Trying to avoiding a cat-astrophy

May 9, 2007 10:35 AM

Two options, neither ideal. Wondering what AskMeta's amazing cat experts feel would be best for my two cats: joining me during my two-month assignment in Chicago, or staying in New York but with a cat-sitter who may require bringing their cat into our home. (more details inside...)

The situation: I will be spending June and July in Chicago. The apartment I have lined up allows cats, so bringing them is possible. However, we'll return back to our current home in August, so part of me thinks that uprooting the cats for two months, only to return them here may be traumatic. (BTW, they generally do not travel well, as I have already discovered.)

My other option would be leaving them in our current apartment for the eight weeks I am gone. I have a friend in need of a place to stay during that time, so I'd have a live-in cat sitter for the period. This would seem like the better of the two alternatives; however, he has his own adult cat that would be in need of a home (long story), so if he stayed in my place, along comes a third-party kitty.

I'm down with that, but not sure the cats will be. And I have no way of asking them. So I ask for advice from cat owners who have temporarily introduced a new cat into your current cat's environment. How'd it turn out? Between my two options, which would you prefer for your kitties?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

posted by herc to pets & animals (25 comments total)

It would probably be easier for the cats to adapt to a new roommate (or two) for a short time than to go through the anguish of being moved and then plopped into a new place, then all of that all over again two months later.
posted by briank at 10:45 AM on May 9, 2007

choice 1: cats endure a few days of travel + few days of adjustment to new surroundings but their familiar human and familiar routines are there every day for rest of the 60 days.

choice 2: cats have 60 days of a strange person and a strange cat invading their familiar surroundings and likely changing their routines, and their familiar human is gone.

I'd take them with you.
posted by jamaro at 10:45 AM on May 9, 2007

Cats hate changes of location as a general rule, so bringing them to Chicago sounds like a bad idea. Fortunately, cats are also very independent beasts, so they don't need live-in assistance-- someone dropping by once a day to dole out food and water, clean the box and administer petting will suit their needs just fine. On the other hand, it can be awfully difficult to acclimate cats to intruders (I'm dealing with this right now), so if it's only going to be for a short time, it's not worth the hassle. If your friend does move in for the two months and has to bring his cat along, can third cat be confined to part of the house from which the native cats can be locked out? That sounds like it would be pretty much the optimal solution. Get a few Feliway plug-ins to further ease matters.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:47 AM on May 9, 2007

(BTW, they generally do not travel well, as I have already discovered.)

No cats travel well the first few times. I've had good luck doping cats with very low-grade alcohol and mild organic sedatives for long car trips.

As for the pet sitter, does s/he get along with the cats? Do your cats get along well with strangers? How attached are they to you? Would it be more traumatic for them to be separated from you than it would be to ship them across the country?

Perhaps you could invite the sitter and the cat over for a long weekend. Let your cats get used to the sitter's and see how everything goes.

Good luck.
posted by willie11 at 10:47 AM on May 9, 2007

On lack of preview, jamaro, I have to disagree. Changes of scenery are really much more traumatic to cats than changes of people.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:49 AM on May 9, 2007

Given the choice, I would prefer to take my cat with me for two months. The stress of travel would be much less than the stress of me leaving her at home, with a stranger and a strange cat, for two months. Keep in mind, my cat is very attached to me.

No advice on introducing a new cat to her environment, the times I've brought her along when staying with another cat owner hasn't worked out well. At all.
posted by necessitas at 10:50 AM on May 9, 2007

I travelled extensively with my cats (three international moves and too many domestic ones!) and found they were better with me in new surroundings than without me in the same surroudings. I wouldn't recommend travel if you were only going for a week, but two months seems like it would be worth it.

The addition of a new cat who belongs to the caretaker also makes me think they'd be better off with you.
posted by cocoagirl at 10:51 AM on May 9, 2007

Cats are much more sensitive to place than people. Totally sucks that you'll miss them, but I would definitely leave them in NYC. My own cat almost died when we moved him to a different city for a three month stint. We ended up flying him home and he was fine within half an hour.
posted by meerkatty at 10:53 AM on May 9, 2007

Fortunately, cats are also very independent beasts, so they don't need live-in assistance-- someone dropping by once a day to dole out food and water, clean the box and administer petting will suit their needs just fine.

Not always. My cat would not deal well with minimal interaction. She requires constant attention and interaction.
posted by necessitas at 10:53 AM on May 9, 2007

I think it really depends on your cats' personalities. I've traveled with my cats to Chicago many times (both by car and by plane, in the hold--not ideal, I know) and they came through a-OK every time, in fact they kinda seemed to like the car trips. But then again, they really don't mind travel at all. I've also left them for two months with someone who moved in to my place, and they were fine with that, too.

Generally speaking, though, I think new territories are more stressful for cats than having new people or even new animals in their territory. So I'd be inclined to leave them behind, knowing they don't travel well.

Either way, they'll be all right, even if a bit stressed by the whole thing. I find cats to be incredibly adaptable (but maybe I'm just really lucky with my bunch).
posted by agent99 at 10:55 AM on May 9, 2007

Interesting. I've left my cat with others when I've traveled, and I've taken him with me. He takes a couple of days to adjust in either case, but adjust he does, very quickly and very well. We've moved a lot, and he's been totally fine.

As far as I can tell, the greatest trauma befalls my own self when i'm separated from my sweet little smoochywoochy kissywissy baaaaaaby kitten. I don't think he really gives a shit either way. Thus, he usually comes with me.
posted by granted at 11:01 AM on May 9, 2007

Faint of Butt, I would agree with you but for the addition of the third cat invasion. That tips the balance. Possible outcomes:

a) All three cats get along (or at least form a state of uneasy detante). Huzzah.

b) They don't get along and howling fights ensue. Vet bills and/or elaborate isolation routines will be required. Home team is pissed that they don't have the run of their familiar territory.

c) They don't get along and play territorial games with each other, such as peeing in inappropriate spots. This sort of behavior often lingers (much like the scent of cat urine) long after the third cat leaves.
posted by jamaro at 11:01 AM on May 9, 2007

Which is to say that your choice, OP, depends upon your individual cats' tolerance for change, and your own tolerance for being separated from them.
posted by granted at 11:02 AM on May 9, 2007

Could the cat in question be brought over for a visit for a weekend to see how your cats react? Having a trial run for the future visit might let you know how traumatized they'd be.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:16 AM on May 9, 2007

Sure you can ask your cats. Have the friend bring his cat over for an introduction and see how everybody gets along. If there's major drama, you'll probably want to consider taking your cats along with you, but you might find that they're mostly OK with it.

I just had two foster cats stay with me (and my cat) and everybody got along swimmingly. We'd had an introduction before they moved in, and since they all tended toward "run and hide" rather than "stay and fight" behavior, we were pretty sure it would work out just fine.

Your cats may be different, of course, but there's no harm in checking to see how well they'll adapt. You may find it's really not a big deal for them.
posted by stefanie at 11:29 AM on May 9, 2007

In my experience, cats move pretty smoothly as long as their stuff (and by that I mean "your" stuff, just keep thinking that it's yours, honey) is in the new place before they are moved. Being let loose in a new place full of familiar-smelling things seems to be a lot lower on the trauma-o-meter than being tossed into a strange room full of weird new stuff.

This move definitely sounds like a "weird new stuff" sort of situation, so I'd recommend the cat-sitter option. Your cats can probably deal with a new cat for a couple of months.
posted by vorfeed at 11:47 AM on May 9, 2007

I will also be living elsewhere for this summer and made the same decision. Assuming these are indoor kitties -- take them with you, along with cat beds, blankets (not-washed, i.e. in their normal, as-is state at home), toys, and any well-used cat furniture. If it is not possible to take what is "home" to the cats with you, then leave them behind. My beasties have moved a lot and it is distressing to them, but as soon as I drag out their beds, they curl up happily and are ready to tackle new things after a nap. I've also introduced new animals and the transition period is a lot longer, mostly because other animals don't respect the first animals space. I assume that my cats' pecking order of loves goes like this: 1) me, 2) their beds/things 3) the house/rooms/building, and 4) the outside/location, any other alien fur creature. I am sure of #3, 4 and 5, but I do admit #1 and #2 may be reversed. Thus, my cats are coming with me even though it will be 3 days in a car both ways. I can't wait.
Also, keep in mind that 2 months of human time is a year or two of kitty time. That would also lean me towards taking them with you.
posted by dness2 at 12:14 PM on May 9, 2007

Have the sitter come in and spend time with you and your cats to 'get to know them', a couple of times.

Then, have your sitter bring their cat a couple of times for a sleepover.
posted by filmgeek at 12:24 PM on May 9, 2007

I was about to offer to take them into my home and be the sitter, but then I too have a cat of my own, so that puts you right back where you started.

But she plays nice.
posted by hermitosis at 12:37 PM on May 9, 2007

Yet Another Cat Owner Data Point: based on cats I have lived with over the last couple decades, I would leave them with a (very trusted) pet sitter. I have never owned a cat who was a good traveller, and almost had a cat die of stress and bad reaction to vet-prescribed sedatives during a move from upstate NY to central Ohio. My own sentimentality would tempt me to take them with, but I don't think that would make them (the cats I know and have known) happiest.

Depending on how large your apartment is, you might use the "gradual introduction" technique described by the Humane Society here, and on About.com here. I've had good luck with this sort of strategy, though it does require a room or two in which you can isolate the new cat, its litterpan and food, at the start of the process.
posted by aught at 12:45 PM on May 9, 2007

Leave them at home!
posted by thebrokenmuse at 1:42 PM on May 9, 2007

How willing is your cat-sitter to break up three-cat wars by him/herself, should they ensue?
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:11 PM on May 9, 2007

Does anyone have any sources (data) for any of the information about what cats prefer?
posted by idledebonair at 4:59 PM on May 9, 2007

What do women want?
posted by flabdablet at 6:48 PM on May 9, 2007

Could the cat in question be brought over for a visit for a weekend to see how your cats react?

Seconded - if they get along acceptably well, leave 'em at home. Otherwise, the lesser of two upsets would be to take 'em on the road.
posted by scheptech at 10:29 PM on May 9, 2007