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Original poster

Watching footage of people fleeing Ukraine with their cats

55 replies

drivinmecrazy · 10/03/2022 14:25

Watching footage of owners fleeing with their cats has got me thinking of my own and what we would do in that situation.

I'm not sure we could. Firstly carriers are so cumbersome and heavy. Secondly when and where would they go to the toilet?
I'm guessing most of these cats will be house cats because I just don't think there is anyway ours would tolerate that kind of journey.
But leaving them behind would obviously break our hearts.
Could you feasibly take your cats?
I know it's a rather flippant thought and not really consequential in the grander scheme of things

OP posts:
GodspeedJune · 10/03/2022 14:30

I’ve found this really distressing too. I’d take mine come what may. Have a mixture of temperaments but it would be a matter of coping until we got somewhere safe. I’ve got a lovely friend in Hungary who has several rescue cats and is worried sick how she’ll get them out along with her elderly mother, if it comes to it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/03/2022 14:30

I don't currently have one. But my first, I would have had to leave. Extremely reactive (bad early life) and wouldn't have tolerated it. Frankly, she could have fought on the front lines and good luck to Russia dealing with her, she used to go for your eyes.

My last cat, I could have taken. As long as the carrier was with us, I doubt she would have noticed.

Amrapaali · 10/03/2022 14:33

It's heart-breaking truly Sad

I could take mine as she is harness trained. Could keep her close to me if needed.

But unless the end destination is maybe one or two days away, I don't think smalls animals will survive. Generally

Amrapaali · 10/03/2022 14:34

@MrsTerryPratchett

I don't currently have one. But my first, I would have had to leave. Extremely reactive (bad early life) and wouldn't have tolerated it. Frankly, she could have fought on the front lines and good luck to Russia dealing with her, she used to go for your eyes.

My last cat, I could have taken. As long as the carrier was with us, I doubt she would have noticed.

That made me chuckle: Greebo if he was a girl
Beamur · 10/03/2022 14:35

I know what you mean, seeing people carrying basically their most cherished possessions and fleeing home is awful and the fragility of that including small children and pets is heartbreaking.
I have 3 cats and an elderly dog and could not feasibility take them all.. it's a horrible thought. I hope the Ukrainians leaving all get somewhere safe soon.

MrsTerryPratchett · 10/03/2022 14:37

Greebo if he was a girl

I can imagine her hunting with Greebo. I still avoid walking past the spot on the stairs where she used to hide and swipe at your face through the bannisters.

She was a terrific hunter Sad so she might have made it.

moonbedazzled · 10/03/2022 14:39

I don't think it's flippant. Figuring out how to get my animals out would be at the top of my priority list.

theotherfossilsister · 10/03/2022 14:39

I'd desperately want to take my cat. I'm not sure if we could do it without drugging him however horrible that sounds.

ofwarren · 10/03/2022 14:44

I've no idea what I'd do because I have 5 cats.
I'd possibly have to decide which ones would be easiest to transport and just take 2. Awful thought.

Original poster
drivinmecrazy · 10/03/2022 14:54

DD2 says she'd turn up to the border looking like she'd Been the victim of a direct hit and she's not wrong.
It's heartbreaking to think of them having to fend for themselves so I might leave one DD behind to care for them, haven't decided which child yet.
Just thankful we're not facing these choices

OP posts:
Bramshott · 10/03/2022 15:40

I have been amazed by the well-behaved Ukranian cats! Many of them just seem to sit there quite happily in their owners arms/bag/some sort of soft cat sling.

Want2beme · 10/03/2022 17:21

It's crossed all our minds. I've got 3 and have been thinking, I could put one in the smaller cat box and the other 2 into one of the big travel boxes. All 3 are easy cats, but the logistics don't bear thinking about, really.😞

Soubriquet · 10/03/2022 17:25

I truly don’t know what I would do.

My cat is terrified of humans that aren’t us, so would be completely traumatised being dragged around in a cat carrier.

On the other hand, she would be scared at home too, especially now that she’s come completely housebound and refuses to leave the house.

YouMadeABear · 10/03/2022 17:33

I'd leave mine behind. He was a stray when we rehomed him and he still has stray instincts. He's still a good hunter at age 12 and I'm suddenly thankful for that. He'd hate being carried about in a case. I'd be gutted to leave him but he'd take care of himself Sad

Repetitivebeats · 10/03/2022 17:34

I actually thought about this and came to the conclusion that if we found ourselves in that horrible situation the kindest thing to do would be to euthanise the cat if possible. He's nearly 17 and not in the best of health - I didn't expect him to still be with us last Christmas. He spends his days snoozing and only eats the softest food possible due to bad teeth. It would be horrific both to leave him behind to fend for himself or to take him who knows where with no food, no warm place to sleep etc. I'd hope to be able to give him a peaceful end but I'm really not sure how that would be managed.
My heart really goes out to people having to make these kind of choices right now.

Taffiy · 10/03/2022 17:35

My old girl could have been carried out of there like a baby, she would have been thrilled with having a good old look at things without having to actually move or expend any effort.
My boy is the same way.
My BSH girl I couldn’t see tolerating it, she’s a very nervy born hunter who prefers to be outside and isn’t a massive fan of people.

SuperSocks · 10/03/2022 17:35

I don't get people suggesting they'd just leave them behind. Confused If you absolutely had to you would euthanise surely, otherwise they would come with you. If you love your pets you don't leave them to starve or be blown apart.

FantasticFebruary · 10/03/2022 17:36

The footage is all so very sad. I still can't wrap my head around this actually happening in Ukraine in 2022.

I don't have any pets at the moment but I couldn't have left any of them. My last boy cat would have been a nightmare - hated a harness, hated the carrier -used to do the cartoon cat thing at the sight of it! My girl cat was much more biddable & if I was there, she'd have been ok.

Not sure how people with several will manage or people with kids who needs carrying/hands held etc 🥲🥲🥲

CuteOrangeElephant · 10/03/2022 17:37

Not quite the same but mine went on a 5 hour drive, overnight ferry and hour drive on the other side. He was not very happy. Didn't go to the toilet though until he was safely in his new home.

gingerhills · 10/03/2022 17:37

Ours would come with us.He's a member of the family. I couldn;t leave him in a war zone.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 10/03/2022 17:38

I dont think mime would tolerate the carrier. Its a horrible thought but I think we'd have to leave him

Woollystockings · 10/03/2022 17:39

My cat -ex-stray - would be ok in a carrier for a good while. We’d take her.

Hellocatshome · 10/03/2022 17:45

I have 3 house cats and a dog. If we were on foot we wouldn't be able to take them, they certainly wouldn't tolerate being carried without being in a carrier they would just jump down and get lost. So if we were on foot I would let them out of the house and hope they found someone to look after them or at least be able to scavenge enough to survive. They were all strays before they came to me so hopefully they have some street smarts. If we could leave in the car they would come with us.
I dont think its flippant, we have already discussed with the kids if there were to be a house fire just get out and leave the animals behind. It is a hard thing to think about.

Joolsin · 10/03/2022 17:47

I was just talking about this with my son, we were looking at pictures of a cat sitting on its owner's lap on a bus journey. No cat carrier, just lounging comfortably. Our cat would go insane, she hates people, hates travelling and isn't quiet about it either. I'd try to bring her, but she would be so noisy I reckon no-one would let us on their bus.

Greenhillfaraway · 10/03/2022 18:05

I have been moved to tears frequently watching the news, and every time I see a cat being carried I wonder how we would cope with ours. It’s all so very distressing.

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