Two cats, just sold house with garden, moving to temporary small flat. Help!

Avoriaz

Hi, we have lived in the same detached house with large garden for 25 years but we will soon be moving.

We have two 17 year old female tabby cats that are used to a cat flap that is usually open so they come and go between house and garden more or less whenever they like. They are still healthy and active cats with hopefully a few more years ahead of them.

We have just accepted a very good offer on our house. If we don't find somewhere suitable to buy soon, we will rent for a few months rather than get involved in a prolonged chain or lose our sale.

We are at a bit of a loss to know how best to deal with the cats. Ideally we will find a rental flat that allows cats and has garden access, or at worst an upstairs flat and the cats will have to get used to indoor life and litter trays for a few months.

But, if we can't have the cats in a flat, what do we do?

They are probably too old to be easily rehomed. They are nervous of strangers at the best of times. And we don't want to lose them anyway.

We do know someone who adores cats. She lives in a very large house with an huge garden. At one time she had 13 cats but is now down to 4. She might be willing to take ours for a few months but we have no idea how easy it is to resettle nervous cats into a totally new environment, with other cats etc.

Advice, thoughts, comments, suggestions etc please.

SnowyOwl_2

I had a similar sort of situation arise when I last moved. I was waiting on my house to be built, and in the meantime was staying with my brother who refused to let my cats over the threshold. All I could do really was put my kitties in a cattery as rehoming or PTS were not options I was willing to consider. The cattery was £70 per week for six months.

If you are going to be renting I'd say you'd have more chance of being allowed to have your cats with you if you go for an unfurnished place, and be open to offering a clause to have carpets professionally cleaned at the end of your tenancy.

Your friend with the big house sounds promising, so it might be worth having a discussion with her and maybe offer a few ££ for her trouble.

If you go the cattery route you could visit some to see what they are like before booking. The best ones can get booked out in peak holiday season very quickly though.

The housing market is in your favour though...fingers Xed for you that you find your next home quickly and so don't have to go through the trauma of moving house twice (and moving is a trauma, trust me!!)

paddypaws101

Speaking as a landlord, but a crazy cat lover....I would suggest you are errm, lets say economical with the truth when speaking to agents or landlords. ie just don't mention the cats. Obviously be prepared to undertake any extra cleaning duties necessary at the end of the tenancy to be fair. Hopefully it will just be a 6 month tenancy anyway so once you are in the flat who is to know?
When I was in this position years ago I did take on a small house rather than a flat as it was more cat friendly...but just choose the property with the cats in mind!

Fire_Fox

Avoriaz wrote: »

We have just accepted a very good offer on our house. If we don't find somewhere suitable to buy soon, we will rent for a few months rather than get involved in a prolonged chain or lose our sale.

We are at a bit of a loss to know how best to deal with the cats. Ideally we will find a rental flat that allows cats and has garden access, or at worst an upstairs flat and the cats will have to get used to indoor life and litter trays for a few months.

But, if we can't have the cats in a flat, what do we do?

They are probably too old to be easily rehomed. They are nervous of strangers at the best of times. And we don't want to lose them anyway.

We do know someone who adores cats. She lives in a very large house with an huge garden. At one time she had 13 cats but is now down to 4. She might be willing to take ours for a few months but we have no idea how easy it is to resettle nervous cats into a totally new environment, with other cats etc.

Advice, thoughts, comments, suggestions etc please.

You should be able to find a flat or small house which will accept your cats, as long as you don't have a list as long as your arm of other requirements. I would start enquiring of letting agents now, not about specific properties but simply to find an out what you can offer that will make you acceptable - higher deposit against scratching, agree to deflea afterwards etc. Often landlords who advertise no pets will accept them if they think the tenants are decent.

I wouldn't be economical with the truth as it's too easy to get caught out, I know of two people whose landlord popped over to deliver or check on something and was not pleased to have been lied to. If there is an emergency you could find your cats have been allowed to escape. One flat in this block has been the source of two floods and was broken into the second time to stop the water.

Whether your cats will take to a new environment with new cats only you know. As long as introductions are handled well you have a good chance, does this person have space to keep the cats separate for a week or so?

Apricot

I have two cats in a flat. When I went to see the flat I was informed of the "no pets" rule but I spoke to the agent and they put a clause into my contract whereby I agreed to have the carpets professionally cleaned when I left and they were quite happy with that. Most people declare "no pets" on their adverts but if you speak to them face to face they are often quite happy to compromise, as long as you abide by certain rules.

My two have never been able to come and go as they please, they have always been indoor but Coco showed an interest in going outside a few months ago and I bought a harness and take him out for a walk on it every day. Even if I had lived on the ground floor I am too near to a dual carriageway to feel comfortable about letting them go outside on their own. Perhaps you could get one of these now and see how your cats take to it? It takes a lot of patience to get them used to it and you do get some strange looks but at least they are then getting some sort of freedom.

spookylukey

princessleah_ wrote: »

When I went to see the flat I was informed of the "no pets" rule but I spoke to the agent and they put a clause into my contract whereby I agreed to have the carpets professionally cleaned when I left and they were quite happy with that. Most people declare "no pets" on their adverts but if you speak to them face to face they are often quite happy to compromise, as long as you abide by certain rules.

Couldn't agree more, it seems to be a standard clause added by letting agents and not necessairly the landlord. Of course there will be some landlords that won't compromise but the majority will be happy to have professional rent paying tenants. If there's any oohming and aahing then as princessleah says you can always offer a slightly increased deposit and/or to have the carpets professionally cleaned on your exit.

The other options would be much more stressful for the cats, especially given their ages. A cattery would have little or no outside access and they would of course miss you. The friend option would mean them having to be introduced to new cats, even if they are OK with that the other cats might not be! I would also be loathe to allow them out at the friends house if you're going to be moving again in 6 months time.

Having moved a 15 year old cat from a house with a garden to a flat without I can say that she adapted just fine. You are far more important to them than a bit of grass

birduk

I have a lovely two-up, two-down house. It came with the 'No Pets' rule on the advert. When I looked at it, the landlady showed me round and there was a cat flap! I saw it as fate, asked her and she happily agreed. My two little mousers have been very happy here since.

So, it isn't outside the realms of possibility. Look at your options and ask the landlord direct.

mr218

whatever you do, please take them with you. at this age and being nervous cats, they would probably suffer a lot with all the upheaval.

i could never let my cat go and she is so devoted to my family. please take them with you. i am sure if you searched really hard you will find somewhere to rent where they will allow you to keep the cats

good luck