It was always going to be a BIG challenge to relocate our rescue boy, MD, along with our other cats. He'd never been an indoor cat, after all, and it's only been a few short months since he trusted us enough to eat in the kitchen and sleep on the chair inside.
Missed the incredible year-long journey of our rescuing MD? Here it is again: MD 0.7
We HAD to make the decision to take him with us to the new house, and that meant keeping him confined indoors in the new place for the best part of a week to ensure he didn't bolt or get lost in the new 'hood.
He tolerated his new red collar (first one ever?) but clearly was far from happy. Luckily there was no fighting between him and our other two (neutered male & female, brother & sister, nearly 3 years old).
But by day 3 we were going NUTS. He roamed the house incessantly, from window to door to window, YOWLING in a way that broke our hearts. I was up at 2am and 4am cuddling and holding him to try to stop the yowling - and he DID relax when held very tightly and very firmly, just the way a newborn baby needs to be swaddled tightly to feel secure in a big, new and very frightening world.
Don't talk to me about the spraying! Urgh.
Early on Day 4 - Christmas Morning - my 16 year old daughter, Miss Ploi, had a brainwave of a idea. She opened a Cat Relaxation Soundtrack on youtube and let it play loudly through the whole house. For hours and hours which turned into days. And it was nothing short of amazing!!
The yowling stopped! As did the pacing and roaming. And the spraying.
First he came over for reassuring physical contact and a nap to gather himself. All that yowling and pacing for days is exhausting!
Then he branched out to the bathroom mat. And stayed there without complaining for an hour at least.
Later in the day he was spotted near the christmas tree and under the open window... no longer climbing the screens and yowling to be outside, although admittedly not exactly delighted with things. But coping. As were we.
He became calmer and finally (almost) stopped yowling and trying to escape. And we both breathed a little better.
Finally, on day 5.75 we decided to let them (MD and our own two house-trained, happy little ginger cats) out into the new garden on a sunny afternoon. Nobody bolted or freaked or got lost. MD made his way to the 5 foot tall brick fence and found a chill spot under some shady bamboo for most of the afternoon. Simply surveyed and watched cautiously.
The funny thing is this morning on Day 7 he wandered out casually into the morning sunshine of the new spacious garden and totally FREAKED at the sight of an unknown black & white cat. He high-tailed it back inside to safety so freakin' fast it was really funny. And has spent much of the day on my bed, where he now KNOWS he belongs and is safe.
Utterly adorable.
So just WHAT was the magic soundtrack we used??
Highly recommended. For the kitty mamas and kitty papas, as well as our stressed out feline friends.
BlissednBlessed, Upacking, Calmer.
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