What to do about the cat??

[StickersStickers]

This will probably be long as I’m really bad at doing nice concise posts but I need advice!

About 10 years ago a stray cat/kitten wandered into my aunts house and she kept it. I’m not sure what the original arrangements were regarding where the cat slept but it wasn’t inside.
After 2 to 3 years my Aunt moved in with my mom and dad. They lived a field away (rural farming area) and my aunt went back to “her” house everyday to look after the cat (and have some space from my mother!).
My dad died and left me my aunts house (he owned it) with the clause that my aunt had the right to live there for life.
So for several years things carried on. At some point they (my aunt, my mom and another neighbour) started closing the car in the garage overnight as she had been attached by other cats. As my aunts health declined most of the cat care was done by my mom and the neighbour.
My aunt passed away in May and soon after I told my mom that I would be renting the house to my BIL, his girlfriend and her little boy. If they hadn’t needed to rent I would have sold the house.

That was the start of the “what will happen the cat”. She doesn’t want anyone living in the house as that will scare the cat. She didn’t want workmen at the house as that will scare the cat. We’re now very close to BIL moving in and my mom is still refusing to accept she can’t close the cat in the garage any more. BIL is willing to let the door open so the cat can go in and out but he doesn’t want my mom or the neighbour wandering around the house morning and night to let the cat in/out. Plus the cat used to shit all over the garage and that’s where the washing machine and tumble dryer are.

Mom had another rant at me today and I just don’t know how to be fair anymore. Mom doesn’t want to take the cat as she already has 2 cats and doesn’t want to take it in and neither does the neighbour.

I’m losing sympathy for mom as it’s seeming less about the cat and more about her demands to do whatever she wants (she is VERY difficult if she feels she doesn’t have control, she was a nightmare when I was a teenager as she couldn’t control me any more).
If you got this far well done.
Any suggestions

Someone would need to accept responsibility for the cat and who will pay costs, food isn't so much but vet bills are expensive & someone needs to be able to make decisions for it's welfare.
Perhaps an insulated cat shed would be better so tenants can use garage as please, though presumably it shit all over before as was locked in. Would the neighbour that helped your mum, take the cat if the bills are covered?

However it sounds like the cat maybe less trouble than your Mum who may use as a reason to pop round to visit it.

As the cat doesn’t seem to have a specific owner and doesn’t live indoors, just lock everything up and stop feeding it - it will soon move on to somewhere else where it’ll get fed and taken in. They aren’t stupid animals but you never really own them either, they will take themselves off.

If BIL is happy to go ahead and look after the cat, then perhaps a stern word is needed with your mum - if BIL renting thr house doesn't work out, then the house will either be rented out to strangers or sold. In either case, the cat will have to be rehomed.

If your mum wants the cat to be allowed to live in the house long term, BIL living there is the only option.

Be very clear you won't leave a house sat empty to provide a home for a cat. It's this, rehoming or being put to sleep for the cat.

Was your mum hoping you'd either leave the house empty or move in yourself ?

@BrendaBubbles

As the cat doesn’t seem to have a specific owner and doesn’t live indoors, just lock everything up and stop feeding it - it will soon move on to somewhere else where it’ll get fed and taken in. They aren’t stupid animals but you never really own them either, they will take themselves off.

What an arsehole thing to say! The poor thing has lived there for 10 years and you suggest just to “stop feeding it” ??

Well it really all depends on whether the tenants want to take on responsibility for the cat or not. Your mum can't home it so she doesn't get a say and she certainly shouldn't be hanging around the property, it's not hers!
Ideally your BIL would keep the cat, maybe build it an outdoor kennel it can access. But as pp said they would have to feed it and take care of its health. A garage it can't freely enter/leave is no good now.
If your BIL doesn't want it then you need take it to a shelter.

Cats are pragmatists, it must be bloody freezing living in an unheated garage all winter when it’s 60+ in cat years.

Nice warm sofa and it’ll be toasty warm.

margoskaftan Mom is of the opinion “I looked after you when you were a child so it’s your responsibility to look after me now”. Me getting married and having children was never part of her plan for me. The fact I’m not moving in with her or moving her in with me is a long simmering resentment. Me moving next door would be the next best option to her but it’s way too close for me!!

Failing all that, yes she would want the house left empty to rot just because of the cat.

fluffycloud To be fair they do have a heat lamp in winter for the cat!

Right - next question. We're looking at outdoor cat houses. How would we go about persuading the cat to go in?

Food, smelly food. And high up comfortable perches, and the heat lamp. And leave the flap off for a while until the cat is used to going in and out. Feed the cat there for every meal, they'll soon get the hang of it.

Cats like being up high so we never had much luck with a floor height cat house. A shed with a cat tree inside was much better. Think about vventilation as well as insulation, they can get hot in summer.

Sardines.

Also you can get catflaps put into walls quite easily (for the garage?). Or if you've the space, a shed kitted out for the kitty (again with microchip cat flap if it's being bullied by other cats) instead?

Cat house is being ordered. Mom went and put the car in the garage so once the cat house comes we’re going to change the lock on the garage door so she can’t open it.

@StickersStickers

Right - next question. We're looking at outdoor cat houses. How would we go about persuading the cat to go in?

Food. Put its food there.

@StickersStickers

Right - next question. We're looking at outdoor cat houses. How would we go about persuading the cat to go in?

Catnip!

@ConstanceGracy "What an arsehole thing to say!
The poor thing has lived there for 10 years and you suggest just to “stop feeding it” ??"

What an arsehole thing to say back at you. Feeding it who? Have you any consideration or care for the hundreds of animals killed to feed this cat? What about those poor things?

If BIL doesn’t mind having cat, where’s the issue? If your DM doesn’t like it/want that to happen then she has cat or finds new home.

@BrendaBubbles

As the cat doesn’t seem to have a specific owner and doesn’t live indoors, just lock everything up and stop feeding it - it will soon move on to somewhere else where it’ll get fed and taken in. They aren’t stupid animals but you never really own them either, they will take themselves off.

And this action is what causes so much suffering for cats. Some might survive but many don't, and simply existing through heat, cold, I'll intent from humans, chased by dogs, hunger and thirst with no vet care available is why our rescues despair at people like you. Even rehomed true details are provided with food, shelter and vet care.

[quote SilverConvention]@ConstanceGracy "What an arsehole thing to say!
The poor thing has lived there for 10 years and you suggest just to “stop feeding it” ??"

What an arsehole thing to say back at you. Feeding it who? Have you any consideration or care for the hundreds of animals killed to feed this cat? What about those poor things?[/quote]
Those poor things will have been cared for by his g fed, watered, sheltered and given vet care before slaughter. Cats can't help being obligate carnivores, point the finger at Marseilles who turn them loose to breed indiscriminately with no compassion for their welfare.

[quote SilverConvention]@ConstanceGracy "What an arsehole thing to say!
The poor thing has lived there for 10 years and you suggest just to “stop feeding it” ??"

What an arsehole thing to say back at you. Feeding it who? Have you any consideration or care for the hundreds of animals killed to feed this cat? What about those poor things?[/quote]
That's not the cat's fault or problem, is it? So why torture the cat as retribution for it being a cat?

It's also pretty nigh on impossible for a cat to find an alternative place when it's a rural area apparently on land that is mostly owned one way or another by the family.

Just to clarify - we are not going to stop feeding the cat. If things really fall apart, I will look into rehoming the cat but I won’t just abandon her.

Is bil willing to take on the cat? If so problem solved. If not it needs rehoming. As far glass and cat flaps - you can have them installed in glass, we have one

BIL is willing to take on the cat - my mother not being able to give up control and wandering around the outside of the house when putting the cat to bed is the problem

Yep, you are going to have to be very firm with her and spell it out in clear language.

The only way the cat can stay at that house is if BIL and his family rent that property. If she interfers and makes them want to move to another rental, they won't take the cat with them. You won't leave the house empty so at that point it will be rented to strangers or sold. Either way, the cat will be taken to an animal shelter to be rehomed. Or she takes it to live with her.

Be firm,she can't trespass on BILs garden (and it is his home and garden if hes renting it).

I didn't like any of the cat houses I could find online so we've decided to do a cat flap on the wall into the garage and then change the lock on the garage door and keep it locked (as I think my mother has a key).

I'm slightly shocked it has come to this! I'll be visiting my mother to tell her of the new plan tomorrow.