Conference misery::feline

    You and your puss will be in our thoughts.  Please let us know how things
    go.  Some ideas --
    
    The person who will be coming to feed her will be very careful that she
    doesn't get out of the house, yes?
    
    Leave something that smells like you that she can curl up on, perhaps
    a flannel nightie or somesuch.
    
    Consider if confining her to a portion of the house while you're gone would
    be beneficial or non-beneficial.  You might close her off from one or two
    rooms with stuff in there that you particularly want to protect.  On the
    other hand, that might upset her more.
    
    It sounds like she must love you a lot since she misses you so much.
    
    

    I second the idea of you leaving "worn" clothing about.  Perhaps in the
    areas she likes to sleep in and even leave your bed unmade so she can
    curl up there too!  As long as your caretaker can give her a little
    attention and be sure to not let her out, you should be okay.  Is your
    caretaker the type of person she won't be afraid of?  I also set my
    alarm clock for twice a day to a classical station on the radion.  It
    shuts off after about 45 min. I think.  That way they have soothing
    sound twice a day.  Maybe you could set it for the time you would
    normally arise and the time when you would be home from work.  Just
    make sure the caretaker doesn't shut it off!!
    Best of luck to you both
    Karen

    What about making her an audio tape of your voices that the caretaker
    can play for her while you're gone?  Perhaps when you left last week
    with no one to come by on a daily basis she felt abandoned and
    therefore reacted adversely.  Hopefully, the caretaker will solve this
    problem.
    
    Good luck and keep us posted.
    
    -Roberta
    

I second the last two ideas (radio and/or tape). With Bumble Bea
my sense is that the voices on the radio make her feel less alone.

Another radical idea: This occurred to me on our most recent vacation
when I was missing Bumble Bea terribly and knowing that she hates to
be left alone. Get one of those answering machines that you can access
remotely. Leave kittie messages on it and from time to time you can call
in to access the messages. When the tape plays, the kitty will hear you
saying all your usually sweet nothings and, hopefully, feel better.





                                         Susan

    THANKS!
    
    I almost went back and deleted this note for fear of looking totally
    stupid!  Glad I didn't.
    
    The ideas are SUPER!  We usually do leave the bed unmade... and my
    night shirt on top of the covers.
    
    But the idea about a clock radio!  and someone playing a tape for her!
    And actually calling in to talk to her! 
    
    THOSE ARE GREAT!!!!  I just can't thank you enough.  really.
    
    The caretaker is *very* careful and she will not let her out.
    Pretty hard to let out a cat that is hiding under the covers anyway
    ;-))
    
    I can't wait to get home tonight so my husband and I can begin
    putting these great ideas into place!
    
    I'll keep you posted.
    
    Thanks again,
    Cheryl (& Charlee)

    Re: I almost went back and deleted this note for fear of looking
    totally stupid!
    
    No -- you've come to kitty-fanatic land.  But you could tell that,
    right?
    

    re .4, I know there are machines out there with several outgoing
    message/memo tapes, but I'm still giggling over the prospect of Mr. and
    Mrs. Harrumph-Ahem from, say, the bank's mortgage department, getting
    the outgoing message "Hey you little fatty punkin, are you going in
    your box?  Hmmmm?  Don't you get up on that loveseat, now...."
    
    ;-)   ]:3
    Leslie & Moon

    
    On another note, I've seen so many of those "kitty catnip" videos,
    where there are birds and squirrels and fish on the screen for the cat
    to get excited over.  If you have the equipment, there's nothing saying
    you can't make a video of yourselves and wave her favorite cat toy
    around in front of the camera.  Might be worth a "yuck" just to see
    if you "baby" recognizes you....and she will still hear your voice...
    I'd love to know if this sort of technique works....
    
    :-)))
    
    Nancy

re .5

To fell even less stupid check out the note on being Cat
Codependent #401.



                                     seh

    hahahahaha #401 is super!
    
    except now I know I am one too!  :-))
    my husband has known for a l-o-n-g time...
    
    since I had Charlee before I met him - he *was* allergic to cats...
    so I told him I had her before you - she is staying.  what you do
    is up to you.
    
    that was 15 years ago.  I'm very glad he stayed. :-)
    and now we have 2 cats!!!  his 'allergy' is under control.
    
    :-)
    
    never tried those litty videos... thought about it tho.
    
    a tape of us for her is a good idea...
    
    thanks!

    Don't mean through a wet rag in, but I heard (can't remember where)
    that leaving a phone message for your kitty confuses them and is not a
    good idea.
    
    - Lauri
    

    I was wondering about that.  Isn't it kind of cruel for them to hear
    your voice but not be able to locate you?  I can see where they might
    become frantic trying to find you.

    Hmmm, I thought about that... but then she never does come when
    called... of course after a few days alone - she just might come
    looking for us.  Maybe I could have Wendy (the catsitter) play it when
    she is here - and if Charlee wants some lovein... she'll be here to
    take care of her if she comes lookin.
    
    Does anyone have any frist hand experience with this one?
    
    thanks,
    Cheryl

    Well, we have actually made the trip twice since the base note.
    And tried a few of your suggestions...
    
    o Left a clock radio on a timer.  It turned on and off at about
      the times we get up and leave in the morning and again when we
      would be home at night - until bedtime.
    
    o Made sure we left the bed as it was... ie: didn't strip it and
      leave it all made up fresh.  Her 'blankie' was right on top
      along with a night shirt I wore that week.
    
    o Asked the sitter to seek her out and muss her up  :-)
      Since the sitter is a cat lover this was not a problem!
    
    all of these things must have worked - altho my husband did think
    me more strange than usual... she was quite happy to see us and no
    where as spazzed out as she has been in the past when we had to leave
    her alone for any period of time.
    
    thanks to everyone!  we'll be heading back to Phildelphia this fall
    sometime for the brain surgery... probably be there 10 days afterwards.
    Poor kiddy!  I will have to arrange to call home while the sitter is
    there and have her 'let me talk to her'.  That will definately speed
    my recovery.  Hmmm, maybe if I play it right he'll get me a *new*
    kiddy as a get well gift!
    
    thanks again.  :-)
    
    cheryl