Heart wrenching decision.. what to do? Help!

adviceforall

I'm with the people who think you should keep your cats, you say you dont see the family lots, so they are your constant companions and i'm sure they would be better off with you and your new house , than having the same house with strange ( as in new:) ) people and 2 dogs.
The cats are not young kittens so when they pass you can have your time with the family in a non cat house ( if you dont get any more ) lol..
Do they mind having to take medication before visiting you? You might find out that they are happy with this and wouldn't expect you to give up your beloved cats for them.

RacyRed

jeannieb3 wrote: »

I am sure you are right Geri.... it was a completely unexpected offer.... and I am sorry to pour my heart out to you all. Their well being is of extreme importance to me. Just want to do the right thing I suppose. My mind is in a whirl what with the imminent move & all!!
Many thanks everyone x

Sleep on it Hun. See what you think in the morning.

jeannieb3

adviceforall wrote: »

I'm with the people who think you should keep your cats, you say you dont see the family lots, so they are your constant companions and i'm sure they would be better off with you and your new house , than having the same house with strange ( as in new:) ) people and 2 dogs.
The cats are not young kittens so when they pass you can have your time with the family in a non cat house ( if you dont get any more ) lol..
Do they mind having to take medication before visiting you? You might find out that they are happy with this and wouldn't expect you to give up your beloved cats for them.

My family do not mind taking medication & would never pressurise me in any way. I do see lots of them but mostly in their homes these days. I am really thinking about the cats. They would be moving from a very large garden + a bed in the greenhouse in which they have spent many sunny hours during the summer months to a handkerchief sized one in comparison. I do fully realise that cats can acclimatise to almost anything given time.
Thanks so much for your comments. x

lostinrates

jeannieb3 wrote: »

cat allergy with my family has worsened over time however as they seem particulary bothered with the Siamese breed.

This hasn't yet been picked up on I don't think. siamese tend to bond very closely with their ''people'' more than place, unlike many other cats.

Februarycat

I have an elderly cat and I could not move and leave her with someone else, its a difficult decision for you to make.

chris_n_tj

Jeanie I feel for you I really do, ask yourself this. If the cats question hadnt arisen what you be doing on your move? Taking your kitties with of course (I guess) Home is where the heart is for me, the kitties would come with me.

But whatever you decide I know it will be whats best for you and your oldies, xxxxxx

tizerbelle

No brainer for me. The cats go with you. They will settle in the new home even with less garden. They will have you, the constant person in their life and "their" things.

You say the person buying your house is an animal lover but really what do you really know about her? How do you know she will treat your animals with the care and attention that you would want? Don't forget as elder cats they are likely to need more veterinary treatments as the years go by than they have in the past. To cover this (unless buyer has unlimited spare cash) they'd need insurance and I don't know whether she'd be able to take over any insurance policies you have for them or whether she'd have to get a new policy - if at all possible for cats that age - insurers usually won't issue a new policy (rather than a renewal) on a cat over about 8/9 years I think.

If she really wants more cats there are many, many rescue centres that will be able to assist her.

ETA: My eldest cat is 15 and she has moved twice with me in the past 4 years and she isn't a great fan of change - even sulks if I rearrange furniture but she took it all in her stride with no problems at all. It was the youngest (6 years old) that had the problems and stressed for a while so took to over grooming and developing bald patches. But even he chilled out after a month or so and is back to his normal neurotic self!

Mayflower10cat

Speaking from my heart - take your beloved cats with you. They will adapt to new surroundings better than to a new owner and if they've never lived with dogs before it'd be a really stressful transition for them. Orientals get very attached to one person, I've heard it said many times (Lostinrates above, agrees!) . There are ways to minimise the fluff/dander issues in your new home - hard floors rather than carpets, (easy to damp dust) & rugs that can be washed or simply removed before visitors. Even little additions like a few air purifiers with HEPA filters can take a lot of the muck out of the air. In our first home our lovely neighbours (and best friends) were all very allergic to cats, which upset them greatly as they really loved our four cats! As you said, they simply medicated themselves in advance and we mainly went over to their home for meals/socialising/computer games etc (and we would take the food & drink!)

The best of luck to you, I wish you and your cats the very best in your new home!

jovialsam

Hi, as a vet, I would certainly say that 2 older cats would be more distressed with 2 dogs coming into their home, their environment. It would be a constant threat to them. It may work, but you may end up with very unhappy cats, spraying, running away etc. The constant being the home is less important. It would on balance be a lesser upset to them to move with you to a new environment, and the constant is you. All their familiar furniture, smells and routine and you would remain the same. Use anxiety pet and feliway plug in in the new house, keep them in for at least 2 months, I think they will suprise you. The cattery is a different environment, no you or familiar furniture, and most threatening to cats who are very terratorial, the smell of other cats and animals.

I appreciate the allergy problem as we regularly deal with people rehoming their pets due to allergy. I myself am allergic to any animal with hair!!! My niece used to struggle getting in my car, coming to my house or visiting my horses which she adores. The odd anti histamine is of very little significance, I take 2 every time I have to treat a rabbit or I'm in hospital within hours. Allergies often lessen with exposure.

So the long and the short of it is either option is manageable, but definately use natural calming effect products to help, especially if introducing dogs. Also if feliway and anxietypet are not totally combatting the stress, zylkene can be very good. all should be available fro your vet, some products are available online. But I would say the lesser stress to them would be moving with you. My 7yo cat has moved 3 times this year and has settled well each time using these products.

hope that helps, good luck x

mmoyra

bratz81 wrote: »

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

ive got a 15 yr old cat, 12 yr old dog, which i had a reaction 2, still have occasionally, due to get a new pup nxt wk, if my immune system wont cope i'll take an anti itchy tab, wouldnt be without them :T