Today my friend is bringing over her two kitties for us to kitty-sit. They're going to get 1 room in the basement (the "dog-room"--I promise it's nice and cool, and they'll get plenty of sun w/ the big double doors) and will be allowed on the screened in porch.. we don't intend for her kitties to ever meet our kitties for the three weeksish they'll be here.
I'm very, very apprehensive about this. I've never brought other peoples' cats into my home before, and while Tom was just terrified of the kittens (he didn't know they were cats!) I don't know how they will react, as they are grown up now and far less tolerant and easy-going than him. Emma has viciously chased the neighbors' barn cats off our porch before, and Chili has given them an earful.
Mine are going to smell the other kitties on me and vice versa, no matter how well I wash up. Her kitties (Tizbury and Winslow) are going to smell mine in the room we're keeping them in, as Emm and Chili have been in there before. *sigh* Tiz is also just over a UTI, and when he was developing it, he peed on my sleeping bag.. twice. (I was in it at the time. Another story for another day.
)
I've also got big cleanup to do in there, because I wasn't informed that we were taking them until yesterday, and we had a day out, which I was exhausted from, so instead of cleaning, I slept. The story on us agreeing to take the cats is very long.. but for a short recap: we were going to, then she got someone else to, they backed out a few days ago, and now it's us again.
*another sigh*
Do you guys have any suggestions for us? The room's going to be cleaned bare of basically everything, and I'm going to tape a tarp down to a corner of the floor, and maybe put down a rug or two for them. It's about 20x8ft, painted concrete + finished walls and two glass doors leading outside. There is a small bathroom attached, which I'm not sure if we'll use or not--it depends upon whether they have enough space, but the shower there would be a good place for their litter boxes. It's open, and six inches above the ground, made with very durable, cleanable material.
I plan on leaving their kitty-crates in there for them, and also some boxes/etc they can climb and play on. There's a large table and some shelving in there, as well as one chair, and I think I might be able to swing moving a cushioned chair in there also. Their mom is bringing some worn clothing of hers we can leave in the room, as well as all their stuff and toys.
I'm just of out of ideas... and apprehensive. I don't want any peeing fiascoes, not after the sleeping bag incident. He was pretty sick when he did it, and my sleeping bag probably reeked of my cats.. but you never know.
For any of you that foster, any suggestions? Would it be worth buying a very small amount of feliway? Anything? *bites nails*
I'm very, very apprehensive about this. I've never brought other peoples' cats into my home before, and while Tom was just terrified of the kittens (he didn't know they were cats!) I don't know how they will react, as they are grown up now and far less tolerant and easy-going than him. Emma has viciously chased the neighbors' barn cats off our porch before, and Chili has given them an earful.
Mine are going to smell the other kitties on me and vice versa, no matter how well I wash up. Her kitties (Tizbury and Winslow) are going to smell mine in the room we're keeping them in, as Emm and Chili have been in there before. *sigh* Tiz is also just over a UTI, and when he was developing it, he peed on my sleeping bag.. twice. (I was in it at the time. Another story for another day.
I've also got big cleanup to do in there, because I wasn't informed that we were taking them until yesterday, and we had a day out, which I was exhausted from, so instead of cleaning, I slept. The story on us agreeing to take the cats is very long.. but for a short recap: we were going to, then she got someone else to, they backed out a few days ago, and now it's us again.
*another sigh*
Do you guys have any suggestions for us? The room's going to be cleaned bare of basically everything, and I'm going to tape a tarp down to a corner of the floor, and maybe put down a rug or two for them. It's about 20x8ft, painted concrete + finished walls and two glass doors leading outside. There is a small bathroom attached, which I'm not sure if we'll use or not--it depends upon whether they have enough space, but the shower there would be a good place for their litter boxes. It's open, and six inches above the ground, made with very durable, cleanable material.
I plan on leaving their kitty-crates in there for them, and also some boxes/etc they can climb and play on. There's a large table and some shelving in there, as well as one chair, and I think I might be able to swing moving a cushioned chair in there also. Their mom is bringing some worn clothing of hers we can leave in the room, as well as all their stuff and toys.
I'm just of out of ideas... and apprehensive. I don't want any peeing fiascoes, not after the sleeping bag incident. He was pretty sick when he did it, and my sleeping bag probably reeked of my cats.. but you never know.
For any of you that foster, any suggestions? Would it be worth buying a very small amount of feliway? Anything? *bites nails*