Moving to a smaller house, concerns

[JackSpratt]

That's fair enough, Gill. Most of us probably do, (I, for instance, go on holiday very rarely. Not just because of lack of finances, but because I worry so much about my cats when I'm away!) but I don't feel that Summerleft is doing anything wrong considering their options.

I think being close to a motorway is pretty risky with cats, and I'd seriously consider cat proofing the garden. But from a financial point of view, I can completely understand not wanting to struggle to pay off an exhorbitant mortgage.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I live my life round the cats and have since I first had a cat.

[Millys Mum]

I would use the money saved on rent to sort the garden or rehome the cats. I would rather be without them then to know they got squashed.

[Dawn F]

I've got cat proofing that we did ourselves it cost about £100 for 60 ft by 40 ft garden, if money is a real issue sounds like a no brainer to me, I'm sure they would adapt

[moiramassey]

I have managed to keep trees in the garden and catproof. We have a very large garden and we had to renew all the fences and block the drive as well as having the catproofing done by Secruacat, so it was costly. If you already have good fences then you could probably do it yourself with the DIY kits they sell.

My long-established cats loved it when I catproofed the garden. That was a real surprise, but they started seeing it as 'their' territory, like inside the house, and stopped having to worry about interlopers.

But neither of them were roamers.

Tough one. I know others will think differently but I think you should do what you believe is best for you and your husband.

[bunglycat]

Well, if its the only way - i would definately cat proof without a doubt- safest way to keep them from harm.
I do live my life around my cats as i have no one else to consider- i could move into cheaper rented accomadation , - but it would mean being near lots of people / probably a big estate and i just cant do it - i would be so miserable i rather be poor and live somewhere i like and is safe for my cats . I always put them first when looking for somewhere to live , luckily i like the same as them -no people , just peace and quiet all day every day !
Mines a prety safe area -but still put 6 foot fencing on 2 sides and 8 foot at the bottom- but its a big garden for them with fields at the back .

[summerleft]

true but we cannot live our lives just for the cats as well, havent decided yet but theres being careful and then theres being silly if it meant the difference between being able to pay off all our debts or just struggle for years to come i guess,


there is a field and a slope up to the Mway, so its not right next to it , ah well thanks for you input

[bunglycat]

Wouldn''t be my cup of tea to be honest - i would rather my cats be in a nice area they liked -but i prefer the peace and quiet and would happily live in a fied in the middle of nowhere !
I don''t really like the sound of all the neighbours that might not like cats and the busy roads and M1 - its a case of you might be better off yourselves -but it could be at the risk of losing your cats one way or another !

[Millys Mum]

Personally i wouldnt take the risk, if they venture to it they wouldnt be comming back. 
Cat proofing isnt just a normal fence its netting or rollers put up in such a way that cats cant defy them 

[summerleft]

Its all fenced in but I doubt that it would keep them in, climbing trees etc lol M1 is my worry that and neihbours who dont like cats


But I think they might find the motorway far to scary to go near all being quite cautious

[Millys Mum]

If you have cats that wander then the M1 being insight is abit risky. Could you cat proof the garden and then make it into a cat playground as a substitute?

[summerleft]

Well we only moved 4 months ago, however a chance has come up for us to rent a house from my mum, at  1/2 the rent we pay now, It would be really nice to put money back into the family rather than giving so much to strangers and a place never feels our own.  But the worry for me is that its on an estate, having 6 cats the garden is small and backs onto everyone elses. Theres little greenery around and the M1 is in view also the house is small, apart from how they may react being in such close proximity a couple of them really enjoy going out and roaming the fields we have on our doorstep.

I know for myself and my husband it would be a great step but do you think the cats will adapt? we once lived in a town and the 2 cats we had then never ventured out of the garden, they just sat on the wall watching the car park lol

decisions decisions, any input welcome