How to Tell the Kids We Need to Get Rid of the Cats?

My sisters allergist told her that there is a med that she can take. It is not supposed to make her drowsy or anything. I am sorry that i dont know much more about it. Maybe you can ask her allergist.

I am very allergic to any hairy animal... I have 13 cats. Claritin with an occasional zyrtec have been my best friend. I could never get rid of my animals I promised to be responsible and care for for anything less than anaphylactic shock allergies. All allergies can come and go, and being around your allergy often with medication can be beneficial to mitigating the allergy.

You can have your cats shaved every 3 months (which I do for my cats myself) and wipe them down with a plain wet washcloth every 3 days to keep down the dander.

Both children will know why the cats are being forced to go... since they are good cats. It will cause resentment on multiple levels, including towards you.

I'd not get rid of your family pets.

Are you really, really sure it is the cats she is allergic to?? I work for a testing lab and learned that there are so many allergens our body can take so it puts the entire body over the edge. If it were me I would have the blood test done (not the skin prick test!!!) and see what her system is really allergic to. I deal with pediatricians every day that encounter this and many times it's not the cats as the parents thought.

Allergy meds as suggested are a great idea.

If you do get rid of them...tell the truth please. I would think the subject of having another cat will come up in the future.

You bathe your cats?!?!?!? How in the $^*&%@! do you do that and still have a face?

I have two cats and am allergic to cats in general, but I take Claritin daily. I've also built up some immunity to my own cats so that's helping. I brush them regularly and wipe their fur down.

Because I also have really bad seasonal allergies, we're picking up air filters for each floor of the house soon. We don't have carpets, just wood floors, and I wash (not just vacuum but WASH) window hangings frequently. Bedding gets done frequently and our couches have removable cushion covers that also go in the wash. Rather than just vacuum, I wash down floors so as not to raise up dust and dander.

But whatever you do, tell your children the truth about rehoming, and that it's just as kind for the cats as it is for everyone's health.

My thought is to be honest. Explain that your two daughters come first and what you've done to find the cats a new home (modeling that responsibility to them).

Thank you for taking care of this yourself and not dumping them on a shelter.

Let your daughters know you are doing this for their health and that no one is to blame, sometimes things are the way they are. Repeat this as often as you feel is necessary.

Hopefully in the future your youngest won't be allergic but since she is so sensitive now it isn't good for her to be so exposed. Hopefully she will "grow out of it" All the best!

Maybe the new person would be willing to send a note and picture from your cats, letting your daughters know they miss them but are doing well in their knew home?

I haven't read the other messages but just tell the girls that your 3 year old is allergic and you want her to be healthy. My cousin is allergic to dogs and cats. They had a dog and had to get rid of him when they found out he was allergic. They told the boys that it was to make sure the other was healthy and they were ok with it. They were sad to see the dog leave but knew it was for the others health. Good luck!!!

Oh how sad. To bad you could not keep them on the back porch area? Or a relative can take them? Or a garage area? That way they arent in the house proper but you still get to keep them.

We had to do this when we got our oldest a short-hair cat, turns out my youngest can only have hypo-allergenic/non-shed cats/dogs. Well, my oldest decided she was going to put up a sign "Free sister to a good home" when I suggested getting rid of the cat. But she then understood that we really couldn't do that, she mentions it every now & then, but understood......eventually. Best of luck to you and just a thought, maybe you could contact an animal shelter that would be able to take the cats to possibly find homes for the holidays. I know that we are looking into adopting another dog for our girls for Christmas.

Don't lie to your children. That always comes back at you sooner or later.

See if you can get a home for them first (I know you're trying to). If I lived in your area, I'd take them! But I'm too far away. See if there's a cat rescue agency that provides foster care. Talk to your vet's office. Talk to your daughter's school. Talk to the neighbors.

Tell your girls that the kitties need to live in a home where they won't make anybody feel sick.

That said, there's some sort of medication that can be given to cats that somehow keeps them from being such an allergen. My grown kids are trying it on their cats right now. Do you know about this? Does your vet know about it? I haven't read any of the previous responses.

Allergies are allergies - something like this is a part of life. Explain that your LO is allergic and that the cats must go. But you have found them a great home (ask the new owners to send pics on occasion). Also, tell you kids that their health is number one - they will understand. Good luck.

I have been thru this when my kids were about the same ages. Our beloved cat started having issues after my divorce, moving in with my mom and her cats, he started peeing on EVERYTHING!!! Well, the last straw was when I was laying in bed and he PEED ON ME!!! The next day I was honest with the kids and told them Chuckie was not happy living with my mom and her cats and that he peed on me and that wasn't ok and we needed to find a new home for him. Make sure to let the kids say goodbye!! And DO NOT get another cat down the road, the kids will wonder if you will get rid of it too. We have a dog and decided when hes gone, we will have no more pets. I tell the kids all the time that they can have whatever pets they want when they have their own homes. My mom still has her cats and a dog and they spend the night at her house every other weekend so its not like they don't have any pets. Good luck!

I wouldn't blame this one the cats, that is unfair to them and will give your girls the wrong idea about what are nice cats. I would just keep it simple and say that your family is not equipted to give them the attention that they need at this time and so and so can give them the attention that they need. Is it possible that your 6 yo can visit the cats in their new home on occasion? Can you get them another pet that will work with your daughter's allergies (a gerbil or something)?

This is very sad and I understand your dilema. If you have found them a good home, tell the girls about the owner and how the kitties will be blessing who you are giving them to. If it's someone you are close with maybe you guys could visit them in the beginning. Eventually that would taper down.

I would just say they have to go. Why give excuses. I know it isn't easy but we are the parents, we get to make those types of decisions.

I would show that the cats have a good home. It is important that the kids know the pets aren't disposable. You can do that by showing the steps you went through to make sure they are well taken care of without going into why it had to happen, ya know?

my kids are a little older but I have a very sensitive little guy who appears to be allergic to just about everything. Like someone else said he's so sick all the time that little things just seem to tip the scales, even though they aren't the real issue. I've already told my big kids that the animals will go if I'm ever sure they are a problem. They know how hard I have worked so we can keep them, and they know how miserable the baby is, and I expect them to respect me enough to trust me when i say I will only do it if I have no other choice. I will not however medicate my child just to make the others happy. I don't think that's the right thing to do.

Be honest with the kids, and if you are sure the cats are the issue then let them go. It will be hard but they need to understand that the health of a family member means more than a pet.