

Redshoesandtheblues · 21/10/2019 18:59

Yes it's just a cat
What a callous thing to say, sunlighthitsmyface

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