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)

That law hasn't come in yet and even when it does LL does not have to agree to it

Okay. I live in Kent in the UK and when I tick “accepts pets”, it shows me “no results”. Despite this I have still contacted landlords and offered to pay a bigger deposit in order to bring the cats and still been told NO.

I’ve rented on numerous occasion, with multiple dogs in tow. Offer to add to the contract that you will have it professionally cleaned, including carpets, before you leave.

I’ve also been a landlord and allowed pets. I find it very hard to believe that you cannot find anywhere.

But surely your partner understands that homing the cats with his mum is a temporary measure until you get settled somewhere? It's not like once they're in her house, she won't let them go back to you again, is it?

In the real world I think you're in an incredibly difficult situation OP.

You are all facing homelessness, and you've found a suitable home for your cats. That is taking responsibility for your pets.

You're not just casting them aside.

I would be really furious if my partner could not see the wood for the trees, and made you all homeless just so he could keep his cats.

I don't blame you for the "yaddah yaddah" stuff that others seem so hung up on, because time is ticking and your patience is wearing thin.

The fact is you can't adequately house the cats if you're not adequately housed yourself. You need to be number 1 here, not the animals.

If your partner insists they stay then he needs to be playing a significantly active role here in searching for, applying and organising the move ASAP.

Will he realistically do that though?

Would it be better for you to present yourself to the council as homeless now you're being evicted as a pregnant single woman now, and leave him and his cats to find their own place? Applications and priority assessments can take time so I would be making a decision sharpish if I were you.

When and where did you last try to rent a property?

Cats and babies aren't mutually exclusive. So often pregnancy/ babies seem to be an excuse to get rid of the animal.

If you don't want the cats then be honest. Just about all of the rentals where I live allow pets.

I find it hard to believe that there is no option to get a house with pets. I’ve rented with cats. The renters rights bill is also going to make it harder for landlords to say no to those with pets. Although not sure when.

Don’t filter by landlords advertising they will accept pets. Contact each landlord and ask them, not many will advertise it but some will decide on a case by case basis. Hopefully you have been doing that anyway though!

I feel you don’t really have much attachment to your pets, maybe you only got them because DP likes them &/or to make up for your loss?
I hope the cats find the devoted owner they deserve this time… 3rd time lucky?

When we were briefly landlords, our management agents seemed to do a blanket "no" to pets, without even checking with individual landlords.

I was in their office to drop off keys when I overheard the phone conversation on the next desk
"No, there are no 4 bed houses in x (our small area) that allow dogs, sorry"
"We do!" I had to shout over!

If it's an agency saying no, ask them to ask the landlords involved, just to be sure.

It's hard to believe so many horrible posts aimed at the OP (above post is just one of them), what do you gain from this?

I work in this area and I contact Lettings Agents weekly to try and secure Rentals for clients. Roughly 50% are no pets
There are too few Rental properties, with around 5-10 people chasing each one, so imagine if 50% are a no before you even apply.
The new legislation will potentially make things worse because you can't offer to pay more rent if you have a pet and capping deposits hit pet owners hard when that came in a few years ago. Landlords can still refuse people with pets under the new legislation and in fact can refuse to let a house to someone without ever telling them the reason - they simply pick another applicant and don't have to justify why.

Someone I know is in same position and it's near impossible to re-home cats. Every rescue is full. Nobody wants cats.

This. Humans come before pets.

Presumably he can live some where with the cats and you elsewhere with the baby. Obviously you’ll have no control over what he does with his 50% custody.

Whilst I agree that children are more important than pets, your attitude to the situation would really make me reassess you as a person and having a future with you. At least your partner (ex partner?) upholds his responsibilities.

There are people who want cats, but they don't go through rescues, sadly. They look for kittens on Pets4Homes or Gumtree, or from friends whose cats have kittens.

When you say you rehomed them, from where? A rescue? If so have you asked if they will take them back (reputable ones do). Though if your partner is the issue then I’m not sure how anyone can help you with suggestions as he obviously doesn’t want to rehome them to anyone if he’s saying no to his own family.

I had to surrender my cat when my circumstances changed through divorce. It's a horrible thing to have to do and it was very upsetting. My cat was a barn cat, but I couldn't just leave him behind when the FMH was sold.

There was a waiting list at my local cat sanctuary, so you may need to act sooner than you think. I also made a very large donation to cover any potential vet bills and pay for his food.

Well done on (doing what no one else on Mumsnet would do) being sensible and putting your child first.

You need a bigger place for when the baby comes. You've tried to find somewhere that takes cats but failed.

Of course you must rehome them baby comes first.

You never get sensible responses on here where animals are concerned. I love cats (and dogs) and I abhor cruelty to animals but equally a bit of common sense has to apply.

It isn’t exactly going to be helpful to anyone if they end up in a council b and b, which also doesn’t allow pets, is it?

Yes that's what I should have said, it's the older cats nobody wants. Most people just want a kitten sadly

Speaking as a landlord just don't tell the landlord/agents about the cats. If they do an inspection just make sure they are somewhere else. After the new legislation comes in soon they can't do anything about it even if they do find out.

I completely agree with you.