Moving, should I take them all?
8 post(s)
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297 days ago
Olie
33 post(s)
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I just don't know what to do! Most of you don't know me, I frequent dogspace (Olie the Golden Retriever), but haven't set up catspace yet. Anyhow, I have 4 cats in the house and 2 outside. The 2 outside are Grammy and Little Yellow Kitty (LYK). Grammy is LYK's mom, and LYK is the mother of 2 of my indoor cats. Grammy is not tame at all and has not been spayed, she just comes around now and then and has some food on my patio. LYK is kinda tame, you can pet her on occassion, and when it came time to give birth, she took up residence under my bed and that's where 2 litters have been born. LYK is now spayed, since she was easy to catch and not so bad to deal with (I don't know how I would even deal with getting Grammy to the vet?).
But my issue is not necessarily getting Grammy spayed. My issue is that we're in the early stages of building a new house out of town, and I don't know what to do with Grammy and LYK. At our current place, we get lots of raccoons and a few bears that they have to deal with. At our new place, there are mountain lions and all kinds of even more dangerous critters. Should I take Grammy and LYK with me when we move? The whole situation just tears me apart. I hate to leave them, but would our new place just put them in more danger? Bigger wild animals, unfamiliar territory... if I leave them where they are, it's likely the neighbors will continue to feed them and they'll be fine, but at the same time, I don't have the heart to leave them! They've been there for years. LYK was just a baby when I moved in 5 years ago, I don't know how old Grammy is, but the point is, they've lived there their whole lives and that's what they know, but they've also always had my patio with food to count on.
So should they stay where they're at least somewhat safe and POSSIBLY fed by the neighbors, but without me, or should they go where there may be danger and things aren't familiar, but they'd still have me? Any advice would be very much appreciated. I have a few months to work this out before our house is done, but it's been weighing heavy on my mind for a long time.
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297 days ago
Coastredwoods
3 post(s)
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Hey: You know Kitty Man does fine here. I mean, granted, as far as we know, he grew up here - but we have all the same things as TV and he does fine. He has a little house up high on the fence he goes in I think maybe to escape any critters that would come around. If it were me - I would probably not leave them. Because you don't know for sure if they would be fed, etc. but I also realize it isn't easy. If we ever were to move vice-versa from here to the city - we couldn't take him... he would probably get ran over by a car. He doesn't know anything about cars or streets. That's really why we ended up with him. They'd probably stay around where the food is at. But, if you can't get Grammy to the vet - you're gonna have a heck of a time getting her to the new house.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
~ Stace
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285 days ago
ratatatcat
4 post(s)
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Please don't leave the kitties behind, you are all they know. It's not fair to leave them for the neighbor's to take care of them. I wouldn't worry about the other animals at this point, you sound resourceful to figure that out. There are traps to catch Grammy, Just don't feed her for a couple of days then at night put out the trap (she'll be hungry) and she go in the trap. Take the whole trap to the vet. I just pity the vet tech who has to get her out of there. I have moved so many times through out my lifetime, try moving 6 cats in a moving van for 700 miles.
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285 days ago
DelilahsPets
2 post(s)
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What you could probably do is adjust them to being indoor cats. Might be a challenge but I believe it would eventually work. You can start at your current home, that way by the time you arrive at your new home they will accustomed to it. My cat loved going out on occasion which isn't really allowed where we live. At first i'd take him out for about 5 minutes then bring him back in, but then he started wandering further and further out. One day he didnt come home and stayed out for about a week, maybe a bit longer. I was going crazy! every night i would step out and call him. Finally he came home and he was scared and hungry (hadnt eaten in all that time!). Ever since then he hasnt been allowed to go outdoors. He does occasionally step out of our appt but he stays in the building and comes and scratches on my door to come back in. So I think if you try it, it could work, especially since you have already gained their trust. Hopefully you make a decision that is best for you and the cats. Keep us updated and much luck!~DeL and Pumpkin the fat cat.
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285 days ago
Olie
33 post(s)
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Yeah, I would LOVE to make them indoor cats, but my fiance would have my hide! He thinks the 4 we already have in the house are too much! Add the Golden Retriever and he's right, it is a housefull. I've tried letting my indoor cats go out to roam also, but after one of them got lost for 3 weeks and came home all beat up with infection in his feet, I don't let them out anymore. I don't have so much control with LYK and Grammy though. LYK did live in the house for a while, particularly when she was pregnant or nursing, and I've always given her free entry as desired, but once she was back up and around, she just doesn't have any interest anymore. She'll stop in for a brief visit sometimes but then starts mewing at the top of her lungs and fighting with my cats, so out she goes. It breaks my heart to see her sitting right outside the door looking like she wants in, but I open the door and she just won't come in anymore! Grammy would be a particular challenge. I could probably live trap her. I'm thinking if I can talk my fiance into letting me take them, I might try to build some sort of fenced patio on the back of the house with a chain link roof. Let them move in there, get comfortable, and once they realize this is home and this is where the food is, let them out to wander freely, always with the option of their patio to come back to. I think I agree that I have to take them- even though they're outside, I worry like crazy if I go for a day or two of not seeing one of them. There's no way I could just leave them. Besides, I have 2 boys that call them Mom and Grandma, how could I separate the family! Now talking my fiance into it is a whole other challenge! The neighbor's do feed them regularly also and that's his argument for leaving them, but it's a rental, who's to say those people will even hang around.
Anyhow, thanks for your advice/opinions... I'm still up for hearing more if anyone has anything to add or other ideas! Thanks a lot! And I'll get a profile set up soon... there's just so many cats to get on there! Ya'll will love them though- they're quite a crew!
Julie and Louie, Melvink, TYK and Kiddo
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231 days ago
Olie
33 post(s)
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Hi Pals! Well, it's time I get this figured out. Moving is right around the corner... I know that I intend to take them all, so now I have to figure out HOW. I will have to live trap Grammy. She will have to visit the vet and get spayed on the way... that'll be a complication. Will have to figure that out.
But I'm looking for advice... I'm worried about LYK and Grammy and how to introduce them to this new home. There's this little shelter thing outside that I'm going to cut a hole in so they can get in and out and have a safe place, it'll be a garage type of atmosphere. When we first get there, should I shut them inside so they know it's home? I want to do that, but Grammy has NEVER been inside any sort of structure- I'm afraid she'll freak out. How can I introduce them and make them realize this is home now? I'm afraid the first time I let them out, I'll never see them again. I could put LYK in the house and she'd be OK for a bit, but I'm just REALLY at a loss as to what to do with Grammy. I've moved my indoor cats plenty of times, but have never attempted an outside cat, much less a wild outside cat.
I am also VERY concerned about wildlife in the area where we'll be moving. There have been recent mountain lion sightings in the area, and reports of hearing their "screams" at night. There are warnings out to keep your pets in the house.
Is this REALLY a good idea for me to take them to this type of environment?? What can I do to keep them safe, when they just really don't want to be inside cats?? Could they ever be happy as garage cats? Would they be safe being outside if they have a structure they can hide in when needed?
I'm so excited about moving, our dreams are coming true, but the idea of moving these 2 has been weighing so heavy on my mind right from the very start. It is, without question, the biggest challenge I'm facing with this move. I'm not sure what kind of advice anyone could even offer that would make me feel better... so many things can go wrong... but if you've ever moved a strictly outside cat, I would love to hear about it. |
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231 days ago
DelilahsPets
2 post(s)
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Hello there! I think to make them feel at home and help the with adjusting to their new home, you can do what you said, cut a hole in the garage area and use the same dishes you put out to feed and hydrate. That way they have that familiarity. And at least they will have that home to run to if they feel harmed. Who knows maybe they'll learn to stay close to home given a new enviroment. I am moving too. From Germany to South Texas so I was freaking out *well still am* about how I was going to take my dog and cat. The dog was already confirmed for a cabin ticket and I was stressing about having to leave the cat, but today I recieved the confirmation he could as a check in. So i am super excited i can take them both, but only to Dallas where luckily I have a friend that is willing to keep them untill we make the trip to pick up our vehicle in Dallas and get the pets.... Well hopefully you find whats best for the kitties! |
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231 days ago
Tlambs
8 post(s)
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I moved last summer & brought a feral cat who had grown attached to me. I kept her locked in her own bedroom at first, away from the others, so she got used to her space. Then, she got free roam of the house, but I wouldn't let her on the screened in patio so she wouldn't get a taste of outside (she loves it there now). I've read that it's good to wait no less than 3 months before letting them outside. It can take that long until they grow to know their new home & what their territory is. Because this isn't her familiar turf, Tiny isn't dying to get outside. She's curious & probably would go if given the opportunity, but she's not going nuts to get out there. Good luck with however it ends up working out. |
