I feel bad, but I really want to get rid of our cats

[Anonymous]

My stupid pets get on my nerves and it seems like they always need something- including needing me to wipe the poo from their behinds.

That said, it was *my* choice to adopt them, so while I grumble, I could never be callous enough to give them away.

[Anonymous]

PPs, prior to having kids was your cat your sun, moon and stars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we adopted these two cats as kittens about eight years ago. they've never outgrown their kitten phase. they're very energetic and mischievous. they have their annoying habits, as any pets do. one of them likes to scratch up our arm chair. one of them howls if we shut him out of our bedroom. (sometimes you just don't want a cat in your bedroom, you know?) We have child locks on our cabinets and doors not for our kids, but for our cats, who can open both and pull stuff out. when they puke (as cats do), it's always in the worst places -- on our couch and the area rugs, where it is the hardest to clean. (why can't they go for the hardwood or tile floors?) they track litter everywhere. and no amount of brushing their fur prevents huge amounts of fur coating everything we own.

I know this is normal cat behavior. and it's not the cats' fault. but I am sick of it. I spent hours per week cleaning up after the cats -- between the fur, litter box, litter all over the house and puke. I've really begun to resent them. I'd rather spend quality time with my kids than use up any free time cleaning up after the cats. when I get home from a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is clean a big gooey hairball off the couch.

in my dreams some nice family comes along and takes the cats away.

thanks for letting me vent.

Do you get any enjoyment or companionship from these cats? I once lived with a cat [my roomate's] and it didn't do any of this. She did the litter and it always went in the box and I also fed and did the the water. When she went away I did the litter. it was a Siamese. Coincidentally i cared for a neighbor's cat as a child and it was also a Siamese and did none of this also.

[Anonymous]

I FIXED THE PUKING PROBLEM-PLEASE READ!!

My cat puked all over the place, it was such problem, she spent much time in our unfinished basement or outside. A friend had the same problem, but found a solution, the problem was the cat's food.

I switched food to a 100% animal protien diet. NO FILLERS AT ALL, not a drop of corn or any other vegetable. I use WELLNESS brand and it is expensive, but has completely eliminated the puking.

There are only a handful of 100% protien brands out there, you cannot find it in a grocery store, you can only find this quality food in a specialty pet food store, and Petco (Maybe PetSmart too, but I've never checked).

At least this should help with the vomit, give it a try for a month, you might be suprised at the drastic change.

[Anonymous]

contact the feline foundation of washington.

they rehomed my two cats when allergies got too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I FIXED THE PUKING PROBLEM-PLEASE READ!!

My cat puked all over the place, it was such problem, she spent much time in our unfinished basement or outside. A friend had the same problem, but found a solution, the problem was the cat's food.

I switched food to a 100% animal protien diet. NO FILLERS AT ALL, not a drop of corn or any other vegetable. I use WELLNESS brand and it is expensive, but has completely eliminated the puking.

There are only a handful of 100% protien brands out there, you cannot find it in a grocery store, you can only find this quality food in a specialty pet food store, and Petco (Maybe PetSmart too, but I've never checked).

At least this should help with the vomit, give it a try for a month, you might be suprised at the drastic change.

How bad does your house smell? We tried this and their shit was so horrid we went back to regular.

[Anonymous]

Why the hell did you people ever get cats to start with? Sounds like some terrible people are posting on here.

I have a cat - sometimes he knocks things over, he often gets into trash and such. But when I adopted him I was making a commitment to care for him his whole life. Your cat should not be puking that frequently - what kind of lowgrade food are you feeding him?

What kind of example are you setting for your kids? That animals are disposable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:contact the feline foundation of washington.

they rehomed my two cats when allergies got too much.

How old were your cats and what were their issues?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I FIXED THE PUKING PROBLEM-PLEASE READ!!

My cat puked all over the place, it was such problem, she spent much time in our unfinished basement or outside. A friend had the same problem, but found a solution, the problem was the cat's food.

I switched food to a 100% animal protien diet. NO FILLERS AT ALL, not a drop of corn or any other vegetable. I use WELLNESS brand and it is expensive, but has completely eliminated the puking.

There are only a handful of 100% protien brands out there, you cannot find it in a grocery store, you can only find this quality food in a specialty pet food store, and Petco (Maybe PetSmart too, but I've never checked).

At least this should help with the vomit, give it a try for a month, you might be suprised at the drastic change.

How bad does your house smell? We tried this and their shit was so horrid we went back to regular.

You are right, the food does stink. We have an unfinished basement and keep the food and litter down there. We also store the food in an air tight container. My cat is inside/outside and prefers to go to the bathroom outside, so the litter is not much of an issue.

I'd rather have stinky food than the puke. The puking my cat was doing was excessive and I was at the point where I wanted to find her a new home.

[Anonymous]

I can completely relate. My cat is 12 years old, and basically refuses to poop in her litterbox - ever. We clean the box every day. We have taken her to the vet numerous times. We have tried medication, different foods. Nothing changes. She has never been the friendliest of cats, but with the current state of things, she is a complete drain that gives almost nothing back in terms of love and companionship. No, we're not going to give her to a shelter or put her down, but I do wish she could just magically go away and live with someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the hell did you people ever get cats to start with? Sounds like some terrible people are posting on here.

I have a cat - sometimes he knocks things over, he often gets into trash and such. But when I adopted him I was making a commitment to care for him his whole life. Your cat should not be puking that frequently - what kind of lowgrade food are you feeding him?

What kind of example are you setting for your kids? That animals are disposable?

Oh give me a break. First of all, no one has said they are breaking that committment, they are just venting. And if you fail to see the difference in knocking things over and completely ruining the house then there isn't much anyone can say. I am the PP with cats peeing and pooping everywhere, and I have owned and largely taken care of cats for 27 years. There is a difference in normal cat bad behavior and this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we adopted these two cats as kittens about eight years ago. they've never outgrown their kitten phase. they're very energetic and mischievous. they have their annoying habits, as any pets do. one of them likes to scratch up our arm chair. one of them howls if we shut him out of our bedroom. (sometimes you just don't want a cat in your bedroom, you know?) We have child locks on our cabinets and doors not for our kids, but for our cats, who can open both and pull stuff out. when they puke (as cats do), it's always in the worst places -- on our couch and the area rugs, where it is the hardest to clean. (why can't they go for the hardwood or tile floors?) they track litter everywhere. and no amount of brushing their fur prevents huge amounts of fur coating everything we own.

I know this is normal cat behavior. and it's not the cats' fault. but I am sick of it. I spent hours per week cleaning up after the cats -- between the fur, litter box, litter all over the house and puke. I've really begun to resent them. I'd rather spend quality time with my kids than use up any free time cleaning up after the cats. when I get home from a long day of work, the last thing I want to do is clean a big gooey hairball off the couch.

in my dreams some nice family comes along and takes the cats away.

thanks for letting me vent.

Really? Hours? I have 2 long-haired cats, a dog (all of whom shed) and work full time. And, I don't spend "hours" cleaning up fur, vomit, or cat litter. I think youre exaggerating for sympathy.

You adopted them. It is your responsibility, even thought it is not convenient. Sorry, no sympathy here.

[Anonymous]

I hate cats.

[Anonymous]

It is your responsibility, even thought it is not convenient.

She knows that. She's just wishing that this wasn't the case and venting.

[Anonymous]

OP here --

Yes, this was a vent. I wasn't saying I was running off to the shelter to give them back.

Unfortunately we can't change the food. They're both prone to crystals in their urine, so they eat prescription cat food. That food doesn't seem to make them puke more than other food. As far as I understand, some cats just puke more than others.

We can't put the litter box in the basement, because we don't have one. We live in an apartment -- which also means no access to a back yard.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I spend hours a week. It's about 20 to 30 minutes a day (not always all at once).

The cat I had before these two was so low-maintenance. I barely had to do anything. He did not puke everywhere, track litter everywhere, shed everywhere. He didn't destroy anything. He didn't dig dirt out of our plants or knock over the garbage can or walk all over the kitchen counters (ew!) or any of the crazy things my current cats do. If I had two cats like my previous cat, it would be a piece of cake.

Again, I'm just venting here. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets as frustrated as I do!