We've had our rescue cat for around 18 months. It's estimated he was 3 or 4 when he came to us through a local cat charity. Unlike previous cats I have owned, he's a bit of a scaredy cat. It took him a week to leave the room we introduced him into, a month to venture downstairs and a few months to start venturing outside. When we got him he was living outside and being fed by someone, but at war with their cat so she couldn't take him on. He is super soppy and a stickler for routine. He doesn't do laps but does do intense neck padding/lying on your chest and face love. At the designated times, of course.
When he gets stressed he does tend to pee inside. Often it's territory wars that set him off - we've got a microchip cat flap and feliway helps when he is under stress. He also is very noise sensitive, we have a running joke with an imaginary list of all the things he is afraid of (plastic bags, new shoes on hard floor, my aunt, the washing machine, hairdryer, bin lorry, Hoover, new doors, more than three people in a room at the same time).
One of his 'safe' spaces is our bed. I am 5 months pregnant. I've read advice that we should transition him out of our bedroom but I feel really bad doing it! He looks so happy and content (when he is clawing at my neck in the morning for food). Is it a case of being strong now to save pain later though? or can I delay for longer and hope he can co-exist? I've also bought some baby noises to play, seeing as he's so noise sensitive and will stock up on feliway. He's probably not suited to a family house, but I have to try. Really would like to have him not pee everywhere though. Oh and we're getting new flooring in the next month, realising that the disgusting floors we have now aren't great baby surfaces. More trauma for our scaredy cat... any great tips?
Photo of him being very pleased and relaxed in his soon to be violated safe house...