Can I be good mom and still work!?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Can I be good mom and still work!?
19
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 11:19am
Last Friday I adopted a cat from a foster mom. According to the foster mom he was very scared of strangers (which was evident when he met me, because he did not seemed pleased to see me.) Anyway, I adopted him because he looked like the kitty I grew up with and he was a big beautiful boy. After about 2 days in hiding he came out to cuddle on the couch and now he’s the most affectionate thing I’ve ever seen. The problem is that I feel terrible leaving him alone all day. I really don’t have room for another cat (and the foster mom had 6 cats and said that he really should be taken in to a one cat family.) I’m wondering what I can do to make sure he’s happy while I’m away?! Right now I leave the radio on when I go to work and give him a few minutes of cuddling before I leave. But he’s still all over me when I get home from work. (He won’t even eat until I’ve pet him for a few minutes). Part of me thinks that he just needs to get used to my routine since I’ve only had him for a week. Other parts of me worry that he needs someone who’s home more than I am. (Right now I’m terrified of what will happen when I go home for Thanksgiving—I’ll be away all day!)

He also just recently had a bout of FLUTD. While I will certainly keep him on the prescription food until the vet tells me not to, I’m also used to being able to leave out some dry food if I’m not back in time for his next feeding. I know I should talk to the vet about this possibility, but would also like to hear about anyone else’s experience with this.

He’s a very sweet cat, but all of this worrying prevents me from enjoying him as much as I could. I just want to make sure that I can be the best mommy he needs.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 1:13pm

Hello there and welcome!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 2:22pm
Hi! He'll get used to your routine. Believe me, practically all they do when you're gone is sleep. A guy on this board has a video cam on his cats all day while he's gone, & I used to go check on it a lot. It always looked as if the frame hadn't changed. LOL. They'd be in the same position for hours. Mine seem to know my routine. Moxie knows the sound of my car, & will be sitting on the windowsill watching for me when I get home from work. They're both stretching as I walk in the door, having obviously just waken up. LOL.

Did the foster mom say why he should not be w/other cats? Was he afraid of them?

Katz

 

 Katz

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 2:23pm

Hello there! I think that Kat is right. When I had cats I would be away at college all day. They coped fine, I just made sure there were plenty of things to occupy their minds while I was gone. Turn on the radio, plenty of new toys, especially dangly ones! I too would be nearly mauled when I got home cause my boy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-07-2004
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 2:58pm
you know I use to feel the same way and on Mondays I feel guilter than any other day being home all weekend and Angel mopes around Monday mornings,but a good friend of mine made sense one day when I voiced this concern to her.. they get use to your routine.. that made me feel better. leaving the radio is a good idea if that makes you comfortable.. I have 2 cats so they keep each other company altho. Alixx must hit on her at times I am sure. as long as he has enough food and loving when you are home, he will be just fine. what is his name?

Ann


"The best thing you can save for your future is your soul"

 

Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 5:09pm
Thanks guys for all the comforting (I probably need it more than the cat does!) I've grown up around cats, I know they tend to sleep a lot. And my mom reminded me of that yesterday. I do have some toys strung up around the apartment in case he gets bored, but my guess is that he sleeps most of the time. But it is that look he gives me by the door as I'm leaving as if to say "Why are you leaving me?"

The foster mom didn't really go into detail about why he wasn't good around other cats. But I only live in a studio, so another cat might be a bit much for the space unless he was particularly tiny!

I do try to play with him for at least 20 or so minutes to get all the friskies out of him. (Plus, he probably could use the excersize!) and then we usually cuddle-up on the couch for the rest of the night.

His name when I got him was Bruce which my whole family has embraced. But I'm still on the fence about it. I'm thinking of naming him something more regal like Bruce Von Katzenberg or some such thing, just so I have some choices. Lately I've been calling him either Pudd or Sweets depending on his mood.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 5:30pm

I love that name!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2010
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 6:54pm
Ha! I do the same thing. I say goodbye & I tell them whether I'll be home at the regular time, or whether I'll be running errands & will be late. LOL.
Katz

 

 Katz

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 6:56pm

LMBO!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 7:15pm

Ok you want to hear something a little crazy? I leave the TV on for my bunnies! : ) They absolutely adore cartoon network and FoodTV. : ) They will sit there and stare at me indignantly if it isn't on. They're really good at guilt! They may not meow but they have their "looks" and they thump when they're pissed. LOL!


As for my cats, I would get so much guilt as well when I knew so much better that the one would just sleep on a shelf I had hanging on the windowsill, it was

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 7:26pm
I think he will be just fine,he has a great home and lots of love! Can he see out the window? That really keeps them entertained!


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