Husband wants rid of cat

[lepetitfromage]

Yes, I know I should LTB 😁😁 but hear me out.

He reluctantly agreed to let me get a rescue cat a couple of months ago, I've posted pictures of our handsome puss here before. He's settled in very well after a couple of weeks of hiding, though I'm not sure he'll ever be the lap cat I hoped for. But has lots of funny little habits and definitely knows we are his family. Loves the kids. Not aggressive at all. We let him out after about 4 weeks and he'll always come back after a little wander about. Has tried to kill birds a few times (succeeded at least once) but has a bell now and has been very well behaved. Always, always uses his litter tray and is generally a good boy.

So far so good, you'd think. The issue is my husband hates having a cat. Can appreciate that Tom is a lovely cat and well behaved, though he's not buying the personality traits that we ascribe to the cat, thinks he's pretty boring (he's more of a dog fan). His main issue, however, is that the cat has taken over our living room. His litter tray is there because there's nowhere else to put it - I wouldn't have it in the kitchen, the downstairs loo and hall are way too small, so what else can we do? His climbing tower (of little interest to him tbh), water bowl and bed are in the living room too (though of course he sleeps on the couch!). We do have a second family room but DH feels that the cat has taken over, the room stinks and we've basically lost it to the cat. Me and the kids try very hard to keep it clean but there's no denying the cat sheds a lot of hair and though it is a covered tray and I clean up mess immediately, there's definitely a smell that wasn't there pre cat.

So what are the options?

1. Get rid of the cat
2. Get a cat flap (DH refuses)
3. Put the cat outside permanently
4. Any other options??

Me and the kids have got very attached but honestly, DH is miserable and was not really prepared for the disruption. I obviously love my husband more than I love the cat but equally I don't want to upset the kids. How can we fix this? And apologies for the epic message!!

Do you have a cupboard under the stairs? Catflap into that and litter tray in there?

We tried this and our cats did use the trays ( I put three large trays in) but they still managed to miss !

I have trays in the hall . Our female was missing the tray so (on advice from the great LitterTray posters) we moved the lidded one along a bit and added a big open tray ( its 30"x18"x7")
They will both use either . I have to vacuum daily but they're happier .

We got a catdoor in the french door , it was ££ but 100% worth the investment .

DH was the driving force behind getting cats but I said ONLY if we had a catdoor .

We know ( we had a cat before) that the carpet will suffer , everything will be covered in fur . Every door that is closed is an insult to a little cat .

Have you tried grain free food ? The pooh is so much less stinky since switching ( or maybe we just got used to it )

Try a better car litter. I'd recommend world's best cat litter. You can order on zooplus. It really keeps the smell to a minimum if you scoop daily and replace it weekly. It's more expensive but worth it.

I would move out the same day if a litter tray was put in my living room.

I lived in a groundfloor flat with fully glazed double doors to the garden , and instead got a small tunnel through the brick wall of the living room, so the cat could get in and out. If I did it again, I'd have a second flap at the house end, as it was a bit drafty but the cat took to it really quickly, and it wasn't a big job for a builder. I've also seen catflaps through upstairs windows, with steps/stairways for the cat on the outside).

Also, and I totally appreciate your cat isn;t using the climbing tower, I would really recommend a scratching pole somewhere - ideally near any piece of furniture the cat has shown an interest in. I have a shredded sofa arm. I now have a scratching pole next to the sofa arm, and the scratching pole is getting used regularly, and the sofa isn't!

Never had a cat flap or a litter tray for my cats once they are past the kitten stage. In summer, we have a window or doors open anyway and in winter they miaow to go in or out. Never been a big issue - as a PP said, they get to know your routines pretty quickly in any case - cats are smart.

Can you put a catflap in a door, is there a backdoor in the kitchen. Get rid of the tower, water and food bowls in the kitchen, brush him daily, covered tray with litter liners in the spare room, if it doesnt work out then the cat might be happier in a new home where everyone loves it.

@HeadNorth

Never had a cat flap or a litter tray for my cats once they are past the kitten stage. In summer, we have a window or doors open anyway and in winter they miaow to go in or out. Never been a big issue - as a PP said, they get to know your routines pretty quickly in any case - cats are smart.

But @HeadNorth - what happens when you're away for the weekend, or out for the day? Especially when the weather is bad or unpredictable.

Thank God that after 157 posts you've arrived with such original ideas, DogsSausages!

Suggest it's the cat or cya laters

MayIDestroyYou. Always happy to help