I apologize if this doesn't belong here, I just need to vent.

[Sevaede]

Although I am a teacher, I grew up among farms (right next to the family farm and in the barn half the time). Cats were respected working members of the operation. The animals were usually tended by my mom, gram or me. (We didn't go to the doctor either unless it was life threatening.) So please be careful not to lump farmers and country people into one catagory...

Your father-in-law is a jerk. It is possible he says this stuff to get a reaction...something emotionally sadistic people often do... and would not actually do it. I had an uncle who used to say stuff like that. I used to remind him I knew way more about herbs than he did and if any of my animal friends went missing I might just make him something special... (I probably wouldn't have used anything lethal, but he wasn't sure and it did stop the comments.) Now my other uncles used to bring me orphaned bunnies (cutting hay is inevitably a problem) to raise and set free in the swamp where no one hunted.

I hope you get to move soon. Living in stress is awful.

Heh, I grew up (mostly) in Pendleton, Oregon. They live, eat, and breathe farming. As well as the many towns (with populations under twenty) around them. My dad grew up on a farm where they raised pigs, horses, cows, chickens, and sheep. They probably showed them around the area, too. His sister and brother in law, until recently, raised sheep. But I don't think any of them have had any sort of ill will or disregard for other living creatures.

He went out and shot the orange male (who I believe fathered the most recent litter) because it was playing like cats do! He does say it to make us angry but I whole heartedly believe that he would go through with it, too. Thank you so much for raising those bunnies!

It is terrible but we are escaping ASAP.

[Sevaede]

Sadly there are many people in this world exactly like your FIL, he is not alone, to me these people are missing out on so much in their life, I think it would only take them to have an animal that showed so much love back to them to turn their minds around, but it does not always happen.

I don't think Lori Jordan meant any harm by what she said, i think what she may have been trying to say is that part of farming indeed can be cruel, i was raised on a farm so i know,but yes we should not tar everyone with the same brush, young or old, farmer or not,there are people in every race,creed,profession etc who share your FIL attitude,as sad as it is, we as animal lovers can only hope we can influence them and make sure that there are laws to protect animals and that they are abided by.

Good luck with adopting the other kitty, and i hope you can move out soon, as gosh it must be unbearable living under the same roof as him especially with his arrogance.,you both have my empathy.

Um, I wasn't the one who quoted and posted about the friends and the barn cats. That was king2005. I don't think they meant any harm, though.

Thank you.

[Laura's Babies]

God has a most strange sense of humor and I think people with attitudes like that, God sends them back as the animals they detested and were mean to....

That OR someday he will be old and helpless and someone will mistreat him. You DON'T get away with stuff like that! God makes sure you get what you give in life!

[Catty1]

Here is a wacky idea...someone who posted here said your FIL might be doing it for the attention(sorry, forgot the name).

Treat him like a teenager who acts bad to get attention. Just say, "Oh," and carry on whatever you are doing.

It's the only attention he can get...I am willing to bet that when he doesn't get attention(even bad attention is better than none, and he feels he has WON when you react), he will eventually stop.

Just a thought.

hugs
Catty1

[Sevaede]

God has a most strange sense of humor and I think people with attitudes like that, God sends them back as the animals they detested and were mean to....

That OR someday he will be old and helpless and someone will mistreat him. You DON'T get away with stuff like that! God makes sure you get what you give in life!

Sounds good to me!

[Sevaede]

Here is a wacky idea...someone who posted here said your FIL might be doing it for the attention(sorry, forgot the name).

Treat him like a teenager who acts bad to get attention. Just say, "Oh," and carry on whatever you are doing.

It's the only attention he can get...I am willing to bet that when he doesn't get attention(even bad attention is better than none, and he feels he has WON when you react), he will eventually stop.

Just a thought.

hugs
Catty1

I'll give it a try. Usually, I just raise my eyebrows and walk away.

hugs

[Catty1]

Also...the squirt bottle works for cats, so...naaah....never mind....

[carole]

Ah i love the idea of these people coming back in to a life run by animals, wouldn't that be great, they could be left out in cold, with empty bellies,and sick and cold, just desserts, i wish that upon my neighbour everyday,who neglected her kitties and still does,but who are happily residing at the cats backpackers at my place.

Let us hope that your FIL gets a wake up call and realises just how much love a sweet furbaby can actually offer him, especially in his mature years.

[shihtzulover850]

Why don't people get it

[kitimom]

My FIL used to be the same way and yeah, we lived with him for a while too.
He was a drunk, loud, seething lowlife and NO ONE liked him. He NEVER held a job while we were there. He lived with his alzhiemers -patient MOTHER in HER house and ran it like his own. He would SCREAM at her (his mom) on a daily basis and cuss her out about everything. He would taker her check and pay SOME of the bills with it but drank up the rest on his Booze. He made me get up every morning and fix an elaborate breakfast for everyone and then clean the kitchen before I went to work. I HATED getting off work, cuz I knew I would have to be around him when I got home. My husband and I would lock our bedroom door at night so he wouldn't just barge in and start telling his old huntin stories at the top of his lungs. He Demanded that we pay rent while we were there so he would have more booze money. He stood and spied on us while we were in our room one time and barged right in on us while we were in a "compromising" position. When we were about to move (like 3 days before--and no we did not tell anyone we were moving) he barges in our room and demands the money for the gas bill. That was 75 dollars that we were gunna need when we moved. When he came to visit us in our first apartment, he did not knock on the door, he just barged right in. I looked at my husband and he asked him to step outside and then he asked him to knock first before coming in like that. He was told that under any surcomstances that alcoholwould not be tolerated and that if he wanted to drink he would have to do it in his car in the parking lot.
When you move, do it and do it fast...ONE TRIP!!! If you have to leave a few things behind, do so and try to get them later.
If ya'll have kids, DO NOT LET HIM AROUND THEM!!!! He may try to say he has rights to see them, but let me tell ya, you DO NOT want your children exsposed to his kind.Abuse is abuse and he is an abuser.
My FIL nowdays is sober (Thank God) and he has "mellowed out" alot (according to my SIL) but I still HATE him and will till the day I die and then some!!! I will never forgive him for the S*** he put me and hubby thru. His mama died and they sold the house, he and my MIL live in welfare housing and he (get this!!) draws a socail security check every month. He calls it his retirment. (WHATEVER!!!)
So, yeah, Wenis, I understand what you are going thru. I wish ya'll lived here in Tennesseee so we could talk and maybe get together to B**** about our out-laws . I WILL keep ya in my prayers!!