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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How to cope with cat hair

37 replies

DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 13:55

My fiancée has 5 cats. Personally I think this way too many for one house but obviously we’re not getting rid of any.
I just hate living in a house that constantly full of hair. We have top of the range pet hair Hoover etc but I still have to get down on my hands and knees and squeegee the carpets to get it all out. My clothes are constantly covered in hair, they jump up on the sides, bring in dead animals. They’re the only source of arguments between us. I’m due to give birth in a month and I just want too relax but I just hate them being here so much. I think because I’m trying to nest it’s not helping. One of them has worms so is leaving little bloody puddles of wee everywhere but have to wait till fiancees day off to do anything as I can’t wrangle them into carriers and take them to the vets. For some reason the verbs won’t give us the tablets, they have to go there for it.
One of them walks around howling all night. The fight. I’m so miserable but need to find ways to adapt! Any ideas?

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 07/10/2021 13:56

Ah I don't know 5 cats sound like heaven to me!

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 13:58

It’s really not.

OP posts:
minipie · 07/10/2021 14:01

I’m a cat person but that sounds awful.

The worm thing - the vet gives me the tablet, I crush and mix with food. I don’t understand why your vet won’t. Find a new vet!!

Are they shut downstairs at night? Mine is and that’s a non negotiable for me, I’ve spent years being woken by DC I’m not being woken by a cat. This may help with the yowling?

How bad is the fighting ? If one is being bullied or they injure each other then that is a good argument for one of them at least to be rehomed if they are not living happily together.

Could you swap to hard floors at least downstairs??

Basically I think you need to accept the cats but there are things you can do to make it less overwhelming.

Burnt0utMum · 07/10/2021 14:05

I was going to say YABU but the worms is really not on. Let the cats out as much as possible and keep the door closed so they can only come back in when you let them. That should stop them being able to bring dead animals in but they should also have a bell to at least give the animals a chance to get away. Carpets aren't great as they will collect the hair, hard floors are better but that depends if you can afford to replace them. We have 1 cat and hard floors, send the robot hoover round each day and that's enough to get any hair up. Also they need regular brushing (outside). They can be trained not to jump up on sides but that might be difficult if they've always been allowed in the past.

MonkeyToez · 07/10/2021 14:06

Dust with a wet cloth for the hair, you will probably get used to it eventually. You will spend the rest of the cats lives with your clothes covered in hair though. Also brush them regularly.

Everything else is just part and parcel of being a cat owner - they're infuriating but also adorable, smart and hilarious. At least in my opinion!

I have started to limit where my pets are allowed though, they are now banned from the bedroom and baby's room as I don't want cat hair all over the the baby's clothes/furniture

Housebears · 07/10/2021 14:12

Worms do not cause cats to have puddles of bloody wee everywhere.

Cat needs to see a vet for a proper appointment!

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:18

Vet has said it’s worms that’s causing it. They were only wormed a month ago.

I’ve tried shutting them in the kitchen at night but they just shout even louder. There’s one big cat that just picks on all of the others. He’s horrible.

I have a cat who i spent a lot of time training from a kitten. He knows not to steal food off your plates, scratch the carpets and jump up on the sides. Fiancées cats have been described as feral by a vet before.

OP posts:
GermioneHranger · 07/10/2021 14:22

If the cats are unhappy that can really impact behaviour - you've mentioned one horrible bully cat, if they're not feeling happy and comfortable in their home they might be leaving piles of wee / scratching / rubbing hair excessively to mark territory's from the aggressive cat.

5 seems like a lot! Shutting them in the kitchen (do they have a cat flap?) won't help unless it's part of their routine and they're used to it, or unless they actually get along - otherwise the stress will make them a bit fractious.

The vet will need to see the cat before prescribing, especially if they were only treated 4 weeks ago. Hopefully they'll be able to get to the bottom of it.

Mammma91 · 07/10/2021 14:30

I have 2 cats. Male and female. Both neutered and dressed so no howling throughout the night. Absolutely love my 2 but even when I was nesting in late pregnancy, the cat hair was driving me wild.
I do agree 5 cats is too much for one house. They need enough space to roam freely.
Op, I suggest getting the worms sorted ASAP, your partner must take a day off as a matter of urgency, if one has it, it’s likely they all do. Also, they will fight for territory. Sorry I’m no help with the cat hair situation - I have the same problem 😩

WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:32

Why are you doing so much cleaning up after his cats?

If it's urgent, he'll have to take a couple of hours off work to help get them to a vet.

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:33

The house just smells all the time too. I spent two days scraping the hair out of the carpet and my Mum said the house smelt so much better. I lost my sense of smell with covid so I’m even more paranoid about it now!

We can’t afford to change the carpet atm. I’ve bought a stuff outdoor brush and ever two days I make a hot mop bucket up with washing powder and softener and scrub the hell out of the carpets which I’m hoping will help with the smell.

I’m trying not to be too resentful of fiancée as he didn’t mean to end up with 5 cats but here we are.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:37

I’m trying not to be too resentful of fiancée as he didn’t mean to end up with 5 cats but here we are.

He knows how to use a scrubbing brush though, right?

alwaysstressed · 07/10/2021 14:38

The vet won't give you a wormer because its a prescription medication the cat has to be seen before they can give it out.
But having worms doesn't make a cat pee everywhere, it's probably cystitis or a urinary track infection. Cats from multi cat households are prone to urine problem because its caused by stress! Stressed by being so close to other cats.

WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:39

And no, I don't think that'll help with the smell as all it does it drag it up from the underlay and bring it to the surface. Plus, your carpets will end up smelling of damp and mold soon too.

Are they all neutered/spayed?

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:40

Yes they’re all neutered and spayed.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 07/10/2021 14:42

Then your fiancé needs to pull his finger out and stop leaving the stress of his cats to you.

Notaroadrunner · 07/10/2021 14:42

Why on earth are you living with him and his cats? We have 2 cats but they spend night time outside and only come into sleep for part of the day. I certainly wouldn't be locking them in the kitchen overnight - so unhygienic.

What you are doing with the carpet, if it's a wet solution, could be making it damp, thus causing more smell.

I'd be telling him that either you go or some of the cats go, especially before the baby arrives. Those cats may not like the new addition and your home does not sound like a hygienic environment for a new baby.

LakeShoreD · 07/10/2021 14:44

Some of the cats need to be rehomed. One needs medical attention and due to circumstances you can’t get it to the vet immediately. The cats are fighting so they’re not happy with the living situation. You guys can’t keep on top of the cleaning required. This isn’t a good situation for you or the cats and it would be in everyone’s best interests to rehome 2-3 of them. But practically speaking of you’re handy you can probably replace the carpet for less than you think with something like laminate. And brushing the cats regularly hugely reduces the amount they’ll shed - we have a long hair so I get it!

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:45

There’s not really a lot he can do when he’s out of the house for 14 hours a day. I’m at home all day doing nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:45

The one that sheds his fur everywhere you can’t get near to brush. He’s not a friendly cat at all.

OP posts:
minipie · 07/10/2021 14:48

Being blunt, he shouldn’t really have 5 cats if he’s out for 14 hours a day. Cats are fairly independent but they do need some attention and taking to the vets, grooming etc. And they don’t sound like they are thriving. I would speak to him gently about rehoming some - not based on all the cat fur but based on the fact that the cats are not happy and well.

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 14:51

We have spoken about it and he has agreed but I just feel awful as he really loves them. And there’s no way I’d rehome my cat so I feel like a massive asshole telling him to rehome his.

OP posts:
LakeShoreD · 07/10/2021 15:00

Maybe you could start by suggesting that he rehomes the bully, surely he has to acknowledge that this particular cat is making the others miserable?

The current set up isn’t working though, not just does it sound unhygienic for a baby who will eventually be crawling around on those floors, the cats aren’t being cared for properly. Something has to change. Good luck.

Original poster
DigOlBick · 07/10/2021 15:13

The bully is absolutely the one he will keep. He’s 13 years old and is his favourite. Problem is he especially bully’s my cat.

OP posts:
cricketmum84 · 07/10/2021 15:18

@DigOlBick just for info - the reason vets can't prescribe worming tablets over the phone is because the cats have to be weighed to determine the correct dosage.

I know it's a bloody pain though. If they are hunters then ask for a few months supply so you don't have to keep going backwards and forwards.

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