I'm going to join the world of cat owners!!!!

martin2345uk

Haha I do do it very gently! And only when the pain of the kneading gets too much to bear!!

gardengull

You're very lucky that he wants to sit on your lap so soon (Derek is training you very well). Our rescue cat took ages to want to sit near either of us!
I agree with Meritaten, you're doing a grand job.

tea_lover

Loving the Derek pics, he's so gorgeous

martin2345uk

Thanks guys :-) I'm happy tonight because Derek and OH actually had a little cuddle on OH's sofa, so now he feels less like the outsider and Derek is getting more used to the other person living in his house!

martin2345uk

Ok, dilemma, what would you do?

Next Wednesday is my birthday. I've got tues weds and thurs off work.

Originally me and OH were going to go down to Essex where I'm from to stay with my family. Then we got Derek :-)

Either:

I go down there, OH stays here in Manchester and bonds with Derek. But I wouldn't get to see him on my birthday.

Neither of us goes down there, we both stay here. I don't get to see my family.

We both go down there and pay a cat sitter type person to come in and feed Derek/change his litter for 3 days. I have to trust some stranger in my house.

No suitable friends near enough to come in and do that for us.

What would you do.

rustyboy21

Can you see your family another time? It is too soon IMO, to be leaving him alone. What if the cat sitter didn't close the front door quick enough? what if he did a bolt from being frightened?


I know we have to get on with our own lives too, but I think it would wreck you, if something happened. You seem to be getting close to him now. If you left it this time, but in a month or two, find a good cattery to put him in for a day or two, you at least know he will be ok and no harm will come of him.


I know of a good kennels, who also have a cattery. It is in St Helens, so down the M62 for you, but the person who runs it and the staff are great. Rusty went there for 12 years, at least twice a year and he loved it. I called in the other week to book Tibsey in, when we go away for Christmas and saw the pens the cats have. They are huge ! a good 6ft by 4 ft, floor to ceiling and the same, through a cat flap outside, but covered, with a view of the farmers field.


Let me know, if you want the details for a later date.


It just seems a bit difficult for you at present, but it will settle down. He is just settling in and you have worked hard to do that. Any upset may put things back again.


I am away with work from Friday next week, until the following Wednesday and other 1/2 is not happy. But it is something I have to do each year, the cat was ok last year and we had her 3 months, she just slept on my bed the whole time and ignored me when I came home ! lol

gunsandbanjos

I'd cancel the trip and do it another time, it's too soon to have him left alone.

He's just beginning to trust you, he's had an unsettled start to his life and you are probably the first real port he's found to cling on to. Give him a bit more time to get used to his new life.

martin2345uk

Ok we've sort of found a compromise - I go down on Monday evening, come back on weds afternoon. OH stays here with Derek. I'm not sure I've made it that clear on here but OH does live here, we bought the house together and Derek is our cat - I think I've made it look like he's mine and mine alone! This way i get to see him on my birthday and he gets to spend time alone with Derek...

meritaten

um, I sort of realised that OH is your partner and he lives there! but, I think you are the cat lover. yeah, perhaps its time that Derek had some bonding time with your OH. and you should leave him for short periods - he will be fine. and he will use the time to enslave your OH! Derek is teaching you the fine art of 'compromise' (in HIS favour of course).

martin2345uk

Well today we went to buy a grooming brush as I read that moulty cats like a nice brushing?
Managed to coax Derek out from behind the tv, and he did indeed seem to enjoy a brush!!
Got lots of hair off him too!