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Original poster

Have to find a home for my old lady

178 replies

HalfwayToFifty · 21/01/2017 20:53

I'm absolutely devastated. Had my cat since she was 8 weeks old. She is now approx 14/15. She's a house cat who is scared of children thanks to my Ds chasing her. We are moving house in a few weeks and no pets allowed. I'm gutted I can't keep her. We have been trying to search for some where that can take her and rehome her but having no luck. Don't want to just advertise on social media incase I make the wrong decision and send her somewhere horrid! I wold prefer her to go to a rescue so they could take care in rehoming her. Any ideas of places that do this? We are in the northwest.

OP posts:
JanuaryMoods · 25/01/2017 09:52

Personally I'd sneak the cat in, teach my 4yo to leave her in peace, and that would be the end of it. I can't help but think you are over complicating.

And as a LL I'd evict you. We have a very strict no indoor pets clause in the contract and make it clear we will evict. We are a family of asthmatics and DH does the maintenance and is allergic to cats.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 25/01/2017 09:54

Yoh need to put your cat's feelings before your feelings - you are aware of situation and can rationalise it, she can't! Too hard for you to put her to sleep? How disorientated and shocked will she be when you pass her on? PTS is a much kinder option to her.

Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2017 09:55

If I was in your situation op. My
Mum would never get rid of my cat that meant so much to me. That's very harsh.

Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 09:55

As JanuaryMoods has said above. I just don't think I can take that risk. A lot of the time there are valid reasons for theme not wanting pets. I can't risk eviction or bad reference.

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Toddlerteaplease · 25/01/2017 09:56

There is a rescue in London called golden oldies that specialise in old cats

lapetitesiren · 25/01/2017 09:57

Would a landlord give a bad reference if any damage was made good before you leave? If its a family home you are likely to stay several years.

Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 09:58

DrinkFeckArseGirls I thought of it as the kinder option. Ifor I had said that in my opinion I would been judged even more than I have. I'm taking her for a health check anyway. God knows what will show up. She's never been to the vets. Always appeared a healthy cat. But like I said apparently cats hide pain as part of their nature.. I do wish I could keep her or my mum would take her and it's frustrating that she won't, she only wants a cuddle and food.

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Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 09:59

if and op

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Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 10:04

I need to leave this now. It's upsetting my children to see me upset. We are going to play a game. I might check again later to see if there has been any helpful mn folk.

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user1485203496 · 25/01/2017 10:06

Your children come first, end of! You should do right by your children and give consideration to your cat (as you clearly have done) you can't do right by your cat with consideration for your children as they are your priority. Get your cat the health check and take it from there, but seriously don't feel bad about being a Mum and wanting to improve the quality of your kids lives! Ignore those that say the cat comes first - in 15 years your priorities have changed it doesn't mean the cat has been neglected - some people on here just don't look at things from both perspectives.

ilovesooty · 25/01/2017 10:09

No one has suggested putting the children second. I don't see what's unreasonable about suggesting that it is not kind to subject an elderly cat who has only ever known one environment to disruption and distress.

WellErrr · 25/01/2017 10:15

Cats are lovely, but no, they're not as important as your children.

OP, in your situation I would contact rescues who place older pets in foster homes. Even if it meant a trip to the NE, like the one mentioned above.
I would give them a condition that if, in say 6 months or so she either hadn't found a home or was unhappy, that they would PTS.

Yes it's a crappy situation, but she's had a good innings and your children come first.

JonSnowsWhore · 25/01/2017 10:18

Any local vet surgeries that would have her as a sort of 'mascot cat'? My vets had a cat that was I suppose adopted by the surgery, they'd put up pics & updates of the cat on their notice boards, pics of him with the nurses etc. At least she'd be in good hands & vets should be quite understanding of how hard it is to rehome an older cat.

Don't let people get to you, as you've said it's not like you've asked for a puppy for Xmas & a few weeks later just can't be bothered with it

ilovesooty · 25/01/2017 10:24

I doubt if a cat who has spent all her life in a home environment would enjoy living in a clinical environment like a vet surgery.

JonSnowsWhore · 25/01/2017 10:39

Well it was just a suggestion, a slightly less dramatic one than putting it to sleep, assuming it's healthy at its vet check!

ilovesooty · 25/01/2017 11:00

I must admit I'm also surprised that someone has a cat for 15 years and it's apparently never been to a vet.

Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 11:02

I've spoken to the vets where she is having her health check. She's 13 not 15. They can help with fostering/finding a home if all comes back healthy if not its could possibly be pts.
Now I'm not so upset I honestly see where you are all coming from. I know a lot of people see pets as your family. I have to move to this house for my children's sake. I'm not cruel, I would love to keep her.if I could find the same size house for the same price that allowed pets I would of course do it. In our area that is highly unlikely. Thankyou to those who have helped.

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Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 11:03

No she's never been to a vet due to being ill. She has been to be neutered but she has never shown signs of being poorly.

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lapetitesiren · 25/01/2017 12:39

Hope everything goes well at the vet and you find a satisfactory outcome for you and the cat. It's horrible when there isn't a perfect solution. Whatever happens, don't beat yourself up. You can only do your best with the options available to you.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 25/01/2017 13:58

Could a friend/family not take her on if you offered to pay for her litter/food/vets for the rest of her life?

Original poster
HalfwayToFifty · 25/01/2017 14:05

I'm going to try and find something that's stress free for her. Maybe if I tell my mum I'm still looking. And keep telling her that. Shes absolutely no bother. Just want wants to sleep and eat. She does have a tendency to run around early hours of the morning. She just needs a simple life.

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twocockers · 25/01/2017 14:26

How far away from your mums is the new house? Could you not pop in and feed her etc?

GatoradeMeBitch · 25/01/2017 14:41

I volunteer for Cats Protection as a fosterer. Another fosterer near me cares for elderly cats exclusively. She has a houseful and is devoted to them. They have a very happy last few years with her. Also many elderly people want to adopt elderly cats. I had a 14 year old tabby over Christmas, he's now living with an elderly lady.

Contact your local Cats Protection and have a proper chat. If their local fosterers/places are full maybe a nearby CP might have some vacancies. You might be lucky right now, in a month or two they might be dealing with the spring deluge of kittens.

GatoradeMeBitch · 25/01/2017 14:43

Here are some centres in your area www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-rescue-centres-cheshire

GatoradeMeBitch · 25/01/2017 14:44

(Don't call the RSPCA centres though - stick to the no-kill ones!)

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