First day of reconstruction work

[days_unfolding]

Well, today was the first day of reconstruction work on my condo. I'm not sure exactly what they worked on; they were unloading when I left.

I did get everything done yesterday, but got only 2.5 hours of sleep. The lack of sleep has made me slightly manic (plus I took an antidepressant as a mild stimulant). I need to keep this short and go to sleep soon.

The problem was putting Random in my bedroom. He doesn't mind exploring my bedroom while I'm around, but he tries to get out as soon as I try to leave. He did get out once, and I had to forcibly put him back in the room, leaving a very stressed and unhappy kitty. God only knows what will happen tomorrow.

My big mistake was not letting him get used to being in the room before I needed to close him up in it. I'm trying to spend as much time with him in the room as possible now, but now he's wary. I also removed his food in the kitchen so that the only place that he can go for food is in my bedroom. (I also gave him treats in the bedroom.) Tomorrow, I'll close him in the room right before I leave, so that I won't have to open the door multiple times. (The risk is that the construction guys might come in before I've shut Random away.)

Does anyone have any other thoughts about how I can handle Random? I'd really appreciate it.

Comments

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

That sounds about right to me. If he doesn't normally sleep in the bedroom, now would be a good time to get him started. If everything he needs is there, then a lot of the pressure is off. It just takes a little time for a cat to get reaccustomed.

I've gone away for a week or two and left the cat in the house, when it's used to being out on the deck all day. On the other hand, she was always mad at me for a few hours when I came back ;)

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

I'm a little leery of letting him sleep on my bed in case he pees on it, but on the other hand, he didn't today. (I don't want to sleep on top of the drop cloth!)

Yes, he was very mad at me -- for about 10 minutes -- when I came back. Hopefully he'll adjust. I don't want to chase him around the condo every day for a month.

[zhaneel.livejournal.com]

My advice regarding the construction workers would be to put a large note on the door saying "DO NOT OPEN". Make sure that all the workers know this, and it should be okay.

He'll get over it eventually, but he'll be ticked. He'll try to escape every time you go in or out..so it'll probably be easier to leave him there alone. He won't get as stressed with being without you also. It'll be more like you're on vacation. He'll be mopey, but its better than escaping.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

I already have a note on the door--thanks.

Because I'm putting him in my bedroom, I'll need to put him in there once per day (and let him out once per day in the evening). He'll have a chance to escape when I shut him in; I don't see a way around it. The only other room that I could put him in is a lot smaller and is very close to where they'll be working.

[zhaneel.livejournal.com]

Then it sounds like you're doing everything you can. :) Hopefully it will be over soon!

[sunshine-two.livejournal.com]

I'd go for the note on the door as well. Perhaps, indicate there's a cat inside as well. If you indicate 'do not open' only, it might incite curiosity ;)

It's gotta be stressful for Random. I remember when they re-carpeted the lobby in my apartment building. George 'the Lobby cat' threw up several times, and pooped a couple of times to show his displeasure. With the exception of that time, he NEVER has accidents in the building like that.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

The note says "Cat inside. Do not open." Covering all bases-;) I doubt he'll get out somehow when I'm gone (although I worry a little). My problem is with him deciding that if I'm going to leave, he's going to leave too.

Random is very stressed when he hears the construction workers. In some ways, boarding him might be less stressful (maybe), but I can't afford to board him for a whole month. I think the poor thing was too stressed to sleep while I was gone because he promptly crashed out when I got home.

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

At least he wasn't richoceting around the place driving you up the walls ;)