Asking for advice about cats and dogs :)

[Persephone]

So I need to ask some advice from those of you out there who have pets (i.e. cats and dogs).

My best friend has gone to NYC for a week and needed someone to watch her 2 cats and 1 dog. I volunteered because I love her pets like my own. They are all very sweet, calm, and well behaved.

The dog is a Cairn Terrier (the same breed as Toto from "Wizard of Oz" 🙂 ) and is about 8 years old. He seems to have taken the move from my friend's house to my apartment very well. He is calm, just chilling on my couch, and listens when I tell him we need to go take a walk.

The kitties on the other hand are very confused. Both are orange tabbies (one male, one female). The male is about 6 years old, the female about 3 years old. They have both secluded themselves underneath my futon and have not MOVED. I don't want to bother them because I am sure eventually they will come out once the initial shock of being moved out of their everyday environment into a totally NEW environment sets in.

I have owned pets in the past, but it was when I was still living at home. I have never actually pet-sitted someone elses pets before. These 3 animals know me well, I have been going to their home for years now.

So my question is...how can I make them more comfortable? How can I keep them happy and calm? I am just trying to give the kitties plenty of room to come out and explore on their own. I just care about them all a lot and want to take really good care of my friend's pets because they are her babies, you know?

ANY advice is appreciated 🙂

-Perse

 

[TropicThunder]

No loud noises or anything to startle them.

Give it a few hours, and they will start to explore the new environment on there own. You're pretty much already doing what you can.

Good luck. 🙂

 

[Persephone]

No loud noises or anything to startle them.

Give it a few hours, and they will start to explore the new environment on there own. You're pretty much already doing what you can.

Good luck. 🙂

Thanks Tropic! The dog next door is barking every so often and the little terrier I am watching is always like O_O!!!!!! when he hears that dog...so I think he is kinda confused ^^;

 

[Bugman]

No loud noises or anything to startle them.

Give it a few hours, and they will start to explore the new environment on there own. You're pretty much already doing what you can.

Good luck. 🙂

This. Cats seem to have a harder time adjusting to a new environment than dogs do, in my experience. I'm sure they will be fine while they are with you.

 

[stroker]

Try this .dont smile at the cats . But look a them in a sort of mild glare with narrowed eyes and no teeth showing .Keep relaxed and make soothing noises, dont over do it, and eventually they should come to you.

 

[Flatfoot]

Many people misconstrue the way cats adjust to moving. Dogs are easier to move, because they're pack animals. They think they're in the same pack as you, and they follow the pack, wherever you end up. Cats don't really care about their owners beyond sharing the same space (Yeah, even if they're affectionate, they really don't care. Even when they're curling up against you, doing that weird paw/claw thing to your shirt, they're not thinking anything about you beyond the fact that you're a nice, warm, soft surface to lay.). Cat mentality is more location-based--more territorial, if you will. Right now, they're in a completely alien place, and they're confused. They're gonna have to get comfortable on their own, and I figure that by the time they really get comfortable around your place, it'll be time to go home!

 

[desdemona]

Many people misconstrue the way cats adjust to moving. Dogs are easier to move, because they're pack animals. They think they're in the same pack as you, and they follow the pack, wherever you end up. Cats don't really care about their owners beyond sharing the same space (Yeah, even if they're affectionate, they really don't care. Even when they're curling up against you, doing that weird paw/claw thing to your shirt, they're not thinking anything about you beyond the fact that you're a nice, warm, soft surface to lay.). Cat mentality is more location-based--more territorial, if you will. Right now, they're in a completely alien place, and they're confused. They're gonna have to get comfortable on their own, and I figure that by the time they really get comfortable around your place, it'll be time to go home!

This is actually dead on. The cats should have been left at your friends place - and you could stop by to feed and play with them once or twice a day. Cats are very independent. They do NOT like change. When I was in college, I would bring my cats home with me only when I was staying for more than 1 week - they would never acclimate in 7 days or less. I'm not suggesting you did anything wrong - just learn from the experience.

 

[Persephone]

One of the kitties has emerged O.O and she is exploring and being very nosey...very catlike 😉

And my friend lives in a VERY rural place about 1 1/2 hours away from me....and had no one else to watch them nearby...so it was up to me ^^ or board them...which they detest as well. It will all work out ^.^

 

[desdemona]

🙂 I'm sure it will. We all have to adapt to circumstances. Cats can be funny creatures. I'm lucky enough to have family who can come take care of mine. I ONLY board mine at work if I absolutely have to (or the whole family will be out of town).