Cats in the new house.....

[Susan and the girls]

I know this doesn't actually belong here in the cat-help portion of the board, but I figured I'd post it here anyway....Traci or whoever can move it if you need to....

I just had to post about our move. We've been really out of sorts in the last few weeks, and it's gotten progressively worse as we neared the "moving in" goal date we'd set for ourselves. We're still not entirely moved in due to a conflict in our "helper's" schedule which prevented him from helping today. But, we have moved the majority of stuff, and we moved the bed, so we decided to sleep in the new house tonight. It's so exciting to be here, and will be even MORE exciting when all our furniture is here. (The old house is only about a mile away, so we've collectively made at least a thousand trips back and forth to bring loads of stuff..... All that's left is the big stuff.) I'm sitting on the floor typing this, where my computer is among drawers from the desk that still sits in the little house!

I just couldn't spend the first night here without the inside girls.... (SweetPea will be transported tomorrow when it's daylight. I didn't want to risk her getting disoriented and getting lost!) So when we'd gotten far along enough with what we'd set out to accomplish for tonight, I went to the little house, rounded them up, and loaded them into the car. Belle was happy as a lark to ride, as usual; Scarlett went into the carrier (and incidentally, it took her 2 hours to actually come OUT of the carrier, and then only with me dumping her out....); Daisy howled from the moment we got into the car until we got to the house, and thereafter for at least 30 minutes straight - no exaggeration.....

It was interesting. At first I was tempted to load them back up and take them back so I could get a good night's sleep, but I just couldn't! They're still really clingy, but they're doing well!

I intend to have two litterboxes downstairs and one upstairs, but so far, I've only got one HUGE one downstairs. (They haven't even gone near the stairs yet....) It's near our bedroom, where theyr'e all congregating. It's really funny that they're sticking so close.

I'm really afraid for the carpet. We just got carpet on Thursday and it's expensive berber. I trimmed their claws last night, and have a number of battle scars to prove that it wasn't an easy task. They're going to have to get used to it, though.

I'm also planning to add to their two sisal scratching pads. I'm going to get a TON of them to put all over the place so they'll scratch where it's appropriate. The carpet guy said that one pick can ravel the whole row down the entire room.... I have been praying HARD that they won't dig into the carpet!!!

I still don't know what will become of Gabriel. I don't know if we'll take him or what. I honestly just don't want to. After seeing the cats' reaction to the move,I'd hate to add more stress to them. I don't think they'll (the sister kitties, Scarlett and Daisy) will adjust to this quickly. Belle's pretty calm, but that's just her personality. Daisy and Scarlett and such scaredy cats, and they've spent a lot of time in the closet....WAAAAAY in the back. I just don't know what to do about Gabriel.

[Tina B and crew]

glad to hear your move is coming along...it can be stressful on cats, but in the end I think you will be extremely happy. I wish I could give you advice about Gabriel, I know it's tearing you up inside....I pray that all works out with him. Can't wait to see pics of the kitties in the new place!!

[Susan and the girls]

I think everyone is settling in ok so far.... No howling throughout the night. I, however, didn't sleep very soundly - I was listening for that tell-tale scratch-scratch-scratch noise that tells me someone is "sharpening" her claws on the carpet. No one did that - yet. I still didn't sleep very well with that anxiety!! Daisy and Scarlett both have stretched out on their sides and "pulled" their bodies slightly around on the carpet, but so far, no digging in. Maybe the manicure did the trick.... I dread doing it again in a week or so!!!

Then, this morning, I have already frantically "transferred" two (Belle & Daisy) retching cats to the uncarpeted tile or linoleum, who vomited nothing but bile and the treat I'd just given them. I think they're nervous, and can't even enjoy a treat!!

Bad news is that I'm about to run to the store.... (Buying more sisal scratching pads and another BIG litterbox.) They'll be left all alone to howl. I thought about confining them to the tiled bathroom area, but I don't cherish the thought of coming home to find their clawmarks in the woodworks around the door. (I'm certain that as soon as they find that they're confined, they'll try every means to get out. SIGH.) I'm just going to have to forego my fears of something happening to the carpet and GO to the store.... I'm also fearful of my window treatments. Man, I never realized that you just about have to take out another loan to put curtains on the windows! Rods, drapes and sheers are SO dang expensive!!! (Forgive me, but this owning-a-home business is new to me.)

Now I have a new understanding as to why my parents freaked when we brought our outdoor kitties into the house when I was a kid. Somehow, when I lived at the teeny-tiny rental house with ancient hardwood floors (covered with my inexpensive fake oriental rugs and Wal-Mart special area rugs), the floors didn't matter that much..... Now that we've invested thousands into expensive carpeting, I am just a little more nervous about what the cats do on/to it!!!

As tied up as my stomach has been over this, I'm surprised I'm not vomiting bile!!!! LOL