Conference misery::feline_v1

    Would your roommate be opposed to a "bonded" cat sitter who could
    come in once or twice a day to care for the cat.  Perhaps you could
    get your Vet to recommend such a person.  Sounds like your roomie
    is placing you between a rock and a hard place.
                                           
    I think it would be very disrupting for your cat to go to a kennel
    once a month, not to mention what he might pick up there during
    his stay(s).
    
    Giudi in SF (Pippin, Gino & Stitch Too)
    
    
                

    Re .1:
    
    
    YIKES!!!  What would they "Pick up" in a kennel?? I never even
    considered that.  I was thinking of a pretty reputable vet
    in Newton, Commonwealth vet, which seems clean and well run.
    Dont' know yet about prices, or if they let the cats out tho.
    
    What does "bonded" specificaly mean? I think Cheryl is not worried
    about someone stealing things, but about them maybe copying the
    key, and us getting broken into someday. She's fussy. Also she's
    irrational since our next-door neighbors are good, trusted friends with
    2 cats themselves, and I know she trusts them, but she didnt want
    them coming in either!!
    
    Youre right; she does have me stuck between a rock and a hard place.
    Unfortunately, this is the ONLY bad issue we have (and it hasnt been
    a real issue to date). Everything else about my living situation is
    FANTASTIC and for about 30 reasons I could list, I don't want to
    move. Ive had all kinds of apt. hassles these past 5 years and finally
    found a place I love (and the cats do too - they have more room to run
    and play and woods outside). So I need to work within the situation
    I've got. I may try to discuss this with her again (having someone
    we both know come into the house might be more amenable to her than
    a stranger even if "bonded")
    
    Thanks and appreciate any more inputs folks have.
    
    Robyn (Jake, Munchie)
    

    
    My vet recommends cat sitters (professional agencies) who are bonded
    which means that they are liable for anything that might be taken,
    etc. etc. from the apt or home.  A friend of mine who travels uses
    the same person all the time.  She came over prior to the owners
    trip and met the cats and spent some time with them and the owner,
    became familiar with the animals, medications, etc. etc.  I think
    this works out best for the animals as they can stay in their home
    and not be put under unnecessary stress. You might check with your
    vet for such an agency and present the idea to your roommate.  
    
    My friend's cat sitter even calls her to let her know how the cats
    are doing.
    
    
    
    Giudi in SF.

    I found a wonderful pet sitting service in Acton, however, she doesn't
    sit dogs, (strange but true). Her name is Linda (Linda's Pet and Plant
    Vacation  Service 263-6752) and she'll come in once or twice a day,
    feed the pets and plants, and bring in the paper and mail. I think she
    does surrounding towns.
    
    
    Sandra

    Robyn -
    
    Look in Note #400 for cat sitter references.  I've used Kajan Cat Care
    and highly recommend them.  They're based in Westboro but will travel
    to this area.  They were great.  A friend of mine has used them also
    and is using them again at Christmas.  They will come once a day and
    feed, groom, medicate, whatever.  They leave a daily log of what they
    did and what the cats did.  The cost is $10/day and $14 on holidays and
    weekends.  They are also bonded.
    
    Mary
    

    Robyn - I can understand your situation.  Its frustrating, but
    if that's the only problem you have with your roommate then you're
    doing pretty good.  
    
    How well do you know your nice nextdoor neighbors.  Any chance they
    could take the cats - maybe keep them confined to one room and sep-
    arated from their cats - for the week?  It certainly would be no
    worse than a kennel and probably a whole lot better.  Of course
    offer to pay them a reasonable fee.
      Nancy DC

    I talked to Cheryl briefly today (she was out of town and just
    returned).  She said she wouldnt mind my friend, Doug, who she knows,
    coming in to feed them (of course, Doug lives in Framingham, somewhat
    inconvenient). She said she doesn't mind this once in awhile, but she's 
    not sure if she wants me to do that 1 week/month (as my travel sched. 
    will be).
    
    I don't see why or how this could inconvenience her. The problem is, its 
    HER condo, I'M renting, and she wants her rules to prevail. I don't mind 
    some compromise but I think my monthly rent entitles me to decide to have 
    someone responsible come in and feed my cats when I'm gone. I don't see 
    how this inconveniences her (SOME roommates MIGHT offer to help themselves) 
    As my friend Dave says, she seems to resent the fact that she has to rent 
    out the place.  Before I moved in she assured me she was an animal
    lover and would love the cats, but when she is home alone, she leaves
    them in the basement and never ever plays with them - just ignores
    them.
    
    I rambled too much but I basically hope there is some way to resolve
    this without my having to move out (I think she would not want this
    either. Unfortunately, the cats are the only thing we argue about),
    
    Robyn
    
    RE -.1, Nancy, I don't really know the neighbors enough to do this.
    I may be able to impose on my parents to do this *(once), same with
    another friend. But I need a long term solution. I have reservations
    right now at the Lancaster Animal Hosp ($132 for 2 cats for 10 days),
    and they dont let them out of the cage. This breaks my heart.
    
    On top of everything else- Jake went out last night and has not
    returned. He doesnt know the area well and I fear he may be lost..
    
    R. 

    
    	If you're going to bring them to Lancaster, you could
    	go one step further and try Catnaps cat (only) boarding
    	in Berlin. I don't have their numer on me (can get it
    	for tomorrow if you want), but I have heard only good
    	things about this place. A friend of mine used them all
    	the time and loved them. It might be worth checking into...
    
    	Sherry    (Rosie, Missy & Squeek)
    
    

    Several years ago Jack and I and another friend of ours (Scott)
    shared an apartment in Dorchester.  The place was always a
    disaster area and Jack gave me no end of grief about cleaning it.
    We had talked about getting someone to come in and help us clean
    the place once a week.  Well, Scott would not hear of it.  He
    flatly refused to let a stranger into the house to clean.  I 
    believe his rational was that he didn't feel safe letting a
    stranger into the apartment, whether we trusted the person or
    not.
      Maybe that has something to do with your roommates resistance
    to letting you have someone come in to feed the cats.
      N
    p.s. Let us know about Jake.

    Well,
    
    As of tomorrow Munchie is going into the CATNAPS kennel in
    Berlin, thanks to .6 (?) for providing a reference.  This place
    sounded like a cat paradise, with rec room that they let cats
    play in once a day (or more, if theyre not busy), and the cats
    get fed whatever food (and regimen) you use at home, and the
    woman returned my call and spent 1/2 hour discussing the place
    with me, so I got a very good overall feeling about the business.
    
    The bad news is...Jake is still missing. I have notified 4 local
    vets and shelters (Sterling & Lleominster & Central Animal Hospitals
    and a shelter), plus the dog officer (no cats were picked up, dead
    or alive, in the past week - good news). Also placed ads in two
    local Leominster/Fitchburg papers. Put notices with his picture into
    about 40 mailboxes and 4 stores. Now all we can do is wait. IfJake
    shows up during my vac, my friend will pick him up and take him to
    the kennel with Munchie until I return on the 12th.
    
    Thanks for all your help and I'll hopefully have good news about
    jake when I return...
    
    Robyn
    

    Well, some good news:
    
    
    Jake returned home last Thurs (I was still on vacation but my roommate,
    with a sudden change of character, decided to care for him in my
    abscence!) She thinks a car dropped him off in front of the house (she
    heard the car idling, then going away, then a "MEOW" at the door which
    turned out to be Jake!) He had been gone 10 days and, by the looks of
    it, was outside and unfed the entire time. Cheryl said he was "black"
    (he's normally gold), and skin & bones, with blisters on his feet and
    smelling "disgusting, like  a dead animal".  Anyway she cleaned him up
    & bathed him and dressed his feet and fed him and he was in fine shape
    (just a bit skinny) when I got back this Tuesday.  Since he returned
    home he has been quiet and mellow, a welcome change from his usual
    rambunctious self! But he's obviously very happy to be home.
    
    The weirdest thing was, I was on vacation in Lima last Thursday, and I
    woke up after having a vivid dream that Jake had come home the night
    before. I called my parents later that day and they said " Guess what 
    - Jake came home last night". It was weird.
    
    Munchie also enjoyed her stay at Catnaps, she appeared to be well
    cared for. Their rates are a bit steep ($7.50/day/cat). She had also
    gotten quite plump while at the kennel, I don't know if they overfed
    her or she just didnt excercise much.  But all's well that ends well
    I guess...
    
    Thanks to the person in this note who recommended CATNAPS kennel and
    also to Nancy DC for your concern and help (as usual!)
    
    Robyn, Jake and Munchie
                                                                

    re: Jake - That was the answer to my prayers!!!  Nice to know that
    prayers do get answered sometimes.
      I'm all smiles!!
    
      Nancy DC