Parents want me to get rid of my cat I am HEARTBROKEN! PLEASE HELP ME?

Question

I've had my cat since she was a kitten. I rescued her she was abused. She is my everything, she brings me so much joy and happiness. I have been living on my own for the past 3 years (I got here right when I moved out) and now due to financial cirumstances I am moving back home with my parents. They told me I can't have my cat because they have brand new carpet, brand new expensive leather furniture..etc etc they have a nice house and have never had a cat before. My cat isn't spayed and she has her claws and I have been SOOOO upset you would think my cat is a 3 yr old human baby! I offered the thought to my Dad that I'd get her spayed and declawed (not happy about that but I want to keep her!) and he said he'd have to talk 2 my mom about it. I am so upset I feel like I can throwup I have been balling my eyes out for days. please help I can't get rid of my baby and I can't afford to live on my own. please help me convince my parents please help me please I am so devistated. my cat is SO skiddish and is ONLY used to me she's my shadow I couldn't bear giving her to ANYONE! :*(

Answer 1

Keep working on the parents. You're right...you're kitty would probably have a difficult time adjusting to a new place and new person. Even moving to a new place is stressful for a cat.

Could you maybe keep the cat in your room all the time? Put something protective down on the carpets? Offer to pay to replace anything that gets messed up? Find a roomate you could move in with instead of going back home?

I hope you are able to change their minds.

Answer 2

O poor kitty and poor kitty mommie!
Would it work for you to also offer to keep her just in your room? That way she would not be on much of the carpet and furniture. It is restrictive for her of course but she'd be with you and you would still have her and if you lived in a tiny apartment she'd probably not have a lot more room.

Do you have a friend who could take her and be good to her if this is going to be a short stay at your parent's place? I know that is NOT what you want but if there is no other answer and no way you can afford not to be at their place (is there?) then that might be the best way because a frightened cat will,generally not find a good home at a shelter. You may also want to research and see if there is a no kill shelter for cats anywhere in your area and if such a shelter would let you even board her there if your stay at your parents will be for only a few months. This isn't what you want either of course but you may need a back up plan.

I wonder if there is a way to talk to your parents as calmly as possible and tell them that the love they showed you the caring the loyalty is part of what you are now feeling for this little cat.

I sure hope you get to keep her.

Answer 3

I have a kitty that is just like that to me and I could never part with him!

I think everyone else has a good idea in asking if she can stay exclusively in your room and that you will pay for any damages that she may cause. Do go ahead and spay her, it is the best thing for her. Instead of declawing you should try to get these things called Soft Paws. They are soft caps for her claws. They're not expensive and they are a life savor for furniture, carpets, etc! Both of my cats have them and have for several years now (I have to stick new ones on every 4-6 weeks.) My vet recommended them instead of declawing and I swear by them now! You can do a search for them online or buy them at any pet store.

Good luck, sweetie. Explain how important she is to you and offer to make any compromise necessary to keep her. The claw caps will eliminate worry of scratching damage and having her spayed will prevent her from going into heat which can be a mess. Keeping her in your room seems like a fair solution to me. I hope your parents feel the same!

Answer 4

You have some options. First if she is an out door cat, I don't see what the problem would be, BUT it would be a VERY bad idea to declaw her if she is.
Maybe you could find a temporary home for her with a friend just untill you get on your feet. Maybe this tempoary home could be for you as well...
Maybe you could get some liturater from the humane society and PETA to help explain to them the problems with treating pets like expendable peices of furniture. I am sure with you being an animal lover, you know what problems I am talking about.
What ever you do, don't give your cat to a stranger, don't put a free add in the paper, and don't put her in a shelter because the chances of her leaving alive are slim to none. Just look at the statistics.

Answer 5

She needs to be spayed regardless but never, ever get a cat declawed. If you look into it you'll see in order to declaw they need to remove not just the nails but the entire first joint. It would be like having half your finger cut off. If you've had her for 3 years and clawing hasn't been a problem it isn't like to become a problem. Get her a scratching post and train her to use it. I would also be heartbroken to get rid of my cats. Try to educate your parents about cats a little bit. They don't know anything about them so they can't see your side of the issue. I've had many cats and never had them scratching furniture before. Try not to be too distraught, the cat can feel your emotions and it will upset her. She needs to know everything will be okay so try to work it out and stay calm around her if you can. See if you can find some useful articles online to show your parents about cat behavior. My Mom hated cats and was terrified of them since as a child she was seriously clawed by one. She came to understand them and we had one for years. She realized that the reason she was clawed was she was holding her small dog and the cat had kittens nearby. She was only protecting her babies! See if you can find some articles by Sonia Fitzpatrick (the Pet psychic).

Answer 6

Well sweetie, the cat should be spayed anyway, it should have been done at 5 and a half months old. It is still young, if you hae to, just get the fronts declawed at the same time of spaying. Make sure the cat is never let outside after this and especially after you move. If you have to, keep the vcat in your own bedroom until you get back on your feet and move back on your own. You cannot give up part of your family, she is like your kid, a part of you. make sure the vet has a pain patch on the back of her neck after this procedure. Good Luck

Answer 7

Don't be sad, just keep trying to convince your parents to let you have your cat. Get her spayed, that is fine and actually for the best interest of your cat. Don't get her declawed tho. To declaw a cat is like pulling out our fingernails. I say don't do it as your cat is too old to have it done now. I have seen older cats get declawed and turn from the nicest cat into a vicious one. It would do great physcological damage to her if you have her declawed now.

There are remedies to this scratching problem. You could keep her in the room that you will be in. That way she won't be able to get to their new furniture. They make gel caps that fit right over the cats claws. I my self aren't too familiar with them. But, I have heard that they do work. I think too that they are pretty reasonable in price. Keep a spray bottle handy, keep water in it at all times. Keep the nozzle on stream. If you see kitty getting ready to dig on your parent's furniture. Give the cat a squirt ot two of water in the face. Cats hate water in the face. A scratching post might do the trick too. I had 6 cats and had posts in every room! I attracted them to the posts by spraying them with catnip and putting a few treats on top. I'd guide them over to the post, one at a time and show them where the treats were. It worked! I was so proud of myself by not letting my felines get the best of me. I didn't have to keep putting the treats on the top, but, I did continue with the catnip spray.

I hope this advice helps you out. I can't see you getting rid of your cat. Good luck!

Answer 8

Tell your parents that the cat will stay only in your room when indoors and that you will get an outdoor enclosure for the cat where he can enjoy the outdoors. I bought my outdoor enclosure from PetSmart. It is a chainlink kennel meant for dogs, but it can also house cats becuase the links are small enough to keep them in. I got the biggest one (13ft long x 7 ft wide x 7f high) which costs only $220.00. It has a door too. I also bought the top that goes with with for $50.00. You can buy the smaller ones (7ft x 7ft x 4 ft high) of course and make it reay interesting and comfy place for your cat to hang out in by putting in cardboard boxes for him to hide in; make a cat wak with planks of wood; etc. In the cold weather, your cat can stay there only for short periods and you need to take him inside at night. If your parents are worried about the bedroom rug, buy a big carpet from Goodwill to lay over the new carpet. Meanwhile, you really need to have your cat spayed... but there is no need to declaw her. Tel your parents that you'll put "Soft Claws" on your cat as an added precuation. The vet can put these on your cat when you have her spayed.

Besides, once your parents see how wel-behaved your cat is and how responsible you are, they'll soften up. Just keep the cat away from them and inside your room (when indoors).

Answer 9

Ohh you poor thing, I know I could never be without my family 2 dogs, a cat and 2 ginuea pigs. I think alot of people wrote in some great answers. The one about getting a large dog crate, and to keep her in it while your not home, there is plenty of room for her in the cage, along with her cat box and food and water bowl, then let her out in your room when you are home. Let you parents know how UPSET you are, tell them how sick you feel. you will eventually move out when you get your life back on track, Let them read these letters , I have a large dog crate if only you lived in michigan I would give it to you. Good Luck with this.

Answer 10

this is a hard one. i worked for a boarding kennel for over three years and we boarded many animals from a situation like yours. there are alot of nice places out there. ours had 3ft by 4ft cages and for an hour everyday they went in our cat play area that had clawing posts and a bunch of platforms. i know it sounds a little harsh but you could visit her everyday and you wouldnt have to give her up. you should be able to find a nice place in your area. they will usually give you a break for long term boarding. i understand your parents apprehension with new carpet and leather furniture, your cat could do some really expensive damage. what about keeping the cat in your room only, is that an option???i hope everything works out for you and good luck