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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be fed up of the cat?

107 replies

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 12:35

I know I’ll probably get a flaming here but our cat is really getting to me. I have to say here, the cat isn’t ill treated (and won’t ever be) and has a lovely warm home, big garden to hunt mice and laze around in, he has a great life.

But he never stops eating. Ever. As soon as he polishes one bowl off he follows you around everywhere, thundering to the kitchen in anticipation of food as soon as you stir.

He shits in the bedroom. We have to lock him downstairs overnight and he miaows and keeps everyone up. Even if you just put him out his miaowing still wakes you. Then in the morning he starts miaowing again at about 5. It’s really getting to me now!

Like I say, don’t get me wrong, he isn’t badly treated but AIBU to not be enjoying him at all?

OP posts:
Onlyhuman123 · 16/09/2022 13:02

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 12:55

I’m confident he doesn’t need a vet. If it was a thyroid issue and he was actually desperate with hunger, he’d eat the dry food.

He has gone out now. Thank God.

How are you confident that he doesn't need a vet?!

Are you an actual vet then and know that his current symptoms are considered "normal"?

Perhaps it wants some attention from you...I mean given that you bothered to buy (?) the cat as a pet in the first place, surely you took into account that a cat does need a little more than feeding??

If you feel like this towards the poor thing, maybe you should give it to the PDSA or RSPCA for re-homing.

Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:05

I haven’t taken him to the vet because there is nothing wrong with him! He is 8.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:06

poor thing

<eye roll>

Go on, I’ll bite.

What evidence do you have of maltreatment, other than not taking a healthy cat to the vet?

OP posts:
risefromyourgrave · 16/09/2022 13:06

My cat is exactly the same re. the food and running to the kitchen whenever I so much as move a finger. Fortunately he doesn’t crap in the house though!

There is nothing medically wrong with him and if I feed him as much as he wants then he gets thinner as his stomach can’t cope and he ends up with the shits.

He is a massive pain in my backside.

HappyHamsters · 16/09/2022 13:06

He could have worms or diabetes.
Pooing in the bedroom is not normal, surely you know that, he should go outside or use a tray. Thats an unhappy and stressed cat.
Waking you up at 5am is what cats do.
Why wont you take him to the vet for a check up or rehome him as you dont seem to like him very much.

Hexcode · 16/09/2022 13:08

When my cat started wanting more food it was because he had diabetes. It's worth a trip to the vet to rule out stuff like this

luckylavender · 16/09/2022 13:08

@Catwoes - why did you ask for advice when you ignore it?

HappyHamsters · 16/09/2022 13:08

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:06

poor thing

<eye roll>

Go on, I’ll bite.

What evidence do you have of maltreatment, other than not taking a healthy cat to the vet?

How do you know there is nothing wrong with him if you dont get him checked by a vet or behaviourist.

Blaise19 · 16/09/2022 13:10

It is against the law to resist taking an animal to a vet when there is very probably a medical issue.

mountainsunsets · 16/09/2022 13:14

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:05

I haven’t taken him to the vet because there is nothing wrong with him! He is 8.

How do you know that? 🙄

He's regularly pooing outside his tray - that's not normal behaviour regardless of what you seem to think.

GobbolinoTheWitchesCat · 16/09/2022 13:14

Op

He needs a vet check up.

There might be nothing medically wrong, but on the info in your post this seems unlikely.

If his behaviour is causing you this much stress, then the logical step is a vet check up - there could be other medical reasons other than thyroid but neither you or us are qualified to identify these.

Just take him to be looked over and get it over with. You won't get further advice here until the vet has given him the a-ok.

MidnightMeltdown · 16/09/2022 13:15

Do you worm him regularly?

Mine have combined flea and worming treatment every month

If not, you might want to at least try worming treatment if you're not going to take him to the vet.

Paranoidandroidmarvin · 16/09/2022 13:16

U have come on here and asked for opinions. Everyone on here says this isn’t normal
cat behaviour ( it isn’t. I have had lots of cats and it just isn’t ) yet ur telling everyone on here they are wrong.
if u hate the cat that much why wouldn’t u re home it. Animals know when they are not welcome.

10HailMarys · 16/09/2022 13:18

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:05

I haven’t taken him to the vet because there is nothing wrong with him! He is 8.

Well, there is something wrong with him, isn't there? He's not behaving normally. He's shitting in the bedrooms and spends his whole time begging for food and miaowing. He's not doing that for fun. He's either distressed, physically unwell or has a behavioural disorder of some sort. This isn't normal cat behaviour at all.

Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:19

Yes - has flea and worm treatment every month. Trust me, this is not a poorly treated cat!

People saying he needs a vet because he wants to eat wet food constantly is as daft as saying my kids need to see a doctor because they’d live on crisps and yoghurt if permitted.

@luckylavender That would be reasonable if I posted saying ‘please advise me about my cat’. I didn’t. I posted because some days, he really pisses me off. The extent of this is sometimes swearing at him under my breath.

At the moment, the ill treated moggy is sprawled out on my bed, fast asleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:20

Except he is behaving normally, for him, because he is a complete twat and always has been <sigh>

OP posts:
Somuchgoo · 16/09/2022 13:20

Catwoes · 16/09/2022 12:55

I’m confident he doesn’t need a vet. If it was a thyroid issue and he was actually desperate with hunger, he’d eat the dry food.

He has gone out now. Thank God.

My cat is in thyroid meds before surgery in 2 weeks. Constantly begging for wet food. Still won't touch the dry...

I wouldn't make assumptions when it comes to their health

Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:20

@risefromyourgrave our cats probably came from the same litter!

OP posts:
Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:21

I hope your cat is all right, @Somuchgoo but I’m sorry - I’m not taking a healthy cat to the vet because he is greedy. Like I say, it really would be the equivalent of taking my children to the doctor because they keep smuggling biscuits after dinner.

OP posts:
Fex · 16/09/2022 13:22

My cat lives on fresh air. So opposite problem. He does ask for food constantly but then turns his nose up and walks away.
He has a dish of dry food which he pickes at through the day. I put half a pack of wet down twice a day. He sometimes goes days eating no wet food and then he'll have a few days eating about half of it. He's 12 and has always been the same. I don't think he hunts much now.
I take it as his way of getting attention because he keeps asking even though he doesn't want it. He's healthy and his weight is fine.

JestersTear · 16/09/2022 13:23

I've had cats all my life and the random pooing isn't a usual thing.
If you don't want to/can't afford to take him to the vet then why not at least ring them up and discuss the issues with pooing and let them advise you?
The pooing in the bedroom could be him telling you something, not just naughtiness, but puppy training pads on the floor where he goes will make cleanup easier, or obviously keeping the door closed.

Branleuse · 16/09/2022 13:24

Its normal for some cats to be gluttons. One of mine will eat till hes sick sometimes.
Shitting in the bedroom isnt normal though. Does he usually use a tray when inside or is that when he has no access to outdoors?

anotherpotoftea · 16/09/2022 13:24

No, that’s not normal. You need to take him to the vet and stop being so dismissive and selfish.

ilovesooty · 16/09/2022 13:26

Defecation in the house certainly isn't normal and would be sufficient reason to consult a vet.

Original poster
Catwoes · 16/09/2022 13:26

@Fex - that’s happened here, too, usually when DH thinks I haven’t fed the cat and the cat is still pestering for food. He feeds him, the cat eats one bite and walks away.

Re the pooing, the problem is that once a cat has been somewhere they return to it, which is unfortunately what has happened here.

I don’t actually hate him, I’m actually quite fond of him. He is still a complete twat, though. One previous cat killed three rats and left their corpses outside the house, so I’m quite grateful I’ve been spared that with this one. He does kill shrews though, which makes me Sad

OP posts: