Is It Wrong To Rehome A Pet You Can't Handle?

I have a cat. Her name is Chimera. I love her to death and she loves me. A lot. In fact she has terrible separation anxiety. She will not let me out of her site or get out of my lap, off of my shoulders (she's like a big furry parrot.)

This may sound like a dream. A cat? Who never leaves you alone? Well, it's becoming tiresome. I've had her for 5 years and her anxiety barely budges. She pees and poops on everything and I've tried everything I could think of. I know this is a territory thing , our home has a lot of traffic. And this does not help her anxiety in the least bit. I've given her her own room, no other animals besides fish are allowed in here and she still pees and poops everywhere.

I work in this room, I'm a commissioned artist. my space is my bread and butter. It's making me not want to come into my space anymore. The smell is awful. I've used deterrents. I've used calming sprays. I've used CBD oil formulated for cats. I can't afford cat anxiety prescriptions at this time and I feel extremely guilty.


I think Chimera is a great animal, and has an extremely loving soul. I really wish she could go to someone who can cherish and love her the way she deserves and can give her the proper care she needs. Underneath her anxiety she's funny, sweet, a little nuts and has a big personality. She really lives up to her name.


Has anyone been in a similar situation ? It breaks my heart to do this but I'm really at my breaking point. I really do believe it's what would be the best for the both of us. I want another cat some day , but I'm definitely waiting until I'm ready and can provide a fulfilling life for them.

 

yes ive had animals with issues of their own that can be/are hard to handle. sometimes you can't do anything about it since they are not something simple or easy especially if you don't know what do to do or can't afford to do it. although its difficult sometimes its for the best to find them a home that can provide them with what they need and want if you yourself cant.

 

I had a cat that did this, we put him on elavil (maybe $20 a month, max) and it cured most everything... occasionally had a displaced pee, but it was only once every few months. (Many times in my shoes...ugh!)

Currently have a ~15 yr old three legged dog, Cushings disease, heart murmur, deaf, severely arthritic. My life since nov has been carrying her in/out for the bathroom (when she's not having an accident which recently is daily) etc... however, she still perks up when she smells food, and is interested in watching everything around her. While part of me is ready to say goodbye, unfortunaley/fortunately I don't feel she is ready yet.

Poor us

Rehoming- total personal preference... not to make it harder, but most adult animals don't get re-adopted.... then there are those with incontinence issues... we could imagine where they are on that list... would you adopt her with that description????

All that being said, medication may cure her current issues, and in many cases if you can't provide adequately for an animal then rehoming is a good option (think goldfish... can't buy pond??? Return to lfs) it's trying to do what's best for the animal...

You need to do what you are comfortable with... if you feel another home is a good option for both of you I say go for it...maybe in a couple of years when your situation is more stable you can adopt an older rescue with medical issues in exchange

 

No there's nothing wrong with that. Weird I never heard of a cat just using the bathroom anywhere. I wouldn't have been able to deal with that for a year let alone 5. Is she spayed?

 

We have a dog that can't be left home alone or she tears up the house. As long as both dogs or someone is home shes fine. We found this out when we took the other dog to tbe vet and she was home alone. I couldn't imagine rehoming her but your cats issues seem worse.

 

Have you taken it to the vet to make sure there isn't something else going on? Bladder infection, acidic urine, etc? Typically animals won't go to the bathroom where they know they have to sleep. Anxiety I have seen, but the bathroom thing is strange.

 

Just re the meds topic: fluoxetine (generic Prozac), often administered to cats with anxiety and litter box aversion, is maybe $0.20-$0.50 a day filled at a regular pharmacy in the US depending upon the dosage. It can be very effective. I just want to mention that in case the cost-prohibitive factor is based on a vet's cost to fill the rx, which would be highly inflated.

 

Just re the meds topic: fluoxetine (generic Prozac), often administered to cats with anxiety and litter box aversion, is maybe $0.20-$0.50 a day filled at a regular pharmacy in the US depending upon the dosage. It can be very effective. I just want to mention that in case the cost-prohibitive factor is based on a vet's cost to fill the rx, which would be highly inflated.

Really? Now that's interesting. I never knew you could go to the pharmacy to fill pet prescriptions but it makes sense now that you mention it.

 

Have you taken it to the vet to make sure there isn't something else going on? Bladder infection, acidic urine, etc? Typically animals won't go to the bathroom where they know they have to sleep. Anxiety I have seen, but the bathroom thing is strange.

I haven't taken her for bladder issues, I never really thought of it. I thought it was all anxiety based. I'll definitely get her to a vet when I can to get her checked out. I can't afford a vet right now which is my biggest reason for considering rehoming

 

If you can't afford vet care then I think it's worth considering rehoming her. Lots of issues are detected first through annual check-ups, blood work, and urinalysis, so it's possible there's an underlying medical condition causing the behavior if hers are overdue.

With issues like this you first want to rule out medical issues, then you consider behavioral and psychological issues.

If you can find the money to catch her up on her wellness check and blood and urine tests then at least you'd have an idea of what you're dealing with. A vet appointment like that would be $150-$200 at my vet's office, done once a year.

 

Here's an update if anyone is curious, we just got back from the vet. She almost has a clean bill of health. She has flea allergies and was given a prescription and a steroid shot. They took a stool sample to check for parasites. She has mammary growths which also was taken a sample of. I'll be taking her to get fixed and (hopefully) get the growths removed and sent off for additional testing. They gave me wipes to help with her anxiety as they didn't want to medicate her just yet. I don't think I'll be rehoming her now. Thanks to everyone for your advice it's been extremely helpful.

 

Here's an update if anyone is curious, we just got back from the vet. She almost has a clean bill of health. She has flea allergies and was given a prescription and a steroid shot. They took a stool sample to check for parasites. She has mammary growths which also was taken a sample of. I'll be taking her to get fixed and (hopefully) get the growths removed and sent off for additional testing. They gave me wipes to help with her anxiety as they didn't want to medicate her just yet. I don't think I'll be rehoming her now. Thanks to everyone for your advice it's been extremely helpful.

That’s great news, I was just catching up on this post, I truly hope she will be fine and you can help her and keep her, it seems she’s as attached to you as you are to her....you say “getting her fixed,” does this mean spayed? Maybe that’s the problem all along...yay! Keep us posted. Good luck.

 

If she wasn't spayed before, spaying will probably help with a lot of the issues you've been seeing.

I feel for you. I have three dogs, two of which have TERRIBLE separation anxiety. I don't know what I'd do if they were pottying all over the house. I love my babies but seriously, there are some things that aren't okay.

I also had a cat when I was a teenager who refused to go potty in the litter box. Some of it was anxiety based as she was afraid of literally everything except me, so any time my parents or dogs or other cats were around she would freak out and hide under my bed for hours.

I'm glad your girl seems to be doing better now

 

She isn't spayed so the vet told me that might be the problem too! I've gotten her a heating pad I keep next to my chair and that helps a lot with the wanting to be on me all the time. I've also started crating her at night to 1. Create a safe space for her and 2.so there's no accidents to wake up to. she's starting to get a little better each day. She having been itching either (yay!) I'll be calling low cost spay and neuter clinics this morning and see if they won't take care of the growths while preforming surgery (fingers crossed)

My parents hate this cat and don't understand why I'm going through all of this for her but I've come too far to give up now.

 

She isn't spayed so the vet told me that might be the problem too! I've gotten her a heating pad I keep next to my chair and that helps a lot with the wanting to be on me all the time. I've also started crating her at night to 1. Create a safe space for her and 2.so there's no accidents to wake up to. she's starting to get a little better each day. She having been itching either (yay!) I'll be calling low cost spay and neuter clinics this morning and see if they won't take care of the growths while preforming surgery (fingers crossed)

My parents hate this cat and don't understand why I'm going through all of this for her but I've come too far to give up now.

Yay! The fact that she isn’t spayed hay have been the problem. I know what it’s like. I have two dogs, my oldest (14) can barely walk on his legs (they go out from under him) he is constantly having health issues and he pees more inside then out. But he stills loves food and is super playful so my mom can’t let him go. Looks like things r looking better for the both of u! Hooray

 

Yay! The fact that she isn’t spayed hay have been the problem. I know what it’s like. I have two dogs, my oldest (14) can barely walk on his legs (they go out from under him) he is constantly having health issues and he pees more inside then out. But he stills loves food and is super playful so my mom can’t let him go. Looks like things r looking better for the both of u! Hooray

Aww , I understand how that is. My childhood dog was a black lab who was hit by a car and shattered her hips, as she got older they kept getting worst along with the hip problems labs are predisposed to. We couldn't put her down until she literally couldn't walk anymore and had no quality of life. It was really hard to come to terms with. I wish you and your pups the best of luck!

 

We can take on some tough situations, and it's good to sort out solutions if there are any. Expensive, but good. There are some interesting pointers here.
All my fish are incontinent, but that is another reason why they are easier than pet mammals. But they aren't as affectionate as my old dog, or your cat...

 

Can you tough-love her out of it? Make her spend a few minutes on her own and gradually increase the length? Don't pay her as much attention. Ignore her more. Get her a little cubby hole that's all hers. Maybe your vet knows an animal psychiatrist, if there is such a thing. I personally would exhaust all avenues before rehoming.

 

Can you tough-love her out of it? Make her spend a few minutes on her own and gradually increase the length? Don't pay her as much attention. Ignore her more. Get her a little cubby hole that's all hers. Maybe your vet knows an animal psychiatrist, if there is such a thing. I personally would exhaust all avenues before rehoming.

I'm not going to rehome her anymore as long as her health issues don't start getting worst. The heating pad really helps for the neediness she has and she sleeps in a crate at night from now on. The litter thing is still an issue but she's getting closer to the litter box. I'm gonna try getting her a new one and use corn cob litter because when I had that she went in the box more often.

 

Be careful with the heating pad. Some cats will start to need it with their claws. I would put a towel or something on it and keep nails trimmed. I have seen meds cheaper at human chain stores, example Cub, Target, walgreens. Wish you luck