I think I’m going to have to rehome my cat

[Soubriquet]

I really don’t want to. She’s 7 and I’ve had her since she was 8 weeks old, but she is suddenly starting to wee and poo outside her litter box. She went on my sons bed yesterday.

Vet checked her and she’s completely fine. She’s not stressed either. She literally lays about sleeping all day.

It wouldn’t be so bad if we owned our home but we don’t. We rent. I’m currently in temporary council accommodation but we are working on going into private cos the council doesn’t have anything permanent for us, and I can’t have a cat who will ruin the carpets by toileting on them.

I have two children and they must come first.

Argh it sucks. I wish she could speak so I could find out why she’s doing this.

For when we do move into a private rental, as there are usually carpets down! It’s ok at the moment, it’s for when we move.

If we were to rehome, we do have someone who is happy to take her. A boarding cattery she was in absolutely adored her and their dd cried when she left, so I know she would be in good hands there. She wouldn’t be going via preloved, fb etc.

Like I said though, it would be an absolute last resort. We are trying everything else first

"I don't want to criticise you Op but it's not great to be considering getting rid of a much loved pet just because they have started behaving in a different way."

In a way that might get the OP evicted? Or might make it impossible to find anywhere to live? But yeah-make her feel even worse, why don't you?

I honestly don’t think she’s stressed. She’s not showing any behaviour apart from the toileting of being stressed. She comes for cuddles as normal, sleeps all day in her favourite spots and plays like she normally does to.

Inappropriate toileting is pretty much the number one sign of stress in cats. I'm really shocked your vet didn't explain that to you.

You have an indoor cat in new, strange, temporary accommodation, along with two dogs and young children - I'd be more surprised if she wasn't stressed, to be brutally honest.

This is how much rehoming is a last resort

My dh, and dd are both allergic to her. We have to intensive clean every day otherwise it can set off their asthma. Ds has started to show signs of being slightly allergic too.

This we manage with antihistamines, deep cleaning and other medications.

Don't know why you are picking on my post, other people have said very similar.

And I stick by it.

Tbh I would probably rehome her. You’re in temporary accommodation, allergic to cats, she’s stressed and can’t go outside. It’s barely tolerable for her or you. I’d take her to a rescue where they vet the new owners.

I think on your situation rehoming her through a charity sounds like a good plan.

Hope you get some permanent accommodation soon

Why do you have a pet that half your household is allergic to in the first place?

Sounds like stress

I see you bought two chihuahuas.

The mind boggles.

You already had a cat you were allergic to and thought "I know, I should throw some dogs into the mix"?

Ok…my dh is allergic to cats and not dogs. He’s also allergic to horses btw. We’ve had the cat 7 years. I’ve had the dogs 5 and 6 years. It’s not a new thing. They have been getting along fine.

So why did you get a cat in the first place? The mind boggles.

Because my dh was managing fine and none of my kids were allergic. It’s only the last couple of years that these started to show

I don’t know why people are being so harsh to the OP. Sometimes it’s in the animals best interest to re home. We had to re home a cat. We spent time looking for the most appropriate owners and they sent us updates until she died. She was very loved by them and it was the best decision for her.

@Motnight "Don't know why you are picking on my post, other people have said very similar.

And I stick by "
Simply because you were the first of the unrealistic, unfair, cruel posters who came to hand.

Firstly this isn't your fault. So please don't let other posters make you feel inadequate. Cats are very sensitive to different things. They also have a crazy good sense of smell. From my experience perhaps she can smell the other cats. This can cause her distress. Especially if one is male. Something as simple as a slightly large gap under the front door (council houses tend to have this-I'm currently in a council flat) which allows smells to travel through quite easily for your cat.

Definitely agree with the extra litter tray as typically a cat needs two per feline. But perhaps also a door draft excluder. Like one of those large pillow sausages to block out the cold/smell.

Personally I'd wait till you find your more permanent abode and see how your girl gets on there before looking into rehoming however I know this can be hard. Especially with children. Whatever you decide, only you know what's best for you and your family. Please don't let anyone make you feel bad. As long as she is loved and looked after, that's all that matters

@Mariposista "FFs so if one of your children suddenly got a condition that made them have accidents, throw up on the floor, or something else that's messy but they can't help it, you'd put them up for adoption?"

Don't be stupid. I wouldn't put a child down if it broke a leg either. Children and pets are DIFFERENT!!!

I think I'd do all the stress reducing stuff, provide lots of enrichment, and then re-assess when you find a more stable home if it's suitable for her to go outside and see how that goes.

Yeah if my kids suddenly started pissing and shitting everywhere, I would put them in a nappy. Can’t do that with a cat

Yup rehome her.

You got a cat when your husband was allergic- which seems an odd idea. You won't let her outside. And she's now a problem to you because she's making a mess in the house.

Find a nice home where she can go outside and where her owners aren't allergic to her and want her to move out when things get more difficult.

It may be worth considering rehoming the dogs too - they will, inevitably at some point, also make a mess. And if you are worried about carpets then pets in your new house from a cat then I'm sure you are also worried about muddy dog paws and so on.

Oh don't be so ridiculous.

No, but you can do plenty of other things to help her instead.

However, it sounds like your family isn't suitable for cat ownership considering two (potentially three) of your household are allergic. I would find her a new home with no other animals where she can go outdoors and explore. I think that would be the kindest thing to do for her at this point.

She has no interest in going out. We have windows open and doors open and she sits and sniffs the air but then turns around and goes to sleep somewhere.

I’m not physically chasing her away from going outside. If she wanted to go outside she can but she doesn’t. She’s microchipped and the address is for here so if she did get lost she can be found

This!