Please, before I start know that my partner and I have given the following serious thought and are not taking this decision lightly.

We own a cat called Oliver. He is white, approximately 7 or 8 years of age, neutered, in good health with no known health problems. In December we welcomed a rescue dog into our family, and figured that as Oliver had lived with a dog for most of his life, he would be ok with this new addition. Unfortunately it did not work out this way and we now hold our hands up and realise we were mistaken. Oliver hates the dog and the dog hates Oliver.

We tried to introduce them to each other on numerous occasions, but Oliver can be quite a timid and jumpy character and absolutely hated her. We also tried keeping them separate but the only way to do this is for Oliver to be shut in a spare room upstairs. It works in terms of him being able to sleep and eat but it is no way that he should live his life. He now refuses to come inside the house. We have tried over the months, and each visit into the house starts with us forcefully having to carry him in, and ends with him miaowing in a distressed way. He just obviously does not want to be here whether the dog is present or not.

For the past month he has lived outside and is being fed by us as and when he will come near the house. He used to shelter in our garage but can't even go there anymore as another cat has bullied him out of it. He isn't skinny, so he must be getting regular food from somewhere, but he has obviously not been 'adopted' by anyone else as he still has our collar on. We still consider him our cat, but he obviously does not consider us his humans.

It breaks my heart to know that he does not have a permanent residence, and for this reason we have decided to try to rehome him. I am thinking that it is better for him to have one big upset of being rehomed rather than him living his life roaming around belonging to no one.

I know that there are a few people who frequent the pet forum who are cat lovers, and I just wanted to see whether there is any interest in rehoming him on here. As I said, he likes his outdoors. However, when we moved house for a period of a few months, he refused to go outside in his new territory and practically became a house cat. He could not be rehomed anywhere with a dog or young children as he can be nervy. He did used to live with another cat years ago, but I doubt he could live with one now. He would suit being the only animal in the household. He is also micro chipped. He would be free to a loving home - the only condition being that my partner and I would need to come and view your home and meet you. The only thing wrong with Oliver at the moment is that he looks dirty as his favourite passtime is to sit underneath dirty cars...as he is white the dirt gives him grey patches!

Please don't reply giving me a hard time on what an awful pet owner I am. I am trying to do the best thing for my cat.

Sometimes over a period of time dogs and cats do get used to eachother. Sometimes dogs and cats get on lovely (im lucky in that way) and sometimes things never settle down................unfortunately it sounds like this wont get much better.
I think you are doing the right thing, good luck and all the best finding your cat a new home xx

I really feel for you in this: we had a similar situation, with a dog coming to turn the 10 year-old cat's life upsidedown.
The cat was just like yours at first, but a year later, she now tolerates him
and will now stay in the same room. He has stopped trying to chase her, and ignores her.
It must be very hard for you to know what's the right thing to do: I'm sure
you'll do your best to look after them both.
Good Luck.

Oh dear. I bet everywhere smells of rescue doggie to him. I see why he won't want to come in. I wish we could have more kitties but the ones we have would hate any new members to our family. Good luck with finding him a new home. How about some pics to tempt the weak?

This may sound harsh Gempud, but why has the cat got to be rehomed, why not the dog if the cat was there first? :confused:

I dont think you are an awful pet owner as you are obviously torn and worried about your cat but it was the first thing that came to mind.

This may sound harsh Gempud, but why has the cat got to be rehomed, why not the dog if the cat was there first? :confused:

I dont think you are an awful pet owner as you are obviously torn and worried about your cat but it was the first thing that came to mind.

I started to wonder that, but I think that Gempud has a problem getting the kitty to come into the house even if the dog isn't there. Therefore, little Kitty wont believe rescue doggy has gone.

That's how I read it anyhoo ?

our cat n dog fight when been watched and sleep next to each other when thyy think they are on their own, bless

This may sound harsh Gempud, but why has the cat got to be rehomed, why not the dog if the cat was there first? :confused:

The cat doesn't have to be rehomed. At the moment we are kind of teetering on the edge of doing it and just kind of wanting to see what the response on here was. It's not a case of just 'getting rid' as that is not my intention at all! I've never rehomed any of my animals in my life (and there have been plenty). It's a case of doing what is best for the cat as he is so distressed when we bring him to the house - whether the dog is there or not. It's not really a thing of us not wanting him, rather him not wanting us but not having anyone else to go to.

I'm also now thinking that as he is a cat that likes to slink off on his own and stay outside that maybe he likes his way of life now?

I may be wide of the mark, and it's easy to tell you're having a stuggle to decide what to do with your poor cat.....

Have you tried all the pacifying measures recommended by Medusa - feliway plug in, rescue remedy on the food....

I'd add - bathing the dog regularly and steaming the soft furnishings

Scent is a very big part of a pet feeling comfortable in it's territory


if your cat has already adopted new owners, (who may be reluctant to 'steal' him from you) perhaps putting a note on his collar to the effect that you know he's making a home elsewhere, and perhaps he'd be happier if he could have just one home (with them) would help to resolve the problem?

Hi Strix...no I haven't tried any of the things that Medusa usually recommends as it's kind of impossible to give them a go as Oliver won't come in the house. We had him in last night for a total of 10 minutes, and even that was only because we saw him on another road and my partner went and picked him up and brought him in.

Ideally I would like to be able to catch him and bring him in the house and shut him in one room for a day (I would be willing to use Rescue Remedy, I think I have some somewhere) and kind of force him to get used to it. It's just that I have been trying to get him 'used to it' for the last 4 months and it obviously hasn't worked. I feel I'm being cruel by forcing him to be in a place he doesn't want to be in.

I guess I just wanted to see what people thought the best thing for him would be. There's no way I'm going to give him up easily unless someone really really can promise him a good permanent home, and I certainly don't want to add to the population of cats in rescue centres as he is obviously not needing a place anywhere like that.

As much as I love my pets they don't half put you through emotional turmoil :rolleyes: This is his Lordship (http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l235/gempud/Oliver/DSCF0006-1.jpg)

hia gempud
what a shame - its awful when this happens - but you are being sensible about it. and there may be ways round it.

what about if you take some nice piccies of your putty cat - and a little right up about him - lets get him on the web site and see if we can find a home for him away from dogs.
there are some cats that just don't do dogs - and some that just dont mind.
if you would rather have a dog at home, which you both obviously get tons of enjoyment out of - then putty cat can have the opportunity of finding a purely putty cat household - that's certainly an option.

just make sure that he has somewhere nice and warm and cosy to sleep outside - even if its access to somewhere in an outside shed - where he is safe and warm and has his tea. - then send me some pics when you can
rr

he's... so... lovely... am... so.... weak.... :?

Hi RainRescue, I'll email you when I get the chance to hunt out some more piccies.... :)

Aaaaw bless Noodle, I always get like that when I see cute piccies of animals :)

Hi Gempud, we had a similar situation with our cats when we had a rescue dog. Our girl cat got used to the situation over time, sadly our boy cat died while he was still at the refusing to come in the house stage.

I know how heartbroken you must be, I can't really offer advise, my girl cat just got over it by herself over time. I didn't really do anything other than make a fuss of her when she did come in, which I'm sure you're doing anyway.

Good luck, whatever you decide.