Heart wrenching decision.. what to do? Help!

themull1

If my mam ever goes away, and i ever look after her cats in her house(they are 15 and 12) they always get a bit 'worried' and start looking for my mam, never really relax when she's not there. I personally wouldn't leave my cats in exchange for the occasional visit from family, they don't have to stay over if they're that bad, they can stay in a hotel/B and B. The cats will probably get stressed out by the dogs anyway. I say keep the cats.

mandyl

i have a cat had him from 12 wks hes now 13.
i moved 2yrs ago and i dont think he noticed. i could never leave him and i think leaving you and the 2 dogs would be horrible for them.

jwil

We moved house with our cat earlier this year (admittedly she is only 4, so not old), and we thought she would be so stressed (she doesn't like change at all). Since moving here though, she has become a different cat. She absolutely loves it here, is way more adventurous, much more vocal (!) and seems a lot happier in herself. You might be surprised about how your cats react to the new place, we certainly were.

On the other hand, could you maybe invite the buyer round to your place and get her to bring the dogs to see how your cats react to them? If they dash off, you know they will be distressed. If they disdainfully ignore them it might not be so much of an issue.

mineallmine

Just saw your thread. As kind as it is for the woman to offer to house your cats, they have not lived with dogs before. And her dogs have not lived with your cats.
We had to turn away 2 rescue dogs. One didn't get on with one cat, then the next one didn't get on with the other cat. The dog we have now is daft as a brush so all is well.
Like the vet said the constant is you, the house isn't really anything without you and all your stuff. If everything is more or less ok with the family, with meds, then I'd keep the puddycats. With you moving out and dogs and a strange woman moving in - it could make them run away or just poorly with stress.

Hugs.

purplepardalis

And I bet your cats love you more than you think they do. I reckon if they could speak they would choose to come with you.

I am lucky - my cat has moved house with me 7 times in 6 years and I can take him to visit anywhere and he doesn't mind. Sounds chaotic but has given me worry free house moves!

Mankysteve

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Granddaughter or cat? No decision for me.

Cat is it then. I joke.

As much of cat lover I'm myself family would frist but will your cats like new people/dogs?

RacyRed

I've moved house twice in 6 months with my gang and they have been fine.

My most nervous girl has had 2 bouts of over-grooming in that time, but it wasn't the house move that triggered them, it was being taken to the vets!

The one thing they all wanted each time was cuddles from me, and lots of them.

Feliway and Zylkene are your friends when moving house.

dizziblonde

I've moved with the most skitty nervous moggy you'd ever meet - she's been fine (once we got over the sulk of being put into the cat carrier)! I think leaving them, and then the dogs into the equation is more unfair to be honest.

As for family members with cat allergies - mine is a great deterrent from my SIL ever coming to visit!

Equaliser123

Without wishing to sound controversial, if you posted this scenario on anything other than a pets board, there would be absolutely no debate.

If the cats are potentially damaging to your family, then there is (for me) absolutely no decision. Family comes befoe animals.

Ultimately, if you don't particularly care about your granddaughter visiting, then keep the cats.

For me, as the massively proud father of a 9 month old, I would do anything for my family. If that meant getting rid of a pet which is dear to me, then that is a price I would have no hesitation in paying.

dizziblonde

Nice of you to chuck in the "don't really care about your grandaughter" line in there. How unecessarily nasty.