Four days ago, while going through a manic episode, I got a cat. Married, I have three children, ages three, two, and four months, as well as two dogs, ages seven and five. I was the only parent for a week while my spouse was gone on business. We raised my lamictal at the same time, which caused me to go into hypomania. I ended up adopting a kitten on a whim. My two-year-old started sneezing the morning after she came home. He started coughing and sneezing in the evening, and his nose was running, but I didn’t give it much thought. Benadryl is what I’m giving him, and it works for a little while, but it always returns. I’ve concluded that he is allergic to something. I’ve seen that you can. I couldn’t force myself to give him medicine, or shots, or to wait it out and see if I get used to it. It pains me to see him in pain. He sounds really bad. Would it be improper if I gave the cat back? Since my spouse and I have already linked, I regret having to take her away.
All you can do is return the cat. You have had it for 4 days. Put your kid first.
Before the cat grows overly connected to the family, return it now. You’re like a super hero because you look after so many little children and two dogs already. I’m not sure where you get the strength to look after another live thing.
I am drowning and I have a one-year-old human, three cats, and one dog. 
Having all those pets at the same time I would be dead.
It’s not simple, lol. Particularly because my former boys are high maintenance poodles (we got them before they were fashionable, don’t judge 
)
Honestly, I bet it’s not.
The cat you quickly grabbed during a manic episode shouldn’t need medication for your child to live securely in his own house. Put the cat back.
Giving up the animal is the best option for you and your family, as much as I detest it. Your child must come first. She should be able to find a new home sooner rather than later if she is just a kitten.
Give up impulsively adopting fucking animals.
I’m so sick of seeing posts like this.
You took in a pet on a whim. It will have a “return” on its adoption paperwork now that it is bonded to you. Your spouse is also involved.
This is what will happen if you return it as you now have to.
There will be a return on it for the cat. That is interpreted by some as indicating a problem. They won’t take it up. By the next spring, it will be put to death to make way for kittens. It will die by itself in a back room, wondering why it was left behind and what went wrong to warrant your return.
Greetings of congratulations. You are an awful human being.
Thank you for being so open and honest. I know it was a bad idea to adopt her on a whim. I acknowledge that my bipolar disease kept me from being in the right mindset, but I take full responsibility for that. Thankfully, the veterinarian from whom I obtained her treats and rescues strays. She won’t ultimately lose as a result. She hasn’t developed a love for us yet, despite her sweetness. She stays hidden until we get out of the room.
Do you have any friends or family who could adopt your cat?
It is quite concerning that this individual cannot handle their mental illness with the right medicine and therapies and has three small children.
I have been in therapy for a year, and I’m still figuring out what prescription is best for me. My kids are completely safe, so there’s no need to be concerned about that.
This person isn’t a single parent, so they have support when they’re struggling.
You don’t know what this mother is really going through. Women often face delays in getting proper diagnoses and treatment. I dealt with childhood trauma and showed signs of PTSD for years before being correctly diagnosed at 21.
You also can’t know the steps she’s taking to improve. Finding the right treatment isn’t easy, and it often takes trying different medications. She might have tried therapy, or she could be dealing with postpartum depression on top of everything else.
Don’t judge a mother based on her mental health—these kids might grow up with more empathy and bigger hearts than you expect.
What is the desire of your spouse? It seems like a decision that has to be made jointly. I would never suggest returning an animal to a shelter where there is a chance they would become ill or be put to death. I would locate a place for the kitten.
PS The idea that lamictal causes hypomania seems odd to me because it contains very little serotonin. It often keeps mania at bay. I’m not sure what other medications you’ve tried to regulate your mood.