Conference misery::feline_v1

    I don't know about breeders of Norwegian Forest Cats in Britain,
    but there is at least one breeder of Maine Coons.  This is a new
    breed here, and there was quite a lot about them in the press about
    six months or so ago, when this breeder first imported them.  I
    think she might be based in the South West somewhere, but I'm not
    sure.  I do know the kittens are very expensive to buy, at least
    �300 each.
    
    Helen.

    We were only gone for a week last November to Florida and kept our
    four cats at home.  My mother went over to the apartment each day
    on her way home from work to feed them, give them fresh water and
    scoop out the poop box.  My mother is not drawn to any cats in
    particular, and is not the type to stay around to play and cuddle
    with them.  So, I asked my friend who lives a few blocks down from
    us to stop over now and then to "play" with them.  Being indoor
    cats only, not being able to go outside was not a problem for us.
    But, they were very lonesome, and would crawl all over my friend
    and her husband, for cuddles.  
    
    So, as long as you have them in a cattery where human beings will
    be spending some time with each of your cats, I don't think you
    should be concerned.  Yes, even after 2 months, I would think
    that they would still know you -- you have a certain way with them,
    they will remember your voice.   Cats adapt very nicely to new owners
    too, they will just need to get used to the new routine (a week
    maybe?).
    
    I just think that it is important that they continue to receive
    human affection similar to what they are used to at home.
    
    My thoughts!
    
    Have a great vacation and don't miss your fuzzies too much!
    
    Pam
    

    Maybe borrow a portable tape player and make a tape of the two
    of you saying some routine things they enjoy hearing - the folks
    watching them can play it once or twice a day for them.

    Back in the 70's my husband and I moved to Hawaii.  Hawaii has a
    four month quarantine period for animals coming into the state.
    We put our two cats (4 and 5 years old) in their facility and only
    saw them once in the entire time.  They were just fine when we picked
    them up.  So I think yours will be too.
    
    Cheryl
    

    I leave my guys once a year or so for two to three weeks.  They
    stay at home (they're indoor cats) and a cat freak friend stops
    by once a day to feed and cuddle etc. them.  They do okay (I'm the
    one who doesn't do okay away from them).  I have noticed that when
    I used to do this with only one cat that he was very distressed
    by the time I had returned -- he had made his throat sore calling.
     With two to keep each other company it's :  oh, nice to see you
    again, Mom.
    

    The recording idea is good-especially with baby-cat talk.
    
    I had to leave two of mine once for several months while I 
    changed jobs etc. and the lady recommended to me that prior to 
    leaving every day  I take a piece of old towel or rag and before
    bathing wipe my self around the chin and under arms and put the
    rags (one for each day) in a plastic sack. While I was gone
    she would put one of these in the cage evey couple of days.
    
    I know they arrived fine-overjoyed to see me and didn't seem
    to be too mad at me.
    
    Also the cattery talks to them- I hope.
     

    I am working in Munich, at the moment, as a contractor, while my
    wife and 'family' stay at home in England. Due to work commitments,
    etc. I can only get home about every 6-8 weeks for a long weekend,
    (except at Christmas when I stole a whole fortnight !!!). My furry
    friends are always glad to see me but Little One does sulk rather
    for a day or so 'where do you think you've been - I want my special
    cuddles NOW !! - where are my treats from Germany - what do you
    mean, you're going back again, without my permission ...' . The
    main problem that we've come across since I've been contracting
    is that Little One has started chewing telephones (cables and also
    the actual receiver). The first telephone was found on the lounge
    floor with almost the entire insides torn out. The replacement,
    a modern style one-piece unit lasted two days until all the cable
    was chewed and the receiver broken as it was pulled off the window
    sill. We now have a wall-mounted receiver with the cable kept way
    out of their way but he still tries to chew when my wife uses the
    phone ( and he's taught Suki the same tricks ). We have come to
    the conclusion that he can hear my voice over the phone and is trying
    to get inside to find me (there's affection for you) as I don't
    have any problems with this while I'm home. Poor little chap gets
    awful lonely without me. Hopefully, next year, all the family will
    be moving out here to stay and we'll be one big ( and probably bigger)
    happy family again. (After visiting the big cat show here in Munich
    two weeks ago I feel that we will probably be expanding our family
    once we settle down but till then we'll stick to four - that's two
    each - one for each arm).

    

    Brian_who's_missing_them_all_already_even_though_he_was_home_two_days_ago
    

    Try tabasco sauce on the cords and phone case.  It dries to
    invisibility.  It has to be reapplied from time to time.
    Little One can actually get a shock from the cord, although I'm
    not sure how severe a one.  Better to discourage this before he
    starts on the real wiring.
    

    Thanks, evreyone, for your encouragement and advice. I'm glad the
    boys will be together, I'd really worry if one of them was alone.
    The idea of sending some pieces of cloth with our "smells" sounds
    a good one, as it woyld make them think of us without confusing
    them and making them think we were hiding from them.
    
    Thank you to the person who gave a snippet about an English Maine
    Coon breeder. 900 pounds! I might have to shelve that idea! I presume
    they might be cheaper with a promise to neuter? That's the way it
    usually works over here.
    
    Only four weeks till we go!
    
    SLP
    AUckland, NZ

    Well, tomorrow is the big day!
    
    There are only two bad things about going.. leaving the boys and
    (I must admit a lot less importantly) the thought of the HUGE lot
    of unread notes that will accumulate over the next two months! I
    may never catch up again!
    
    Anyway, I will try to remember to let you know how the boys survived
    when we get back. I'll wave to Kearen, Sweetie and Holly as we fly
    into Calif. We're staying in Reading for a few weeks, so may even
    see a few Digital cats!
    
    SLP
    Auckland, New Zealand

    We are all home safely! It was a GREAT trip, but it was wonderful
    to see the boys again. They are absolutely fine after two months
    in the cattery, so I certainly wouldn't be so worried again about
    leaving them for so long. Kimi in particular, whom I thought might
    pine, has got FAT! Sura has put on some weight too, but looks the
    better for it, as he was a little underweight. The woman who runs
    the cattery said they were no trouble, and ate everything they were
    given. Obviously!
    
    They are both very affectionate. Kimi was a bit uptight for the
    first day, but is his old self now. He visited the neighbours the
    next day, and remembered where their fridge is! He got a piece of
    fish for his trouble.
    
    SLP