Considering giving up my cat, its eating me alive.
About 2 years ago I was the landing pad for 2 cat's who had spent their lives living in the home of a geriatric hoarder who had to be taken into hospice care. We were told the cat's were mild tempered and in good health, this was not true. If the two siblings the small cat was deathly ill, came into my home and passed within 48 hours before we could even get her to the vet. The other living cat is my baby, I love him to bits but I had not signed up to care for such a high needs cat, he is not box trained, having come from a hoarders home he couldn't access his litterbox and would go anywhere there was space, and none of our efforts work to solve this (yes we have tried every suggestion from both vets and the internet,) and his behavioral issues worsen month to month. I believe it is largely old age and health issues starting to pop up (he is 16.) I love him more than anything, he sleeps in my bed on my pillow with me, follows me everywhere, and is a constant joy. But I am a college student who is moving in with roommates in the fall and I don't have time to 24/7 be making sure a cat is pooping in the correct places, or staying out of general trouble.
Realizing I am not likely a person capable of handling all these age based adjustments as he seems to need more help everyday, would the right thing be to give him up? I am worried no one will take him, but I fear if I keep him I will drive myself even crazier than I've already become. He has a vet appointment coming up, so if something more serious has developed since his last checkup and there is something seriously wrong with him I simply cannot afford an expensive medical procedure/treatment.
I hope this is the right sub for this sort of thing, as I am desperate for reassurance and advice for anyone who has experienced something similar! Thank you!