I hate the cat

[WarriorWalrus]

DD1, 17, got a cat for her 15th birthday, she had been begging for years and loves the cat to pieces, it was a joint bid for the cat, DD1 promising all the care until she left for uni, DD2, (now 14) promising to take over and DH saying he would do care when they aren't around.
Well DD1 just finished her a-levels, left to go travelling with her friends, not back until mid-August (she turns 18 at the start of August). DD2 hates the cat (the cat also hates her, I'm not sure why they have beef but its a no go, the cat just scratches DD2), DH feeds him and changes the litterbox but the cat seems to have decided in the absence of DD1, he wants me, we might have the only clingy cat in the world, but he waits for me to get home, follows me for a bit the goes to lay in DD1s room. Can't say DD1s name in earshot or the cat comes running and follows me again. Middle of the night he scratches my door to be let in, then sleeps in-between DH and I, he loves it, I hate it!!
7 days into DD1 being gone, I've heard from her 4 times, each time "How's Socrates (the cat), Can I see Socrates, show Socrates this video so he doesn't forget me", I send a response (pic of the cat usually) she reacts to it, I ask how she is and get left on read?? Like she only misses and cares for the cat!!!
And to think she is off to uni halls in sept, so this is just my life now!!
AIBU to hate the cat, do any cat whisperers have tips on how I can get the cat to give his love to DH or DD2 and leave me alone???

Beautiful car

Cat

Cat is missing DD. You are the next best thing.
Cats are often more affectionate and needy than we expect them to be - Socrates is probably worse at the moment because he doesn't understand why his primary source of love and comfort is missing and is feeling anxious and seeking reassurance.
Having had a dog I didn't want for 6 years because I said I would - I have some sympathy! But because I prefer cats to dogs I would prefer to have Socrates than my poor old dog! (Sadly dog is no more and I did grow to love her really).
In terms of actually helping you and Socrates though, I would suggest a few things.
Next time DD is home get her to wear an old t-shirt then when she leaves put the worn (unwashed) t-shirt in Socrates bed.
Get DD to try again - play only with wand toys or similar so there's no scratching. Offer treats etc. Cats are good at forgiveness if you offer the right behaviour towards them.
Presumably you have to brush him? If he likes it, another good way to bond and stimulate him/reassure him - definitely a DH job.
Give everyone a bit of a job to do that also offers the cat some kindness and contact and he will settle down a bit. But his breed suggests he will always be happier around people.

Get DD to try again - meant to say DD2

There are a few batshit crazy responses on here!!

I totally get you. We have a cat who has just turned 19. His chosen person is me and over the last few years has become very clingy. If I sit down he is immediately there, waiting to sit on my lap. If I am on my phone or iPad, he rests a paw on me and then does this hilarious, very slow creep - sometime successful, sometimes not - to get on my lap somehow. When awake, he yowls A LOT which is blood curdling at times and could wake the dead. He is very bossy, likes certain rooms open to sit in at different times of the day (follows the sun!) and will meow constantly at a door until you open it. He changes his mind all the frigging time so you are up down like a yo-yo. He sleeps until he kitchen with the door shut as I couldn't put up with the pacing, howling and him sitting on my chest all night. He also has a bit of a 'piss in the corner' problem.

It's sometimes lovely, but often a complete and utter PITA and makes me feel guilty that I can't sit 24/7 and be at his beck and call. Doesn't not mean I love him any less though and I will be very very sad when he goes to cat heaven, (although I'm constantly try amazed he is still with us and still quite active!)

A couple of suggestions up thread are good to try and share the affection amongst the rest of you. But ultimately, he has chosen you. Welcome to the club!

Don't have the answer but you're getting some weird OTT comments here. Why would you want to be followed around all day and disturbed every night?! I wouldn't like it from my children, and I made them!

I also think it's impossible to have foreseen that he'd be that needy, cats aren't exactly known for it. Albeit is it a ragdoll? Even I know those are a clingy breed! Maybe DD can cancel uni..?!

I love Socrates

Haha! Cats always go for the person who loves them the least!

We had a cat as teenagers, this massive ginger tom named Rocky. Me, my sister and my dad were all obsessed with Rocky. Mum could take or leave him. Who did Rocky love the most? Mum. By a landslide.

I'm a dog person but I feel like Socrates just might be the cat to change my mind.

I mean, he's a pretty cool cat.

Oh he’s a beauty. The poor cat; he obviously thinks DD1 is his Mum; he must be missing her terribly 😞 please be kind to him.

This is why I prefer dogs (or no pets). I lived in a househare and the landlord neglected his cat so I ended up feeding it etc. I really don't like cats but the fecker latched on to me and kept following me about. One night I was watching telly and the cat jumped up and lay on me - after a while it bit my hand in an entirely unprovoked attack. Another time it got into my room and weed on my clothes. Little fuckers, I don't even like them.

Sorry @WarriorWalrus I have had many cats all my life and I’ve never convinced a single one to change its mind. They enjoy being stubborn and annoying. The more they know you are annoyed, the more they will do it.

I have managed to get one of mine to mostly annoy someone else, but that was by moving my mum into my house permanently… so a bit of a double edged sword 🤷‍♀️

He's beautiful.

Christ some people cannot detect tone

He is gorgeous 😍

Gorgeous cat!

Idk , I'd rather give the cat advice tbh.

There has been some cracking threads the last couple of days!

He owns your soul now op. Nothing you can do. I think you should start an Instagram account of his life then dd can view him to her hearts content 😄

If Op really hated him, she would not have taken that photo and whispered in his ear how handsome he is, or took a second photo as the first did not show him off properly 🤣

Oh, he is beautiful! Personally, I would court the cat. Make the cat love you the most, forsaking all others. Let cat demonstrate how much he loves you by ignoring your daughter when she comes home, just so he can gaze at you adoringly. When she gets annoyed at how little the cat thinks of her, you can whisper, 'Payback', while rewarding the traitorous feline with Dreamies.

I concur that cats pick the one who loves them least. My DDs have a cat each. I have zero cats. I dislike and distrust cats and I am allergic to them.

I wake up every morning in desperate need of a piriton with a cat on my pillow and another at the end of my bed. They congregate in my room and wait for me when I am not in. When I am downstairs with my dog (who they despise) they scratch and cry at the door until I go up to see them.

Saying that, I have become quite fond of them. I would never have chosen to get a cat of my own but now they have adopted me as their own I have grown to love them. I don't love that the white one tries to kill me every night by sleeping right by head causing me to itch and wheeze but I don't kick her out either.

'This is why I prefer dogs (or no pets)'

Oh I'm a fully paid up member of the no pets club! No pets is just the absolute best 😊

OP, this would drive me bananas so I feel for you. Theres no reasoning with cat lovers - as you can see from this thread, you're an absolute monster unless you embrace the role of cat slave and decide that you prefer it to all human beings. I have a friend who used to have four cats and they all slept, not just in her bed, but PHYSICALLY ON HER (legs, stomach, chest and head). Just thinking of it makes me want to scream

Honestly though, did you not see this coming? Sounds like the rest of the family made all sorts of promises about how very responsible and involved they would be, but it hasn't quite worked out 🤔

My cat is veryyy clingy too. She literally follows me everywhere. I can't even pee in peace. Now im sat on the sofa and she is watching me looking smug.