The Feline Miracle

The Miracle Kennels - 36" x 28 x 23

During a recent cross country move (Ok, so maybe 8 hours isn't cross country, but we moved with 4 cats and a caravan of two trucks and three cars and were driving after a full day of loading said cars and trucks so there!) but anyway we experienced a sort of modern day miracle that must be noted herein concerning our cats.  Let me preface this with a bit of history on said Felines.  

Gabby

We have four cats, all living indoors.  Each of the cats is a rescue with a story of their own.  The two oldest, Gabby and Callie are siblings we rescued along with their mother (who, sadly, is no longer with us.)  They are each 16 years old.  Add to that Boo Boo Ninja Kitty, who came to us as a kitten one Halloween and never left.  He is big, nearly 18 pounds, and absolutely fearless (except for dogs, of course.)  And lastly is Ozzy Pawsbourne, Kitten of Darkness.  Only slightly younger than Boo, he is scared of everything including his own shadow.

Big Bad Boo Boo Ninja Kitty

Here is (was) our problem.  Boo and Ozzy get along well.  They rough house as only boys can.  Gabby and Callie basically tolerate each other but absolutely hate the two big boys.  Gabby runs from them which made them think of her only as prey and they chased her relentlessly. So much, in fact, that we finally had to give Gabby her own bedroom and she only came out in the evening when she could cuddle in safety with my wife on the couch.  (Anytime the boys got too near, she would high tail it back to the bedroom, however.) 

Ozzy Pawsbourne - Kitten of Darkness! 

We tried everything to get them closer.  Feeding times were a study in frustration as Gabby even had to be fed in her bedroom or risk the boys chasing her.  Callie rarely ate with them either, but she did better than her sister.  

Callie

Now, comes the move - and the miracle.  

Just before the big move, Ozzy was experiencing a lot of stress. An influx of people seeing the house we were selling while Mom and Dad were not there led to physical problems resulting in surgery and an overnight stay in the hospital.  When we picked up Ozzy, the doctor gave us some 'Happy Cat*' to help him get over the pain of surgery. When we told him of the move, he suggested using a 'half-dose' of the 'Happy Cat*' on all the cats to keep them from getting too upset during the long 8 hour drive to our new home. Considering the stress of the move and the possible in-fighting during the drive, this seemed like a fair idea. The Vet checked each of their backgrounds and gave us the meds.

The day of the move, we planned very carefully.  We had purchased two medium cage-style kennels (see them at the top of the page) and set them sideways in our car with two cats in each kennel, Ozzy and Boo in one, and Gabby and Callie in the other. They just fit exactly in our little crossover SUV.  Each kennel would also have a small litter box with some litter from their own boxes to give them a scent to connect with. The cats were dosed with the meds and placed in the kennels and the drive began.  

Our worry was that the cats would hiss and fight with each other through the sides of the kennels as the kennels were not solid on the sides. These kennels were chosen due to it being a hot time of year and we wanted air conditioning to be able to get to all the cats. We had also planned that a cardboard barrier might be needed between the kennels if the fighting got too bad and had one ready - just in case.  We had planned for any eventuality.  

The drive went very well. Callie gave us a scare when she exhibited breathing problems (most likely due to a reaction to the meds) but we kept a close eye on her during the trip and she came through like a champ.  In all, there was no fighting and no need even for the barrier.  

We moved into the basement of our daughter's home while we put most of our stuff into storage and looked for a new house.  The cats would have full roam our small 4 room area.  There is a bedroom, a living area with a large sectional couch, a bathroom and a large storage room filled with all manner of toys, Christmas decorations and boxes of stuff.  Our main fear was that Gabby would hide out in this storage room and we'd never see her.  

We left the cats in their kennels while we moved in suitcases, boxes and other stuff and then let them out.  Now, comes the miracle.  The cats have stopped fighting.  It's as if they've been friends all along.  Oh there has been the occasional hissing and such, but nothing like we'd seen in the past.  They are all fed in the same room and for the most part there is no problems. Gabby walks around as if she is queen of the space and the boys pay her no mind. 

In moving, especially when moving with cats, there is a lot to worry about, as cats need that feeling of belonging to feel safe or to feel at home.  Our family of 4 came through with such a change, that it's truly a miracle. In fact, as I write this, my wife is in the basement taking a morning nap with all four cats asleep on the bed with her. 

Hopefully they will make the move to the new house just as easily.
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* Happy Cat is not a name of a medicine, but a nickname which the Vet's office used. Rest assured that it is a good medicine, and was prescribed by our Vet and given in small doses after very careful consideration. We are careful and thoughtful cat guardians and love our fur babies.