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Cat Dilemma!
tankgirl1
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Hi
I'm looking for some opinions etc on a dilemma I have.
I live in a small village, been in this flat for 5yrs, have 1 dog, and 2 cats
Both cats were born in this flat. It's a quiet cul de sac, not much traffic. Lots of fields behind our neighbours gardens.
Moving to a new build - main road (well for a village - its still 30mph limit) on one side, then gardens and a field with a train track up an embankment off the field.
Pumpkin, the youngest, MN DMH is a people !!!!! - visits everyone on the road, invited or not, all the local kids know him as he will follow them then flop over for a belly rub when they stop, is often a dirty stop out, but always comes home ( usually in order to wake me up by paddying my armpits at 3am), is very laid back, and if I have to lock him in a room etc, he just sleeps. He also got hit by a car at about 8mths old - no injuries, just got a shot of steriods at the OOH vet, but is now VERY wary of cars. He'll be coming with us, and spending a few weeks locked indoors before we let him out.
Pixel, FN DSH is a strange one. She's a bit of a loner - we often don't see her for a day or two, then the will barge in and eat anything in sight. She's always hunting and bringing her kills home, and according to my neighbours she spends a lot of her time in the fields behind their gardens. Every couple of weeks or so, she'll come for a cuddle, but she really is Mrs Independant. She has pulled up all the carpets round all the internal doors when she has been shut in a room by accident, broken two cat flaps in order to get out, and chewed all the paint off the living room, kitchen and bedroom window handles - again when shut in either by accident or necessity.
I'm really torn what to do with her - there is a lady who lives on our current road, would probably adopt her, and I can't help thinking that that would be best for her.
Take her with me and she will go stir crazy for a few weeks - may adjust after time, but given that we are moving less than a mile away from our current flat I can't help worrying she will get squashed trying to get back to her beloved fields...
Plus, and I have to consider this, as I have been given special permission to keep more than the allotted one pet - If I lock her in for 2 weeks, she will likely trash the new build house....:( Or at least the parts of it she can get to....
I'm stuck - I think I want someone to agree with me that rehoming on our current street would be best, but I don't want to let her go from our little family....
I'm looking for some opinions etc on a dilemma I have.
I live in a small village, been in this flat for 5yrs, have 1 dog, and 2 cats
Both cats were born in this flat. It's a quiet cul de sac, not much traffic. Lots of fields behind our neighbours gardens.
Moving to a new build - main road (well for a village - its still 30mph limit) on one side, then gardens and a field with a train track up an embankment off the field.
Pumpkin, the youngest, MN DMH is a people !!!!! - visits everyone on the road, invited or not, all the local kids know him as he will follow them then flop over for a belly rub when they stop, is often a dirty stop out, but always comes home ( usually in order to wake me up by paddying my armpits at 3am), is very laid back, and if I have to lock him in a room etc, he just sleeps. He also got hit by a car at about 8mths old - no injuries, just got a shot of steriods at the OOH vet, but is now VERY wary of cars. He'll be coming with us, and spending a few weeks locked indoors before we let him out.
Pixel, FN DSH is a strange one. She's a bit of a loner - we often don't see her for a day or two, then the will barge in and eat anything in sight. She's always hunting and bringing her kills home, and according to my neighbours she spends a lot of her time in the fields behind their gardens. Every couple of weeks or so, she'll come for a cuddle, but she really is Mrs Independant. She has pulled up all the carpets round all the internal doors when she has been shut in a room by accident, broken two cat flaps in order to get out, and chewed all the paint off the living room, kitchen and bedroom window handles - again when shut in either by accident or necessity.
I'm really torn what to do with her - there is a lady who lives on our current road, would probably adopt her, and I can't help thinking that that would be best for her.
Take her with me and she will go stir crazy for a few weeks - may adjust after time, but given that we are moving less than a mile away from our current flat I can't help worrying she will get squashed trying to get back to her beloved fields...
Plus, and I have to consider this, as I have been given special permission to keep more than the allotted one pet - If I lock her in for 2 weeks, she will likely trash the new build house....:( Or at least the parts of it she can get to....
I'm stuck - I think I want someone to agree with me that rehoming on our current street would be best, but I don't want to let her go from our little family....
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
RIP POOCH 5/09/94 - 17/09/07
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Replies
Honestly? I would.. If I was sure that whoever takes her will make sure she is happy.
As you say, ony a mile away and she loves HER fields.. she will probably be trying to go back. She is happy where she is... I honestly would - if there was someone I would trust...
I have a bit of an issue with my Teddy - he was with my ex for 3 years and was out all day going in and out from all the neighbours there, everyone loved him and he was welcome everywhere.
Coming back to me after those 3 years - to a 1st floor flat where I have to walk him down, let him out, walk down to pick him up.. He "adopted" a family on the ground floor and gets in and out through their window.
They love him - a couple and 2 kids. He loves them too. I was trying to stop that etc etc but really - what is the point? Cats are not like dogs and they seem to choose where they want to be at any given time - what is the point of making them misearable?
So this morning I took 2 cat dishes and several sachets of cat food and knocked on those neighbours - gave those to the little girl and told her she is in charge of feeding Teddy when he is on their side of the garden (99% of the time when he is out). The little girl was over the moon....
Teddy is still my cat but now we kind of share him really - he is happy, I know they look out for him when he is out (all my neighbours do) and the kids are extatic on the idea of being in charge of feeding Teddy
So,,, in yoru position I would rehome - given a chance of a really good home. After all - we may love them to bits but they are not our posessions as such and if we know something else makes them happy - we have to let this happen.
All the best - whatever you decide - HUGS
I also agree that she's very likely to try to get back to the fields and having a road in between isn't a good scenario:( (not sure if she'd have to cross the railway too? But if so, a huge risk).
If this lady would be happy to have her, it does seem it may be for the best and you could maybe visit now & then to check up on her?
One of my pals had something similar to Gettingready's situation a while ago (although her cat obviously wasn't happy whereas Teddy obviously is). She's got 7 cats and 2 big dogs and one was always very shy, would never go out and hid away - think she just didn't like all the hustle & bustle in the house. She's now moved in downstairs where she's the only pet and is a different cat:D, my pal sees her now & then so it's sometimes for the best. I'm sure Teddy will love having 2 homes & families!
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Wel, I still have a problem with Chloe hating Zara and spending most of her time under the bed - since May
Chloe is the BEST cat for someone who has no dogs, she is an absolute lap cat, purring machine and always wanting cuddles but she hates Zara 100% despite Zara's best efforst to make friends with Chloe....
I still have not managed to find someone who could take Chloe on though.. which is a shame as she is a semi long haired georgeous tabby girl and would be an absolutely ideal cat for someoen who likes lap cats headbutting for cuddles and curling up on a pillow next to their head to sleep...
My boys are very chilled out and independent but Chloe is only hapy when I lock the bedroom door at night and it is just me an Chloe time with no dog in the room....