Rescue cat change in home circumstances

[preciousrescuecat]

I've been privileged to have a beautiful rescue cat and I am well & truly under the paw (where I belong!)

I moved into rented accommodation at the same time as adopting my cat from the rescue centre so the house has been new to both of us since the date of moving in.

I used to leave the back door open/ajar so that rescuecat could come and go (no catflap). The house is on a main road but thankfully the cat seems happy to patrol the back garden and doesn't stray too far.

Fast forward 2 years later of fairly structured, predictable life and now we have a (temporary) lodger in the shape of the owner sharing the house with us. Cat is in during day but I like to let rescuecat out first thing in morning then back in for the day then out again when i return from work (but not out all night). There is a routine.

My main worry is that the owner doesn't don't like the back door being left ajar and always closes it. It is a safe area in the countryside and never any issues. I don't know whether to try to stick it out until when the owner leaves next Sring or find somewhere new as I find I am now always feeling anxious about my cat being left outside without means to get in.

Please tell me if I am just being overly worried/anxious. House owner says i worry too much about the cat but i feel its their home too and I don't feel happy about them being shut outside until I can check if they're there. My rescue cat and I have such a strong bond between us and are never far apart. Am I being ridiculous and sorry this is so long!

[thecatneuterer]

You are definitely not being ridiculous. I'm not sure I really understand your situation but I don't suppose it's relevant really. Although if you are doing the owner a favour by letting them stay in the home you are renting from them, then they should abide by your rules, not the other way round.

Anyway how would the owner feel about a cat flap? If it's a upvc/glass door, with a upvc panel in the bottom half, you could fit a flap and then get the plastic panel replaced fairly easily when you leave if the owner doesn't want a flap permanently. If it's a glass panel at the bottom it is also possible to do the same thing, but rather more expensive.

Failing that I think I would be looking around for somewhere else (not least because I would hate to share my home with someone else for that long ...)

[preciousrescuecat]

Thanks for your reply! Sorry I didn't make my OP clearer the house is big & the owner has temporarily moved back in as they need to be in the area short term. I had no choice other than to move out and they tried to do me a favour by sharing. (Of course they benefit too)
I thought best to stay put as not forever it would be rented again anyway (Not ideal I know).
Door is old wooden style & don't think cat flap is option so probably best to look elsewhere?! I felt hopeful to get home back to how it was but it's going to be too stressful in meantime I think.

[Floralnomad]

Do you mean you leave the door ajar when you go out to work or just when someone is at home ?

[preciousrescuecat]

Just when at home!

[Floralnomad]

Sorry I just couldn't understand what the owners problem is if the door is open when you are at home that's such a normal thing to do .

[preciousrescuecat]

Yes it's only ajar not wide open & it's in kitchen which is where I spend most of my time. Rescuecat banned from living room where owner spends most time watching TV by log fire. Says it's too cold to leave door open but they're not even using that room much anyway.

I think what's getting to me more is being told I worry about the cat too much. Of course I worry about my pet!

I still want it to be able to come & go as it pleases even if some rooms are now out of bounds. Feel as if I'm still paying a lot of rent & bills for less space & perhaps having to compromise a step too far?