Too Many Cats?

Question

My inlaws have 15 cats. 14 of which are wild from outside. They do not come close to humans they run in the other direction. They feel that declawing is wrong, so all the furniture/carpeting/walls/etc are damaged. Also, they both have Asthma, as does there daughter. While they do clean as best they can, there is obviosly a smell in the house and the air quality is terrible. (Windows cannot be opened because they are afraid the cats will run outside). One cat has cat AIDS and 1 eye, another has had 10K worth of surgery to repair some sort of kidney stone.
They want their daughter (my girlfriend soon to be wife) to take allergy shots that may not work to get her "used to the cats"
Am I wrong for opposing shots? Would anyone feel comfortable leaving their future babies in the house?

Thanks

Answer 1

I'm a cat lover and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving infants - or any child in that house. Allergy shots are bs.

Answer 2

First off, their house and their living situation is THEIR choice. Granted, 15 cats may be a bit much, but it also depends on how much space there is in the house. I don't understand why they can't open the windows because they can put screens on the other side to keep cats in, but let smell out. I have 2 cats and live in an apartment on the 2nd floor. I used to worry about opening the windows and leaving them open, but so far, I haven't had a cat fall out yet.

Also, I don't understand why your girlfriend would only NOW get shots for allergies because you say that these are her parents. If she has been living at home, wouldn't she have had problems before? It doesn't make sense as to why it would suddenly become a problem. Are you planning on living with the inlaws when you get married?

The decision on whether or not to get the shot is your girlfriend....NOT YOU. It's her body and it's her parents idea, so you should let her handle it. Why are you opposing the shots? There ARE other ways of keeping cat allergies under control...you should research it so when you bring it up with your gf, you'll have facts to base your argument against the shots. Otherwise, you can come off as "I don't like your parents cats, and I want to be able to tell you what you can and can't do with your body" which might not go over so well. You're not wrong for opposing the shots, but why are you SO against them?

As for future babies? If there were feral cats in the house than no. It's not safe for the baby. However, if there was only 1 or 2 house (indoor) cats, and the house was cleaned up, and my inlaws were responsible, then yes. Why not?

P.S. Declawing IS wrong. How would you like it if someone took out half your fingers? Would you be happy?! Why don't you bring over a scratching post for the cats so that the cats claw at that and not all over your inlaws house. They may be thankful and you appear thoughtful.

Answer 3

I guess I don't understand what the problem is. They've made a committment to these animals. You make it sound like there is something wrong with rescuing a Feline Aids cat, a maimed cat, and with spending money to save the life of a cat. If they choose to live with destroyed furniture, so be it. It's not really your business how they care for their things. As long as the animals are cared for, and cared for well, its their choice.

As far as your question, this really isn't a pet question - its a family question. The answer lies with you and your wife. If you & she aren't comfortable with her taking shots, then dont take them and don't go to the house. If you don't want to leave your children with them, then don't. You can't ask them to get rid of the cats so that they can babysit your children. Instead, compromise. Have them visit the grandkids at *your* house.

If anything, I'd think that your inlaws can be a great example for your kids. It could teach them that self-sacrifice is often necessary to uphold certain morals and to do what you believe in. It could also teach them that life is not disposable - in ANY form. But, do as you choose.

Answer 4

coming from a 'cat-lady' I at once had up to 45( 4 of my female cats had litters with in a week of each other with no less than 5 kittens each) cats...BUT...most of them were outside cats. I live out in the boondocks so haveing cats is good for keeping the pest problem down. this was during the winter time so we brought the momma's inside until the kittens were old enough to be weened and were gievn away as Christmas presents (one litter of siamese). But this is a bad risk for everyone especially the parents. not only because they have asthma but because the awful urine/ammonia smell can cuase breathing and helath problems let alone the ringworms from cat scratches and so forth. No I would not leave my children (6,5,and 2) in that house I wouldn't even come in once I got the wiff its a helath risk...I bet even when they are not in their home they still smell like their house.

Answer 5

We took in a pregnant stray who birthed a litter of 6 in addition to our already existing cat. Insanity convinced us that we could keep everybody and make it work, but the damage, smell, and expense made the worst of a good idea. I ended up downsizing to a manageable 3 cats via adoption.

But 15 cats - 14 of them feral, that's simply dangerous. I agree that declawing is not the first response, but in this case is more wrong to have so many animals in one house. Not only are they a breathing nuisance to your fiancee and her family, but they are likely diseased. What about their interrelationships? Do they fight one another? Have they been spayed/neutered? Are they imbreeding? Have they been examined by a vet and vaccinated?

As for the allergy shot, it's really your fiancee's judgment call as to if she wants it or not. Though you can express your opinion, I hope that you understand that certain issues (esp. those dealing with family) are sometimes out of your jurisdiction. But I digress. The shot may or may not be effective - the obvious problem is that there are just TOO many cats. Has she considered moving out?

Lastly, I don't blame you for feeling uncomfortable about leaving your future children in their house. Think of all of the airborne nasties floating around in there. Additionally, somebody could get scratched or anything. It's just too much going on at once.

Really, is this a situation that you're willing to marry into???

Answer 6

First of all, if one of the cats has FIV (I think that's the correct term), then all the cats probably have it by now. It might not spread to humans, but it does spread between cats through blood and saliva.

I agree with their opinion on declawing, as that IS inhumane and wrong, but it seems as if their priorities are a bit wrong. I'm allergic to cats, and I have one (although so far everything's been fine ^^), but I don't react to it with asthma. If they do, and it gets bad enough, it could actually kill them =/ And it's one thing to risk themselves, since that is THEIR choice, but they can't make that choice for your girlfriend.

As for leaving babies there, it depends on the personalities of the cats, but I wouldn't leave them unattended. Then again, as I wouldn't leave babies unattended anywhere, it wouldn't really be that much different.

What does your girlfriend say about her parents' idea? Are you two planning on actually living with her parents, or are you getting your own place. If you're getting your own place, then there really is no need to get "used to the cats", other than for long enough to visit. She could very well try the allergy shots and see if they do help her, because allergies tend to be hell to live with (I had at last count twenty of them), and anything that might help would, in my opinion, be worth it if I could afford it.

So I'm not saying you should be dead set against the shots, but I do think that it's wrong of your girlfriend's parents to try to talk her into taking those shots for THEIR sake, and in an attempt to make her live with them (that's how it sounded to me). All you can do is talk to your girlfriend, and to her parents. If you want to try to help them realize how much they are endangering themselves, you could ask a doctor who is more specialized in allergies and asthma what the risks are, so you can give them more information on it (or, if you don't want to possibly spend money on it, suggest that THEY talk to a doctor about it).

Answer 7

Well first off 15 cats iunside of a house is too many cats. I have 5 cats and have my hands full. Mine are also indoor cats. On top of this I have 5 dogs. At night they are also inside. BUT Back to the cats. I agree with you girlfriends parents on NOT declawing them. I refuse to declaw mine too.

Answer 8

they need to get rid of 90% of their cats, along with the one that has the kidney stone prob, I suggest when you and your gfget married, don't have cats, get another pet that you will love and your wife will be comfortable around. i know its hard but those cats have to go, they're not living good lives, your inlaws could get arrested for animal cruelty and have every cat taken away, they should take 10-12 cats to the shelter or call aspca to pick them up, they will find good homesfor the cats

Answer 9

That sounds horrible. If I were you I'd talk to the parents. But first, talk to your girlfriend and explain to her how you feel. It's obvious that they don't know how to take care of cats, no offense to them.
I would also call the ASPCA, or your local animal rescue and have those animals taken away.
Good Luck!

Answer 10

Sounds like they bit off more than they can chew. Some ppl have cats and don't have a mess like that. It isn't the cats. It is the ppl who think they are taking care of them.

That house is not a place for babies.