Posting here for traffic ... cat euthanasia

[MissKittyBeaudelais]

Female neutered cat aged 12. Not old, old. Suddenly started weeing/pooing in the house. Not asking to go out. Not using litter tray. Dog, eating/rolling in the poo 🤢

Biggest problem is, I have a 19yr old son with autism and excruciating OCD (has been under psychiatric consultation/treatment and medicated since age 10). Cat mostly goes in son’s bathroom and spare room. I always remember to keep those doors closed. Sometimes, I don’t or cat pushes door open.

I’m at my wits end. I’m contemplating having the cat put down. The house stinks. The dog stinks. My son’s hands are raw from washing and I’m having to wash his slippers and shoes in rotation so that they’re not “contaminated” when moving about the house.

Advice? Tried Feliway. Tried a herbal relaxing food supplement. Tried putting her in a room at night WITH accessible litter. No difference. Cat was a feral rescue from a farm. Got her as a kitten, 12 yrs ago.

I have this for my cat that won't use the cat flap and has some urinary issues . It's only about £30 on amazon and I've put a cat bed and blankets on there for her . She is in at night but I'm sure it would keep a cat warm if you put a hot water bottle under the blankets .
I grew up with a sister with severe ocd before anyone knew what it was so I do get it .

@Thefaceofboe I don’t think it’s as easy as that. Rehoming an older cat with toileting issues is very difficult.

I love cats but to onset I wouldn’t take this cat into my home. Would you?

The reality is that your cat wouldn’t be rehomed and the stress of being in a long stay home with other cats would worsen her symptoms. I’m so sorry OP, what a horrible position to be in. Is there any way she could be rehomed as a farm cat?

Also I know the vet cleared anything medical, but her legs might be arthritic - hence reluctance to use litter - have you tried a lower sided box? Also make sure you scrub the floors where she has peed with enzyme cleaner - otherwise she will return to the spot over and over.

Please don’t euthanise her if she’s otherwise well. When she was given a clean bill of health did that include blood tests or just a physical exam?

Although I’m not a fan of the RSPCA in terms of their head office, both of my local rehoming centres are run by good, caring people. They receive no funding from head office.

Stair gate to stop her getting upstairs to your son’s bedroom? To be honest taking her and cuddling her while a vet painlessly puts her to sleep is kinder than taking her to an RSPCA centre where she will languish, stressed and missing home for months if not years.

If you do decide to have her put to sleep take Anna’s advice and stay with her.

I have read lots of articles by vets who say openers won’t do this and all the pet wants is to feel safe.

Got a little teary typing that. Poor little kitty.

I'm really sorry you and your son are going through this. I love cats and have two of my own. However, my daughter also suffers with mental health problems and I can understand the stress you and your son are living on a daily basis. I hope what the vet has suggested works, but if not and you have to take the cat to the RSPCA, please don't be hard on yourself. You need to put your son's health first and look after youself, I know how hard it can be.

As the owner of two cats, and parent of a DD with severe mental health difficulties, I would have the vet come to my house to put the cat pts, rather than put her through the stress of going to the RSPCA, where she will be pts among strangers in a strange place!

@Thefaceofboe yeh coz people are crying out for incontinent cats 🙄

YABVU to have her put down. I suspect if I share exactly how I feel about this post, my comment would be removed.

We have an older cat who poos around the house now.
We have had a full range of vet tests and it isn't medical.
We can manage by putting up pet gates which keep the cat off the carpeted areas of the house.
In your situation I would put to sleep rather than put into a long term cattery as that sounds very stressful for an elderly cat.
Your son has to come first in this situation, I hope you find a situation that works for you all.

@oohnicevase ... like the look of that.

@FcukThatShit... you’ve clearly no experience of mental illness where contamination issues play a part.

Yes, tested for diabetes and thyroid.

Not arthritic. Very sprightly jumping on and off the roof of the car/6ft fence.

I just can't see anyone wanting to re-home a fairly old incontinent cat. Seriously who on this thread would do that?

OP if the new treatment doesn't work I think the best thing is to PTS. Rehoming this cat just isn't an option and it'll just get stressed out in a rehoming centre. Your poor son must be so anxious and honestly he must be your priority. I feel bad for you but I just don't see another viable option.

@MissKittyBeaudelais maybe you should get the MH issue treated rather than kill the cat??

@fcukthisshit you obviously have zero understanding about mental health and how services have been chronically underfunded for years. Also what you fail to understand is that often MH issues are complex and one visit to the GP and one prescription later doesn't fix them. It's disgusting that you are not supporting the OP who is dealing with someone who is really suffering.

My son has been treated for his condition since age 10. He is now 19. Medication. Counselling. CBT. Hypnotherapy. Hospitalisation. Six month intensive “live in” psychotherapy. @fcukthisshit you’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

@MissKittyBeaudelais maybe you should get the MH issue treated rather than kill the cat??

What treatment do you suggest for autism?

My son has Autism, Tourettes and chronic OCD and I wonder some days, how we manage.

My son has Autism, Tourettes and chronic OCD and I wonder some days, how we manage.

You don't need to justify yourself to the ignorant.

I agree CandlesBlankets.

I love the NHS for what it is and even if it was 100% perfect MH issues are very complicated to treat.

People should have compassion for the OP, as I said before I love cats, but you have no idea what her son is going through!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2254729/RSPCA-destroys-HALF-animals-rescues--thousands-completely-healthy.html
Sorry, it's a Daily Mail article, but it reflects what I know of the RSPCA.

Sorry if I’ve missed this, but is the cat’s behaviour very recent? Could it coincide with the large volume of fireworks being let off recently?
My cats have been going nuts and one ran out of the litter tray mid-poo due to the stress.
Just wondering if it could hopefully be a short term thing?

We bought a small outside dog kennel for one of ours who will not be in on a night. It's like this one but had a plastic cover over the door which they push through to get in and out. Filled it with blankets and she loves it. Always looks warm and toasty in there.

I’m having the same issue with an 11yo cat. No health reason for weeing indoors but we got a new kitten in August and I think older cat is upset. Kitten pounces on the cat when using the cat flap so cat doesn’t want to come in and out anymore.

I’m going to take the dining room carpet up as this is the only place she wees and put down laminate or even Lino instead.

Very difficult situation and I have some idea what it is like. I don't want to give my personal details but I have been through something very similar, and it drove me almost insane, my nerves were shattered.

People must come first OP, and you have to prioritise both your son and yourself.

Could you spread the word among friends and family, incase there is someone willing to take on the cat? A person with time and patience to take on a pet with toileting issues?

Otherwise I do think you should go back to RSPCA or Cats Protection, or face the last resort of put to sleep. It's very very sad but you do need to ensure your own mental health, and do what's best for your son too.