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I'll start with Firefly. When we moved in 2 years ago she probably weighed about 9 pounds (and we thought she was big then!). She was beautiful and friendly and everyone who came over loved her and she loved them.
Serenity was the bad and shy cat. Weird combination, I know! She was a little demon in our apartment, constantly tearing things up (including 2 leather couches). However, she is scared of everyone who comes in the house (except my brother, oddly enough). She's always been high maintenance, but it's better the past year since she "grew up."
Now Firefly is a huge (she got up to 15.5 pounds), mean, grumpy cat who doesn't clean herself properly. Her fur is tangled and has clumps that we're always having to cut out. We took her to the vet back in January and the vet said she is too overweight which is why she can't reach several areas on her body to clean (including one area that you really want a cat to clean, especially an indoor cat...). We started giving both cats senior cat food which apparently has less calories or something and we restricted how much we give them. We took her back to the vet 2 weeks later and she had already lost 1 pound. To be honest I had no clue that she was unhealthily overweight. My parents have a HUGE cat (19 pounds) that I grew up with and so I just compare mine to theirs....Firefly didn't seem so big then. lol Anyway, I was excited about her losing weight. I thought maybe that's why she's become so aggressive and mean the past year and a half, because she isn't healthy and is uncomfortable. Unfortunately she hasn't lost any more weight (that I can tell) and she still isn't grooming herself properly and she's still mean. She will scratch anyone who touches her and has even gone out of her way to attack me when I was sitting down on the couch beside her.
The problem is that she comes and sits right next to you...but when you move she'll scratch you. I just wish that if she was going to be so mean she would stay out of our way. Also, we'll have visitors come by and she'll come right up to them and rub against them but if they pet her she'll scratch them and hiss. I now have to warn everyone not to touch her even though she seems friendly. For awhile I thought maybe she was in pain and that explained it, but the vet seemed to think everything was good except for her being overweight.
Serenity is too smart for her own good and always has been. She now knows that she can get away with anything since I can't yell at her or run after her while taking care of Evan. She waits until I'm rocking or feeding him or until just after I've put him in his crib and he is about to go to sleep. She'll start tearing up the couch or clothes hamper or something else she shouldn't be scratching. If I'm feeding Evan, giving him a bath, or rocking him I can't do anything. I can't run after her and if I yell it scares Evan and he starts to cry. She's too far away to spray with water and that doesn't work anyway (that actually encourages her to do bad things because it becomes a game).
Now that Evan is moving she will go and lay down right in front of him. He'll pull her fur or her tail and she'll hiss and swipe at him. If I'm around I'll make him stop and keep him away from her, but she gets into his gated play area with him. The reason I put that gate up was so that he can play and I don't have to constantly watch him. Well the other day she scratched him on the head....big time. You can see 4 scratch marks where all of her claws dug into him. It bled pretty badly too. She also got him on the other side of his head, but not as bad. Now what if she had scratched him 2 inches lower? She would have scratched his eye. It's bad enough having those marks on his head, but what if they were on his face? I was getting ready for church when it happened and I wasn't able to make it on time because I had to clean the cuts. Plus I didn't want him to go to church looking all beat up. I'm now trying to shut her up in the office when I am busy and put him in his play area. But that's hard to do when I'm in a hurry getting ready because I don't want to waste time chasing her around to put her in the room and I don't want to forget and leave her in there in my hurry to get out of the house.
*sigh* I know this is so long but I just don't know what to do about these cats. Part of me wants to try to find another home for them where they can't hurt Evan or another little baby. Firefly has never scratched him but that's because she doesn't follow him around and we don't let him near her. But I'm afraid one day I won't be watching and he'll get close to her. And obviously Serenity puts herself right in front of him and follows him everywhere he goes, but will still scratch him if he hurts or scares her.
And then another part thinks we should keep them. We took on a responsibility when we adopted them. They were like our children at one point. They helped me so much when I wanted a baby but couldn't have one. And when I couldn't find a job and was so depressed being in the apartment all day...they gave me something to do and kept me company. And it would be so hard for them to adjust to another place and other people.
So what would you do if you had a mean cat that could possibly do a lot of damage to your baby and a bad cat that tears up your furniture and scratches your baby on a daily basis??
I can understand why its hard ti know what to do. For me I would find another home for my cats if they were being mean and scratching my baby. Cat scratches can get infected so easily. Utimately you gotta do what you feel is best. Maybe you could find someone that doesn't have kids to adopt your kitties.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd definitely try to re-home if they are hurting Evan.
ReplyDeleteDid the vet say if she had any other pain? I have heard that sometimes this causes (esp senior) animals to act out. We fed our dog weight control food/reduced portions after learning she was overweight (too many treats!), and after only 9 months, she had lost 8 pounds. She is healthy as can be right now!
Good luck (hug) :)
PS. I love the new layout!
ReplyDeleteWe returned our greyhound rescue because when we changed to wood floors in our house, he started slipping and sliding all over the place and even knocked me over once. I knew it was only a matter of time before he hit the baby. We loved him, but the anxiety of him hurting the baby was too much. She is the most important part of our family. He was adopted back out to another lady with a big yard and 2 other greyhounds and he is happy as a clam now! I feel no guilt whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteGood luck deciding what to do!!!!
(ps-have you ever thought about getting them declawed? I had to do that with a cat once and it was wonderful)
sad. :( i would have to agree that if you feel like the kitties are a danger to evan, perhaps it's best to find them another home, where they would be happier. :( i hate to say it because it breaks my heart to think of losing pets, but if my cats were hurting my baby, i would have to let them go. especially if evan is mobile and when you have a second child and cant' keep such a close eye on him and the cats. it might be what is better for everyone.
ReplyDeletehugs!!!
I wish I could explain to them not to hurt Evan because if they keep it up I'll have to give them away. They just have no clue how close I am to having to give them up. I don't know....Matt and I are undecided. Matt thinks that Evan needs to learn not to mess with Serenity, but I don't think he should have to learn the hard way. Getting scratched on the hand is one thing, but on the head/face is another. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of the encouragement though! I know this can be a touchy subject and it's good to have people that understand. :-)
I am sickened at the attitude of everyone on here. Pets are not disposable...Here for your entertainment when you want them, then gone when it's inconvenient for you. Shame on all of you. It's people like you that cause shelters to be FULL to capacity. It's sad that people take the attitude that you guys do. Hope you find a humane solution for your pets and child.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand what you mean about taking on a responsibility when you got them and being like your children at one point. But, children do grow up and move out someday!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I know you would not dispose of your cats just because they are inconvienient, and that you will try everything possible to help them learn and adjust and become loving companions before finding them new homes.
Think of it this way - if you are unhappy, and they are unhappy, its probably best for all of you to part ways. These are not defenseless, impressionable kittens, they are full grown adults, and like human to human adult relationships, sometimes they just don't work. Personality conflicts are not something simple to resolve.
I think your cats might be happier in a home without a little one.
And quite honestly, I think that Evan deserves to have animal companions he can get along with! Levi LOVES our dog and it warms my heart to see him trying to play with him, and our dog is so patient and gentle too.
But like I said before, I know you'll try everything else first, and that this is not s decision you are going to take lightly.
((hugs)) and best wishes, whatever you decide!
YIKES! I just came back to see what everyone else said, and the last comment was a doozy! Good thing we adopted our precious dog from a rescue org ;-) Have you and Matt come to a decision (you don't have to share it if you don't want to!!)?
ReplyDeleteAndrea I am torn with what to tell you. I agree with LaceFace having just visited a few shelters and having given up pets before (which I feel incredibly guilty about to this day). I think if you can find someone you know and trust who does NOT have children then allow them to care for the cats. I wouldn't take them to Animal Control as they might be put to sleep.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your cats are not child-friendly. I would suggest finding a childless friend to take them for you and if you still want cats then find ones that are more tolerable of children. Not every pet fits every family and you'll have to find one that will fit YOURS.
When a pet becomes violent is the ONLY reason you should give them up, in my personal opinion. If you feel Evan is unsafe with the cats then it is time for them to find a family that doesn't have children. And, like I said, if you still want cats or a dog then visit your local shelters and find a pet that will be safer for your family.