lately my dad has been planning for my mom to return with my little sister to live with us (they’re not divorced, just have work in different countries) and I remembered theres sort of a huge problem
my mom HATES cats, well she hates any pets really so I’m sort of scared
also for context im about to turn 17 and will likely move out for uni (but most places don’t allow pets im assuming and i don’t think my parents would want to take it). I have sort of a rocky relationship with my mother as we have not truly lived together in about 8 years. I have 2 cats who are fully bonded and are about 4.5 years old (that ive had since probs about 4 months old), so not a great time to rehome but idk if thats the best option.
honestly i feel horrible because i feel like i am not capable of giving my lovely boys the home they deserve and I wonder if I’m just holding on to them out of selfishness.
the first time my mom visited again after covid ~2024 she brought up rehoming my cats immediately, and I agreed because I thought (with her phrasing) to just give them to a friend because she didn’t want to see them, them obviously took it back after I realized. Either way throughout her 2-week visit the 2 cats were left in a single room+balcony the whole time
perhaps through the influence of my mom, or a spark ignited in my dad, he didn’t fight for the babies really. he’s always been a little bit of an indifferent dog guy that was happy enough providing expenses but not happy with the cat hair he thought “wow that was actually great”. -
and so i proceeded to argue with him for a few days on end and now they have access to their main room (the one they were stuck in), and my room, and the bathroom, and i guess the hallways and stairs too. (and thats that for the next 2 years)
i don’t know, i can see my dad really learning to love them and take care of them too, but he doesn’t really get to if he refuses to spend any feasible amount of time with them. and my mom is even less sure, i can sort of picture her just dumping them out in the streets one day while im at school or something and that being that
i constantly feel like i am the only one who understands they are like sentient beings and not live decor and thats so exhausting because i know that they could be so much happier and im scared they have needs im not fulfilling.
ideally i could get some advice on how to convince my parents, or just to realize its a inhumane to care for your pets so long just to decide that it doesn’t fit your mode of life anymore. i want them to roam the house free again 😞 but otherwise maybe its time for a new home?
please let me know what you think I should do because im consumes by guilt and i can’t recognize if im thinking straight anymore