Conference misery::feline_v1

    Judi,
    
    I shouldn't worry too much about Woolsley, he's not likely to run away
    if you introduce him carefully to his new, temporary home, especially
    if you are with him. You are right to be concerned about the busy road
    though especially if he's been used to roaming outside freely.
    
    My two - Pip & Domino had to stay with friends for 3 months when I
    moved house a couple of years ago. I was quite worried about them
    because I was moving from London to Birmingham and starting a new job
    with DEC. We had to wait until I could move into my new house, so they
    had 2 moves in a short space of time.
    
    They had been used to coming & going through a cat-flap, which my
    friends did not have, so they had to learn to ask to be let out. My
    friends also had 3 yound children - I lived alone. So they went from
    having the run of a quiet house which was theirs to a much noisier
    environment which was also near a main road.  At the time we moved Pip
    was about the same age as your cat & Domino was younger.
    
    They adapted wonderfully - my friends kept them in for about 24 hours 
    but let them have free run of the house. They had a good sniff around &
    soon identified bolt holes - under beds & in cupboards - where they
    could hide if the kids got a bit much. One of them even found out how
    to get on top of a wardrobe - where he sometimes slept most of the day!
    
    Once they were let outside they never went very far. Each day they
    explored a bit more of their new environment.My friends kept to the
    same feeding routine, I had used  & everything was fine. The children
    missed them so much when I eventually collected them that they got
    their own kitten - Crusoe for Christmas (the family's name is
    Robinson!)
    
    When I moved them to our new home they got their catflap back. I was
    worried they would forget how to use it. They remembered fine, but ever
    since, if I am around, they sit by the door asking to be let out,
    rather than climbing through it. They just keep it for use when I'm not
    there.
    
    This time I couldn't keep them in the house for even 1 day because the
    furniture men were moving things in & this would have frightened them.
    Fortunately it was a lovely sunny & hot day (JULY) so I sat in the
    garden with them while the men moved things in. Again they sniffed
    around a lot & everytime they started to wander a bit far, I just
    called them back until I was sure they knew where they were. I went
    back to work a couple of days later & left them with a free run of the
    new place & I never had any problems, they settled in fine.
    
    Now I'm just about to leave DEC & move again, so I'm hoping for a
    repeat performance.
    
    I think Woolsley will know who feeds him and have no reason to run away
    or cause you any worries.
    
    Good luck
    
    Rosemary
            

    
    I strongly recommend that since your Mom lives on a busy street that
    you do not let Woolsley out during that time.  Hopefully because
    this home will be new to him...he'll be busy scouting around and
    not drive you nuts trying to get out.  
    
    When you get to Maine...I recommend keeping him in the house for
    atleast 3 weeks.   Once you start the process of letting him out
    I suggest letting him out for maybe 1/2 hour at a time...but you
    be right by his side.  Slowly you can let him spend more time 
    outside until he gets use to the territory.
    
    Some of mine are indoor/outdoor kitties and when we moved and
    started letting them out...I knew right away which ones were
    going to behave and which ones were going to be stinkers that
    would make me chase them through the neighborhood.   To this
    day...the ones that behave always come when I call and the
    other ones just look at me as if to say "ya right".
    
    Good luck and keep your cool because I'm sure Woolsley will
    probably get on your nerves trying to get out.   Hope all
    goes well. 
    
    Sandy
    

    Thanks for the advice!  Woolsley *definitely* has a preference for his
    "food source".  He's my husband's cat and I think he views me as a
    potential food source and amusement, but is slightly jealous of the
    attention that my husband gives me!  Cats are such fickle creatures!
    
    I'm sure he'll adjust okay.  We bought him a larger cat carrier (at 10
    pounds he'd outgrown his smaller one) and I have catnip toy stashed
    away.  I think I'll also bring him to Maine *after* the movers have put
    the boxes in the house.  As we're unpacking Woolsley can explore to his
    heart's content.
    
    I'm sure he'll find some nice sunny spots for a snooze.
    
    
    Judi
    

    I second the recommendation to keep him inside during the interim
    stay and inside for at least two weeks at the final home.  There
    are numerous notes in here from people who moved to new houses,
    let their cats out within a few days, and poof the cats
    vanished, possibly trying to make it back to their old homes.
    
    Playing active games (chase the mouse, kitty tease) may
    be needed to work off his indoor energy during the temporary
    stay.
    

BEFORE letting your cat out in the neighborhood in Maine, scout it thoroughly.
If you are moving to a neighborhood with free-roaming dogs, you can
easily lose your cat because he gets chased into unfamiliar territory and
cannot find his way back home.  In that case, you must weigh the risk of
letting him roam free at all.  Cats do not a a "magic" homing ability,
if they get pushed out of their familiar "smell teritory" or chased over
a busy road where the smells get eradicated by auto smells, they are just 
as likely to become lost as any dog....and any dog owner can tell you about
that!  8^}  

	Good luck to all of you in your new home... 

    You might also want to talk to neighbors or some other knowledgeable
    source about wildlife in the area e.g. Eastern Coyotes, Owls and
    other animals that might pose a danger to you kitty.  I don't know
    how rural your current home is nor how rural the one in Maine will
    be, but it would be a good thing to find out.
     Nancy

    Judi-
    
    I recommend keeping your kitty in for 3-4 weeks.  This summer I
    had many conversations w/ a woman looking for her beloved baby
    who dissapeared 2 weeks after moving.......10 miles away.  They have'nt
    seen him since.....and she gave a great `Feliner' effort.
    
    Good luck w/ your move.
    
    Michele
    
    

    Update on Woolsley...
    
    He spent Friday under the bed while the packers were working and spent
    Saturday under the bushes outside while the movers loaded the truck. 
    We left his carrying case outside with food and water so he'd get used
    to seeing it.
    
    After the movers had left we put Woolsley in his carrying case in my
    car and I drove to my parents house.  Discovered that he likes Opera! 
    Didn't make a sound during the whole drive and stayed in his box about
    1/2 an hour after I brought him into the house.  He explored a little,
    not quite sure what was going on.  Since he had grown up in a 1-story
    apartment, he was perplexed by front and back stairs, never mind all
    the rooms on the 2nd floor!
    
    The good news is that he's adapted quickly and has found lots of
    windows to look out on the world and sunny spots to nap.  He was
    watching the traffic this morning, so I don't think he's interested in
    going outside.  He's got plenty of company now, so the interim move
    should be easy for both of us.
    
    As for the house in Maine, it's in Augusta, so I don't have to worry
    about large wild animals.  There's a ravine behind the house, so I'm
    sure he'll find all sorts of squirrels, mice, raccoons and other
    assorted animals.  If we can, we'll have boxes moved into the house
    before we bring Woolsley in.  He just doesn't like all that activity!
    
    Thanks again for the advice!
    Judi