My parents, who are both 93, are coming to visit me at the end of the month. This may be the precursor to their coming here to live for a while, renting out their house in Cambridge. They have a cat, Cinders, now around 8years old, with great behavioural problems, who pees everywhere, despite vet visits and a behaviourist who came to the house.
Part of it, I think, is that my mother, who is a darling in every way, just cannot cope any more with keeping everything clean enough. It is all just too much for her and the house always smells of cat pee. She is also having to deal with my father who has senile dementia. Anyway, I have finally succeeded in an argument I have been having with her for months - they are going to bring Cinders, and leave her with me so that I can try and retrain her. My mother will actually be relieved not to have her, as she is a great burden and she cannot now even manage the shopping etc that is needed. She relies on neighbours and my sister to bring her supplies of food and litter.
It will be a real challenge as she is not a very social cat but adores my father and follows him around. I hope that he will not break down and miss her too much, but I think it is the only solution. This cat has stopped my parents going on holiday for years, as her problems have prevented cat sitting or boarding. So I will do what I can, following all of the advice here, and see how we go. I have already spoken to my vet here about it, and will arrange a full checkup as soon as she arrives, to start us off properly.
Part of it, I think, is that my mother, who is a darling in every way, just cannot cope any more with keeping everything clean enough. It is all just too much for her and the house always smells of cat pee. She is also having to deal with my father who has senile dementia. Anyway, I have finally succeeded in an argument I have been having with her for months - they are going to bring Cinders, and leave her with me so that I can try and retrain her. My mother will actually be relieved not to have her, as she is a great burden and she cannot now even manage the shopping etc that is needed. She relies on neighbours and my sister to bring her supplies of food and litter.
It will be a real challenge as she is not a very social cat but adores my father and follows him around. I hope that he will not break down and miss her too much, but I think it is the only solution. This cat has stopped my parents going on holiday for years, as her problems have prevented cat sitting or boarding. So I will do what I can, following all of the advice here, and see how we go. I have already spoken to my vet here about it, and will arrange a full checkup as soon as she arrives, to start us off properly.
