Over in GQ, there’s a thread discussing what can be done about an 11-year-old cat who is causing domestic strife by urinating in the house. We have:
[ul]
[li]Rosie, a beloved member of the family who has always been an indoor cat and until recently has behaved impeccably, but is now peeing indoors,[/li][li]bigdfrombigd, a Doper, who is caught between her cat and her husband (who is mightily annoyed at the cat’s recent behavior),[/li][li]bigdfrombigd’s husband, who started out as the villain of the piece but has since found redemption thanks to a post by:[/li][li]choie, a Doper, who called out the husband’s bad behavior and has since experienced the joy of seeing her heartfelt words soften him (even from an ocean away), causing character growth and compromise, with able support from:[/li][li]several other Dopers, who have added their wisdom and experience to the thread, resulting in a situation in which bigdfrombigd will be taking Rosie to the vet first thing tomorrow morning to try to clear up the problem, be it physiological or psychological, thus restoring domestic harmony.[/li][/ul]
The thread was not all joy, however. There was:
[ul]
[li]Abbie Carmichael, who opined:[/li][/ul]
which is something of a WTF?, but each to their own I suppose…
…and, finally, we had:
[ul]
[li]Ficer67, who provided this gem:[/li]
[/ul]
What the hell’s wrong with you, Ficer67?
bigdfrombigd asked for the help of the SDMB for what was clearly an emotionally wrenching issue (cat vs husband), and everyone (except perhaps Abbie) responded appropriately. Then you had to go and piss all over the thread.
So, what’s your excuse? Is it a Urinary Tract Infection, or is it psychological?
I don’t want the slug through any thread about pissing cats and what not. But any adult who’s so attached to a stupid pet that she thinks it’s an emotionally wrenching issue that it pisses on her carpet and have to give it more than a second’s thought to choose between the pet and husband has got bigger problems than an anonymous poster giving some sound and helpful advice, if expressed somewhat harshly.
Pets are not part of the family. Animals are animals and humans humans. And never, outside bestiality porn, shall the twain meet.
I fully agree with Rune.
Pets are not children.
We may love them dearly, but they are not.
If your pet starts stinking up the house and the husband doesn’t feel he should suffer from it, they should think of a practical solution.
If a pet gets to a certain age, they will get certain problems.
Now you can have the cat start wearing diapers, but will that make the cat happy?
And if someone values the relationship with their cat over their relationship with their S.O. they really need help in my book.
I wouldn’t have posted in that thread but since this is the pit…
I’ve been a cat owner all my life and I can tell you from personal experience it’s all I can do to NOT get rid of them once they grow up and start being lazy. As opposed to being playful and cute.
Cats are like the most disposable pets on planet earth right next to Goldfish and hamsters.
I’d be damned if I’d put up with a cat pissing all over my floor.
Just because pets aren’t people doesn’t mean I wouldn’t expect my spouse to treat animals in a humane manner. Putting a elderly animal that’s never been outside on the stoop in the cold is cruel.
I love my boyfriend but I’d be pretty fucking angry if he decided my iPod annoyed him and threw it in the backyard, too. It’s mine, something I bought and I enjoy on a daily basis. I wouldn’t appreciate a post-it saying “No music in the house!” No discussion, just orders? Fuck that. Signifigant Other does not equal Parent.
In any case, I’m getting really sick of this school of thought that if you value your pets over anything (from carpeting to random strangers) you need to see a psychiatrist.
Why are you people so bothered by people being attached to their pets? Why do you care? It’s obvious that people who post such threads DO love their animals, and calling them stupid and crazy is not going to bring them over to your point of view. You’re just insulting them for. . . what? So you can feel morally superior and laugh at the crazy cat ladies? All you ever do is make yourselves look like assholes.
(Oh, and SHAKES, you get the asshole crown. Wear it with pride.)
I like cats, so I won’t say I agree with Shakes, but the fact is that when a cat starts wrecking the house, its time for it to go. We just recently had to put down our 14 year old tomcat because he was peeing in the house. Multiple trips to the vet couldn’t solve the problem, though each course of drugs did somewhat ameliorate it. He was old, his health was failing, he was in pain, he would not clean himself any longer and though he was a sweet cat, it was time. It wasn’t just the messes that stank any longer.
Why do so many people not realize how disgusting many houses smell when they have cats ?? Sure, I have been to a few houses where I was surprised to learn that the owner had cats. The owner obviously was attentive and kept the house clean.
But, most people with cats have houses that stink. It is just like smokers, smokers will try to claim that they do not smell like smoke, but non-smokers know that they do. Same with cats, the owners become acclimated to the smell, and do not realize how bad their homes stink. And please, the very worst thing you can do is try to cover up the smell with deodorizers or candles. It does nothing to cover the smell, and now the house reeks of cat piss AND cheap perfume smell.
Jesus Jumpin’ Christ on a pogo stick. Look, if you were living with an elderly relative who became a little incontinent, would you send them off to the nursing home?
Yes, pets are not children, but they are living, feeling creatures who depend totally on you. If you make a decision to take on a pet, it should last as long as the pet lives. Pets are not disposable. If a previously well-behaved cat has started peeing all over, there’s obviously a medical issue at hand, be it physical or psychological. Take it to the vet, for fuck sakes. Don’t toss it out like garbage.
Animals are animals, humans are humans… not arguing with that concept.
I do, however, take some exception to the idea that they are to be disposed of when they become slightly inconvenient.
I have trained and raised way too many service and guide dogs to feel that way - animals who spend a lifetime serving their owners… when they retire because of old age, or aching joints (artheritis), should they just be put down?
Listen, I don’t think that pets are disposable.
I do think that when pets become more of a nuisance than a joy, you should get rid of it.
Since the analogy of the grandmother came up, let me run with it.
If your grandmother becomes senile and starts peeing over your furniture and starting fires in the kitchen at a regular basis, would you still keep her in the house?
Or would you move her to a retirement house?
Since there are no retirement houses for cats (as far as I know) you don’t have that option.
So you would choose for your cat to destroy your house just so the cat can die a natural death?
Or would you have it put down (in a humane manner) and maybe give your love to a lovely new kitten from the Humane Society which otherwise would be killed?
I wonder what EddyTeddyFreddy or CrazyCatLady would think of some of the opinions expressed here? Not to mention Pinkfreudm bodypoet, or Danceswithcats to name a few. I personally think there has been quite a few asshats expressing fucktarded ideas, but that’s just me. YMMV.
Also, abandoning a pet is considered “neglect” which is being prosecuted more and more. Some places may also have an “abandonment” charge to go along with the charge of neglect. It’s definitely frowned upon by animal control, it gives them one more animal to deal with.
cj finn givng an elderly sick pet mercy is one thing, you took your cat to the vet to try to resolve the problem, the vet couldn’t solve it, and only then did you put him to sleep. Other posters are recommending “throwing the cat out” and “getting a new one”, which is…irresponsible, going back on a tacit promise that was made when you took the pet in, and would make me less likely to trust the person who did such a thing. If you don’t want to care for the pet anymore, take it to the shelter, or find it another home. If it’s elderly and in poor health,with no hope of getting better, and only loss of quality of life to look forwards to, have it put to sleep as a mercy. Don’t just kick it out.
Better yet, why not put in a little effort to find a good home for the cat. Just because it’s old and having health problems does not mean that the cat won’t have a good quality of life or won’t provide enjoyment for someone else. My friend just recently found a new home for her old cat and gave her to a friend was better equiped to handle the cat’s needs. Put a little effort into it, just because you’re annoyed or bothered by the kitty’s behavior does not mean you should put them down. That’s the most ridiculous fucking thing I’ve ever heard.
I’m going through this issue with an elderly cat, so I see both sides of this. I think it might be time to bid the old fellow farewell and have him humanely put down… it’ll happen anyway, and better do it before I replace any more carpeting (I’ve already thrown some out).
However, even if it’s the pit and people enjoy being nasty for it’s own sake, no one has any right to feel superior or cast judgment on people who struggle with those decisions.
My lord. I can only hope most of the people in this thread don’t have pets.
Yes, it gets inconvenient when a pet starts to pee all over the house. We once had a cat that did that, for behavioral rather than health reasons. We gave it to someone who lived on a farm, so it wouldn’t be a problem. When my elderly and beloved dog became incontinent, we dealt with it, knew it wasn’t his fault, took him out ever more frequently, until it wasn’t his incontinence but his failing health that forced us to put him down. And when we finally did, it was for HIS sake, not ours.
What I have issue with is the attitude that animals are not as important as people. Where the hell did this come from? Actually, I think I know. It’s a combination between the huge egotism that humans have as they survey the rest of the universe, and those passages in the bible where the god tells his little creationlings that they are kings of the world and can use any animal as they wish.
Humans are not more important then even the slimiest scum on a pond. We just think we are, in addition to thinking that our own person is the most important person on the earth.
And no, this doesn’t mean that I think everyone should believe in Jainism and not eat the flesh of animals. I just don’t think humans should put themselves above all living things. I think it’s elitist and asinine.
If you want to get rid of a loved cat that is fouling your space, fine, but don’t make the excuse that it’s just an animal and therefore inferior.