Happy Ending: I finally unloaded Fonzie at a garage sale.
We have had our cat Fonzie for seven years now. He came from a family with two-year-old twins via my stepsister, and we were assured he was child friendly and an all-around wonderful animal.
The answer to the obvious question -- namely why said family gave him up -- is this. The parents had split up and in order to exercise her newfound independence Mom went out and got a cat because Dad was allergic to them. A few months later, however, the parents decided to reconcile and the cat had to go, and that's how he ended up with us.
As it turned out, the reconciliation didn't last long, but Fonzie was never reclaimed. That's because he bites and digs his claws into you. which means that basically we ignore him but put up with his living here. We know that should you ever pet him or let him sit on your lap, he will give you a vicious nip or bury his hooked claws so deep in your skin you will be screaming in agony as you try to pry them out.
Visitors occasionally insist he is a nice cat until he turns on them. And this summer's housesitter admitted to sending him flying halfway across the room after he bit her while she was innocently talking on the phone.
Fonzie also mercilessly bullies and taunts our six-month-old dog, driving the normally silent pup into fits of ear-splitting yapping.
Although I have always been a cat lover, I feel nothing for Fonzie and would be happy if he would just vaporize. Unfortunately, he is 100% street proofed so he will not be taken out by a car. I cannot in all good conscience pass him off on someone else like he was passed off on us nor can I put him down. So my question is this. Can I phone up the woman he came from, who I learned over Christmas now has a lovely cat, and tell her that after seven-plus years, I've had enough and am sending Fonzie back?
Update: Just caught the despicable animal chewing on a new but thankfully cheap sweater I had left on the bed. I'll guage the damage once his saliva dries off. Is it any wonder I want him out of here?
23 comments:
Hi there, lurker delurking as part of my new year's whatsahoozie.
If you've had Fonzie for 7 years, I'd say he's your family now. Our one crummy cat we got after his original family moved away and left him behind, and it took us about 2 or 3 years before we could even pat him.
He's a handsome delicious cat that after almost 11 years now hangs around with us, although he does still bite and swat at us. We're stuck.
Cats -- there is just no happy medium. They are either great or they are nasty.
I don't think you can give him back. I think you might have to just decide, the next time he gets sick, that now might be the time for Fonzie to head to that big Arnold's in the sky.
I have an old guy who just showed up. He has cataracts and no teeth. He is sweet enough, but becomes sexually excited and dry-humps me frantically whenever he sits in my lap. It is disturbing. Like you, I feel nothing for him and far prefer the other two cats. They are funny and hilarious. He is just weird and creepy, like a perverted old uncle.
I keep waiting and waiting for him to get sick so I can take him to the vet's and order his execution, but it never happens.
Can we explore the ethics of why you all don't think I can give him back?
I mean this woman passed off a dud cat on us and then replaced him with a fab one for herself and her family.
Shouldn't she have to shoulder some responsibility?
At the very least don't I get to tell the bad cat pain she inflicted?
Or is the statute of limitations up?
BTW, Fonzie got beat up by a Tomcat last year and had an infected wound that I didn't notice until late in the game because, as I said, I don't pay too much attention, but the vet was able to save him with a major antibiotic injection after he had bled all over a brand new expensive mattress.
Hmmm...is it enough to know you're a better person than that lady who pawned off the rotten cat? I know, not much comfort.
Certainly tell her about what a lameo he turned out to be. And I bet she wouldn't take him back anyway, right?
I just think too much time has passed for you to return him.
The reason I'm fantasizing about returning him is because we may be moving somewhere where he won't be able to go outside, but I guess I should wait and see if that actually happens.
Will keep you updated.
As for knowing you're the better person, I personally find it to be over rated as a satisfaction generator.
Often taking the high road doesn't bring benefits until years (or decades in this case???!!!) later.
I agree completely...as much as I like to say, "The view is great from my high horse." it's actually not making anything any better...
How much time before you move? Is Fonzie old and decrepit, maybe he'd die of old age as a favour to you?
Yep, taking the high road is definitely not a shortcut to personal gratification. Guess that's why so few people opt to take it.
I also hate my cat. My husband's friend gave us this cat last year, and neglected to tell us that the damn thing pees everywhere and never stops meowing. She stopped peeing places, but I still can't stand the meowing. My husband and Mother-in-law loves the cat. I feel like if I demand that we get rid of it, she'll judge me.
I am so glad I am not the only one to hate their cat and wish for the day the devil incarnate will finally die.
My daughter left Mushue with me while she was moving and promised she would pick him up in 2 weeks. That was 10 years ago. She won't take him back. He is 15 lbs of pure black and the meanest thing I have ever seen.
He is so very picky about his food. The bowl has to be filled all the way to the very top edge for him to eat it. If it gets below the rim He stands there and meows till you fill it back up. And don't even think of moving him out of your chair where he has plopped his fat butt. Or else you are going to get your face tore off. he has bitten me while I was asleep because he wanted to sleep in the bed and wanted me to get up.
When he decides he wants to lay someplace he will knock everything out of his way. He has pushed my dishes out of the cabinets before.
I have actually moved when he was about 2 years old and this cat found me after 3 months he just showed back up. I can't give him to any one else he is evil and no one wants him. I can't take him to the shelter because he is not adoptable.
I have layed in bed and thought up ways to get rid of him. I have thought of stepping on and squishing his head. I have thought of feeding him anti-freeze. You name it I have probably thought of it. I have suffered so bad for the past 10 years. I just don't have it in me to actually harm him.
The only good thing I can say about Mushue is He don't use a litter box. He shakes the door knob when he needs to go out to potty.
I had him fixed when he was about 7 months old hoping it would calm him down and that didn't help.
So I wait and wait and one day He will be returned to hell from where he came.
Wow! I'm speechless. Makes Fonzie look ok.
I absolutely can not stand my cat either. I got her over 8 years ago from a shelter. I called them a month into it saying it just wasn't going to work and they made me feel like a low live animal hater, so I kept her. They told me her nervousness was because she was a shelter cat and it would go away in time. It hasn't. I can barely pet her, and if I tried to pick her up she'd take my left eyeball out. She's ruined all of my furniture, because I thought declawing was cruel.
I've made the decision to find her a good home this year, but I still feel really guilty. But I just can not go on like this, she is driving me crazy. I have another cat (another rescue cat) that I got 18 months after and she's fine. I've had pets all of my life and never had a problem like this.
It's good to know there are others out there that also don't feel the love for their cats.
oh thank god. I have been swearing at my cat every time my daughter is out the room. She adores it. I hate it. It does kamikazee dives from the top of the wardrobe onto my head at night, it breaks everything, it claws everything. It sits on top of doors and jumps on peoples heads when they visit, leaves hair everywhere, wraps round your ankles almost as if it likes you every time you move and yet slices you to death if you pet it. i want it GONE!!!!!!!!!My daughter would however kill me :(
have you tried something like this?
http://www.cagesdirect.com/midwest-cat-playpen-deluxe-p-1220.html
I'm sorry, I didn't realize you can't put links in comments. Try this in your browser: MidWest Cat Playpen Deluxe and it should take you to the page where you might find a solution for yourself. I can relate, believe me. Best of luck to ya.
I hear you on this one. My husband's cat pees when she gets angry (which is all this time), and mostly on my stuff. He has this irrational love for this really mean cat. We are having a baby and I still can't get him to see reason with the urination problem. I would like to shoot it. It got locked in the neighbours garage, and silly me I went over to let it out. I should have left it there.
Wish I could help you. Sounds like you can't give the cat back. Can you just keep it outside and not let it in?
I know exactly how you feel guys. Me and my ex got a kitten 11 years ago, which quite shortly afterwards i wanted to give to the rspca as i was pregnant and kept tripping me up. However my ex persuaded me into keeping it by saying he would looked after it. Years later we broke up and i got left with the cat as he was used to living her, even though he wasn't my cat anymore. Well another 6 years later he still trips everyone up, and only walks through doors when people are. i cannot stand him anymore. For the last 2-3 years he will only eat what he fancies. If i can't read his mind he wont eat his food. I often have 2-3 different brands of food that he won't eat. I give him clean bowls different food he still wont eat it. I somehow have to know exactly which one he wants or he wont eat goes outside eats rubbish out there and then comes in to vomit on the floor. I have 2 children and am a single mom with very little money. He is costing me so much money and i am having to travel all over town to different shops to get different brands of food in the hope he eat a few of them. After eating a few of these he will then change his mind again and the game starts over. He doesn't weigh very much as he is just so stupid and stubborn. He also spends all his time pestering me to get him food he wants even though his bowl is full and i don't know what he wants! He isn't a nice cat either, he digs his claws in when you're with him and bites when it takes his fancy. I've tried everything with this cat and him being so choosey and ungrateful has made me hate him.
I live in an area with many many stray cats who would be so happy to have a good home and plenty of food.
I tried everything with this cat and i mean everything, i just think he's a horrible cat! My daughter loves him but cannot understand why he shows no affection to her in anyway unless he is trying to make you get the food he wants, which you cant cos you cant read his mind :o( I am so ashamed to say but this cat has made my life so miserable i wish he would die.
I also cannot let him in my room at night as he scratches my face to wake me up to get him the food he actually wants! but whatever that is i don't know!
I've tried everything with this cat. Exspensive food, cheap food, dry food, wet food. Took him to the vets, many many times, not sick!
I've also bought him lots of beds, bean bags etc etc as he sleeps on everything he's not meant to, but does he sleep on any of those oh no! only things he not supposed to. I cannot leave clothing or anything else anywhere as he will sleep on them and cover them in hair. I bought a bean bag for my son, he'll sleep on that! so i buy my son another so my son can use it, now he sleeps on that one! I actually think my cat is satans spawn.
I hate my cat too! My daughter's bf gave it to her when my daughter was 16 and living at home. My daughter is now 25 and hasn't lived at home since she went off to college.
This cat has clawed doorways, walls, leather furniture, and anything else she takes a fancy to.
She's been given scratching posts but she prefers the furniture.
She also sprays on everything. Curtains, bedclothes, the walls.. it doesn't matter. She will back her behind up and mark it. I can't even have company over anymore because my entire house smells like cat pee. I truly hate this cat.
I keep her litter box clean, her food and water dish full, and she has plenty of toys.
She will also bite and scratch without provocation and will find the laundry basket and wallow on the clean clothes.
I wish this cat would just die. Unfortunately, she will probably outlive me. She makes my life miserable, but my son loves the wretched thing and cannot understand why I have a problem with her.
I know it has been a long time since I wrote about how much I hated my cat Mushue. Well I have gotten relief he has finally died. I know I should have grieved but I was so glad he was finally gone. Life has been good since he has left and returned to the hell from which he came.
Well I was given a cat that my ex gave me. My ex's wife gave this cat to my son.One day she went in his house and took it because she felt astho he wasn't taken good care of it.Then one day my ex came over and said anybody wants a cat.So I was recovering from breast cancer and I thought this would be a good diversion for me. Well this sweet little siamese turned out to be hell on 4 legs. She is an attack cat. She controls me. If she is sitting on my lap and I try to put her down she bite and claws me to the point of blood running down my arms.When she is on my lap I fear touching her because she will attack me.She controls me I feel she has a little of my ex in her.
I'm so happy I'm not the only person who hates one of my cats. I got this stupid cat foisted on me by the daughter of a coworker. She swore that she'd be back for the cat in a couple months, just so she could find an apartment... yeah didn't happen, and this cat has made my life a living hell. Now, I have 6 cats total, and the other 5 are wonderful, funny quirky felines that I love. But THIS B@$TARD cat(Leo), pisses on anything he can, no matter how clean the litter boxes are. Once I was cleaning the litter box, and the room it was in, and had just put the fresh box in the room.... cat comes in and pissed on my foot. ON MY FOOT.I came incredibly close to having him exterminated that day. Now, this cat has been to the vet-hes fine. I've had "animal whisperers" come and done everything they suggest. New food, new litter, his own private box, his own private ROOM, spray bottles, retraining to use the litter box... Everything. Nothing works. The only saving grace is that he only does it on things on the floor, so far. So I spend my life cleaning up after this awful cat. And that's not even the worst part. This stupid cat MAROOOOWWWS ALL NIGHT LONG, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I haven't had a good nights sleep in over a year. And no shelter will take him because of his urinary issues. So Unless I toss him out, I'm stuck with this cat that I absolutely hate. Oh, and the best part? The girl who actually OWNS THE CAT? Yeah she won't take him back because she has 2 more cats now.
So happy to have found this! I hate my husband's cat as well. Partly because my spouses behavior encourages the cat's bad habits and partly because she is stubborn and will not be corrected. We got the little monster from a girl who claimed she was gone all the time and felt guilty for leaving the little demon alone all the time. Should have known when her parting words were, "let me know how it goes".
My husband, the moron fed the thing from the table day one, so guess what problem that created. I have to stand guard to keep her greedy a$$ away from the table and counters. Its now so bad that she has to be locked in another room when we cook and eat, or be pestered to death by her stares and stalking us for a bite. Dismayed to learn that they live such long lives. My son is five and loves her. She got out once while I was talking to a visitor with the storm door open. I was so happy, my agony was over. Sadly she came back in. Will never have another one of these filthy, crap-covered pawed, butt-hole licking, bug-eyed, hateful things in my home again!
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