Rehoming? :(

[Sianne_and_Alice]

We signed the lease for the new place, and the landlady said she didn't care how many cats we had. Well then after we signed the lease she said as long as we didn't have more than three it was fine.

We have four......

So now we have 2 days to rehome one of the cats. I already rehomed two others a few months ago because we knew we had too many. So now we have to make the choice.

I know it can't be Alice, she's my baby, she's my soul kitten and I can't part with her. Ever she's too dear to me. And no one has even mentioned it.

So is it Alex, Cutie or Dita who goes?

Alex is a 16 year old ginger tabby, he's my husbands cat and came with Jon when he moved in. Alex is in good health except being a bit fat and having some arthritis. He eats and everything (though he has had a few accidents in the last few months) and he gets along with any cat he's put with. Even Alice who tries to play with him. But he's a food hog and Dita smacks him around a lot (she's never actually hurt him she just doesn't want to share her bed or food).

Cutie, is also 16, she came with me from California when I moved to Utah. She was born in my room when I was four years old, we owned her mom. She has NEVER lived with anyone else. She's lived in this house with us for the last 13 years and I don't know if she'd be able to adapt to anyone else. She's mostly healthy except for being thin and seeming disoriented sometimes. But she plays and runs just fine.

Dita, well Dita's the other Sphynx. She's 11 years old. I adopted her 6 months ago. And I know she's the obvious candidate because she and Alice hate each other. But Dita still has the URI she had when I brought her home, she may also have a heart murmur. She plays and cuddles a lot, and she's really close to my mom. And I'm scared she'll end up in a home where someone wouldn't love her, just use her to show off. She's 11 years old and sick, the vet doesn't know what's wrong with her but she's not dying or anything, she does everything normal. But who will take an old cat that has a special diet, heart murmur and URI's that never go away?

If it's Cutie or Alex I know they are old and had good lives, so I would feel a little less bad about giving them to a friend who runs a shelter (no kill) but I'd still cry, a lot. Hell I'm crying as I write this. It's not easy.

My mom is really close to Dita and to Cutie, but knows that Cutie will pass away sooner. She thinks maybe we should just put Cutie to sleep, because we don't want her to feel abandoned. And before you think she's being mean, my mom doesn't want to do it, she cried. She NEVER cries, but we know that Cutie wouldn't understand. Hell I don't even understand.....And if it's Cutie, then Dita will be here for mom.

This is just too hard, someone tell me what to do? Someone tell me what's the right thing? Please. I 'm too emotional to choose. Someone be logical for me.

 

[holly_savage]

This must be horrible for you. I can't tell you what to do, but if there is no one you trust to take one in, and/or they just couldn't adjust to new surroundings, maybe being PTS is a more kind thing to do for the elderly cat. Not that I am advocating euthanasia as a first choice, but rationally, if there are no other options, I could totally understand it.

 

[holly_savage]

This must be horrible for you. I can't tell you what to do, but if there is no one you trust to take one in, and/or they just couldn't adjust to new surroundings, maybe being PTS is a more kind thing to do for the elderly cat. Not that I am advocating euthanasia as a first choice, but rationally, if there are no other options, I could totally understand it.

 

[MissMySphynxBoys]

Oh Sianne, my heart is breaking for you. What a horrible position to be put in. Has your husband given any input? Do you have any friends with no other pets that might be able to take in an older cat?

 

[Diesel]

WHAT !!!!!!!!!!! I can't help you. I only know what I WOULDN'T/COULDN'T do.

 

[ckutkuhn7]

Oh I'm so sorry, this has to a horrible situation. I had to rehome my furr babies when I moved in with my boyfriend (he is VERY allergic to cat hair) and it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Luckily they all went to friends of friends but it was so hard letting go.
Getting Snuffie kept me from a deep depression I was slipping into.

Get input from the family you live with. Decide together. Hunt like hell to find a good home. Contact your vets office and ask if you can put up a flyer to help find a new home. Contact your shelter and find out if they have a no kill program. Just trying to think of everything that could possibly bring answers. Post an ad on Craigslist but screen those who reply. Goodluck. I can't believe the landlord is changing her mind like that now. I'm so sorry.

 

[Jennifer]

Thats hard to rehome a older kitty. Both are 16, They only have a few more years left. I wish the landlord would let you keep them, but no more cats. I am sorry to hear that.

 

[pooner]

Maybe you can talk to the landlady about the situation and age of the cats. Let her know that if one passes on you won't get another. So sorry you have to try and make such a hard choice .

 

[Nofuratu]

Um dont tell the landlady you have 4???
Seriously, I know rental laws are different all over the place but when I had to go through this with renting 3 times, I just told the landlord I had whatever amount of pets was allowed, and didnt say we had more!
My husband was worried about it, but I was like "prove we have more than the limit!"
The landlord cant go into your apartment without 24 hrs notice!!!
that gives you plenty of time to get one to a friends house or hide one in a closet!!

Most non pet people cant tell the difference between one cat or another, so its doubtful she will notice you have 4 and she is not supposed to be around your apartment anyway!!!
There are such things as privacy laws!!!
Ive even told a landlord I was catsitting once, when it was really my own pet.
Seriously I would just move and not worry about it. They have to prove it, what are they going to do, stand outside your apartment and count the carriers that come in?
Put two in one carrier then!!
Sorry to sounds so mad and aggressive, its just that landlords really piss me off with this sort of thing, and I think you are being forced to stress out and even having to conisder getting rid of a senior cat is horrible for you to have to do!!!!
So just sneak them in, and know your rights for privacy in your area, and if you do get caught just say you are pet sitting, and deal with that IF it happens!

My friend kept a cat in his tiny dorm room when he was away at school for a year, and when they had dorm inspection he would put her in the closet with her litterbox, LOL. He never got caught.

Your landlord wont know the difference between 3 and 4....some owners dont even know the difference!
Stop stressing your poor self out! Keep your chin up and tell the landlord you have 3, and if you allready said you have 4, then tell her you got rid of one!

 

[Big Hoss]

Um dont tell the landlady you have 4???

That's what I was going to say. How would she know 4 from 3? Is she in your house everyday? I bet she would never know the difference.

 

[TotenEngel]

That's what I was going to say. How would she know 4 from 3? Is she in your house everyday? I bet she would never know the difference.

thats what I was gonna say lol

Wish you were UK/I was US, I would have no problems taking on another ginger boy!

 

[linepp]

Whew! I'm glad Nofuratu replied. I was thinking the same thing, move in anyway, and do your utmost to keep the REAL number of kitties secret. It would be impossible for me to make a choice in your situation. IMPOSSIBLE. I wish you the best!!

 

[Nofuratu]

I forgot to add...if the plan works well,
your landlord will either never find out,
or she will find out months later after she has discovered that you are good tenents!
So pay your rent on time, keep the place nice....
most landlords are happy to have good tenents and wont boot you out over an extra cat .....I think they would be happy to use it as an excuse if you partied too loud after 10 pm or put holes in the walls...LOL
Cheer up!

 

[ckutkuhn7]

Very good idea Noforatu!!

 

[susi794]

I WOULD MOVE RIGHT IN WITH ALL FOUR OF THEM. Nofuratu is right! Don't put anybody down over this...just be great tenants and your landlord will never know the difference.

 

[abbyknitter]

I would keep them all too. Go for it

 

[gizmo6370]

Um dont tell the landlady you have 4???

 

[monkeybuttz]

That's what I was going to say. How would she know 4 from 3? Is she in your house everyday? I bet she would never know the difference.

I totally agree! And besides, cant this be one of thoses situation where what she doesnt know wont hurt her? LOL

 

[Marnasobsession]

My philosophy is after 2 whats one more!(one my hubby does not share). I have a couple spare rooms if you need Mary if you end up homeless.

 

[Melonie]

I have lived in this house for over 2 years with 5 cats. I am allowed one. The ONLY problem I had was them sitting in window sills which I remedied with tinfoil. I keep my house clean ALL the time, and make sure the house never smells like cat. If I get an unexpected knock on the door I open a can of cat food and they will all run into my son's room and be quiet and eat. We have it down to a science in this house!

 

[tessblack]

Oh i would sneak the 4th. No way I could give one away.

 

[my_fuzzel]

I wouldnt even consider rehoming, sneak one
My friend snuck an english bulldog in his apartment for his entire year lease, if a big loud smelly baby can be invisible to the landlord.. I am sure a sweet senior kitty can too
Good luck!

 

[Sianne_and_Alice]

Oh Sianne, my heart is breaking for you. What a horrible position to be put in. Has your husband given any input? Do you have any friends with no other pets that might be able to take in an older cat?

I've asked most everyone I know. But they either can't have cats, don't like cats, or don't want an old cat. I asked the IT guy at my work if he'd take Alex, and he's thinking about it. I can't blame him if he doesn't, but he's a crazy cat guy and Alex would like him I think. So everyone cross your fingers for me and say a prayer (if it's your thing, good vibes are good too).

 

[Sianne_and_Alice]

My philosophy is after 2 whats one more!(one my hubby does not share). I have a couple spare rooms if you need Mary if you end up homeless.

Aww that's so sweet! Let's home I don't end up homeless though.

 

[fracturedcircle]

ok... I'm sorry I'm going to sound harsh, what with being new on the forum and all, but I'm afraid that the "kill an animal to spare him the trouble" view makes me cringe. look, I have an aging terminally ill hedgehog who will need to be rehomed this year because I'm moving to another country and having him quarantined would be really awful. but I'm absolutely willing to drive him to another state to give him to a wonderful person or I *will* waive the friggin' quarantine for him.