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General discussion

Taking care of my Mother-in-law's cat?

Jan 14, 2008 1:20PM PST

Any one in to feline house cats? We have my mother-in-law's young cat to take care of for a week while she is on vacation.
I cannot remember how to make the cat feel at home in our house.

My wife and I both work during the day. Is this female cat going to destroy my home!?
Suggestions are welcomed here.
Bring her own toys to our home?
Not really looking forward to it. I need help here.

The cat is nice and gentile. My mother-in-law is 86 years old. I think the cat is two years old and a female. Lovely cat.

My wife warned me about letting the cat out of the house and to be careful of the doors being open going into and out of the house.

I guess my wife remembers the two parakeets we lost while these birds sat on my wife's head. My wife went outside with a parakeet on her head. The bird flew away and never returned. Twice this happened.

Do not want this to happen with our new house guest, the cat!

-Kevin

Discussion is locked

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It doesn't sound hopeful
Jan 14, 2008 7:13PM PST

Losing two parakeets that way wouldn't give me to much confidence for the cat, Happy

But anyway, here are my recommendations. Note this, Not since I was a child living at home have I ever had a pet myself, and most of those died. Some died a horrible death! So some of my recommendations may be a little suspect.

1] The cat will want to go home. I would! So no open doors, no open windows, or any other escape routes.

2] Ask your mother-in-law to bring the cat's bed and bedding. If it smells then all the better. The cat will feel more comfortable with it's own smells around. Her own toys as well as some new toys is a good idea.

3] Take out extra home contents insurance. Yes, it will destroy your home.

4] Extra buildings insurance should not be needed, unless you live in a Japanese house made out of paper panels.

5] She will sulk. In fact, your mother-in-law, your wife, and the cat will sulk. This is not going to be a good time for you.

6] When the cat arrives, fuss it, and let it wander about your house. As soon as your mother-in-law has gone, give the cat a good talking to about do's and don'ts. It won't listen and may scratch you, but you will feel better anyway.

7] Don't over feed the cat. Your mother-in-law probably does, but if you do and it dies of a heart attack whilst it is with you, you will be blamed.

Cool Let the cat have a bolt hole somewhere, eg a small room, cupboard, etc where it can hide and feel safe. Cats are very aloof and they take time to come round to new situations.

9] Work Overtime, as much as you can. That way, if anything happens to the cat you can plead ignorance stating you were at the office/factory/garage/garden shed. It won't cut any dice with your mother-in-law of course, but when it goes to court you can then produce witnesses, time sheets, CCTV video, etc to prove you 'were not there' when it happened.

10] Remember, a week is only 7 days. It will feel like 7 months, but you will survive. Are you religious? You could pray to your God.

11] Have friends round every night. Get them to stay over if you can. The more witnesses the better. Alternatively, stay over at friends' houses.

12] Enjoy this period. It may be your last, Devil

I hope that helps.

Mark

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It doesn't sound hopeful
Jan 19, 2008 12:33PM PST

Mark, You are so NUTS and FUNNY!. We have brought all of the cat's toys, habitat, kitty litter and everything else my wife could think of to our home.
The cat right now is sleeping next to my wife purring away.
I am not inviting the cat to watch the football playoffs with me on this Sunday at our local American Legion in Abington.
The cat would jump up and attack the 72" screen.

Mark, Thanks. I intended to send the post to Speakeasy. Yet I was posting to you on FF. Fun advise by you by the way!

-Kevin

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Cats always...
Jan 15, 2008 10:01AM PST

...lay down right in the busiest pathway of the house. Give up and put a box there just off to the side a bit with a bath towel in it and she'll be happy enough, except when she feels the need to lay right in the middle of the walk area again.

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Cats always...
Jan 19, 2008 12:56PM PST

James, Out of the whole house, the darn cat picked out my computer room to hang out in.
Why is that? She must love apples. :