I voted to tell Annie that you took the cat to a no-kill center, when you actually euthanized it, but actually, I’d tell her that “Mr. Kitty” went to go live on a farm. That’s what they told me when I was six, and Annie seems to be about the same level of maturity.
I know you didn’t ask for advice on the relationship, and you don’t have to talk about it or respond to this if you don’t want to. But there is no person on the PLANET who has the right to take advantage of you like this. Not a spouse or former spouse or blackmailer or family member or child. Therapy will *help you *with this if you can’t do it on your own.
Anyway, sorry to derail. I just wanted to say that. Good luck doing whatever you decide with the Kitteh 
Maybe I’m a little late to the party…but,
Spill! Spill! What’s the matter with Annie that she can’t take care of Mr. Kitty on her own, and needs to mooch off friends for years on end?
Hypothetical question: What would happen if you very bluntly told Annie, “Our friendship is over. The reason? You have been taking advantage of my kindness for too freaking long. Mr. Kitty was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Now, here’s your cat, and the address to a no-kill shelter that has an opening if you are unable to care for him, and by the way, I’ve changed the locks. Kthxbye.”
Would the outcome be positive or negative for you?
No, see, what I’d do is post my story to the forums at catster.com, but strongly imply that I intend to euthanize the cat. With just a little luck, one of the cat ladies there will adopt it.
I’ve been hearing bad things about no-kill shelters - that they prolong unpleasant, painful lives beyond the point where an animal should have been compassionately euthanized.
Yeah, Mr. Kitty has to go, and I’d be more inclined to give Mr. Kitty back to Annie and let her deal with her own animal. She needs to make a decision beyond, “Let the cat stay with Heart of Dorkness so I don’t have to think about him or deal with him.”
The mistake was not saying “you have x months to take Mr. Kitty off my hands” right up front. Say it now. You can, if you like, offer to Annie to rent that portion of your house to her, for Mr. Kitty’s exclusive use, at a proportion of your mortage payment (e.g. he’s using 20% of the house, she pays 20% of your mortgage).
That said: do try to rehome him, starting immediately. If you fail after a month, it’s off to whatever shelter will take him, of either variety.
It’s clear that Annie doesn’t give a damn about the cat, though I guarantee she’ll freak if you do “rehome” him (in whatever way). Basically the friendship is over.
“Catcopter” invokes the thought you take the cat by the tail and swing it in circles over your head. Is that what you mean?
Thanks
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Ever see War of the Roses? After Kitty has gone off to the shelter, buy some good pate and have Annie over for dinner. Just as she is biting down, tell her, “well, I found the *perfect *thing to do with Kitty–how is your pate?”
I think some folks are confusing feral free range cats with tame cats that live outdoors but have a home base and a steady food supply. Some cats hate that life and some love it has been my experience as a long term cat slave. Not sure whether thats a workable option for the OP though.
Feral Cats: trap them, fix them, release them. I like that.
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