Need advice on how to keep my cat

**sunnysideup** · 05-31-2006, 04:56 PM

I have a situation that I need some advice on. DH and I are going to be making a move to California from Utah. DH is leaving in a month and I am going to stay behind for about 4 months. We have a cat that neither of us want to part with, but DH can't take it with him because he won't have time to care for him. I will be moving back into my parents place and my mother is allergic to cats, and we don't know anyone who will take him for the 4 months.

So my only thought on how to keep him is buying a large cage for him to live in and keep him in the garage. I would have time to let him out daily and groom him and everything, I just can't keep him in the house because of the allergies. The cage I'm looking at is 48" high, and the base is 36"x24". Would it be bad to keep a cat in that space for 4 months? The garage is insulated, so I think it would be better than just keeping him out on the back patio in the middle of summer, and we will be gone before it gets too cold. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

**YankeeMom** · 05-31-2006, 04:59 PM

I think it would be not good to keep a cat locked up in a cage for that long. Cats are such free creatures to begin with. I think doing that might change the cat you know & love forever.

Could you advertise & look for a foster home for him? I know there are such organizations. A lot of those I've heard of care for pets of deployed soldiers while they are gone... Maybe that would be an option for you?

**celina** · 05-31-2006, 05:32 PM

dh says no time...well he'd be free during the day and he's gotta come home at some pt....so the cat will snuggle at bed time...i think that's better than the cage thing...good luck

**staceyy** · 05-31-2006, 09:03 PM

Once my daughter put an ad on Craigs List for a temporary sitter for her cat. She needed someone to care for her cat for 6 months. An elderly couple responded, their cat had recently died, they did not want the full commitment of caring for another cat for years , but they didn't mind a 6 month commitment.The arrangement worked out well for everyone.

**Valerie in WA** · 05-31-2006, 10:03 PM

I think life with your dh would better than life in a cage. However, life in a cage with you, would be better than kennelling. A foster home is a nice idea, but also could be confusing for your cat.

I'm afraid that the only suggestion I have is to see if your vet has any ideas.

**MirandaK** · 06-01-2006, 12:15 PM

Cats take so little time that DH could probably handle it even if it required overnight travel. Cats are self sufficient, for the most part. Could he just put out dry food for her? That way he wouldn't have to be around at a certain time to feed and she wouldn't have to be pent up all day.

**Sari** · 06-02-2006, 07:26 AM

If your DH can just manage to have dry food and water out and scoop the litter box, all of which really take little to no time, cat should just go with him, I think.