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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you regret your pets?

392 replies

LittleLottieChaos · 17/06/2021 13:28

I know there are regular threads on people regretting their children… but I’m interested to know, are people similarly regretful of their pets? I currently am looking after my old childhood cat - he’s an old gent now, poos/wees inside and randomly vomits after eating. He also has to be securely locked downstairs at night or he’ll come up and wake us all for food/drool on our heads.

After spending years thinking ‘yay I want a dog and a cat, in fact a whole menagerie’ now I’m thinking ‘no, I’ll just have my kids…’

YABU - I never tire of my animals

YANBU - I sort of regret them at times

OP posts:
Bythemillpond · 17/06/2021 14:40

Atm we have 5 cats. I wake up with them all around me even if I have slept in and Dh has already fed them. They follow me everywhere. I was upset a few nights ago they all gathered around me and snuggled into me.
I wouldn’t be without them.
I have had a dog and cats from birth to being very elderly. I have had to inject one twice per day every day and have cleared litter trays out for the past 36 years and I don’t ever regret any of them. They have given me more back than I have put in.
They have been there with every low point and high point of my life. Even when they get old and smelly and drool they are there to stroke and cuddle and talk to.
Ddog used to come into dcs bedroom when I was reading them a bedside story and would fall asleep on the bedroom floor and start snoring. Dc still remember it as part of their bedtime.

LimitIsUp · 17/06/2021 14:40

I've answered YABU but sometimes I regret my four dogs. However, its only a fleeting feeling, and what they bring to our family is more than the considerable work involved in looking after them

finallymightbehappening · 17/06/2021 14:41

I wish we had never got a dog. So much work.

Justonedayatatime11 · 17/06/2021 14:42

YABU. I have 16 cats, 8 of them a very unusual very high maintenance breed. I am fortunate enough to have the space, time and money to make sure they all have the best life possible. However, I get far more from having them than I could possibly explain. It's incredibly hard work but I'd never regret any of them for a second

SoupDragon · 17/06/2021 14:42

I regret my dog. Love him dearly but I will never have another.

EscapeToTheMountains · 17/06/2021 14:42

I think it's normal to have moments when you think, "Why did I do this to myself?!" Kids can drive you crazy, your husband/wife can make you want to scream, on occasion... Pets are no different, imo.

Though I have some momentary regrets when they do something especially naughty or frustrating, I've never for a moment seriously considered rehoming my dogs, and I'd be heartbroken if something happened to them or they winked out of existence. The good outweighs the bad, and even on the worse days, I have a responsibility to take care of them, no matter how difficult it can be.

Blossomtoes · 17/06/2021 14:42

I came late to dog loving but it’s hit me hard. Our little JRT is my mate. She lies on my lap or snuggles up to me, squeaks with delight when I come down in the morning and hurtles towards me when I call her when I walk her. Not a single regret.

jesusmaryjosephandtheweedonkey · 17/06/2021 14:42

Cat is 21 now and an absolute pain in the arse.
But even though he has wrecked every carpet and sofa we have ever had and gets me up at 6 am every morning, we just love him and it will be a sad day when he dies .

Hagqueen · 17/06/2021 14:43

I can honestly say getting my pet has been the hardest challenge I’ve ever faced (and I am sure I am very privileged for that too!) but I don’t regret her. She brings immense joy to my life, even though she can be such hard work. The money and care etc is the easy bit for me. The worrying about her is the bit I find the hardest!

1805 · 17/06/2021 14:44

I do regret having one of our dogs.

He cannot be let off the lead, and is basically a real PITA whilst walking him. He takes all the joy of walking the dogs away. You cannot have a conversation with anyone as all your attention needs to be on him at all times. We have spent £££££££ on training him, but he still can't behave away from our house. Even the top gundog trainer we used was left scratching their head. Basically he's nuts and a danger to himself.

I want to rehome him, but the rest of the family won't let him go. He is our third do, and the only one I regret having.

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 17/06/2021 14:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

lakesummer · 17/06/2021 14:45

@Suprima we had cat sitters, who came in twice a day to look after our cat when we went away.
It wasn't any cheaper than boarding but it meant that dcat got to stay in his house relaxed and comfortable.

Summertimepartytime · 17/06/2021 14:47

Yanbu my cats have destroyed my home. Several in fact.
House 1 sofa, curtains, carpets
House 2 sofas, carpets.
House 3 carpets (delightfully due to pissing all over them) sofas
House 4 2x sets of carpets, 2 lots of sofas
House 5.. 1x sofa due to piss. (If we had carpets I'm sure they'd be fucked too)

They are the only cats that I know that shit in their own garden. The pure volume of what comes out of them, Great Danes shit less!
House 3 they destroyed newly laid turf.

I'm also sick to death of the fur. The smell of them and their food.

Honestly, if I could go back I wouldn't have them. They've cost me a fortune. I won't be replacing them when they are gone.

Mabelface · 17/06/2021 14:47

I love my fluffy boy cat. He's such good company, silly and naughty and makes me laugh regularly, particularly when he pretends to be asleep when I catch him lying on his side clawing the sofa.

Naggety · 17/06/2021 14:47

I think you are brave to admit it on here! I went off our cat when ds was born as it was sort of overwhelming caring for her with a newborn and as they couldn't be in the same room together. Luckily FIL asked to have her and she was so much happier at his house!

Naggety · 17/06/2021 14:48

BTW it wasn't even my cat but DH's ex's cat that she had left behind!

strawberrysweets · 17/06/2021 14:49

I couldn't live without pets. I have 3 dogs, 3 cats and 5 chickens. I adore them all.

Sometimes when I'm hoovering for the 3rd time
in one day, I wonder how much easier my life would be without them but it would never be a reality.

My DP on the other hand.....!!!

partyatthepalace · 17/06/2021 14:51

I have in the past, and know people who do - dogs that no one wants to walk, or need v long walks people don’t have time for, or mean that it’s hard to go on day trips/holidays, guinea pigs that kids turn out not to be interested in etc.

People need to think c it more than they do

TravellingSpoon · 17/06/2021 14:53

My cat is cranky and grumpy and also a little bit nuts. We love her to bits but I sometimes wish she was a bit more sunny.

ExConstance · 17/06/2021 14:53

We are approaching retirement and have had a number of dogs over the years. When we have a dog we love having a dog, when we do not have a dog we love not having a dog, eventually however despite saying "no more dogs" when one dies we always get another after a few months.

KilljoysDutch · 17/06/2021 14:55

I regret the rabbit she's a grumpy, greedy bitch of a house bunny won't bond with a friend, eats everything she can get her paws on (including ham and a sausage roll) but I love her she's a lovely animal but she's too much hard work for me with my MH conditions. She'll get the best life and she's well loved.
The rats I will never regret they're my babies and we adore each other. They're like puppies but without the hassle and I don't think I'll ever be without.
The hamsters both make me laugh and are no trouble to care for even though one of them hates humans (except me because I bring food) the other one hates me only despite me bringing it treats constantly it will attack it's bars if I say hello.
I adore the stick insects too they're beautiful and fascinating to watch.

Rupertpenrysmistress · 17/06/2021 14:56

Yabu I love my cat's yes they can be hard work but I feel I get alot back. Yes I get woken at 5am, need to flea, and brush them. But when my fluffy girl comes in I say hello and her tail goes up, when I call her a good girl she wags her tail like a dog. My old girl is very dignified will only eat and sleep in my dd's room ms she hates my fluffy girl.

I will always have 🐈.

HelloMrHound · 17/06/2021 14:56

I don't think regret is the word... But we were definitely not prepared for how it would turn out. Despite all the research. I wouldn't be without our dog and she has a good life with us but I don't want any more pets now or after she passes. She adds plenty to our lives but she's a lot. Our kid adores her and she gets a ton of attention and I don't regret her. Just different than I'd thought it would be.

godmum56 · 17/06/2021 14:56

I said yanbu because I really do understand. My old dog limits my freedom considerably but he has loved me all his life, when my DH died my dogs were the only reason I got through it so I owe him big time and I love him to bits.

ChloeCrocodile · 17/06/2021 14:56

I absolutely adore my cats and don't regret the for a second. If anything, I'm more attached to them than I expected to be.

That said, I considered getting a pair of cats for about 3 years before finally making a decision so it wasn't a spur of the moment thing, and I got them purely to please myself. I already had a plan for holidays, feeding, dealing with fleas, dead mice etc. I love that one of them rests her head on my shoulder when I go to bed, but I expect that would be annoying if you'd only agreed to a pet to please your partner or child.