I am unwillingly inheriting a cat.
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Anonymous
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I love cats but honestly, yes, they can be plenty of work. Indoor/outdoor cats will often not take well to being suddenly kept indoors. And frankly I think it's cruel if they're used to being able to roam; how would any of you like suddenly being trapped inside all the time? Getting Flowers in the Attic flashbacks here. And litterboxes are gross and a pain, even for a cat lover who voluntarily and willingly adopts one!
I feel for you OP. You're clearly a nice person, your concerns are valid, and you are completely within your rights not to take this cat that your selfish sibling and mother have now both elected to take on then casually abandon. (Gee, I wonder where your sibling got the idea it was ok to just abandon animals came from? There's a no-brainer.) However I bet if you post on NextDoor or Craigslist or a place like that you'll find someone eager and willing to adopt a good-natured cat like this. Your mom should be doing this but you'll probably find a better home for it, if you're willing to take that on. |
Anonymous
You must be single w/ no kids... Multiple kids, two full time jobs, feeding family (and the cat)... my hands are full. Then you wait until cats get old and saying goodbye. They are little work if you let them out and let them do whatever/whenever. Otherwise, it is a lot of work. |
Anonymous
| Tell your mom you will take the cat for 1 month. Then you will be bringing the cat to her new place or taking it to the shelter. Mom's choice. |
Anonymous
| It sounds like you want to help out but don't want more work. Cats are very little work compared to dogs. If you take the cat do not let it be indoor/outdoor. It's not healthy or safe for the cat and it could easily get lost in new surroundings and finding a lost pet is also a ton of work. You will be doing the cat a huge service by making it indoors only. The time to do this transition is now when it's first moving in with you--not later when it's learned what the deal is at your house. Indoor only cats cost less to maintain because they do not need flea protection or a couple of extra vaccines/tests that outdoor cats do. He will get used to the new environment soon enough. Decide where you want the cat's main area to be and put a pet heating pad there. Cats love heat and will almost always choose a heated spot over anything else. You don't let your three year old out to roam the neighborhood because it's fun--don't let the cat do it either--neither one is capable of knowing what's best. Just say no when he goes to the door and he will learn soon enough. If you really want to make an enriching environment put a tall cat tree by a window. |
Anonymous
Some do, some don't. From what I have seen the litter robot is one of the better designs. The scoop free is not quite as nice, but a lot of people still use them. The cat genie seems as if it would be a good idea, but, there were some issues when I looked at them a few years back. Not sure if those have been corrected or not. The biggest issue with any of them, though, is convincing the cat that it is a good idea, and on that front, you might as well get the toilet training kit and teach it to use the human toilet. You'll need to flush it of course, because teaching a cat to flush is a terrible idea … |
Anonymous
| Your neighbors don’t want a cat on their property and you aren’t in a position to keep it on your own property, so that’s a hard no. |
Anonymous
| Can you agree to keep the cat until your mother settles, and then the cat goes right back to her? |
Anonymous
Compared to a dog they be very little work but they still require effort. Plus their litter boxes can stink. |
Anonymous
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You should ask this poster to introduce you to her neighbor:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/862948.page |
Anonymous
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+1 to keeping KittyDog indoors (in one room to start). And also to the deal that you can give the cat to a new home if you find one.
The cat will adapt to indoors and the litter box easily. I recommend the Breeze litterbox. If you scoop daily it won't smell. But yeah, your sibling sucks for being so irresponsible. I agree that it's why the young and footloose should not have pets. |
Anonymous
It’s cruel and deadly to let your non-native cat loose to “roam” on our native mammals and birds, some of which are actually going extinct. OP is doing the right thing by planning to keep the cat inside (if she takes it). All cats belong inside. |
Anonymous
The cat will die. Your kids will love the cat. Cats are so wonderful and relaxing and bring so much joy. You can totally keep the cat indoor and not let go out at all.He will used to it fast and better a cat that is alive and at home then free cat that is dead. Cats adjust to circumstances. They are such a wonderful creatures and the upkeep is minimal. You can order food and kitty litter online and you dont' have to clean litter daily, ust scoop the stuff every two days and add litter as needed and wash box as needed never use ammonia as this mixed with urine is deadly. Cat is a gift. It is coming to you in a strange way but gift non the less. Imagine him being lonely in a cage, waiting to be adopted.. nobody wants adult cats, they want kittens. He will get killed. The cat and his trusting innocent soul.. he will love you till the end and once he will be gone dead, you will miss him so much... Please make a room in your home and in your heart for him. Look into his eyes, innocent, pure loving eyes, and think how sad they would be when they shelter people will kill him and dump on the pile of cold bodies .. this happens all the time.. Heart breaking. save a life.. now. |
Anonymous
| Join the club. DD got a cat first year in college, but it would not let her sleep. Wife took it in, got a second cat to keep the first cat company, and here we are eight years later. I hate cats. Cats are filthy. Their litter stinks. |
Anonymous
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I had few cats through my life. NONE and EVER was allowed outside. The outdoor cars live on average 3 years, the indoor cats live 15. The outdoor cats bring dead mice and birds home and can make you sick.
So NO, no outdoors. Once he will be well adjusted to you, you can open the door as you sit outside and let him out as you relax and he will hang around you and not go anywhere, and then you both got in. This is different then living outside and roaming. Cat will adjust and will get used to you and your habits. They are creatures of habit and they are soo funny.. great for your emotional well being. You will see. It is great companion and brings life to the house. It is a heart of the house that you never knew you needed and you will miss if it will be gone. |
Anonymous
| I love dogs. |