As I mentioned last time, the three of us packed up (with my sister Lorraine’s help) and moved to Massachusetts back in March. It turned out to be a bit of a traumatic move. We put the cats in the bathroom when the movers were there, but that wasn’t enough to block out the sound of the tape that the movers used. Hours and tens of rolls of tape later, Ryan was completely stressed out. Took a lot of effort to get him into the cat carrier. The drive home didn’t help. By the time we got most of my stuff in the storage unit and the rest in the house, he was a very unhappy cat. Hissing and snarling at everyone. So we put a litter box in my bedroom along with some food and a blanket from the old place. Reilly and I slept in the other room for three nights before he was back to his old self.

They’ve both adapted quite well to living in a house rather than an apartment. They got to experience stairs for the first time. They love stairs, and the fact that there are closed rooms at the top that they might be able to sneak into only increases the joy. Whenever anyone goes upstairs, they follow behind just in case.

We’ve had to institute a few new rules in the house. No more leaving chairs pulled out at the kitchen table. If you forget that rule, Ryan and Reilly will definitely be on top of the table exploring – and potentially stealing pens, eyeglasses, etc. We also have to be more careful with the doors to outside and the basement. I’m more worried about them getting out than getting downstairs, but there are lots of ways for them to get in trouble in the basement so they haven’t been allowed down there.

They’ve taken over the living room and spend their nights out there with my Dad. Ryan loves Dad’s leather chair and Dad often doesn’t have the heart to shoo him off (he’s a real softie). I get them first thing in the morning – in large part due to the fact that they want to be fed.

Otherwise their days are spent looking at the birds, squirrels, and kids out front. They are quite content.

The Neighborhood Watch

Happy Cats