This is a bit long, but if you know anything about cats' personalities, PLEASE read. I need all the opinions/help I can get.
Ok, well, as many of you know, Layla is the family cat that we got about 6.5 years ago when she was 8 weeks old (shelter). She was a very...spirited kitten, and is now a fat, grumpy cat. She attacks umprompted (including us).
Well, when we brought her home, she was my cat and lived with my parents at their house (big house) until I was out of the dorms. I brought her up here with me when I moved to an apt., but she never liked it. Long story short, my parents kept her at home. She always wanted outside, so they built her an outside enclosure, and all was lovely.
Ok, that big house was courtesy of my Nan's job. She lost her job and they moved to an apt. The apt. was much smaller, so they let her lay outside, supervised, for a little each day. The atmosphere in the apt. was pretty bed (arguing between parents - won't go into why) and Layla started licking her hair off out of stress. When my Nan got a new job, they all moved to the hotel she was working at, and Layla got some time in the hall to wander around. We also put Layla on "kitty prozac". This seemed to help even though my parents were still fighting a lot.
Well, my Nan lost that job and Layla came up here with them (to my house). She wasn't really licking, so she's off her meds. Now, Layla does not do well with other animals, so she has to stay in my mom's room 24/7. Jim built her an outside enclosure that she accesses through the room's window (when we have it open...so not 24/7). We thought it would help her, knowing how she likes the outdoors. It did a bit, but just recently, she started licking a bit again. Plus, my parents still occasionally fight (not helping when my angry mother goes in the room with Layla and is all mad). A note - Charlie figured his way into the enclosure and we've caught both of them in the same room/area just kind of staring at each other. We have no idea how long they were like that. But I don't think I'd worry about either one - Charlie is an outside cat first and foremost and knows how to fight and Layla is a huge b*tch and can probable hold her own. But of course, we seperate them. (Keep all that in mind for later).
Here's the dilemna - we feel that it is cruel to keep her locked up in that room all the time, while we're all out here in the rest of the house. We have no idea what to do, though. My Nan has no idea when she'll get another job, and if she does, what if she lives in another hotel room? It just isn't fair to Layla. When my mom moves out, she's going back home and, let's just say, my mom isn't responsible enough to take care of an animal. So that's out.
We are faced with some options -
-Rehome her (to someone that lives on lots of land or that can let her roam the entire house free)
-Let her be loose outside (we don't think she'll come into the backyard if the dogs bark their heads off at her, and we're going to hope she'll do ok with Charlie), letting her in through her window to my mom's room when we see her wanting in
-Hold off on anything until my Nan gets a job (who knows when), which we don't think is fair
So what do we do? Is she re-home'able? I mean, with her being mean and all that. We can pet her, etc., but she's overall just a b*tch. She growls and all that when you are in her way or just move too quickly for her. You get the picture.
So help me please! We are at such a loss. We're gonna talk to the vet, but I want you guys' input, too.
Thanks!!
I hope she is doing ok.
