I've posted before about my 2 kitties. We adopted them last November from the humane society, and were allowing them to be indoor/outdoor cats. They were bringing home 1/2 dead prey and eating it while it was still alive. We were prepared to find a horse barn that wanted hunting cats. I also came here for advice, and because of the responses here, we decided to keep our kitties and make them indoor only.
This was working... except that my hubby is allergic. Some cats bother him more than others. These cats are possibly just under 1 year old (the humane society didn't have details on the cats). My husband is becoming more and more sensitive to them. I had him pet them last night, and a few minutes later, he was really, really bothered by his allergies (eyes itching/swelling/tearing, nose itching). I only see this getting worse as the cats get older.
When we were looking for a new home for them a little while ago, we found a wonderful family that would love to take them. They will be indoor/outdoor cats there (but possibly only indoor, as there are 2 little girls there who can't wait to get the kitties, and maybe they'll keep them indoor only), but I want to be sure they make the transition well. I'm so afraid of the cats being brought there, being let outside, and running away.
Any advice on helping the cats adjust to their new home? I'm giving the family everything we have for the cats (the food, bowls, litter, litterboxes, 2 large climbing trees, several small hiding trees, their blankets, beds, all their toys, etc). Hopefully their familiar things will help them feel at home right away.
I want to say to the family "if you're going to let them outside, please don't do so for X amount of time, so the cats know *this* is their new home". What would that amount of time be?? A week?
I know many of you are going to say "forever", which I now mostly agree with, but I can't control what the other family does. I had an indoor/outdoor cat who lived to 17 years old. She was the perfect pet, so I can't 100% say all cats must be indoor only. And again, I cannot control what this family does.
Also, another thing we're thinking of... Siberian cats. We have a local breeder who says we can come and interact w/ the momma's of the litters, to see if my husband is allergic to them. I did a search on this site, but honestly didn't find much info. We would get 2 female kittens, and keep them indoor only. I have a screened porch the cats can stay in when we want our doors open (like today, 70's, sunny, breezy). The dogs want to go in and out, and we have a doggie door for them. The rest of the time, the cats will be in the house. The cats are in the porch and are fine, EXCEPT that they're tearing up the screens. My husband is not liking this at all, and I'm afraid it will determine whether or not we can get new kittens (which believe me, I feel SOOOOO badly for... re-homing these cats and getting replacements). I'm not 100% sure we're going to do it, because I feel so guilty. But my 10yo son is devastated we can't keep these girls (he's even a little allergic I think), so the new kitties might help him recover. I don't know...
Anyway, thanks if you made it this far! To recap... #1 helping cats adjust to new home; #2 Siberians and allergies; #3 screens
This was working... except that my hubby is allergic. Some cats bother him more than others. These cats are possibly just under 1 year old (the humane society didn't have details on the cats). My husband is becoming more and more sensitive to them. I had him pet them last night, and a few minutes later, he was really, really bothered by his allergies (eyes itching/swelling/tearing, nose itching). I only see this getting worse as the cats get older.
When we were looking for a new home for them a little while ago, we found a wonderful family that would love to take them. They will be indoor/outdoor cats there (but possibly only indoor, as there are 2 little girls there who can't wait to get the kitties, and maybe they'll keep them indoor only), but I want to be sure they make the transition well. I'm so afraid of the cats being brought there, being let outside, and running away.
Any advice on helping the cats adjust to their new home? I'm giving the family everything we have for the cats (the food, bowls, litter, litterboxes, 2 large climbing trees, several small hiding trees, their blankets, beds, all their toys, etc). Hopefully their familiar things will help them feel at home right away.
I want to say to the family "if you're going to let them outside, please don't do so for X amount of time, so the cats know *this* is their new home". What would that amount of time be?? A week?
I know many of you are going to say "forever", which I now mostly agree with, but I can't control what the other family does. I had an indoor/outdoor cat who lived to 17 years old. She was the perfect pet, so I can't 100% say all cats must be indoor only. And again, I cannot control what this family does.
Also, another thing we're thinking of... Siberian cats. We have a local breeder who says we can come and interact w/ the momma's of the litters, to see if my husband is allergic to them. I did a search on this site, but honestly didn't find much info. We would get 2 female kittens, and keep them indoor only. I have a screened porch the cats can stay in when we want our doors open (like today, 70's, sunny, breezy). The dogs want to go in and out, and we have a doggie door for them. The rest of the time, the cats will be in the house. The cats are in the porch and are fine, EXCEPT that they're tearing up the screens. My husband is not liking this at all, and I'm afraid it will determine whether or not we can get new kittens (which believe me, I feel SOOOOO badly for... re-homing these cats and getting replacements). I'm not 100% sure we're going to do it, because I feel so guilty. But my 10yo son is devastated we can't keep these girls (he's even a little allergic I think), so the new kitties might help him recover. I don't know...
Anyway, thanks if you made it this far! To recap... #1 helping cats adjust to new home; #2 Siberians and allergies; #3 screens