Conference misery::feline

    Mary, it depends on how organized your move is.
    
    When Dana and I separated and I moved to my apartment, I left my cats at
    the house (of course he was there so it was easier) until the new apt.
    was all set up.  I got the keys to the new place a week earlier and
    moved small stuff over that week, set up various rooms, and then hired
    a moving service to take all the furniture over on one day.  Once it
    was in and I had the litterboxes and food all set up I went back to get
    the cats and settle them in.  This worked out best; they got to stay
    where they were comfortable (even though emptying out the house sort of
    freaked them out!) until it was time to move.
    
    If moving is going to be a rushed event and you're afraid of losing a
    cat in the process then boarding is best.  It really depends on the
    moving circumstances.
    
    -Roberta
    

    Well, the circumstances are going to be somewhat hectic.  I'm flying
    home on the 13th, picking up keys that day, then moving small stuff and
    getting settled (a little) on the 14th.  Then the big burly men
    arrive on Sunday to move the furniture and heavy stuff.  I'll be
    sleeping in the new place Sunday night.  Because all the rooms are
    full of furniture, I can't close them off in a room....besides
    Robin and Chauncey will kill Julie.  Even the basement isn't safe
    as the washer and dryer need to be moved from there.
    
    Sigh...I guess it's gonna be harder on me than it is on them!!  And
    poor Beth won't know what's happening!!
    
    Mary
    

    Mary,
    
    Is there a possibility of bringing the furrfaces to a friend's house
    for Sunday while the movers are there?  Or if you don't want to confuse
    poor Beth, maybe put the rest of the cats in boarding for the day and
    keep Beth in the Bathroom while the movers are there?
    
    Just some suggestions.
    
    Holly
    

    Gee, Holly, none of my friends want 7 cats in their houses!!!  As for
    Beth, I think I will close her in the bathroom while the door is open. 
    She's quite the escape artists.  She LOVES going outside and isn't
    afraid of anyone or anything.  She just runs with her tail in the air
    and her nose taking in everything.  And people think she's handicapped
    cause she's blind.....
    
    Mary

    Mary...do you have a cage or a big carrier that you could put
    Beth in atleast while the movers are there.  That way she wouldn't
    have to be boarded (or without you) but yet she would be safe from
    escaping.
    
    Hmmmmm......7 cats in my house...no problem there!!!  Adding your
    7 to my 11...could be a problem!!!  
    
    Sandy

    Normally I would say take them with you, but with 7 of them it might be
    better to board them.  The cats are going to be disturbed what ever you
    do, I feel it's better for them if the house is free of coming and
    going and strange people before they arrive.  It would also be kinder
    on you, and your feelings are important.  Moving is hard enough without
    having half you mind on the cats and where they are and what they are
    doing.  So, if it were me I would board t hem for the weekend.

    It's looking more and more as though I shall have to move house in the
    not-so-distant future. I don't know exactly where I will be moving to,
    but it's to a town about 30 miles away. I know this doesn't sound far,
    but the traffic is pretty busy and I'm looking at a journey of an hour
    or more.
    
    My own cats should be fine. They've moved before and I had no problems
    with them. My real concern is what to do for the best where Napoleon is
    concerned. He's a stray who turns up for meals and occasionally sleeps
    in the house if it's wet outside. He's got reasonably friendly,
    especially since his op, but is still quite skittish.
    
    I have two options as far as I can see. I can either sell or rent my
    present home to someone who will take care of him. I don't like this
    idea much because it seems that I am dumping someone else with the
    responsibilty and it doesn't seem fair. I would also be worrying
    whether he really was OK. However he WOULD stay in an environment he 
    already knows well.
    The other option is to try and take him with me. This is going to cause
    problems. When I had to take him to the vet for his op, he fought all
    the way there to get out of the carrier. I'm not sure how on earth I
    could keep him in once he was there (he doesn't particularly get on
    with Jimmy and I can forsee world war 3 breaking out if they're both
    confined together. It may not be possible to shut them up separately. 
    If I let him out as soon as we get there, he might run off and get
    lost. This would be worse than abandoning him, in my opinion - for all
    I know he might have another food supply around here. 
    
    I'm really not sure what to do for the best. I'm not going to abandon
    him - I know strays are good at surviving, but I don't think it's fair
    to him. Neither is the shelter an option - he's a battered tom cat
    who'd NEVER be re-homed, even if they took him on. 
    
    I'm just looking for opinions on which of my options would be best for
    him and any ideas that anyone has.
    
    Thanks.

    Julie....
    
    I would recommend taking napoleon with you even if he really won't
    enjoy the ride in the carrier.  He'll get over it....
    
    Once your in your house....Napoleon will be so nervous he'll probably
    hide for a few days...then start exporing the house...and probably
    won't even bug you to go out because he's is so nervous.   If you
    can keep him in for atleast 2 weeks...that would be best!!!  
    
    Good luck...and please keep us posted.  I have enjoyed your stories
    on napoleon...and he reminds me so much of my old stray, Capone!!!
    
    Sandy
    
    

	Julie,

	Is there anyway you could put up one or two doors so that keeping him
	in wouldn't be difficult?  I get the feeling you WANT to take him
	with you since you have anxieties over how he would be if you left him.

	Just a thought.

	Laura