Unfriendly cats?

When DH and I first moved in together 2 years ago, I brought home 3 tiny kittens- a pound each- that were suffering from severe eye infections. We brought them to the vet and nursed them back to health. A couple of months later, DH brought home a full-grown, but young kitten that was abandoned and taken in by the vet. He took it the day he brought the others to get fixed.

Anyway, we have had these cats for almost 2 years now. They have full run of the apartment, plenty of room, always have food and water and fresh litter boxes...

Only one of them (Boots) is affectionate and loving. She lets us pet her and will sometimes lay with DH and I when we are in bed. Every morning she runs to our bay window by the door to bid us farewell with a pur and watches out the window as we leave. She kind of does her own thing and while she isn't enemies with the other cats, they sometimes swat at her and she doesn't hang out with them. She likes us better.

Another (Sunny) will allow us to pet him once in awhile- but more often than not, he runs away from us.

The third one (Priscilla) is the one DH brought home from the vet. I think I have gotten to touch her maybe 5 times in the last 2 years. She runs away from us everytime we go near her. She always calls for Sunny and they are best friends and run around together.

The fourth is the worst. He lost his eye from the bad infection. He is not friendly with any of the other cats OR DH and I. I have not touched him since he was only a pound and I took care of him. If he ever ventures out from under the bed, the second you step foot within 15 feet of him- he runs back under. All you have to do is look at him.

I know it's my own fault for taking in these cats- but I sincerely felt awful for them. They were so tiny and so sick- I just had to help.

At this point, DH and I don't even LIKE the last two I talked about and the second one is only tolerable.

All they do is sh*t and eat. And throw up. It's not even like we get affection in return for taking care of them and cleaning up after them.

Now I am pregnant and am seriously considering giving them up. It's breaking my heart because I feel awful separating them, but I don't know what else to do. I don't want them getting resentful and peeing on the baby's stuff (which they've done to us before) and I know this all sounds awful because I am one who gets annoyed by people who love their pets and then get rid of them when their baby comes...but I am seriously at a loss here.

Anyone have any words of wisdom for me?


ETA:

These cats have actually BODY SLAMMED doors to get away from us. THAT'S how bad it is.

Message edited 3/20/2009 4:52:06 PM.

Re: Unfriendly cats?

I am very against people giving up there pets when a baby comes also.. But honestly I really could understand how you feel.. My question is what would happen to them? can you rehome them? Do you know anyone that would give them a home.. I cant see sending them to a pound from a warm home that they have been living in since they were a pound.. KWIM?

Re: Unfriendly cats?

I have the meanest cat on earth. I kid you not. It is the joke of my family and friends. She lets me pet her maybe twice a year and even then, halfway through she decides she hates me, her fur stands up on end and she hisses at me.

I grappled with the same issue when I was PG. I decided to just wait it out and see how I felt when the baby was born. When Alex was born nothing really changed. Thankfully my cat, puddles, just leaves us alone, and we do the same for her. We just mutually co-exist.

Since the day Alex could understand I've explained to her that puddles is not nice and that she cannot touch her, and she's never tried. In fact, if puddles gets too close to her she cries, which scares the cat away anyway.

My suggestion - wait until the baby comes. You may find that it won't really affect how you feel one way or another and you can continue to co-exist with the unfriendlier cats

Re: Unfriendly cats?

Re: Unfriendly cats?

Posted by JennyPenny

Posted by dilb712

I am very against people giving up there pets when a baby comes also.. But honestly I really could understand how you feel.. My question is what would happen to them? can you rehome them? Do you know anyone that would give them a home.. I cant see sending them to a pound from a warm home that they have been living in since they were a pound.. KWIM?

I would NEVER put them in a pound. I could just never find it in my heart to do that to them.

I don't know what i'm gonna do.

Re: Unfriendly cats?

if you do decide to "get rid of them" i'd suggest re-homing as opposed to a pound. honestly it MIGHT even be better for them if you find a home that's willing to take them in and work with them - maybe work with some of their issues, etc. i'd keep the two best friends together though - they probably need each other (i'm a big softee).

it'd probably be a lot of hard work though. if it were me i'd be interviewing every one who expressed interest, have them filling out applications, calling the vet for recommendations, etc. we adopted out 6 kittens we fostered one and it took me months to find all of them homes because i was ridiculously thorough with where they went.

it's a tough situation to be in and i'm one of those people that hates when people get rid of animals because of baby too, but if you think it's be better for everyone (cats included) then maybe start looking and see what's out there.

at least the cats aren't aggressive, right?

Re: Unfriendly cats?

Jenn,

I totally understand your pain and not wanting to give up pets, but you do have to worry about your baby, because the last two you mentioned sound like feral cats. It is hard to give up a pet, but if they have issues and might need a home that is equipped to deal with feral felines. It also sounds like they might be a danger to Boots, who sounds like a sweet cat. I would try calling this agency called Feral Felines and Friends and see if they have advice for you. I forgot their website, but you can google them and see if they have help to offer! Good luck-this is a icky situation and I am sorry you have to deal with it.

Re: Unfriendly cats?

I am a huge cat lover and I also had a mean cat. He would come up to me purr and be so handsome and than one minute bite and scratch the crap out of me. He did this to others as well, however, i couldnt give him away because I loved and he was my pet. Anyway, we ended up moving and he was so miserable - peeing everywhere and crying all day. We ended up giving him away to a co-worker of my DH who had just bought a kitten and wanted and older cat. He had a house and yard. Turns out that after a day he was so happy there, sleeping with the little cat and sitting in the yard (we didnt have a yard). He would still do the random attack on pp. but he was def happier.

Long story short, as sad as it may be they may be happer at another home and I can see why you would be scared with a new baby on the way. My cat also used to bang his head against the doors to get out a room, he was nuts. I still miss him till this day. Good luck!