Oh help me, I looked at the "cats needing homes" page!

[SureJanOK]

Hello all

My 18 yr old cat died peacefully 3 weeks ago following kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. I have been surprised how "ok" I've been. I think I did all my grieving these last 7 months since she was diagnosed.

I've been away twice already since, just for a couple of days. And I'm booked to go on a city break 26-28 July. I had had in my mind also to go to the USA end of Sep which is my next annual leave. The only major thing still on my bucket list tbh (I'm 41). And then to look into adopting another cat when I came back. I've not had any holidays for years, they've never been that high on my list of priorities, esp when the cat was older.

But I STUPIDLY looked at the "Cats Needing Homes" page on my local rescue. And there's a 12 year old there who's been at the rescue for nearly 2 months already. She looks ideal for me. (Wants to be a single cat in a quiet adult home with garden).

What to do?!!!!!!!

Assuming I went, met her and fell in love...I wouldn't want to immediately go away for the weekend.

And SHOULD I get the US trip out my system? Or save up for a few years more (it would clear out my savings).

I'd feel SO AWFUL if I came back from the US and she was still there and I ended up adopting her then. She would have had to wait MONTHS for me.

I live alone and have never used catteries or pet sitters. I have SOME family but not sure I'd trust anyone enough with my baby!

Should I phone the rescue and see what they say?!

Also am I crazy to adopt a 12 year old and set myself up for another load of heartache and expense in just another few years?

Thanks

Thanks @70isaLimitNotaTarget . That's the trouble! When I saw her ad I knew it had to be me!

Haha! Love that cartoon! 😁

Izzy has been bugging me when I'm at my desk! Also doesn't like to sit on the sofa when I'm on it (it's not big enough, she's a bigger cat that my last cat) so...I have built her a wee bed next to my desk and another next to me at the sofa! Just plastic boxes with a blanket on top. Ime cats don't like actual cat beds! Thankfully the "tap tap tap" of the paw and the general nagging has now stopped! She just wanted to be close to me! <3

The blue blanket is the "Next to Desk Bed" and the red blanket is the "Next to Sofa Bed"

The sofa one is like a "next to me crib" for a human baby! Essentially just a sideways extension to the sofa!

Ah, the sweetie! You say you knew she was the one the first time you saw her photo. And she knows it too.

Aw what lovely updates thank you! 💕 That's one lucky puss!

@SureJanOK Awwwww! Izzy is beautiful! And very lucky ❤️
We took home our rescue cat today! She looks quite a bit like your Izzy.
Wishing you a fantastic life together.

Congrats @Youthiswastedontheyoung ! I'm sure I speak for us all when I say we are waiting to hear the adoption story and see pics!

@SureJanOK Aw thank you. Here is our beautiful Rosie! ❤️ She's very shy at the moment but we will absolutely take things at her own pace. She was taken in as a pregnant stray and had three kittens. She was a great mum and her babies all went to new homes quickly but she was left behind 😢
Thanks for letting me share our joy!

@Youthiswastedontheyoung Ah she is beautiful! And does indeed bear a resemblance to my Izzy and her late departed sister Kenzo. Welcome Rosie! And pleasure, it's so nice to have this lovely thread!

My parents' last cat was a 1 year old called Anna who had had kittens too young so a similar story to Rosie. From the same rescue as all our cats. This is she - a silver tabby. She died 3 years ago at age 15.

@SureJanOK Aw Anna looks so sweet, and very regal bless her! Pleased to hear she had a happy and long life ❤️

Izzy is enjoying this "snuffle feeder". I just hide bits of dry food it it and she has to work for it! (I think cats who are mostly indoors need a bit more stimulation - Kenzo used to go out and climb trees so I was less worried about her being bored!)

Snuffle Mat for Dogs Food Sniffing Feeding Mat, Dog Snuffle Mat Puppy Slow Feeding Training Mat Encourages Natural Foraging Skills, Stress Release : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Hello all

I'm thinking of moving house.

And I'm making my list of requirements purely cat-based.

So easy garden access (ideally French doors). Mature, enclosed garden (rather than astroturf). Hard floors rather than carpet inside for when vomiting/kidney disease means accidents peeing.

And ideally and most hard to find...all on one level...unless I can train the cats to use a stairlift...

If you're going for French doors will you have another door that is part solid to put the cat door in / be a cat slave who opens and closes the door on command / get a door in the glass panel?

We went for the door in the glass panel option -basically a new sealed unit with the cat door set in. This was before we knew our felines could use a door as they never had done before .
I said to DH we could only get cats if they could have outdoor access and we found out about the doors and I phoned round a couple of glazing firms.

YY to no carpets , ours marmalise carpet and unfortunately they have the odd accident ( Vax Platinum shampoo-er )

@70isaLimitNotaTarget good point re logistics. I guess I'd just imagined leaving the French doors open/ajar a lot of the time. That's what I currently do with my front door, never had a cat flap. I don't let my cats out when I'm not home anyway (just in case they get in a fight or an RTA or something). (Although I WFH and am a homebody so that is not restricting them much!)

Hello all,

Izzy and I had an offer accepted on a new place today! The kitchen door opens into a fully enclosed back garden.

Just got to get our current place sold now. It should go to a first time buyer as it's just under 200k. And the one I'm buying is an executry so hopefully a very short chain of just 2 properties and 3 parties.

Currently relaxing

Lovely Izzy. Hope all goes well with her (and your) house move.