I'm moving in 2 weeks--can't take both cats with me

[meow2u3]

I may have found a room in a house, but there's one problem: I can only keep one of my cats. Max, who will be 11 months old next week, might have to be rehomed because I plan on keeping Ruby (age 2 1/2), who is very friendly with other cats and cuddly with me but is shy around strange humans. She'll hide until she gets to know a person. This lady already has a cat and doesn't want three cats running around the house.

I don't know whether to talk my new landlady (in Philly) into letting me keep both cats even if I have to pay a bit more, who are both litter box trained and altered (spayed and neutered), or finding Max a new home. Max, who is Ruby's almost grown kitten, has become depressed at the idea he might not be able to stay with Mommy and "Grandma" (me). He's been acting out for the entire day. I myself am heartbroken at the thought of losing Max to another home, a shelter, or the streets. I can't bring myself to surrendering him to a shelter and I won't even think of abandoning such a handsome, friendly cat like Max to the streets to fend for himself.

Can someone give me suggestions on how to cope?

[IndyOp]

1. You might try writing out a plan of what you could do to keep both cats --

and keep the new landlady happy. Is there a way you can physically partition her space and your space to keep your two cats from her cat? Can you reassure her that the cats will likely do better with the transition if they stay together -- they are less likely to have anxiety that might cause behavioral problems? You could reassure her that after a 1-month trial period, if things aren't going smoothly then you will rehome Max and, in the meantime, look around for good homes in the Philly area.

I had a friend who lived in New York and was stuck in a miserable, miserable apartment in a lousy neighborhood. Her only chance to get out of that apartment and into a decent area was to rehome a cat she had had for 14-years. She did it and it is still an extremely painful memory for her.

I wish you and your crew peace.

[meow2u3]

2. Max was growling at me this morning

He wasn't too happy about the very thought of me even considering rehoming him. He and Ruby, his mom, were separated a total of 4--count'em, 4--days his entire life; the two days I had her to the vet to be spayed, and the two days I had him at the vet to be neutered. I think it would break both their kitty hearts to be parted forever.

[Lorien]

3. There's really no difference between two and three cats

put it to your landlady this way; if you bring both cats then they'll keep each other company and they'll leave her cat alone. If you bring only one, then she'll be all over her cat-and that could cause conflicts. Having peace in the home is more important than one extra litter box. Besides, it's totally heartless of her to make such a demand given that she only has one cat!

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Yes! That is the perfect answer. and what makes it better is that it is100% true!!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[meow2u3]

5. I plan on putting Soft Paws (or Soft Claws) on the cats

so they don't damage my new landlady's furniture. Max has a habit of using the legs of chairs for a scratching post; Ruby tends to scratch the carpets. It's the humane alternative to declawing, a temporary declaw that lasts for about a month.

One problem I have with Max--he's such a big baby, and a playful, lively one at that!! And he'll be 11 months old Monday! It's both funny and frustrating to see such a giant kitten.