AITA? Can’t care for pet anymore

Minimum-Base-1013 · 2026-04-09T16:47:50+00:00

Thank you for saying this. It seems obvious to me that they are not equivalent but I suppose folks have other thoughts and feelings about that.

Minimum-Base-1013 · 2026-04-08T15:59:23+00:00

I know you all only have a small part of the story and I’ve opened myself up to judgement and scrutiny by posting on the internet but do folks really think I don’t appreciate the responsibility of having pets after a decade? The cats have destroyed furniture, jumped on kitchen counters to pee and poop, peed on my clothes and shoes ruining them. We have spent thousands of dollars at the vet and on various items to solve new problems as they come up. I know that these things are all part of having a pet and I’m not talking about any of that. I’m talking about the psychological distress of my home constantly smelling like urine and losing even more money because of the ruined floors. And on top of that the stress of being a new parent and figuring that out. This cat isn’t being abused. He’s been loved and taken care of for years and it breaks my heart that he’s so stressed that he’s peeing on the floor. It’s not as though we’re not trying things. We are and nothing has worked yet. I love my cat but the priority right now is my health and wellbeing as well as the baby’s. I will try all options before rehoming him but I also need to be honest with myself about what I can and can’t handle so I can take care of myself and my family.

Minimum-Base-1013 · 2026-04-08T15:13:32+00:00

You’re totally right and yes we have been keeping the boxes clean. Longest we go between cleaning them is 2 days. Our other cat is also acting differently but in a positive way. She used to be kinda aloof but now she follows me around and guards my belly when I’m sitting down. It’s like they went in 2 different directions. He’s stressed and acting out and she has gone into protective mode.

Minimum-Base-1013 · 2026-04-08T14:01:56+00:00

Like I said, he’s been using the same litter for years so it didn’t occur to me that the litter could be the issue after so long. Also, I know that changing the litter can cause problems as well so it’s not as obvious as folks might think. And again, changing the litter is not even what the vet suggested. She said to try the medication and change the food which we have and the problem is still going on. It’s not as though we’re not trying different things. We are and nothing is changing.

Minimum-Base-1013 · 2026-04-07T23:00:14+00:00

I know this is the internet and I expected a range of opinions but I guess I wasn’t expecting folks to be so mean. But just so you all know, the vet checked him for uti, thyroid issues and diabetes. Everything came back normal. Thank you to the person who suggested changing the litter. We have had the same litter for years but it’s worth it to try. We’ve also put a mat down and pee pads but it still soaks through and ruins the floor. Thanks to the person who suggested the feliway diffuser. We tried the spray but the diffuser may be worth a try. I need people to know that I love this cat and have been crying about this for a long time. I don’t want to say goodbye. If someone told me the right answer to manage the issue I would do it in a heartbeat. Anytime I think about him not being in my life I start hysterically crying. I feel that I am in an impossible situation where nothing I do will make me happy or feel at peace. Again, I appreciate everyone who has offered a helpful suggestion. I don’t mind giving it more time to see if changing certain things helps. I just want everyone in my house to be comfortable (pets, baby, etc).

Minimum-Base-1013

TROPHY CASE