Thinking of rehoming our cat for her benefit - she needs attention !
Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 10:44 am
Hi folks. My wife and 2 children are giving serious thought into rehoming or 'giving away' our 6 year old cat Willow. We've had her since she was a kitten, and she's a British short -hair. I hope I don't come across as a monster, because I'm not - though I am thinking in Willow's welfare as well as that of my family.
She has been neutered and wormed/de-fled etc. Well fed on IAMS, a consistent amount, plenty of water and areas in the house to go to for peace and quiet. Lots of scratch posts and toys etc. Willow seems happy and friendly, generally a healthy cat.
My wife started her own business a couple of years back and therefore during the day she is getting no attention whatsoever (she can't have her in the same room as she uses glue guns, small crystals etc. which would be dangerous). So in the evenings when we get home, Willow just craves attention though gets in the way of us sorting dinner, kids doing homework, me trying to relax etc. She doesn't seem to settle, until we are in bed at which point she'll sit on the sofa we usually sit on in the living room.
First thing to get out there - she's a house cat. We live in a very built up area and had no real garden or outside area initially, so were worried about letting her out. We've always kept her in and are worried that this probably doesn't help. We are moving house in around 6 months (hopefully) so this could be an option, to perhaps slowly introduce her to the outside world?
We just try to relax in our living room in the evenings when the kids are asleep - and WIllow just constantly circles the house until we go to sleep and won't settle. She'll be in and out of the curtains, up on our laps then off again, glaring at us and kind of doing laps of the living room. The kids and I do play with her a lot when we can but she just seems to always want more! It's becoming irritating and it's causing us stress too. She's been knocking over drinks, scratching up sofas (when she has a few good scratch posts and cardboard scratchy things.
Our thought process is that Willow may get the attention she needs elsewhere. I know we'd be upset initially though I think we'd be okay after a little while. We just don't have the time to properly 'care' for her (other than doing the basics).
What do you guys think? Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
She has been neutered and wormed/de-fled etc. Well fed on IAMS, a consistent amount, plenty of water and areas in the house to go to for peace and quiet. Lots of scratch posts and toys etc. Willow seems happy and friendly, generally a healthy cat.
My wife started her own business a couple of years back and therefore during the day she is getting no attention whatsoever (she can't have her in the same room as she uses glue guns, small crystals etc. which would be dangerous). So in the evenings when we get home, Willow just craves attention though gets in the way of us sorting dinner, kids doing homework, me trying to relax etc. She doesn't seem to settle, until we are in bed at which point she'll sit on the sofa we usually sit on in the living room.
First thing to get out there - she's a house cat. We live in a very built up area and had no real garden or outside area initially, so were worried about letting her out. We've always kept her in and are worried that this probably doesn't help. We are moving house in around 6 months (hopefully) so this could be an option, to perhaps slowly introduce her to the outside world?
We just try to relax in our living room in the evenings when the kids are asleep - and WIllow just constantly circles the house until we go to sleep and won't settle. She'll be in and out of the curtains, up on our laps then off again, glaring at us and kind of doing laps of the living room. The kids and I do play with her a lot when we can but she just seems to always want more! It's becoming irritating and it's causing us stress too. She's been knocking over drinks, scratching up sofas (when she has a few good scratch posts and cardboard scratchy things.
Our thought process is that Willow may get the attention she needs elsewhere. I know we'd be upset initially though I think we'd be okay after a little while. We just don't have the time to properly 'care' for her (other than doing the basics).
What do you guys think? Any help or guidance would be appreciated.