Am I A Bad Person For Giving My Cat Away?

[LeslieAnneSmith]

I have had my cat for three years. He never really liked my sisters and every time he sees them, he tries to attack their feet or legs. Sometimes he will jump at me. When I try to cuddle him he just wiggles out of my arms or tries to bite or scratch me. I even tried laying beside him and gently petting him and he finds that irritating. He scratches himself often and because I let him out on the lanai or patio at the back of my house, I was wondering if he had fleas. So I tried to give him a bath but he scratched me. I know it's normal for cats to be moody but he's not very cuddly, it's weird because he can be really nice sometimes. He will rub against my leg sometimes but most of the time, if he rubs against my leg too long, he will bite. He's a lot nicer to strangers. I guess I was wondering, will I be a bad person for giving my cat away? I found a really lovely no kill shelter that's like kitty heaven for cats. The caretakers are very kind and the shelter looks more like a playroom for cats. I don't know, I really love him but if he's not going to let me bathe him or even get close to him, should I really keep him? Any advice or simple answer would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Leslie

[Sqad]

No problem.......give him away and hope that he settles in with his new owner....he might OR he might well be a problem yo her. This sounds like a maladjusted cat with personality problems.
Would you like to know that you have handed on your problems to someone else?
Having him put down is my opinion.

Islay:
"I rather you give it away to a nice home than have it put down - they are not disposable pets! "

Thank you for that.........

[Islay]

Your welcome as always sqad.........

[thistles]

Dogs have owners, cats have slaves, my first cat found me at the tender age of 4, am now 73 years old, and my Molly owns me, for sure, love her to bits.

[queenofmean]

Cats will do things on their terms and theirs alone.

Not all cats are of the wanting cuddles variety. I have 6 and one of them falls in to this catergory. Also he despised my partner and would attack and claw him - why? Because he saw him as a threat your cat believe it or not could be protective of you. It’s something they grow out of.

As many have said - get a Flea treatment from your vet - don’t bath him it’s like being in a tumble dryer with a sword. Could always try a pherimone diffuser too.

Good Luck

[Old_Geezer]

"He's a lot nicer to strangers"
Find someone strange to take him then.

[DarceyK123]

You're not a bad person. You're not happy, he's not happy so it will be best all round to find him a new home.

[LeslieAnneSmith]

Thank you all so very much for your answers and great advice. I really appreciate it.

@Squad I would never put him down, but finding a new home would be an option.

@murraymints @Old_Geezerb@albaqwerty @waterboatman Thank you for your answers! I really appreciate it!!

@mikey4444 @DTCwordfan Thank you for your answers

@ummmm @Islay @wolf63 Thank you very much for the advice. I have a flea treatment shampoo that some people have recommended. But my cat doesn't like baths so I haven't tried it out. I took him to a vet at PetSmart but they told me he was fine and that he had no fleas. Also, he was groomed in June and the groomer never said he had fleas. He scratches a lot though and I have found tiny black jumping bugs that I have to smash like on the floor. Not many, just a few. I don't know if those are fleas or just weird jumping bugs.

[LeslieAnneSmith]

@DarceyK123 I'll try to leave him alone and see if he comes around. If not, a new home would be the best option. I just want him to be happy. (: Thank you for your answer.

[LeslieAnneSmith]

@queenofmean Wow, I've never really thought of him being protective of me. I'll take a look at the pherimone diffuser and a recommend treatment from the vet. Thank you very much for your answer. (:

[LeslieAnneSmith]

@Thistles That's very true. (:
Thanks for your answer!

[ummmm]

They sound like fleas. Get some flea treatment that you put between their shoulder blades. It's absorbed and when a flea bites him it will die. You'll also have to treat the house and any bedding.

[Toorak]

It does sound like fleas. Try frontline

http://uk.frontline.com/frontline-plus-cats

[hereIam]

thistles - I am NOT my dog's 'owner', I am her Mum.

[jourdain2]

Bathing isn't really an option. Skin irritation can be because of a food allergy - it was so for my dog. If he's constantly scratching and feeling a bit poorly, he is understandably edgy. Try your vet, if you have a regular vet, so much the better s/he will know the cat best.

If all else fails, you could try an advert at your vets and generally around. Cats like to be in charge and cuddled when they want to be.

[pastafreak]

Don't use frontline, it's been shown to be non effective. Talk to your vet. Also, get a spray to use in your home. In the UK we have Indorex, and R.I.P., both very effective. Again...speak to your vet.
One thing that bothers me about this post is that the poor cat seems to be getting all the blame. His behaviour might gave more to do with how humans treat him..." he's better with strangers". Just a thought.

[DTCwordfan]

Hasn't Sqad strangled the puss yet?

Use a reasonable flea repellent like Advantus - not the dog version - but if you have a woof, they need to be treated at roughly the same time.

[wolf63]

Dog flea killer can kill cats.

dtc - Sqad is very much a lover of cats, it's humans he isn't so keen on.

[dunnitall]

IMO...this cat sounds unwell...as a result irritable as we would be if unwell. Get him seen and health checked by a reputable vet....then decided the best out come. It is how an animal feels and reacts. And is treated as to whether it feels 'ok'. Put yourself in its place....would you feel happy and accommodating if something was bothering you? Good luck puss...you will need it.

[LeslieAnneSmith]

Okay, to clear everything up, I am not blaming my cat. I really love him. I'm just trying to do what's best for him because I don't want him to be unhappy. (:

@pastafreak I will talk to a local vet. I won't use frontline. Indorex and RIP? I'll check to see if it's here in the US. Thanks for your advice.

[LeslieAnneSmith]

I have given my cat a nice cozy space full of cat toys and a cat tree and bed. His behavior still hasn't changed. I don't bathe him often. It's very rare. I only bathe him if I think he has fleas or is very dirty. (: