I have an issue. Well, more than one but for sake of simplicity I'll keep this thread to just the one. 
My ex and I bought a cat together 4 years ago when we lived together. We broke up a year and a half ago and I moved out. At that time, we agreed the cat would continue living with my ex because he has a nice house in a nice neighborhood. The cat is indoor/outdoor and is king of the jungle where my ex lives. It's safe and quiet and he does what he wants. Even though the cat was more bonded with me and I'm more of a cat person than my ex, I didn't want to bring the cat with me since I moved to a tiny apartment in a much more urban area with no yard, etc. So it was better for the cat to stay with my ex, in my thinking.
Fast forward to a few months ago, my ex said he can't/doesn't want to keep the cat. His reasons were that the cat keeps getting fleas and then gives fleas to his dog, and that the cat has gotten into some fights with neighborhood cats and had some expensive vet visits. Do these sound like standard pet problems? Yes, yes they do. And my ex has a very good job, he's not hard up for money. So I think the bigger issue is he just doesn't want the cat. Maybe it reminds him of me, I don't know.
Now, I've since moved into a new apartment that is larger and I think could accommodate the cat. However, pets are not allowed.
My ex and I have tried to find a new home for the cat but to no avail. So now, my ex has put the cat on a wait list to go to a no kill shelter.
So the question is: do I take the cat? My therapist says he'll write me a letter for an emotional support animal. But it means I'll have to try to keep him a secret from my landlord as long as possible. And retrain him to be indoor only. And face a fight if the landlord finds out. But I can't stomach my cat being sent back to a shelter. I mean, who does that when they have the means to take care of the animal?
Anyway - recommendations? Constructive and kind ones, please.
My ex and I bought a cat together 4 years ago when we lived together. We broke up a year and a half ago and I moved out. At that time, we agreed the cat would continue living with my ex because he has a nice house in a nice neighborhood. The cat is indoor/outdoor and is king of the jungle where my ex lives. It's safe and quiet and he does what he wants. Even though the cat was more bonded with me and I'm more of a cat person than my ex, I didn't want to bring the cat with me since I moved to a tiny apartment in a much more urban area with no yard, etc. So it was better for the cat to stay with my ex, in my thinking.
Fast forward to a few months ago, my ex said he can't/doesn't want to keep the cat. His reasons were that the cat keeps getting fleas and then gives fleas to his dog, and that the cat has gotten into some fights with neighborhood cats and had some expensive vet visits. Do these sound like standard pet problems? Yes, yes they do. And my ex has a very good job, he's not hard up for money. So I think the bigger issue is he just doesn't want the cat. Maybe it reminds him of me, I don't know.
Now, I've since moved into a new apartment that is larger and I think could accommodate the cat. However, pets are not allowed.
My ex and I have tried to find a new home for the cat but to no avail. So now, my ex has put the cat on a wait list to go to a no kill shelter.
So the question is: do I take the cat? My therapist says he'll write me a letter for an emotional support animal. But it means I'll have to try to keep him a secret from my landlord as long as possible. And retrain him to be indoor only. And face a fight if the landlord finds out. But I can't stomach my cat being sent back to a shelter. I mean, who does that when they have the means to take care of the animal?
Anyway - recommendations? Constructive and kind ones, please.
