It's the Journey

I wonder if all parents feel like this at one time or another.

Last fall, we finalized the purchase of a new energy efficient furnace that was to be installed over the course of two days.

As much as I was excited by the approaching date to have this work completed, I was also getting increasingly concerned as the logistics for this project played out in my mind.

My mind ruminated, visualizing the hauling in the new equipment, hauling out the old, and the fact that the pet gate used to prevent Ivy the Wonder Cat from bolting out the door would have to be removed.

Also, given that the basement is not finished and not really pet proof, we prefer she not have access to the lower level. That being the case, with the contractors coming and going, that door would likely remain open throughout the two days.

Even though I could certainly keep Miss Ivy in my studio office with all of the comforts she would need, I knew well enough that my extroverted cat would make her presence audibly known when her naps would be over, demanding her regularly scheduled attention and health walks.
The more that these scenarios played out in my head, the more it made me anxious.

For a cat who is very smart, not to mention an occasional flight risk (who has been since the beginning of time) I just couldn’t bear the thought of having to spend the whole day on pins and needles worrying about her potential Houdini routine.

The only answer was to send her somewhere safer, out of our normally well-controlled environment.

There was no doubt in my mind that at her pet hotel, she would be in good hands and well taken care of. Plus, she would have in-person concierge service at her beck and call, more than what I would be able to offer given the logistical constraints resulting from the big project ahead.

When I called the cat hotel, I expressed my regret in waiting as late as I did to make a booking, but I was reassured that these types of situations happen, and to not worry about it.

I already felt better.

Plus, Miss Ivy was already a little discombobulated from the return to standard time. She was also subjected to a professional duct cleaning that involved her getting shuffled from room to room throughout the procedure. And this was on top of her butler’s 24 hour absence, our first night out of town since the pandemic to attend a concert.

The morning I dropped her off I knew I was doing the right thing yet, of course, it tugged at my heart strings to say goodbye to her.

What was different was that it wasn’t like we were leaving on vacation or anything. We would be home the whole time. It’s just that circumstances would have been challenging for my sensitive cat, with unfamiliar noise, new scents, and drastic changes to her routine.

Granted, her routine would also be different at the hotel, but at least she would be safe the whole time, resulting in her Dad being more relaxed back home too.

Once I returned to the house, I could resume the preparatory work needed without worrying about Ivy following me around wondering what was going on.

What I found interesting was that even in her absence, I swore I could still hear the little bell around her neck. For example, when I was sweeping the basement and a wayward staple was dragging along under the broom, it sounded just like her. I missed her dearly already.

As the afternoon progressed and the preparations for the next day were completed, I reassured myself again that I had done the right thing. The guilt was starting to lift.

The first morning of the project, with the contractors arriving bright and early, I felt most relieved as that would have occurred between her breakfast and first leash walk of the day.

Similarly, throughout the day with equipment being hauled in and out, and doors swinging open and shut, I recognized how much worry I averted. The guilt was gone.

When the project was over and it was time to collect Miss Ivy, everything was right with the universe.

Ivy was returning to a home that was calm, not in turmoil, and Daddy wasn’t feeling stressed anymore.

Plus, with the changes in routine that she did have to endure before the project, we could now work together to get back onto a predictable routine that worked for the entire family.

In looking back, I concluded that I shouldn’t have viewed my decision to send her to a cat hotel as a failure on my part as a pet parent.

I now felt it should have been viewed as a success in being able to read her and to know that her attempts at seeking attention more frequently, was likely a sign that she was feeling the stress of the multiple changes already underway. Her reaching out to me more frequently was a sign she needed stability and reassurance.

Even though sending her away may not have helped that in the short term, it kept her safe and secure during the project and now offers us quality bonding time in a calm and stress-free environment.

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André