(Why didn't I think of this earlier? ) HELP PLEASE! NEED ADVICE!

[badgerpup]

OK, so I'm going on a road trip, plan to be gone about a week.
Have a friend coming in to keep an eye on the monsters...but here's the rub.

The boys are indoor-outdoor kitties...with a strong preference for being out-of-doors when the weather permits.
Putting them on house arrest is not feasible...if only because the minute Sue (my cat-sitter) opens the door Riktor will be GONE like greased lightning on speed (that boy is fast, small and stealthy). Wimsey and D'Artagnan will be hot on his heels.

They adore Sue, so they may come back inside when called...or not.

I'm thinking maybe I should just leave a window slightly open so the boys can get in and out...except that D'Artagnan still tries to bring his prizes inside (it's the snakes I'm worried about)...and while Esme can get out via the window, she doesn't have the spring in her hips to allow her to get back inside via the same route. She can't jump for beans, although she's got a fair turn of speed in her when she wants.

Not sure boarding them will be such a good idea either...both $$$ and the last time I boarded cats they came home with respiratory illness.
That, and I KNOW they won't enjoy it...cats don't do the 'summer camp' thang very well.

Any ideas on how to make things easier?


:pals:Thanks, people...:yourock:

[murielm99]

1. I haven't had an outdoor cat in a long time.

When I did, I put him on house arrest when I left for a week. My brother looked in and stayed when he could. I could not bear to think of my kitty being locked out for a long period of time. My brother was able to outwit kitty's attempts to get out. Kitty had bad cabin fever, but I had to do it.

Good luck.

[orleans]

2. i'd house arrest them also

and never leave the window open.

is there a back door your sitter can come and go through? one that can be closed off from the rest of the house? like a laundry room back entrance that has a door to close off from the other part of the house? that way she can come in and they won't be making the mad dash to the great outdoors.

otherwise, she may have to enter with a squirt water bottle ready to fend off any front door fleeing felines.

(and to think all this was written by a "dog" person!)

[murielm99]

3. Good point.

I had my brother do that. He entered through the side door in the attached garage. It would have been easier to retrieve a fast and sneaky cat (or dog) from the garage than from the front or backyard.