Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Need serious advice on animal

130 replies

EmmaL96 · 21/08/2025 11:10

hiya looking for some advice

I’m 29 with an 8 year old daughter we have a cat called Bella we love her very much and she’s 5 but she isn’t house trained for the 5 years that iv had her she’s always been a lovely affectionate cat but the issue is the whole 5 years id had her she’s always just done her own thing iv bought her loads of scratching posts and she never ever uses them instead she scratching the corner of the carpets scratches the couch beds etc she also will never use the little tray I even at one point had 2 litter trays for her and she still wouldn’t use them

this has caused problems in all my relationships as when iv lived with partners theyv got majorly pissed off because the cats scratched furniture carpets and did the toilet on the floor iv tried everything making sure the litter tray is regularly clean so the cat will use it iv tried using scratching post sprays to entice her to use the scratching post iv used cat nip but she still wouldn’t use the scratching post

iv recently just move in with my patter of 9 months he’s not a cat person he’s only ever had 1 dog at the start he told me he would give the cat a try as he knows it’s my pet so wanted to be considerate to me but since wev moved in the cats just doing the same thing scratching everything not using her scratching post peeing and shitting on the floor now of course when she deos this I’ll clean it up straight away but my partner it’s getting majorly pissed off with it and it’s causing us to argue and he’s said the cat needs to go as he can’t deal with it anymore I do get where he’s coming from if it was the other way about I’d maybey feel the same

now I do beileve a cats for life and hurts me to let her go but the bigger problem I have is my 8 year old she’s absolutely loves the cat she has a strong bond with her and I know it will break her heart letting the cat go and I don’t want to upset her

I feel I’m stuck because my partners saying she needs to go as soon as and family are saying I should persevere and train her but she’s 5 she’s past the point of training plus iv tried to train her for years but she’s to stubborn and just deos her own thing and I’m just dreading upsetting my child but I know if I keep her it will cause problems with me and my partner I just don’t know what to do and I feel my family will give me stick for getting rid of her but this is a problem iv had with my cat for years even when I was single living on my own she would do it I tolerated because I love her but I know an animal shouldn’t do that in a house I did ask my mum if she would take her as she has cats but she’s not willing to and I feel it’s just out of stubborness

am I right for agreeing to rehome her or am I horrible to do that to my child

OP posts:
ninjahamster · 21/08/2025 11:12

Has she been thoroughly checked over by a vet?

Namechangeagainsoimnotouted · 21/08/2025 11:13

Vet first then dump partner

FOJN · 21/08/2025 11:14

Have you sought professional advice?

Is she an indoor cat?

The problem with rehoming is that no one is going to want a cat that goes to the toilet wherever they like.

FiveShelties · 21/08/2025 11:14

Cat of 5 years trumps partner of 9 months.

Namechangeagainsoimnotouted · 21/08/2025 11:16

Sorry... I was rushing that. Didn't mean to sound rude. It could be recurring Uti's in your poor cat. Kidney issues... poor thing. Definitely get her checked out then consider rehoming your partner. Wishing you well.

Noisecomplaint · 21/08/2025 11:16

Is the cat moving homes each time you move in with someone?

Do you have any other pets?

Its almost certainly stress in cats

Ablondiebutagoody · 21/08/2025 11:19

I would ditch the partner and the cat

Mumofteenandtween · 21/08/2025 11:19

How many homes / partners has the cat (and Bella) lived in / with? Regular moves are going to make it a lot harder to train the cat.

Darragon · 21/08/2025 11:21

Bugger the partner, you need to sort this cat out before social services decide your house isn't hygienic enough for your daughter to live with you! If you get referred for anything, random cat shit around your house would count against you! It's disgusting raising a child in a house with cat shit and piss residue all over it.

titchy · 21/08/2025 11:30

Ok - so moving a dp of only 9 months in when you have a child is stupid.

Having a cat that you haven’t managed to litter train in FIVE YEARS is stupid.

Having a child living in a house where the cat shits wherever is stupid.

There will be a reason and it seems you haven’t bothered to find out what it is.

Which makes you a very poor pet owner. And I say that as a cat lover and slave to two.

OchreSnail · 21/08/2025 11:32

Hi EmmaL96 this does sound difficult, you have my sympathies. Here's a few thoughts:

  1. Can you cat go out at all? Some cats just hate a litter tray.
  1. What type of car litter are you using - have you tried different types? My cats go outside now, but were kept inside for quite a while after we moved. One of our cats still prefers to use a litter tray, but it has to be completely clean and also a certain type of litter - she doesn't like the clay stuff or the woodchip stuff at all.
  1. As other people have said, I'd get her checked out by a vet and then try containing her in a 'safe' area where she has her food, water and litter tray. Make sure she gets the attention she wants as well.
  1. You can get clear plastic sticky patches to put on corners of sofa etc, to deter scratching. Also, have you clipped her nails?
  1. If you decide you can't keep her please, please use a cat rescue, not FB or anything like that 🙏
LittleBlueCat · 21/08/2025 11:33

Need serious advice on animal. Why not my cat, or my pet? It isn't just a random animal that you found in the street.

Cats are normally very clean and don't like to foul their home. It could be that there is a physical issue with her, but as this has gone on so long, it's more likely stress. Take her to a vet and get her checked out.

Either way, it is probably better that she is re-homed. Perhaps your lifestyle is not settled enough for a pet at the moment.

smallslyfox · 21/08/2025 11:34

I can't get past 'when I've lived with partners'... how many random men have you forced your poor child to live with as well? Let her keep her cat, dump the man and prioritise the innocent child and animal.

CatChant · 21/08/2025 11:36

What advice has your vet given you? Toileting on the floor is very unusual behaviour in a youngish cat and it could well be caused by a medical problem.

Or it could be stress. You talk of the problems it’s caused “living with partners”. If you are moving and the members of your household are changing frequently, she is going to have felt very insecure in the five years she’s lived with you.

Is she an indoor cat? If so, she might be happier with access to the outdoors.

Scratching furniture and carpets is just part of the territory with cats. It lessens a great deal when they go outside but it still happens occasionally.

Realistically, if you send her to rescue she will not find a home. Shelters are overflowing with healthy cats and kittens in need of homes. An incontinent cat, no matter how sweet-natured, is going to be bottom of the list.

Your DD loves her, you love her. I’d keep her, try to help her and move out of the partner’s place.

As you say, “a cat is for life”.

workingcocker · 21/08/2025 11:36

Is it an indoor cat or can it go outside for the toilet?

caramac04 · 21/08/2025 11:37

I’m just gobsmacked that a 5 year old cat is messing around the house. Frankly, and I’m not a clean freak, your standards are too low.
Your dc loves the cat but it’s a very unhygienic way to live.
DP is a red herring and I wouldn’t have moved him in after only 9 months.
If the cat is healthy then you either get advice to train it or rehome although who wants to take a ‘dirty’ cat?
I’m sure my house must smell of dog sometimes, especially when the outer doors have been closed a while . Yours probably stinks even though you clean when you know cat has peed or pooed.

EmmaL96 · 21/08/2025 11:39

i liked to clarify that when my cat has done the toilet it’s been cleaned up straight away I don’t just leave it there I’m not disgusting my house is clean

OP posts:
Andthatrightsoon · 21/08/2025 11:40

You are being unreasonable to make your daughter live with a boyfriend you've known for less than a year. What's the matter with you?

rainbowunicorn · 21/08/2025 11:41

You say partners and that every time you've lived with partners. How many different partners / house moves have you had in the 5 years. Cats and children for that matter need stable environments. If you are frequently moving home / moving new people into your home then it is going to cause stress to the animal.

Flossflower · 21/08/2025 11:42

YABU.
You have a daughter of 8 and have moved in with a partner of 9 months. Put your daughter first.

FriedFalafels · 21/08/2025 11:43

Your cat is 5 and you’ve lived with multiple partners in that time, currently having moved in with someone you’ve dated for 9 months. Putting the cat aside, you really need to consider the impact of that on your 8yo. Bringing your DD and the cat to the forefront once again, put your DD first in all of this and not someone you’re dating

EmmaL96 · 21/08/2025 11:43

smallslyfox · 21/08/2025 11:34

I can't get past 'when I've lived with partners'... how many random men have you forced your poor child to live with as well? Let her keep her cat, dump the man and prioritise the innocent child and animal.

Exscuse me I can assure you I don’t just bring any randommen into my daughters life her dad was one of the partners I’m taking about not my fault I was cheated on in past relationships which led to them ending not everyone is lucky enough to find the right person straight away not that that has anything to do with you this post is about my cat

OP posts:
OpheliaHamlet · 21/08/2025 11:43

Someone mentioned up thread about trying different litter types. Also, have you tried covered/uncovered litter trays?
It’s really pretty unusual that this is an issue with cats. It’s something their mother teaches them. I’ve worked with feral cats abroad, and usually within days of being inside, they have have adapted to litter boxes.
Perhaps check with vet to see if there is a bladder issue?

EmmaL96 · 21/08/2025 11:48

Darragon · 21/08/2025 11:21

Bugger the partner, you need to sort this cat out before social services decide your house isn't hygienic enough for your daughter to live with you! If you get referred for anything, random cat shit around your house would count against you! It's disgusting raising a child in a house with cat shit and piss residue all over it.

My house is clean and like I stated when my cat deos the toilet it gets cleaned up straight away i regularly clean my carpets and have spray deodorisers to eliminate the smell I keep on top of my house work everyday come on here for abit of advice and met with judgmental people

OP posts:
EmmaL96 · 21/08/2025 11:52

I can assure you I live my cat very much and I don’t just see her as a random pet again being judgmental when you don’t know me

I’m asking advice iv tried everything over the years buying scratching posts had 2 litter trays used cented littler used scratching post sprays etc nothing works at least iv tried to come up with solutions to fix the problem to many judgmental people on this post that like to make assumptions

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread