tinkergirl

Hi To the OP - would you consider ex-battery hens? Fresh Start for Hens are great if you wouldn't mind going down that route. Best of luck whatever you choose! To Chez2 - have you had first hand experience of an Eglu being successfully broken into by a fox/rats? I ask because I have one and I'm feeling a bit worried now! My neighbour has seen a fox circling my set up (I have an Eglu Classic with a 2m x 2m walk-in run) but no successful attacks as yet! Thanks

Please ask your friend to consider rehoming ex-battery hens. They might not be the prettiest but they do tend to be very friendly. We had ours from Fresh Start for Hens. They have settled in well and have consistently laid every day since we got them in April. We were new to chicken keeping and found the support and advice from the people at Fresh Start to be invaluable. Good luck!

Hi My husband and I are looking to adopt a dog into our family. We already have 2 rescue cats and a couple of ex-battery hens. We often walk the dogs at Mill Houses Sanctuary and have decided it is time for a new addition to our home. I have been searching I Need A Home and have contacted many of the rescues but haven't been able to find our perfect match. The essential requirements are:- 1. Proven track record with cats/dogs/children 2. Can be left for up to 4 hours (no puppies!) 3. Has basic training, is loving and fairly laid back We are not fussy about breed (but perhaps prefer non-terrier types because of the cats), size, sex or age. We thought we had found "the one" today (a 4 year old labradoodle being rehomed due to family allergies) but she got snapped up by someone else. I am currently enrolled on an APDT Dog Training Course and have learned some basic positive reinforcement training skills which I can't wait to put into practise! We hope there is a dog out there for us! Please PM me if you know of any that might be suitable. Many thanks

YEY!!! Fantastic news :-)

Thanks vwkittie I guess our thinking was that a bouncy pup might just be too much for our cats to handle whereas a calm, older dog might be less stressful for them. I take your point though on the risks. Hopefully this old lady will get to go home with Peaches on Monday!

Yes it's 07817 497995 You also need her ref. number which is 8674 Good luck!

Hi Peaches You contact the pound - their number is on the link in the OP's post. I've just phoned them to discuss my cat issue but they weren't able to offer any reassurances because she was a stray so they just don't know. Please let us know if you do adopt her :-)

I know what you mean - when I was a child, we had a cat and a rhodesian ridgeback - the cat was definitely the boss!! It's just that our two cats are rescued ferals and are generally very skittish (around humans), they're fine with other cats but I've never introduced them to dogs so I don't know how they'd fare.....

Awww, this has really pulled at my heart strings..... My husband and I have been considering adopting a dog for some time now and are not put off by an older dog in the slightest. My only worry would be for our two cats. I'm guessing the pound don't do any tests to see if dogs are ok with cats?? Does anyone have any suggestions about what we could do? What if we adopted a dog (Candy for instance!!) got her home and she went for our cats? It just seems too big a risk I guess. Any thoughts from those experienced in these things would be helpful :-) Thanks x

Thanks so much everyone for your very sensible and sound advice. Just a quick update - we have managed to get the cats into a cattery, one that i have visited and am very happy with. They will be going there on Thursday evening, sharing a pen (they love each other and I'm pretty sure will be happier together) and we can pick them back up Friday evening after the chaos of the move is over. I've bought a Feliway diffuser and will be getting some new and exciting toys for them to play with during the 6 weeks they'll be in. I'm feeling much better about it all mainly due to you fantastic forummers! Magsie - 8 ferals! you're very brave! they are great though aren't they??!

Thanks so much for all your help and advice. Thanks MaryJane for your reassurance! I'm sure it'll be ok in the end. I think I may have to stick with the original plan - all the catteries that I know and trust are already full! that time of year I guess. Thanks again everyone x

Thanks for the advice Spats. We hadn't thought of a cattery because they've never been in one before. Thinking it might be a good idea though - at least they'll be safe and out of the way and it'll be one less thing to worry about! I would love to get collars on them! have tried many times and lost many collars! Will give it another go at the new house though and see how we get on. Thanks again! Tinkergirl

Hi I am moving house in a couple of weeks and I'm worried about my cats, both on the day of the move and also in the immediate aftermath. They were rescued as feral kittens and, now 4 years old, are still very nervous of humans. They are ok with me and my fiance and will even sit on our laps occasionally, but they scarper at loud noises, activity and new people. I am worried about what to do with them on the day of the move. Obviously they will need to be kept in the night before (which will upset them in itself as they are used to roaming) and then I was thinking I would try to get them to the new place as soon as possible on the day and set them up in one of the bathrooms with their litter tray, food, water, beds etc. Then keep that door shut whilst the move is going on so as not to disturb them too much. I think I will need to keep them in for 6 weeks afterwards - is this right and is there any way of shortening this time? The male cat in particular loves to go out and I know this will drive him crazy!! (they are both neutered by the way - just in case anyone is wondering). I know I'll also need to get their microchip details altered and inform the vet. Is there anything else I need to do or any advice anyone can give me to make this as smooth a transition as possible for my much loved moggies?? Many thanks Tinkergirl

Hi fabcakes As someone who is getting married next year and who also loves animals, I'd be very interested in this and would certainly buy a few strips. Might be worth gauging interest from others in my situation by posting on the wedding interest group forum?

Just a quick update... tried the matt splitter but this matt was too much for it (and me!), so poor boy took a trip to the vets last night and got the matt and the rest of his mane clipped off. He was really good and just sat there and let the vet get on with it. All over in a few seconds! Hopefully he'll be much more comfortable now, if not a little funny looking! :-) Thanks for your help!