[~*Max*~]

My poor cats, including an emotionally disturbed kitty, a painfully shy one, and an easily frightened terminally ill one, are having a heckuva time with weekend respites. I called and ask that I only get older children for respites who hopefully have some self-control.

Please tell me that once I have MY placement, we can settle into following some ground rules that take the happiness of especially my poor sick kitty into account.

[AmyAnne]

I can't tell you that because there are no guarantees. In my case, it got worse before it got better.

[~*Max*~]

Originally Posted by AmyAnne

I can't tell you that because there are no guarantees. In my case, it got worse before it got better.

This is so hard. I love my little guy dearly and hate to see him so frightened by rambunctious children. The other kitties are not such a concern - they simply have to learn to adjust - but Cameron's heart is SO bad (he's been in heart failure though I think may be out now) that it's hard to justify stressing him out. The length of time he has left is so uncertain that I very much want for his days to be good and happy ones.

I really hoped getting a proper placement where certain rules could be consistently enforced would mostly solve the problem but maybe not.

[AmyAnne]

One of the things we institued was a "safe box". Our cats were not used to a 7 year old boy. We gave the cats a large cardboard box with a soft blanket. The rule is, if the cat gets in the box nobody is allowed to touch, talk to, interact with the cats or roughhouse in the vicnity of the box. When the cats got upset by kiddo's flurry of activity, Dh and I would pick them up and put them in the box. It didn't take long for the cats to make the connection, and GO to the box if they felt like they were being pestered....

[~*Max*~]

Amy, I think I am going to have a cat door put into my bedroom door, which I put a keyed lock on since I have cleaning stuff, medicine, and supplements in there. But still, my poor little guy...I guess there is no "best solution" here. :/

[ajrl]

You have to be careful. We turned down a placement last week because the girl likes to choke cats. We have gerbils they will bite if provoked but who wants to take that chance.

Also, my sil's foster kids have RAD and they too have tried to choke cats. They are easy to catch and makes for good prey. sorry for that.

AJ

[~*Max*~]

That is about my worst fostering nightmare AJ. NO ONE is allowed to lay an unkind finger on my cats. I mean, even if they have to stay locked in my bedroom while the kids are up and about, which would suck especially for Cameron but better than being terrorized. It's only been 1.5 months since his brother died, so I am very sensitive to his need for a peaceful and loving environment.

I wonder if I have to simply put off my plans for little ones till my sweet boy is gone.