Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Have to say goodbye to our cat :(

47 replies

Hulababy · 17/03/2006 10:05

After just 5 days :(

DD is definitely reacting to her. She is fine when out of the house, and she is fine at night in her bedroom (Sassy not allowed in there at all). But just playing and touching her for 30-40 minutes makes her have cold like symptoms. Have monitored it all week and there is a definite pattern :( Seems DD has a slight allergy, probably to the fur. Thinking back quite often when we visit BIL/SIL with their cat, DD often seems to have a cold when we are down there and that is with only having very infrequent contact. I can’t have DD living with cold like symptoms all the time at home and don’t want to resort to her having to take tablets/medicine to feel normal at home. It isn’t fair.

Also Sassy has several times now pounced and tried to scratch DD. DD has scratches on her arms as a result. We think she is jealous of DD and the attention thing. Sassy is so affectionate and wants cuddles all the time, and she doesn’t like it if DD is getting that attention instead. I an no longer leave Sassy and Mollie in the room on their own as Sassy uses this time to jump and scratch. And it is all unprovoked. DD has been wonderful with Sassy and not been too fussy with her at all, just playing ball, etc. It is actually when DD is sat doing something else that Sassy pounces – and it is a proper pounce too with claws out. If it was just this we could probably work on it, but with the allergy/reaction as well...

I think Sassy needs to be with a childless family, or one with teenagers, where the competition for attention is less.

Sad, but better to do it sooner rather than later especially as DD is becoming very attached. :(

Anyway, a nice 5 days but no more pets for us.

OP posts:
iota · 17/03/2006 10:08

waht a shame Sad sorry it didn't work out for you

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 10:10

I feels o sad and upset at having to send her back to the Shelter, but I am sure she will probably be rehomed today as she is so lovely.

OP posts:
cod · 17/03/2006 10:31

think you need to give it longer tbh

cod · 17/03/2006 10:31

cats scratch thatts what they do

noddyholder · 17/03/2006 10:33

I would give it a bit longer.We have 3 cats and ds has always been a bit sniffly around them at times but it was worse when he was younger and now hw happily cuddles them and he is fine All cats jump and scratch a bit when they play It is as new to her as you

hoxtonchick · 17/03/2006 10:34

children benefit so much from having a pet, i hope you can work it out.

Emma1404 · 17/03/2006 10:34

i dont agree....im trying to rehome my cat as since dd came along 11 months ago, its not been good with her, and i have literally banned her to the utility room. (the cat that is) she got in the house the other night while we were all asleep and went into dd's bedroom which i only pull the door too. Nothing bad happened except her waking dd up but just think what could have happened.

georginarf · 17/03/2006 10:34

if you can bear it, she may get over the allergy - I am allergic to cats but once I have been with a particular cat for a week or so it's all gone.

but agree if DD is getting very attached, this may not be a good idea. how sad fro you all

MissChief · 17/03/2006 10:35

dh was allergic - few months donw the line was cured of it though Smile..Seriously though, I do think exposure to animals is good for children's immune systems and they should be able to develop tolerance. ..you could give it longer?
also, how old is yr cat - sounds quite kittenish behaviour. Our cats have been brilliant with our kids, never ever scratched them, run away rather than lash out if feel scared..If yr cat has a safe refuge (always available, always only for the cat) away from yr baby that should stop it lashing out

LIZS · 17/03/2006 10:35

Sad how disappointing and unfortunate but I can understand where you are coming from. It may not be all animals though so perhaps there is a more suitable pet such as a rabbit, which could live outside much fo the time and while now may not be the best time as it might be more labour intensive than she can really take responsibiltiy for yet, perhaps in a couple of years.

cod · 17/03/2006 10:38

"Nothing bad happened except her waking dd up but just think what could have happened.
"

yes "killer cat on rampage"
ill tell youw aht the cat woudl have dont iw woudl haev miaowed a lot

iota · 17/03/2006 10:39

we had cats before we had kids - they all survived ( apart from a couple of teh cats getting run over)

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 10:39

The cat is very young and yes, exposure may help DD. But TBH I would rather do this sooner rather than later. The longer we leave it the harder it willbe. I am not prepared to have my little girl suffering at home - the oone place she should be fine in. The reactions are stronger with each day and come on more quickly than the first day.

Yes, cats scratch I know. I had a cat for years as a child. But some cats are also better off with older children or no children. And I truely believe Sassy would be. She needs atttention all the time when we are in and she is very jealous of the attention given to DD.

At the end of the day DD comes first.

Sad as it is, this has to be done. It is not something we just thought up to do. DH and I sat for a long time and discussed this, and also with someone DH knows who is very big with cats. She agreed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 10:42

There is no safe refuge really. But DD is not one for following the cat around and fussing her constantly. there are loads of opportunities for the cat to run away. But the lashing out with claws is happening when DD is NOT with the cat, when she is sat on the sofa/floor doing her own thing, etc. And never if I am right next to her. We are almost certain it is a jealousy issue which the cat may or may not get over ina d ay or two. But at the moment it is getting worse with each morning.evening they are together. I can't leave them alone together - and that is NOT good.

OP posts:
Emma1404 · 17/03/2006 10:45

cod...have you not heard of cats smothering babies. and also my at has a tendancy to bring in baby rabbits, eat their heads, and then bring the bodies into the house if she can....just think....dead baby bunny in cot!!

noddyholder · 17/03/2006 10:49

Pets are a big commitment and cats are flighty when young but I have always had them since ds v small and they haven't ever been jealous so I don't know As they get older they sleep a lot!

georginarf · 17/03/2006 10:57

Cats smothering babies is pretty much a myth you know. plenty of people think it was an old explanation for cot deaths when it wasn't known what caused them....yes is not a good idea to let a cat get in a cot with a small baby but that's just common sense. They don't go out of their way to smother babies...

agree dead bunny in the cot not nice. shut doors and cat nets useful to avoid this.

anyway Hulababy, I do agree the longer you leave it the worse it's going to be for DD to say goodbye Sad

mojomummy · 17/03/2006 11:01

It's a shame for the cat to be rehomed - perhaps you should give more time before considering any pets ?

we have a cat, hve had her for 4 years before DD. She was a bit freaked out for about 2 -3 days, but she is very laid back. I have always made sure she is respected & it helps that she sleeps most of the time. I don't think she has ever scratched Dd or us for that matter. (she did scratch some nuisance child once thought that was hounding her Grin)

No, never heard of smothering babies - I would think common sense dictates to lock a cat out of the place where baby is sleeping ?

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 11:21

More time? We considered this for several months both before and after moving home - so about 6 months or more!!! This was not a planned mission. Please don't ttry to make me feel bad. I am quite upset enough thank you.

My daughter is uncomfortable at home. She appears to be allergic. She is also sratched down her arms from several pounces.

It is a shame to be rehomed, but IMO (and luckily that of those people who looked after her before at the Shelter) it is better for Sassy to be in the environment that best suits her. that is whith a family without an allergy and without young children so she can get the attention she required.

And the chances are that this allergy will not just fade away ina day or two. And the chances are Sassy will remain jealous of DD for more than a few days also. Why would I put my daughter through that.

Sassy will probably be rehomed by the end of today into a more suitable family.

I am doing what I feel is best for Sassy and, even more importantly to me, my daughter.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 11:22

My daughter isn't a nuisance child who is bothering her either. Honestly. I am not making up the circumstances.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 11:23

Anyway, thanks for the support. I will go and take my cat back to the Shelter now and say my goodbyes to her. And hope she is rehomed today and lives a lovely, happy life elsewhere.

OP posts:
edodgy · 17/03/2006 11:23

Hulababy I agree with you, Your daughter comes first. I also remember your post when you got her saying there was lots of other people wanting to take Sassy so it's not as if she wont find a good home.

DumbledoresGirl · 17/03/2006 11:24

Hula, don't listen to them. I think the scratches issue is minor - if you kept the cat, your dd would soon learn not to have too close contact with the cat and also the cat would grow out of scratching, especially if you were frim with it.

BUT your dd does appear to have an allergy to the cat and it is unthinkable that you should keep the cat in those circumstances. I think some people here are ignoring that issue. I am a rabid cat lover, but even I would have rehomed our cats if one of my children proved to be allergic to them.

MissChief · 17/03/2006 11:24

you're probably right - new young cat with v. young child not really the best combination. with us, the cats were first on the scene so already settled and therefore not threatened as much. you could always get an adult cat when she's a bit older.

Original poster
Hulababy · 17/03/2006 11:30

Thanks guys.

Sassy's things are now int he car and she has gone into her acrrier easily.

I had better get off :(

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread