My daughter (who has a cat) has a few problems at the moment. She just had a short spell in hospital, and as somebody who was once in care, it seems to have put her onto their radar. They have some obligation.
The upshot is that the council have agreed to clean her bedsit for her. There is some talk, I believe, of rehousing her permanently.
None of this is really surprising to my wife and I. When she lived here, cleanliness was always an issue. We would have to regularly tidy her room when she was young, and as she became older, it became more difficult to gain access without hysterics. When we cleaned, we would dispose of things like McDonald’s wrappers, which she did not throw away herself, even as a teen. We took to going into her bedroom when she was at school, hoping that she did not notice that we had cleaned things up, because if she did, there would be a fight when she got home. It’s only really with hindsight that I realise we had to be much more hands-on than other parents.
Daughter’s cleanliness has not improved, and now that she lives on her own, there is nothing to prevent this mess. With what has happened recently, in the short term, the council have agreed to clean her place. Their only condition – they want her cat out of the way while the clean happens.
So, for the next few weeks, we have a lodger. Daughter’s cat is staying with us.
Comparing her to any cat who ever lived with us, this cat is antisocial. But… wouldn’t you be?
She arrived five days ago, when she hissed at everything – us, the other cats. But I think she has gradually softened a bit. Yesterday, she allowed me to give her a brief fuss, although so far this morning she has been hissing again.
Yesterday, she also caught her first mouse (while staying here). Because we have the other cats, she is always able to come and go as she pleases. We worried about this at first, that she would not come back, but she at least recognises a steady supply of food and a warm comfy place to rest her head.
I have a feeling that, by the time she goes back home, we will be friends.
Old habits die hard! Enjoy the kitty while sheβs your lodger!
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It is frustrating because, at the moment I want to be friendlier than she does. but she will come around.
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She is a cat after all. ππ
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It’s very difficult to change habits in a cat. I guess it depends also on their character. Hope everything is ok with your daughter. Take care πππ
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I’m hoping that she will be friendlier as she relaxes. Cats should hiss at other cats, but not at us. It is a shame because we would fuss her if she allowed us, but if we go near she attempts to scratch us.
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I think the little lodger may be reluctant to return home when the time comes.
I am sorry to hear about your daughter’s problems, it must have been very difficult over the years for you and your wife and sounds as though the difficulties continue.
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It’s a lot easier, for me at least, because there is minimal contact. But my wife still gets the fallout. I did, at one stage, fear for the marriage on account of my daughter. But hopefully the cat and I will become friends, at least.
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I think most of the arguments my late husband and I had were fueled by our kids. One or other of us sticking up for or complaining about!
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The way in which we were lucky was because we were united, although now that daughter has grown and gone, I am happy to walk away but wife is still, really, her only “friend”, That sometimes causes a rift. The irony is that it was always me who wanted children!
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If only life could be a little easier π
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Bro. This post! Anyways enjoy your grand cat!
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Just so long as that’s as close as it gets π€£
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Enjoy the time with another cat π Hopefully she’ll love the pats soon π
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Certainly an interesting read!
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She seems to have peak friendliness around lunchtime. She let us both fuss her – just a little – a short while ago.
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Iβm so sorry your daughter is unwell. Maybe the cat will stay with you permanently? How many do you have before she arrived?
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We have two cats already.
Unfortunately I don’t think this other one will stay permanently, even though she probably gets looked-after better here. But daughter makes a big thing about needing the cat for the sake of her mental health. A lot of this is just the impracticalities of having pets whilst living in a rental. We’d all steer clear, but not my daughter.
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Three cats! That sounds like fun, minus the hissing of course. I’m sure she’ll come around. Sorry to hear that your daughter’s having troubles. Hopefully things so as smooth as possible for you and your wife.
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Fortunately, the cat is the only eddect for me – and she has been better today.
My wife gets calls several times per day, so she takes on a lot more than me.
The door has been open all day so the cat has just wandered in and out.
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I hope your daughter is doing okay. Our son was always a bit of a slob, but now heβs married and has a son, so heβs been very tidy these days. How many cats, aside from your daughterβs, do you have?
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We have two already. Even they don’t get on, but it is easier to keep them apart.
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We have an 11 pound cat and a 70 pound dog, and our cat terrorizes our dog.
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It’s bunny because daughter’s cat is way smaller than ours but she makes up for it by being far more aggressive.
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I’ve always been a dog-person. Never gotten on with cats. I think they know I’m just as suspicious of them as they are of me! π π
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At one time, we were set to get a dog but it fell through, and we ended up getting more cats. People say they will co-exist but I think it is like two cats, they would prefer the place to themselves.
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ππ
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