'“Can’t you just get rid of the cats?”': Allergic parent demands family rehome their beloved 15-year-old senior kitties, sparking family feud over fur and feelings

Fifteen years ago, this family adopted two shelter kitties despite knowing one of their parents was allergic. At the time, it seemed manageable. Visits were infrequent, no kids to handle, and the cats filled the home with purrsonality. The parent has never truly warmed up, annually reminding everyone of the feline faux-paw. This week, after the grandkids' sleepover triggered a sneeze-fest, a dramatic message arrived: "Can't you just get rid of the cats?"

To be fair, the furmiliy has bent over backward, lint-rolling like Olympic champions, furoiusly vacuuming, locking cats away, and even investing in air filters. Sometimes the parent reacts, sometimes not, even without meds. Interestingly, when siblings had cats, no whiskers of blame were directed their way. And when a supposedly "hypoallergenic" attic cat moved in, the parent mysteriously had zero reactions. Suspicious? Fur sure.

Now, rehoming is on the table, but these cats have been an emotional lifeline, especially during postpartum struggles. The new plan? Try science-backed kibble to reduce allergens. In the end, the cats are clearly more than pets. They're family. Would keeping them really make this pawrent the villain?

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Your parents don’t even live with you. Rehoming beloved cats for people who only see them occasionally is just wild. There are so many other ways to manage allergies without giving up family members!
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You’ve had these cats for 15 years. They’re senior cats and clearly part of the family. Your parents have managed this long, they’ll be okay. No need to uproot them now.
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One of the best parts of being an adult is making your own rules and living how you want. Your house, your rules. The cats have been there 15 years, they stay.
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