I no longer want to look after my daughter's cats.

Apparently the recipe for Frontline was changed a year or two ago to counter the fleas getting adapted.

Fortunately cats don't really care whether you like them or not as long as you treat them kindly. But why the heck should you have them if you don't want to? Cats are not hard to rehome as a rule. Start looking into the possibilities of it.

They are some of the reasons why I don't have pets. It's rather like having a permanent child. No hairs, no poo pick-ups, no walkies in all weathers, no muddy paws, no vet's bills, no expensive food or litter, no cattery/ dog pound bills or paying someone to feed and walk them.
My unalloyed joy was with my children but I do understand that, for some, pets are a comfort to talk to etc.
What I don't really understand is why people don't like to always be open with family or even with friends, with regard to helping out with GC, lifts, pets, finances or anything else.
GN is a great sounding board when you feel at the end of your tether but don't let family frictions go unaddressed.
I've always believed in honesty being the best policy, otherwise people think all is ok when it's really not.
It doesn't need to be confrontational. Just a reasonable chat over coffee when there is nothing and nobody to interrupt.
I hope the cat situation becomes more bearable but, as they age, be prepared. Good luck.

Darned predictive text! That should say ‘foisted on me by DS’?‍♀️

Don’t feel guilty about not loving the cats. They won’t give a damn as long as they’re fed and got somewhere warm to sleep. Both my last moggies (foisted in my be DS!) lived until they were 20! Sorry ? I like cats but would never get another one for the reasons you mentioned (litter trays ?, jumping on work tops, sleeping on clean ironing etc) plus they are such a tie. I totally agreed with Urmstongran. Give DD a deadline then rehome ❤️

This is very unfair -and expensive - on you when you had no choice in the matter. Contact Cats Protection or your own local cat rehoming charity. Explain the situation and they can add the cat's to their rehoming list. It may take some time to find new homes, but at least you will see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'd be just as frustrated as you are, you have been taken advantage of in a very selfish way. Tell your daughter you've had enough, you need her help to rehome them and stick to your guns. You've done more than enough. I'm a cat lover and have one adored cat, but at least she was my choice.

My daughter has found a cat re-homing person who is prepared for you to keep the cats in your own home until a new owner is found. That way you dont have to go and leave them in a shelter. She semi-adopted a stray, but cant keep it now they are moving, nor can she bear to take it to be put in a cage even temporarily as its always had its freedom. Re-homing takes longer and you have to be prepared for people to visit the cat, but the plus is you meet the new owners and have a great chance of getting through the re-homing process without angst.

Do you know that the RSPB reports that cats kill 55 million birds a year. I hate cats, their calling cards and remains of killed birds, by them, left in my garden. Keep them in overnight!

You have my sympathy. We were left with a cat when DD went off travelling and to uni. We got quite fond of her but we aren't cat people and DD had moved on.
We always had to arrange cat sitters when we went away and she became ill while we were on holiday. Our cat sitter had to nurse her. She was 21 when she died.
Luckily we didn't get a puppy too or a pony DD begged us to. She has a dog of her own now who comes to us when DD is on holiday.

Rehome them! This is unfair on you, and the cats will be absolutely fine in new homes. I was landed with my Dd's big, boisterous dog through similar circumstances. I managed to train him so we kept him and take good care of him. But it was NOT my choice, I'm just lucky it hasn't worked out too badly. Four cats?? No!

"chasing them off the kitchen worktops. " Yuk, yuk yuk!! This made me shudder and feel quite ill.

I used to be a Nanny in a house where the Siamese cat regularly slept in one of the cooking pots under the kitchen workbench - and yet its owner insisted on the must meticulous hygiene everywhere else (and rightly so).

I am NOT a cat person although when the children were young and a stray cat adopted us, we took him in and had him for 8 years.

I'm sure there must be people out there who'd love a cat to keep them company. Keep asking around.

Have you done some free, heart-strings advertising? "Lonely little cat needs a loving home" sort of thing in local shops, vets' clinics and so on?

Don't let your conscience prevent you from making this effort to re-home them - you and they both deserve it.

The cats will be just as happy in another home with someone who really likes them. I would have no compunction about rehoming them.

Exactly what I said Anja it’s beyond cheeky.

PS and tell your daughter to help you find new homes. It’s her problem too.

Firstly Frontline isn’t very effective any more. That’s one problem easily solved. Ask your vet to prescribe a flea cum wormer then all will be sorted.

If you feel like that then get in touch with an animal charity and ask that they help you rehome the cats. All credit to you for keeping them this long but they might find loving homes with someone else.

So that's how my husband got off loaded onto me

This could have happened to me with a dog, so I made sure I didn't bring it to mine or have it to stay over night, But I do help out by staying at their house when needed, but have said no to staying two weeks as it's too much. Did the same when my Grandson was born a long time ago, would mind him part time, but not full time like my then daughters husband wanted me to so she could work full time.

They must be quite old now?
Of course that can mean ill health and big vet bills as well.
Nobody should have pets foisted upon them, but as you agreed to it, there’s no alternative, and I understand you wanting to vent about it.
A friend of ours had two dogs dumped on her by an unthinking DD, 15 years later she is still looking after them and resenting it.

SalsaQueen - sorry but how would a cat sitter help in this case???

The cat-sitter I have charges £8 per visit (45 minutes), so it's not too expensive (she calls in twice daily, and my son does the night-time visit)

Why wouldn't you get a pet-sitter? I've always had cats (almost 40 years) anI've always managed to get reliable, trustworthy people to look after my cats when I've been away.

Also, Frontline ISN'T any good. 3 vets have told me that the fleas become resistant to certain treatments - Frontline being the main one. I get BRAVECTO from the vet, for my cats.

I don't know where you live, but all the animal shelters where I am (Derby) are usually full.

Rehome them. I think it is a bloody cheek to rehome four cats in someone else's home and then dump them when you move out - and I am afraid this is exactly what DD did. She brought them to your home: it was her responsibility as an adult pet owner either to take them with her when she left, or, given the asthma situation, for HER to have the trouble/emotion of rehoming them.

Tell her you are rehoming them, and why.

Jura the daughter's husband has asthma so they can't have any of the cats.
I'm not sure you really want to rehome the cats MissingLincs I think you are just a bit fed up with the situation you find yourself in. Five cats are expensive to keep though, I know,
There are rescue centres who will help with rehoming so maybe you could think about it.

why can't your daughter take them? They are hers after all.

I would bite the bullet, look up your local cat rescue centre online and do the deed. If you have any spare food and cat litter they would be pleased to take it. You need a life- enjoy it. Tell your daughter afterwards in case she could persuade you to guilt trip and continue.

I am a lover of cats and they do know when they are not loved.