Please be kind, I’m upset about getting to this stage… Posting in AIBU for traffic as Litter Tray seems quiet.
okay. We have two cats, one is 5 one is 4. Both ragdolls (although one is only half…)
we used to live in London and therefore due to breed and space they are indoors only. We now live up North, on an estate with lots of local cats.
I love them so so much and they’re like our first children.
They have always been pretty well behaved- a bit scratchy on furniture but they’ve had a great routine and they’ve seemed happy and loved. We have plenty of toys and scratching pads and two litter trays.
We also have a DS, who’s almost two and seems to struggle with allergies just like me- we’re now on eggs, dairy and nuts.
Since my pregnancy, I’ve suffered really badly from being allergic to the cats. Especially the younger boy cat who is really affectionate. He used to cuddle me and I’d get hives or my eyes would swell. I thought it was just a pregnancy thing but it still hasn’t gone away. It’s not as bad as it was and I take antihistamine every day, but it means when he’s climbing for cuddles I have to move him away.
We’ve upped brushing them, using an anti-allergy liquid on them (which they hate) but there’s still underlying allergy issues.
they always used to have free reign of the house but they’ve taken to scratching outside my little boys door and waking him up. they are increasingly scratching patches of the carpet on repeat…
We’ve tried feliway and positive reinforcement but they just keep doing it, so we’ve had to start locking them in the kitchen from about 3am to 7.30am so they don’t wake up DS.
now the girl cat has started weeing outside the door when we shut her in the kitchen. She’s done it every day for almost two weeks. We’ve tried puppy pads and moving the litter tray, but there’s just no difference: every morning we have to mop the floors and kitchen counters as they pad it around.
I just don’t know what to do for the best. I guess they must be stressed and unhappy, maybe a little jealous of DS, but they’re my babies, I don’t want to leave them with someone else unless I have to. This is their home… Would you judge someone who rehomed their cats?
Would letting them out help? I don’t know if they would be in danger due to the other cats and their lack of skills with other animals. Would I just be letting them out to their deaths?
Is there anything I’m missing with the weeing on the floor?
What are the options for rehoming? How do I find somewhere for them to go?
Any tips are welcomed. I feel like the worst cat mummy…