Cats + building work + argh

[RMarieClaire]

We have two lovely, needy Siberian forest cats - brother and sister, almost 2 years old. They go out when they want during the day (which is lots) then we lock their cat flap to keep them in the house at night.

We are beginning some building work in 2 weeks, and I'm not sure what will be best for them. It's an extension at the back of the house, and they won't be able to get out their cat flap because of the foundation work. It could last 8-10 weeks.

We thought about leaving a window upstairs open, so they could climb down on the roof below and then a ramp to the garden - but it will be February and we don't really want to leave a window open when we're not home.

We don't let them out the front because it's a busy, single traffic road, down which people drive too fast. The house is an ok size but not huge for big cats - three double bedrooms and an open dining/lounge area.

Would it be cruel to keep them in for the duration of the work? Any others had experience with this kind of thing?

Thank you!

I think you need to keep them probably shut in one room for the duration. Cats get incredibly stressed by building work and it's very common for them to take off and never come back, even when they had previously never gone further than the garden. And then of course there is the chance they will get trapped under the foundations - it happens surprisingly often.

I had some building work done two years ago. As I have around 30 cats there wasn't much I could do. One completely disappeared and was only found because of his chip some months later and many miles away. And when the builders were putting in the new floor I said they had to keep watch to make sure they didn't seal any cats under it. They assured me that no cats had gone anywhere near it. Later that evening I heard a crying under the floor. So I unscrewed a board and out came not one but three cats!

Following as I’m also hoping to start building work this year and have been worrying about the cats. I was thinking of shutting them in bedrooms mostly but letting them out in evenings/weekends when no builders around. I also wondered about putting them in a cattery at the most difficult point (whatever that might be) but they’ve never been in a cattery so maybe that would be even more stressful. Do people recommend Feliway or something to unstress them?

I think if there is a room where they can be shut in that is the best option. By all means let them out when the builders aren't there, as long as there are no open voids they can get into. And yes, Feliway in that room would be a good idea.

Thanks thecatneuterer. Do you think cattery or being shut in a bedroom when biggest bangs are going on is more stressful for the cats?

Sorry to hijack your thread MarieClaire

Cats are generally better in their own homes. I suppose it depends how noisy it would be and how suitable the room you have would be to shut them in. Probably they would still be happier in their own home, but there is no definitely right answer.

Thank you all. This is scary. Most of the initial building work will be outside, so they would be safe, and can go upstairs if they're scared. We also have a basement which will be quiet they could be shut into. But they're big cats who love to roam - I know they're going to hate it 😢

I had some building work done two years ago. As I have around 30 cats there wasn't much I could do

I know that this isn't helpful, but I can pretty much imagine the chat down the pub after that job.

OP - would you consider a cattery near by where you could visit?

@YetAnotherSpartacus - ha, yes me too!

There's a cattery not too far away, but they've never stayed anywhere like that before. We're desperate to keep them at home if we can, even if that means they have to stay in one room during the day. We have an amazing cat sitter so I might ask if she can do a midday visit to give them some attention each day. And maybe keep the radio on to block out noise?

Once the actual building work is done we can hopefully fashion a way they can get out through the back window.

They're quite timid cats so I hate the idea of them being scared or unhappy for 2 months 😓

To be fair builders/tradespeople never forget me. Even if I call after ten years and say they've done work for me before - the woman with a million cats - and the penny drops immediately .

I think you need to keep them shut in one room upstairs - even if most of the work is outside at first, will your builders be coming into the house as well to walk through/use the loo/make tea etc? If so, you can't really rely on them to make sure the cats don't escape unless you have them properly behind a closed door somewhere.

There are likely to be all their tools, sharp things and all sorts of things you don't want the cats to get to anyway.

Builders usually finish at 4 ish .. can they go out for a few hours when they have gone home ? I'm having an extension soon and I think that's what I'll do .

I’d keep them in securely. I don’t know about the depth of your foundations but I’d worry about it crumling onto a cat desperately trying to escape. You’ll also have to watch for concrete (and nails etc, our builders have left loads of dangerous things lying around) as it can burn their paws and dangerous if they lick it off.

We are on our second lot of building work and have a very nervous cat.

She currently takes herself off up to the loft room, appearing minutes after they leave. With our extension, she often went under the floor in the actual building site area so we had to ask the builders not to seal it up until we knew she wasn’t there.

We did consider a Cattery but she seems very happy when they’ve gone, so think she is better off at home.