We have to say good-bye to two of our family today. Two of our cats–whom we welcomed into our home about three years ago–are not adjusting well to the second addition to our family. They have stopped using their litter boxes and have made it impossible for us to keep them. We are sad to see them go. I am more sad, because I know that the chances of them finding a home a slim–they are close to four years old and lets be honest there is a pet-over population problem. I feel horrible knowing that there is a real chance that I am sending them to their death and I am sick knowing that. But I have to look out for the health and safety of my children and it isn’t good or healthy for safe for that matter for them to be around cat excrement and I am tired of washing and cleaning places I shouldn’t have to. I have a hard enough time keeping the places I need to clean.
The vet whom we adopted them from has agreed to take them back and made sure I knew that they couldn’t promise placement. I wish I didn’t have to do this and it is so so sad.
This is them as kittens. They are still just as cute. Damnit!
Embracing Imperfection 
My condolences. We had the same problem with one of ours. The one who had the problem was the sweet and cuddly one, not the one who eats shoes and plants and wires.
A happy ending ~is~ a possibility. Our girl was 7 years old when all of her potty problems started. I’d been telling friends about it and agonizing over what to do. Finally, it was so awful (yes, I’m a glutton for punishment) that I was at my wits’ end. A good friend up the street volunteered to take her and give her a chance in a kid-free home. And now, nearly 4 years later, she’s the happiest and best-loved kitty ever.
I wish the best for your kitties and hope they find a good home together. My condolences to you on having to give them up. They do look adorable!
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I’m so, so sorry. Thinking of you.
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Thinking of you.
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Oh, that’s sad. Hopefully they will find a new home.
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A full year after our first was born, our cat, which I had had for 10 years, had to go to the shelter as well. Fortunately, it was a no-kill shelter, but who knows what kind of life she led or if she was ever placed. But she totally flippped out with the arrival of baby, and the vet said that just happens to some cats. We tried two kinds of cat sedatives and even a kitty massage video that a neighbor gave us. Nothing worked. She just needed to live a life without kids. So don’t beat yourself up. But I am sorry – I know its hard.
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This is so sad. Hopefully the next family that adopts them will give them more adjustment time than you did.
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Ugh! Your e-mail couldn’t have come at a worse time! My 15 year old cat pooped on our bathroom rug yesterday right in front of me. I am hoping that it was just a sign of stress with the big party we had over the weekend and is not an indication of something worse to come. We have a 12 year old cat as well, since our first boy came home, he has been excessivly grooming and only has about half his hair left. It is an aweful sight. Hopefully our second baby won’t be the straw that broke the kitty’s back. I am dreading making that decision. I know my sister would probably take one if it came to that…..
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I’m so sorry – that is so hard. We’ve been worrying about having 3 dogs and two kids in a 2 bedroom house, but it breaks my heart to think of getting rid of any of the dogs. I guess we’ll see how it goes, but it is important to make the best decision for your family, which is exactly what you’re doing. It’s still hard though.
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I’m so sorry! What a hard thing to have to do.
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I’m sorry, honey. We always adopt our animals from shelters and prefer the older ones, so hopefully they’ll both find a home that works for them. Our first dog as a couple came from a no kill shelter–he was 5 and had doggy glaucoma (pannis) and was a sorta scary looking German Shephard/Husky mix. He’d been surrendered by a family that had 5 kids under the age of 5 who was moving abroad. Their loss was totally our gain, he was the greatest dog ever. He passed away right before Amelie came home. We were living in Boulder when we adopted him and actually ran into his previous owners at a gear show after we’d had him about a year (they were back from abroad). We had a nice chat. Giving up a pet isn’t an easy decision, but sometimes it’s best for the animal AND you. So step off your soapbox, Tara! No need to be judgey McJudgerson.
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Tara–don’t sit in your little corner of the internet and judge me. I loved those cats and they were part of the family–but they were shitting in my kids beds. We tried for nearly a month to help the adjust and to fix the problem. To no avail. It was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time. But my kids have to come first. We are animal lovers here at this house and will continue to be. They were rescue kitties and I hope that they find a home.
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That must have been a difficult decision. We just went through a traumatic event with one of our furry family members and it’s awful. I hope that your little kitties do find a new home and that the vet lets you know so that your mind can be put to rest on their well being.
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I have been concerned with how our pack of wild animals, aka our 3 jack russell terriers, will deal with a child in the house but the cat never crossed my mind.
I am going to think positively and assume that we have already traumatized him all that we can with the 3 dogs and 4 moves since we’ve had him, and that he is fully numb. Fingers crossed.
Sorry, that would kill me, but shitting in the beds and the cat pee that probably came with that is hard. I had a cat in college that just would NOT stop peeing on things and I finally left him with my grandmother who I am not fond of. They have had a great relationship ever since. Go figure!!! They must have bonded over their mutual issues with me.
Sorry for the extra long comment!!!!
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