I'm so sad... I've been crying for the past hour- JUST VENTING

I'm so sad right now.  I have 3 cats an a bird.  One of my cats, Mee-Mee, is almost 6 years old.  I got him whn I was 19 years old... before I met my husband.   He's my baby.  Well...this morning came over an she had the 2 year old that she keeps with her.  ( Shes a nanny)  Well... Mee-Mee kept hissing at him.  He made the little boy cry so they left.  I told my husband when he got home an he replied... " You know we can't keep him?".   I really didn't want to hear that.  But I know its the truth.  I had that cat when I didn't have any one else... hes family.  Mee-Mee has some kind of skin allergy an he chews himself.  So he gets scabs on his back and belly.   I'm afraid no one will want him because of that.  I'm just so sad... I feel like I'm getting rid of part of the family.  But I know he could get scaired an hurt the baby.  An I can't let that happen.  Sigh... this *****.  Well I'm getting a head ach from all the crying so I'm going to bed.  Good night every one.  Anita

[drguruncs]

We had a yorkie but for a very different reason we got rid of him before getting stationed here. Now at first I didn't want him ANYWHERE near my daughter because when I was pregnant with her, that little spawn of satan would eat EVERYONE'S ankles. This dog is a MEAN lil sucker, let me tell ya! He snarled, bit, chased other kids and adults. I thought for sure he was going to be the same way with my daughter. Quite the opposite. All though he still hated the world, he was SO protective of my daughter and even turned on my Mother Inlaw when she got close to my daughter he would step in between her and my daughter and then when my MIL stepped even closer, he tried to attack her. Your pet just KNOWS a part of the family. It acts very different. When we first brought her home, Timmy (the yorkie) hid and had nothing to do with her for the first month. After that, he never left her side.
Another one- my neighbor downstairs apparently has a cat from HELL. It tore up another guy's face just for looking at her. She does NOT like any other outsiders. I didn't know it, when we first moved here in June, she came up to me and starts to prrr. She was VERY affectionate with `me and you would've thought my neighbors saw a ghost with the look they gave me and told me she's NEVER been like that but it's like she knew I was expecting and animals just have that strong sense for babies especially to their own family. When I bring my son down there, she actually goes up and sniffs him cuz she would lay by my belly when I go down there. She still hates everyone else that comes in, but animals act very different with babies, again, especially if they're in the family. They tend to attach to it and if anything, become protective. I would say keep it and just keep a close eye. Chances are the cat will just hide for a while and then come around, but the second it shows those telltale signs, yes, then look into getting a new owner.
Hope you don't have to get rid of him!

[honeybear56]

awwww honey i am so sorry. I bet that there is going to be someone out there. It as tough for me when i had to get rid of my dog (not cause of the baby because of other things) he was my first dog and i loved him very much. But you have to think about the other wonderful things in your life that are coming. For me it was getting with my husband, and that led to concieving our first child, especially when i thought that i was not able to concieve (conceive) a child due to we had been trying for a year. I know that it is tough, but i know that you're little kitty will find a loving family that will take such good care of him. Just remember that you had him at his best years and that you showed him all love that you could and gave him the best life that any little kitty could ever ask for. Just remember those things and im hoping (not exaclty positive) but you might feel better. I hope things work out for you.

[sweetangel7]

I know how special kitties and pets can be...dh and I lost (he died) ours in April...he was 13 and we have had him for 10 years...dh had him for the three years before that since the day he was born in dh's closet!  Either way it is tough to let go!  Perhaps you don't have to get rid of him...I'd give kitty at least one more chance!  Take care!

[bluegenie2003]

I would give the kitty a chance with the baby before you decide you have to get rid of him.  I agree with drguruncs in that a lot of animals know when children are family, and they'll actually become very protective of them.  The family I nannied for over the summer have a 18 year old yellow lab (slightly set in his ways!) and a baby that's 8 months now.  When the baby came home, Chief (the lab) glared at her, and acted somewhat threatening for the first couple weeks....however, within a month they were able to take pictures of the baby laying on Chief and he's very protective on her...she can even pull on his ears, tail...whatever she can reach!

[justice6920]

Oh hunny Im sorry....... Our pets are just like family..... BUT what drguruncs said is right.... give it some time bc our pets do act differently when you bring someone new in to the family.... they just know that this little person in family too and usually get used to them..... So give it some time and just watch him around the baby.... Im sure all will turn out great

[Avanaar]

I went thru this a few months back with my dog.  I cried for nearly two days because I thought I would have to get rid of her.  I got her in 2005 before I met DH and brought her to Nebraska with me when I moved up here to be with DH.  Despite some of her 'issues', I'm more than willing to work with her because I know she has it in her to be a great dog.  I give a lot of thanks to Cesar Milan's show and books for helping me realize I don't have to give up on her.

Unfortunately, Cesar only works with dogs ...and cats, tho domesticated, work 'differently' than dogs.  They are mostly loners by nature, whereas dogs are pack animals.  But, as others have said, try giving the cat a chance with the baby.  But remember to *never* leave the baby alone with any animal ...no matter how "well-behaved" and "perfect" the animal is.

[AnitaRFrith]

My husband has his mind made up.  I wanted to give Mee-Mee a few days or a week.  But said hes not taking the chance.  Mee-Mee an jade ( my black cat )  have been together since they were little.  Jade is awesome with kids.  We have had to take her from my friend's little girl because she was carrying her around by her head.  She was just hanging there... lol.  Its going to kill me if I have to seperate them.  Jade protects Mee-Mee.  Then my 3rd cat Wesson... hes sweet but he bites when he plays.  Hes declawed... the other 2 are not.  I want to have Mee-Mee declawed.  He has never bit in his life.  So I hope that would do the trick.  Its just talking the dh into it.  l don't want my baby to get hurt... but I don't want to have to get rid of family members.  I'm going to research it an see if theres any hope.  He really dose not like kids or babies.  Its just so sad... Anita.

[JoyRenee]

I had a cat like that (she got a skin problem like you described as well) and when I got pregnant with my oldest we had to give her up. I'd had her since the 5th grade so I had her for 9 years. It was really hard but at the same time I had so much else going on that I knew it was for the best.