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For cats who are forced to relocate with their
owners
For realistic tips for humans who are moving with cats, read
Making
the Big Move: How to transform relocation into a creative
life transition and visit other relocation
resources on this site.
If you like this article, subscribe
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Freedom Ezine.
1. If you sense your owner plans to move, be on your best
behavior.
Revive those terminally cute poses you used to get yourself
adopted. Let your owner sleep past 5 AM. Keep your paws out
of your owner's hair.
Use the litterbox religiously. If you must throw up, head
for the bathroom and skip the windowsills.
You do not want your owner to entertain thoughts like, "I
don't want to ruin the beautiful floors in our new home,"
or, "You know, it's really hard to rent an apartment
when you have a cat."
2. Here's a great game. Jump into an empty box, stick your
head out and hold the pose while your owner runs around looking
for a camera. As soon as she appears, finger on snap button,
turn around and point your tail at the camera.
You'll learn some new cuss words, guaranteed.
3. The arrival of the moving van is your cue to hide. You
can have lots of fun with this one.
Your owner will run around frantically, cursing the movers:
"You idiots! You left the door open! Now little Furball
is gone forever!"
After they've wasted an hour running around the neighborhood,
appear out of nowhere and begin to wash. When they shriek,
"Oh there she is!" and try to hug you, summon an
aloof glare and wash your face again.
Bonus tip: If you really want to freak them out, hide in
your cat carrier.
4. As you begin your twelve-hour drive, remember that your
owners would rather listen to your yowling than to the latest
tapes or the local weather and news. Keep it up!
5. Demand a sandbox break as soon as your owner begins driving
on a road where it is absolutely impossible to pull over.
A narrow bridge with bumper-to-bumper traffic is a good choice.
6. Motel etiquette calls for you to sit in the window, looking
absolutely adorable. Encourage passers-by to tap on the glass
at all hours, especially if your owner has forgotten to draw
the curtains.
If you suspect your owners have snuck you into the room without
checking, begin yowling as soon as they try to move you to
a more secluded spot.
7. When it's time to hit the road at 6 AM, you don't want
to be found. If you can position yourself under the queensize
bed, out of reach of your owner's arms, you can delay everyone's
travel plans for a good half hour. The award for the most
creative hiding place goes to the feline who wedged herself
between mattress cover and springs.
Caution: This only works if your owner really adores you.
If you can't be found in twenty minutes, you might be looking
for a new home.
8. Insist on being present when boxes are unpacked. Jump
into each box to make sure the contents arrived safely. If
your owners lock you into the bathroom "so kitty can't
escape," use the opportunity to practice your singing.
The movers need entertainment, too.
9. Demand to test each windowsill of the new home. If you
still have claws, test the curtains to see if they'll hold
your weight. Fifteen pounds? Should be no problem.
Miniblinds offer limitless opportunities for new versions
of torture-the-owner. How many can you bend? How about breaking
off a little hole for your head to peek through? Cute.
10. Encourage your owner to get a dog. You may never have
to move again. "Honey, we can't move. We could never
afford another place where Spot could have a yard."
| Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. is an author, career coach, and
speaker. She works with mid-career professionals who want to make a fast
move to career freedom. Visit her site http://www.movinglady.com
or call 505-534-4294. |
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