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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to put my healthy cat down

226 replies

chocolaterabbit · 28/01/2010 09:30

I have a cat who is now about 17 years old but still in good health - glossy coat, all teeth etc.

DH's cat died recently of natural causes and the two animals had been living together for 12 years. Since DH's cat died, my cat has started crapping all over the house, particularly in hard to reach areas like under the kitchen units/ behind the sofa.

I've shut all the doors etc but the cat flap leads directly into the kitchen and her food is there so can't shut her out. Came down this morning to find a sloppy poo under the kitchen table and against the legs of DD's highchair. It is absolutely revolting and horrible to have to clean up, also not exactly healthy for the DCs.

So. Would I be unreasonable to ask the vet to put my cat down because of this?

OP posts:
largeginandtonic · 28/01/2010 10:05

at MP.

I would have the cat put down. If you have exhauted all other avenues and they have failed.

But i don't really cats They make me sneeze.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:06

Let's hope that when you get old and incontinent, your DC don't feel the same way

Dear God, when I'm old and incontinent I'd rather take the option of being put down than being rehomed

Can I make that clear right now please

Hulababy · 28/01/2010 10:07

You can't compare to an elderly grandparent! If a person become incontinent they tend to have processes in place - incontient underwear, etc. and many elderly patients may end up in hospices and care homes where there are people able to help them and give them the full time care they require.

This is obviously not available for an elderly cat.

I think OP needs to take her cat to the vets for a full check up and to see what is causing her incontinence, and if anything can be done to help the cat.

Alicetheinvisible · 28/01/2010 10:07

Ladybiscuit - i was wondering because i think there is a general consensus (even among some vets) that you should rehome rather than have it put down which just delays the inevitable.

Most of my experience is with horses, but it is sad to see how many get passed on as companions because they are no longer sound enough for purpose (in good faith most of the time) only for the person who takes the animal to end up flogging the animal at the sales. Sometimes it is better to have your animal put down and not put it through the misery of being shipped from pillar to post and not being properly cared for.

Missy8c · 28/01/2010 10:08

Exactly what OrmRenewed said! If you can't be arsed to do the right thing by a cat who has given you 17 years of companionship, get the cat a new home and don't have pets again!

MitchyInge · 28/01/2010 10:08

cat does not sound healthy to me

have not read entire thread tho

OrmRenewed · 28/01/2010 10:09

mp - I'd be prepared to put money on you not feeling that way when you are old. Dad has a catheter. I think he still finds life pretty damn good.

WhoIsAsking · 28/01/2010 10:09

Spawn - I am telling the absolute truth! If the cat is being a menace, then the CPL can neuter them without any recourse to the owner.

(I might have just spoken to a madcatlady though - might be worth giving them a call to find out? Blimey!)

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:09

Missy: I assume your house is full of elderly incontinent cats that you are caring for before gently ushering them into the cat-afterlife?

No? Why ever not?

kreecherlivesupstairs · 28/01/2010 10:09

I don't think you are being unreasonable OP. 17 is a pretty good age for a cat. I don't blame you for not wanting another cat either. We had a cat who had no teeth when we adopted her. I took her to the vet about a year after we first got her (she'd have been about 11) the vet said she had lymphoma and it cost us pounds to treat. The vet thought that the previous owners had realised this and put her up for adoption. Poor old Tracy was put to sleep when she was about 18 and had been crapping in one particular spot for around 6 months. I feel your pain, but want to reiterate YANBU.

LadyBiscuit · 28/01/2010 10:10

I actually got to the point where I hated my cat.

I love the way people are so bloody pious about it but I bet none of them would want to take your cat of your hands.

The English are bizarrely sentimental about animals. I'm made to feel more guilty about the cat than my abortion!

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:10

Orm: Sorry if the option is rehoming or a handsome vet with a syringe, I'm going for the syringe

OrmRenewed · 28/01/2010 10:11

What about an ugly vet?

NoahAndTheWhale · 28/01/2010 10:11

morningpaper you are making me .

Although of course I do realise the seriousness of all of this. And hope that our cat doesn't start pooing everywhere.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:11

I'm made to feel more guilty about the cat than my abortion!

(sorry)

anabellapity · 28/01/2010 10:11

you could put the cat in a kitty nappy? i have a sewing pattern somewhere

seriously though, you may not feel this way about your cat once you have been through the no-underwear potty training phase

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:12

How sad Kreecher

(But Tracy? WTF?)

OrmRenewed · 28/01/2010 10:12

lady - it's not bizarre. IMO it's unfair to kill or otherwise dispose of a creature that is still healthy, because it's an inconvience to the owner.

Original poster
chocolaterabbit · 28/01/2010 10:13

I have a vet appointment for tomorrow. I expect the vet to suggest putting her down because he did when I took her in to be treated after she had lost a fight with a squirrel six months ago.

If there is nothing wrong I will keep her and carry on clearing up although may rethink if it carries on indefinitely and see if she can be rehomed. I didn't think it was possible to rehome elderly cats hence not looking into it earlier.

OP posts:
kreecherlivesupstairs · 28/01/2010 10:14

I don't think you are taking this at all seriously anabella.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:14

The cat has been loved for 17 years

We eat animals for snacks

There is a lack of perspective somewhere

LadyBiscuit · 28/01/2010 10:15

I think the rehoming thing is a joke Alice frankly. I think it would have been better to have had my cat put down from the outset - after all, who is going to want an elderly incontinent cat? They did say she might stop doing it if she were in a home without children but I can't see anyone wanting to have taken her on to find that out.

It was a really awful experience to be honest. I did love her but she was clearly so unhappy that it was dreadful. And I was shocked that no vet would put her down. I can see how people could become desperate enough to dump their cats in the countryside because there is no other option.

morningpaper · 28/01/2010 10:17

I agree with your LB

unless you have a friend who is prepared to take the cat on, then...

personally I would try (1) vet (2) litter tray (3) swiss clinic

LadyBiscuit · 28/01/2010 10:19

If your animal is making you seriously unhappy and the animal is unhappy, how is it right to soldier on? That's like saying people shouldn't get divorced even if they hate one another because marriage is for life.

A cat shitting and pissing everywhere is beyond an inconvenience. It ruins your carpets, it's a health hazard and it seriously affected my mental health. Honestly I'm not exaggerating. I work full time and I'm a single parent. I just about cope. The incontinent cat pushed me over the edge. It wasn't something I did lightly, believe me. As I said, I put up with it for 18 months.

MP -

anabellapity · 28/01/2010 10:19

i am honestly - we have owned dozens of cats between us - dozens and dozens - more than most people. we were the mad cat family and we could not walk without almost stepping on a cat, so i would say i was qualified to speak
chocolaterabbit - are you anywhere near battersea Dogs Home - there are quite a few old cats there in the small cat dept