Relocating an elderly cat

My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?

Richard Evans wrote:
My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?

A shovel.

on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:02:09 GMT, Richard Evans
wrote:

My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?

It sounds like your niece's house would be the least stressful, but that
seems obvious. Does your neice not want to take care of Molly? Will your
niece and her family give Molly some companionship and affection, as well
as proper care as she nears the end of her life?

--
Lynne

"Richard Evans" wrote :

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.


This sounds like the best thing for her. She needs peace and quiet. She
is very old, and may not outlive her grief for losing your mother.

on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:10:52 GMT, "Modell Rocks"
wrote:

A shovel.

plonk jackass

--
Lynne

Lynne wrote:


It sounds like your niece's house would be the least stressful, but that
seems obvious. Does your neice not want to take care of Molly?

Yes, she does.

Will your
niece and her family give Molly some companionship and affection, as well
as proper care as she nears the end of her life?

It's just my niece, and she works all day. If Molly has to be isolated
from the other critters, then it will take a special effort just to
spend time with her.

on Wed, 13 Dec 2006 18:54:39 GMT, Richard Evans
wrote:

It's just my niece, and she works all day. If Molly has to be isolated
from the other critters, then it will take a special effort just to
spend time with her.

it still sounds like the better situation for Molly. Perhaps after Molly
has settled in and all the animals are used to her smell behind the door,
and she is used to theirs, she can meet the resident dog and cats and
participate with the family to some degree so she isn't lonely.

--
Lynne

Richard Evans wrote:

My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?



Reread your own post. Isn't the answer obvious?

-mhd

"Richard Evans" wrote in message
...
My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?



I would select your niece's residence out of the two options you outlined.
If at all possible, though, please see if you can locate a home more like
the one Molly has always had -- possibly a single or retired couple with no
other pets or with very docile pets that would be likely to accept a
newcomer. Check with Molly's veterinarian to see if he or she would know of
any likely candidates. There might even be someone who has recently lost a
loved cat who would be willing to adopt your mother's cat. Molly is going
to be exceedingly lonely under both of the two options you have at the
moment.

Thank you for trying to find a solution that is in Molly's best interests.
Too many people would simply abandon her, especially given her advanced age.
She gave your mother many years of love (and received love and attention
from your mother), and I hope you can find a solution that will continue
that type of arrangement.

MaryL

Does your mother have any friends or a neighbor who might consider taking
her? It sounds like a home with another elderly couple or person might be a
better choice for all. Check at your local Senior Centers to see if you
can't find someone to adopt her. I'd hate to see her locked away in
isolation for the rest of her life.

Celeste

"Richard Evans" wrote in message
...
My mother had a stroke and has to go to a nursing home. She probably
will not go home again. Her cat Molly is 22 years old and in excellent
health. She has had a place of her own all her life with no other
animals and constant human companionship.

The options for taking care of her a

She can stay in the same town and live with my niece, who has other
cats and a dog. She has a big house and there is room to isolate Molly
from the other critters, but it won't be much of a life lived in
isolation.

I can bring her to my house, which is a ten hour drive, but I have
seven cats and two dogs and no way to isolate her from them.

Which option is likely to be least stressful for her?