Building work plus kittens

Hello everyone,

I would like to ask some advice please. I have two 8month old outdoor kittens that could actually be perfect. They come and go as they please, rarely use their litter tray (they prefer doing their business outside), eat and drink normally and have a great bro/sis relationship. I honestly feel blessed to have such good luck as to get such easy to care for, loving little siblings. The problem is, I am due to have a chimney breast removed from an upstairs bedroom (next door to my bedroom where me and the kitties sleep every night), and I'm worried about the affect all the noise/mess/dust/workmen will have on my kittens. I don't want them getting scared and running off and too scared to return home. I'm considering getting them some Feliway and locking them plus the Feliway in the conservatory while the work is being done but that seems a bit mean, to suddenly lock them in what would be a cold single room, all day when they are used to having the freedom of the house to sleep in warm places. Hopefully the work will be done during the Xmas holidays (I work in a school), so I can spend the day in the conservatory with them for reassurance from the loud noises and drilling, but I fear that won't be enough reassurance. I also fear the work will have to be done during term time when I have to be at work/college. Does anyone know how to make this experience as fearless as possible for my kittens please?

I think keeping them indoors in a safe room is a great idea. Feliway is a great idea. If they get particularly stressed they might benefit from Composure too.

Try to have the conservatory warm for them, or at least put out heat pads or pet safe heat reflective blankets for them. Having a radio or TV playing on low volume may help distract from the noise from the workmen too.

You could also look at moving their scratchers into the conservatory - they'll help make the room smell familiar and safe. Don't forget water bowls and two or three litterboxes for them (preferably at opposite ends of the room).

Lastly, try not to stress about it. The calmer you can stay the calmer they will be.[article="22436"][/article][article="30316"][/article][article="32758"][/article]

I will try to warm the conservatory to the best I can but it is old and very draughty at the best of times so I'll put heating pads/well wrapped hot water bottles etc. I'm already planning on moving everything from their toys to litter trays & food/water bowls their room into there but I had forgotten their scratching post. The conservatory already smells of the kitties as they spent ALL summer in there as it gets very hot in summer, so they know its a safe room they enjoy being in, but I never thought of putting a radio in there to drown out the noise, thank you for that. I will try not to stress about it all but I get very over protective of my kittens, I've waited 20+ years to get them so anything that threatens me losing them stresses me out a lot! Thank you so much for your help and the links, I will implement it all when the work gets done.

I agree that your plan sounds good. Maybe you can move them into the house to sleep so their routine isn't too disturbed?

Are they fixed? This will also help to mellow them out and prevent them from wandering too far when they're outside.

I will surely be moving them back into the house at the end of each day (after THOROUGHLY cleaning the house of any dust/mess left by the builders) as they sleep on my bed and I can't sleep unless they are there too. Moving into the conservatory will just be a daytime thing.

Yes they are fixed/vaxxed/flea'd/wormed/chipped so that side of things shouldn't be a worry, it's just the noise/dust/mess/workmen that I'm worried about.

You sound well-prepared. Good luck!

Thank you! Considering the work was meant to be done in August, I have been stressing about the work AND how the cats will cope with it since July! I'm just hoping it will all get done this side of the new year now!

If anyone else has any suggestions on how to make this as easy as possible for the kittens, I will be very grateful. Knowing they are cared for, to the best of my ability, will be one big stressor off my mind. I was even considering putting them in a cattery each day but I doubt I can afford it now if its going to be done so close to Xmas. Lessening their stress levels will lessen mine lots. I'm already very stressed due to the work being delayed so much and the inconvenience it will cause to everyone, so knowing the kittens are not stressed by it all will be a big weight off my chest.

ZeusandHeramum said:

If anyone else has any suggestions on how to make this as easy as possible for the kittens, I will be very grateful. Knowing they are cared for, to the best of my ability, will be one big stressor off my mind. I was even considering putting them in a cattery each day but I doubt I can afford it now if its going to be done so close to Xmas. Lessening their stress levels will lessen mine lots. I'm already very stressed due to the work being delayed so much and the inconvenience it will cause to everyone, so knowing the kittens are not stressed by it all will be a big weight off my chest.

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I think putting them in a cattery would be a lot more stressful for them than keeping them at home.

As other's have mentioned - providing all their normal toys, food, water, scratching posts and a cozy place to cat nap, plus a few special treats during their time there should be sufficient. You said you would be in the room with them during the day also. I'm not sure what else you could do? Provide them some one-on-one play time with you while you are there. Soft music to combat the construction noise a bit. 

Cats are more resilient than we give them credit for. My cats have gone through a move, furniture rearrangements, the removal and installation of a hot-water heater, strangers in and out all day long, my being away for a few days and my daughter staying here with them, and a few other, what some might consider stressful, situations. Distraction and comfort from you is a key to their adaptation and stress-free experience. Keep things as 'normal' as possible.

Keep in mind that YOUR level of stress will affect them a lot more than the change in their environment. If you stress, they will pick up on it and become wary of what is going on. Relax, play and talk with them when things get a little noisy. 

You've been given very good advice, and inside their own home is certainly safer and less stressful than outside in the mess, or in a cattery.

Try to relax.  I will give you the same advice I was given when in training for emergency medicine...When faced with a crisis, first take your own pulse.  The kittens will be fine, and so will you!

Thank you so, so much everyone! I will definitely put all your great advice into practice when the work eventually gets done. Zeus, Hera and myself are all very appreciative of your kindness, advice and reassurance

They given you great advice and I will share you my experience only :-)

When some people come and do things I would keep my girls in a room with their foods, water, blankets, toys and littering box. I know that cats are very sensitive to noises and my girls were scared with noises and banging would make them really nervous. I would stay with them and comfort them and yes radio--music will help a lot so they won't hear the loud noise. I also talk to them and assuring them that it's okay and the guy just repairing something, yes I talks to my girls a lot and they understand me well. Cats can sense us if we are under stress and they are very good, so try to relax and I am pretty sure everything will be okay :-)

Just a quick update to firstly, say a massive thank you to everyone who kindly gave me advice and reassurance and secondly, let you know that I did everything you suggested and the kitties happily survived the building work with no issues at all. We had the chimney breast removed from the upstairs bedroom (which was very noisy and created lots of dust and mess) and that room plus another redecorated and my babies barely noticed! It all took 2 weeks in total and my mum spent the first week at home and I did the second week. Admittedly, Zeus and Hera didn't like being stuck in one room for the day so I let them out for a few hours on the quiet days but other than that, you are all right, cats are more resilient then given credit for! So now everything is back to normal I just want to say thank you again to everyone for everything.