Heart wrenching decision.. what to do? Help!

jeannieb3

I so need advice from you good people! I simply do not know what to do!
Let me put you in the picture. So sorry it is a long one.
I live alone with two much loved cats. one is 13 & I have had him since he was 10 months old, the other is 12 & have had him since he was just a few weeks old. They are devoted to each other & I am to them. They are very much house cats esoecially the older one.
I am in the process of "down sizing" and it looks like I perhaps have 3 more weeks in my present home which has also been the only home they have known. The prospective buyer has two dogs & has in the past year lost her much loved cats a month or so apart in accidents on the country lane she presently lives in. My heart goes out to her. She is desperate to have two more cats again.
She is obviously a complete animal lover.
Here is my problem.
Today she has offered to have my cats, & is very enthusiastic about it. This is something I had not contemplated in a million years & I am truly at a loss about what to do.
I am moving to a much smaller property & had envisaged that the change for the cats & me would be very traumatic. They like me loathe change. They have just been in a cattery for three weeks for the first time in their lives whilst I was on holiday & I have still not been forgiven!! I am definitely not the flavour of the month at the moment!
Here is my dilemma.
My son & grandaughter & her father are highly allergic to my precious pets & have to take anti-histamines when ever they visit which is something we have up to now dealt with fairly sucessfully. My grandaughter has been unable to stay over for any lengh of time as in spite of the tablets, suffers horribly after staying with me. My new home is obviously very much smaller & has been completely gutted, so no sign of cat presence. Would be, as it stands a perfect environment for any visiting family & I would be able to have my grandaughter for longer periods of time. Re-homing my pets has never been an issue & was something I felt quite unable to do. As the years have passed ( I have never had cats for so long before, but have had cats almost continually for the past 45 years) the cat allergy with my family has worsened over time however as they seem particulary bothered with the Siamese breed.
My huge problem has only arisen in the past hour or so & I cannot seem to think properly. I realise I need to sleep on this for a few days as at the moment I really do not know which path to take. I am aware that my furry friends are elderly & would hate to upset them too much in their twilight years.
What advice have you good people got for me? I am close to tears at the moment as I feel it is such a quandary for me. Or is it? Should I just go ahead as I intended to & move to my new life with my soulmates?
Help me please. Sorry it is such a long post x

Equaliser123

Granddaughter or cat? No decision for me.

DannyW_3

Soul searching though it may be, it sounds as if everyone can gain a positive from this. You know the cats will be happier without the uphoming and moving to a new home if the cattery is anything to go on. Your grand daughter get to see more of you and you get to see them all happy.

tazzy2010_2

This is a very tough decision. You mentioned the new buyer has 2 dogs, have your cats ever lived with dogs? If not this may be a bigger shock to the system than moving house. I feel for you about your grand daughter but I couldn't give up my cats unless it was absolutely neccessary. They say cats get more attached to a house than the people but from having 3 cats and having moved house I don't believe this. I think I would personally feel a bit lonely also if I lived in a house by myself with no animas. Good luck with wahtever you choose x

jeannieb3

Tazzy..... no they have never lived with dogs before. x

ninky_2

i don't understand people who keep pets when their family members are made ill by them....unless they don't like their family members. as someone who suffers with animal allergies (including asthma) i know how miserable and even life threatening it can be. my memories of childhood christmasses when we used to visit grandparents who both had cats are of being hunched up constantly struggling for breath and scared.

your cats will be happy staying in their old home and it sounds like they have a caring new owner to look after them.

jeannieb3

Ninky.... My family are the most precious things in my life. They only visit periodically, I usually go to them. I had the cats well before my grandaughter came into our lives. x

bratz81

I don't have any children never mind grandchildren, but I don't think I could give up my cat, especially as they have been around so long and your family have been used to how things are with them there already.

Also, being around 2 dogs would probably upset the cats far more. Yes, moving house is stressful for them but they will come round, you don't know if they'll come round with 2 dogs in their territory.

Mind you, I'm probably not qualified to comment having no kids/grandkids

Froglet

I think the fact that they have never lived with dogs is the one thing that would really worry me.Of course you could always give it a trial but i really think in your heart you do not want to part with them.If your family lived with you then you would have no choice but they don't and you could always visit them more.It won't be forever.


Have you talked to your family about this? I am sure they wouldn't want you to be miserable,giving up the only companionship you have.if they say they don't mind you keeping them then you would feel a whole lot better.

jeannieb3

Bratz & Froglet..
I agree, the dogs are a major concern but my buyer seems to think that could be overcome, but would need patience & time of which she said she has both!
The lady said I would be able to visit them whenever I wanted....
My daughter was present this morning & I felt she thought it was a good idea although she said it was my decision & she would never pressurise me. I am going over to my daughters this evening so can mull over things with her! Thanks so much for your imput. x

jeannieb3

Equaliser...
I take on board your comment, thank you.