Rehoming our 2 cats

[holleeamara]

2 years ago me and my partner rescued 2 cats. 3 months ago we found out I was pregnant despite being on the Depo shot. We’ve decided to keep it, as I had an abortion in the past (previous relationship) and regretted it deeply. Our landlord is now about to evict us, due to him selling the property. We have been trying to move out for the past year anyway, due to living in a tiny 1 bed flat. And for the past year was always turned down due to having pets. We just said we’d wait and hopefully find somewhere that allows pets. But, now due to being pregnant and our 3 month notice looming.. I suggested we may have to rehome the cats, in order to find a property that 1. Is big enough for the 3 of us, and 2. We are looking like we are going to be homeless otherwise. I understand pets are a lifelong commitment, yaddah yaddah yaddah, but my unborn child comes before me, comes before anyone! And definitely comes before the cats. I even suggested they go to live with his mother who’s happy to take them, but he won’t allow that either. I feel really stumped and confused as I’d be willing to do anything for this life I have created.. but I don’t think he feels the same. We have even tried giving landlords extra deposit in order to have the cats but they refuse. I feel like this is now our only option. (We don’t qualify for council/social housing, btw)

So you chose to have cats knowing that it would be an issue to rent another house / flat and that they'd need to go in case of a child?

Doesn't strike me as responsible. Of course a baby comes first but if you have to consider a pecking order, it's that you haven't understood the commitment that goes with pet ownership.

Rehome those poor cats and don't get a pet ever again.

Where do you live? I’ve got cats and have always been able to find a rental

Should nobody who rents be allowed to get pets ever?

My husband and I got cats before we got married and we were renting. The landlord was fine with them and we were planning on staying until we bought a house so we did.

We now own a house and still have one of the cats but if we lost our house for whatever reason, had to rent and couldn't find anywhere to accept her then unfortunately she would have to be re-homed because our children come first.

Not use phrases like yaddah, yaddah, yaddah when talking about (what should be a difficult) decision to get rid of two living creatures she took on responsibility for.

I cannot see how changing her phrasing actually helps in any practical way. We all know that these decisions are desperately difficult.

I find it hard to believe that it’s so difficult to find a place to live that allows pets.

What exactly is OP supposed to do that she hasn't already done?

Of course they can, I rented a flat myself with a dog but it's a fact that it's a hurdle, and it requires to plan carefully rather than give up as soon as you get your section 21 and shrug it off because anyway there's also a kid on the way so the cats are undesirable now.

That's unfair.

Meant to click YANBU X

Me too. I'm a landlord, I take pets. My parents take pets, in fact most landlords I know take pets when I think about it, some don't allow large dogs if they have flats etc that's all.

Don't mention the cats to potential new landlords. As another poster said there is now a right to request a pet which can't be unreasonably refused but you need to get the tenancy agreement signed and take up occupational first. It's not the "above board" way of doing it but it might be the only alternative to rehoming.

You might find the cats "rehome" themselves anyway once the baby arrives. My mums cat left home when I was born - didn't like the noise! She went to live with the neighbours who backed onto us, lived for years but never set foot in our house again. She came into our garden sometimes and eyed me with disgust!

Above a baby? Get a grip.

Simply because he’d rather we have them, which I understand, but we’ve ended up in a position where that’s not possibly unless all of us end up homeless.

I dunno, perhaps use the information as a starting point to discuss with potential landlords in an adult way that her cats are proven to be well behaved, don't piss on the kitchen floor and less likely to wreck the place than potential future kittens or puppies which a currently petless applicant may introduce into the flat later?

Or, stay in what is clearly an insolvable position between her own views and her cat loving partners preferences which will result in them being homeless while pregnant with nothing to do but moan on social media.

I’ve only put that on here, as I’m very stressed. I’ve been very gentle about it and explained that we don’t have a lot of options. He’s unwilling to rehome them as he wants to keep them, but at this rate all 5 of us will be on the streets!

”Something better” as in.. my unborn child? Did you even read my post? It’s either the cats are rehomed somewhere safe or they will end up on the streets with us! They’re indoor cats due to allergies too.. so don’t really see how anything I’ve said is nothing but the cats best interest.

There's no need to get rid of either, is the point.I agree, you do not cast an animal you've made a commitment to aside due to pregnancy.

My attitude “sucks” because I’m pregnant and faced with homelessness. My partner has kicked up a fuss and is outright refusing to rehome them. He said he’ll “think of a solution” which means my whole pregnancy is going to be stressful as I’ll be worrying about where my newborn and I will live!!

I’d like to hope so, but I’d hate to spend the rest of my pregnancy “hoping for the best”… in case that doesn’t happen. I think we’d be put into temporary accommodation, in which case the cats will have to go anyway :/

No, we rehomed the cats 2 years ago and I never planned to have a child and we were not expecting to be evicted, nor did I know that landlords don’t accept pets more often than not. But life happens, as I’ve said we have been looking for a pet friendly place to live for a year! Even offered to pay more just to have the cats with us. What you’ve said is completely unfair and ridiculous. “Animal lovers” are completely deranged. I’ve had pets my entire life and lovingly cared for them up until old age.

It clearly states in my post that we have tried to negotiate with landlords, even offering more money if we can bring our cats. I’m not “moaning” on social media. I’m looking for advise from a website that is supposedly supportive and full of mothers.

Kent, in the UK.

Exactly.

OP has made a commitment to 2 cats. She should be doing everything she can to enable them to stay with the people they are used to now, not just rehome them because it’s become more difficult now.

Don’t get an animal if you can’t offer it lifelong commitment. Be aware that circumstances might change and things might not be so easy.

But for anyone interested, cats come before babies for me. Hence why I would never have a child 😂