Giving up cats

[Miserablehome]

I have come to the end of my tether with cats and I need to rehome them. I have asthma which never was a problem before in the past but I've recently adopted these cats and it has triggered my asthma. I have another long term health condition as well as I am likely to need hospital care. I'm not coping.

DC will be devastated but I can't cope. AIBU for wanting to rehome the cats? How can I let DC know that this may be for the best. Currently can't sleep as I've been cleaning the litter trays and its brought on my asthma.

Animals need to be rehomed if you develop asthma, as that can kill you.

Sorry you're having to deal with these bitchy comments OP, I think you're doing the right thing.

Not always- sometimes the owner dies unexpectedly - one rescue took someone's much loved pets after they were murdered. {the murderer was caught}
Thankfully they all found loving homes.

I have asthma and it isn't triggered by cats or litter trays. If she's never had cats how could she possibly know that hers would be be? It's not her fault.

Hi @Miserablehome I really feel for you this is such a sad situation. I had a similar one. DD crazy for animals when she was 7 we got two kittens. She’d never shown any allergies to anything before. She seemed to develop an allergy after 2 years of having them. It was tested via a blood test but it was pretty mild. She was devasted as they were all so close (Burmese so very dog like, following her everywhere).
we ended up making her room and lounge cat free; buying hypa air filters kept on all the time , I hoover with a hands free Dyson every day 😅😬and we’ve kept them…
Im not always sure I did the right thing - but they’re now much older and steadier and my daughter lives away most of the year and they keep me company. Certainly if they’d triggered asthma they would have had to be rehomed. But I remember how sad I was and how devasted she was when we got the diagnosis that her runny nose was mild cat allergy - and I really feel for you xx

Sometimes these things happen. I don't know how old the cats are, but if kittens I would want them neutered asap. Don't build anything for them now. Get the process rolling to return them to the rescue asap. Don't wait until you have neutered them, don't let them out.

I actually don't have an issue with OP re-homing her cats if she's not able to care for them - in fact, I think that's in everyone's best interests going forward.

My post was in response to someone asking why some people voted YABU - and I just said I think the reason for that is because OP knew she had asthma before getting the cats, that's all.

@Porcuporpoise the point being that it's not a brand new diagnosis that's only come about since adopting the cats 🙈

I have no issue with OP rehoming them by the way - it's probably best all round.

But my argument about the asthma was originally in response to someone asking why anyone would be saying YABU to rehome cats that are making you ill, that's all.

I have asthma which never was a problem before in the past but I've recently adopted these cats and it has triggered my asthma

I am sorry but this really doesn't read like you just got diagnosed with asthma. Of course you need to rehome the cats.

Rescues don't place cats without neutering them. @Miserablehome did you actually buy two kittens?

I think that the OP was grossly negligent in getting the cats. Pets are for life, not just to be bought on a passing whim.
My current cat was bought for a sick child. Sadly, that child died. The cat was put on a internet page for cats and kittens for sale. A place where American Bulldogs and other fighting dogs are advertised. The cats are used as bait. Now Dear Cat is an adolescent indoor tearaway and rushes round the whole place, being destructive. He doesn't go out because the last time he did, he nearly drowned in the nearby river. He's played with on a regular basis, has ad lib toys, litter checked and skipped out if necessary every time I walk past it. It's replaced on a weekly basis. He's insured to the hilt, has a monthly-paid subscription to my local veterinary hospital for vaccinations, flea and worm meds and a six-monthly health check.
I also have an old horse (30) who costs me a fortune. He's retired on full livery with his breeder. In his day, he was a successful show jumper. Again, I owe him everything for the fun we had together. He's fit, well, has all his health needs met in full.

I will go without before they do.

Sorry you've been so ill. Of course you should re-home, and feel zero guilt.

I can't believe people would even suggest that a human struggling to breathe is less important than some cats having to adjust to a new home.

But if you read carefully, she has had cats when she was younger with no issues. Allergies can appear or get worse, especially with repeated exposure to the allergen.
I grew out my milk allergy but my ones to animal dander and fish have gotten worse over the years and I think I’m developing one to kiwi fruit so staying well away from them.

I have asthma so I wouldn't be an idiot and get cats I can't look after. 🤷🏾‍♀️

This.

Your children are old enough to understand the situation. Please don’t feel guilty about having to re-home them. I can’t believe how unpleasant some other posters have been. Let’s hope they never develop asthma.

They place kittens without being neutered, usually with a voucher or promise to neuter.

I'm all for doing everything possible and only rehoming as a last resort but you can't live like this.

I'm not clear on how long you've had the cats but perhaps speak to your Dr first and see if there is anything that can be done to help your asthma that means you could keep the cats.

My mum had asthma and we had a cat which loved nothing more then curling up next to mums face on the lounge. Occasionally she would cause mum to wheeze but not very often. I adopted a cat (in my own house) and turns out she was worse for mum then the asthma - she'd get itchy eyes and they'd start swelling up. I'm also allergic to her but not as bad.

Nice stories but irrelevant to the OPs issue.

I fully sympathise if you didn't realise the cats would trigger your asthma and that's a valid reason for returning the cats to the rescue.

However you mention that you are 'run ragged' so have lost my sympathy as you should never have agreed to adopt the cats if you can't cope and you have niches the cats around as well as the rescue centre.

Give the cats back and don't get any more pets again.

The OP hasn't confirmed that they came from a rescue in the first place. Rescues rehome kittens with a commitment to neuter. They don't rehome un neutered adult cats.

I had the same problem after a house mate adopted cats. They were so cute though I let them stay for 3 years. The asthma didn’t get better it got worse and worse. I now have very severe asthma reaction to some cats, I can be wheezing and breathless in 10 minutes if I’m in a room a cat has lived in. So I woukd agree they need to go. It’s not your fault you didn’t know you would have this physical reaction to them, and it builds up. If it was one of your kids reacting to them you would have done it already.
We were very lucky a relative adopted the cats. Any chance anyone you know wants them, where the kids can visit? Otherwise a rescue is best.

Yeah, I read that. My original point was in response to another poster asking why anyone would vote YABU to OP wanting to give up her cats.

My response to that was that those people are probably reacting to the fact that she knew she had asthma before getting the cats and think she was unreasonable for getting them in the first place.

I know asthma can improve/get worse throughout life.

She didn't know she had asthma though, she developed it again when she had the cats.

Asthma is deadly. Your children’s mother is more important than any animal, no matter what stories people tell you.

People die from asthma attacks.

Do you think it's the cats or the litter that's triggering the asthma? If the litter then as others have said you may be able to change it, or problem will be solved when they are outdoors.
If cats then return to the rescue is obvious. I used to do cat fostering for a rescue charity. Cats are very adaptable and they will be better off going to a new home than living in a cat house in your garden or being limited to one room in your house.
But remember, this is a probable 10+ Yr commitment. If you're not sure you can love them, back out now.