A Cat Moved In, Sort Of

Well the cat moved into the neighborhood some months ago. We have all adopted him. We are the primary feeders. Cat sleeps outside so far, or at the next door neighbors when they are in residence, but will soon have a winter home in our shop with custom door and heated cat bed. Let it be said that I am NOT an animal person, however, the cat has made space in my heart.
He can't come in the main house, though he knows when there is a new set of guests and he'll sometimes try it. He is quickly put out again. (within seconds) He's trying it less as time goes on.
Most guests just love this guy. He has been featured in two reviews and one couple said they picked us because they read about him! He's very tolerant of children and he recently spent the night in our vac rental because the couple wanted his company.
I thought the presence of an animal would be a put-off to most, it certainly is to me, but it seems NOT to many.
Your experiences?

Folks loved our cats and they even shed tears and hugs with me when I had to put them to sleep

Guests loved our dog and would ask for her to come out and play. As she got older and less steady on her feet I had to turn down those requests. When we had to put her down we got a lovely sympathy card from a 9 year old boy.
We have a stray cat that we do not feed or encourage but she comes when called. She hasn't tried getting in the house even in the winter. I see her little cat prints in the snow scouting the perimeter of the basement.

We also took dogs for several years in only one room. Yes, guests refused to take that room and went elsewhere, but the ones who didn't care far outweighed the ones who did. Others just asked that the dog not come around when they were in the house. Not a problem.
However, I do have a friend who knew how well we took care of everything but she said she would NEVER, EVER stay in a place that allowed animals.
BTW, the biggest complaint came from a long time repeat guest of the PO's who got mad at us for 'starting' to allow pets. Nope. The PO's allowed dogs in that same room for years. Probably better off without that grumpy gus.

Morticia said:

We also took dogs for several years in only one room. Yes, guests refused to take that room and went elsewhere, but the ones who didn't care far outweighed the ones who did. Others just asked that the dog not come around when they were in the house. Not a problem.
However, I do have a friend who knew how well we took care of everything but she said she would NEVER, EVER stay in a place that allowed animals.
BTW, the biggest complaint came from a long time repeat guest of the PO's who got mad at us for 'starting' to allow pets. Nope. The PO's allowed dogs in that same room for years. Probably better off without that grumpy gus..

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One room was the idea I had in mind. There is definitely a market. But it would not be allowed to roam the house. Not sure how to do that yet.

Morticia said:

We also took dogs for several years in only one room. Yes, guests refused to take that room and went elsewhere, but the ones who didn't care far outweighed the ones who did. Others just asked that the dog not come around when they were in the house. Not a problem.
However, I do have a friend who knew how well we took care of everything but she said she would NEVER, EVER stay in a place that allowed animals.
BTW, the biggest complaint came from a long time repeat guest of the PO's who got mad at us for 'starting' to allow pets. Nope. The PO's allowed dogs in that same room for years. Probably better off without that grumpy gus..

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I appreciate when the presence of an animal is made clear on a website. If the animal is only in owner's quarters, no problem for me. So far I haven't said anything on the site about the cat on the property. For those with severe allergies, it might be a problem? I think I'm pretty clear that animals are allowed in the vacation rental adjoining the B&B.
I'm just so surprised at His Furriness's popularity!

Anon, your cat (yes it is yours ) sounds so much like the reincarnation of our out door cat that passed away a couple years ago. DH was not a cat fan but that little one made DH love him. It made me smile reading your post and reliving memories.

We had repeat guests that would email us asking if the cat was still around. And as you say, he was a topic in a post or 2. Sure you may 'scare' off a guest or two who can not be around animals but as many say, no matter how much you try your place will draw from a certain set of individuals. They may as well be cat lovers.

Copperhead said:

Anon, your cat (yes it is yours

) sounds so much like the reincarnation of our out door cat that passed away a couple years ago. DH was not a cat fan but that little one made DH love him. It made me smile reading your post and reliving memories.

We had repeat guests that would email us asking if the cat was still around. And as you say, he was a topic in a post or 2. Sure you may 'scare' off a guest or two who can not be around animals but as many say, no matter how much you try your place will draw from a certain set of individuals. They may as well be cat lovers.

.

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Good point! Now if he would only scare off the deer. Three of them this evening - after the fallen apples. The trio doesn't seem to have discovered the roses - yet.
His Furriness does catch voles, and thinks grasshoppers are the best cat toys ever.

EmptyNest said:

Folks loved our cats and they even shed tears and hugs with me when I had to put them to sleep.

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Anon Inn said:

Copperhead said:

Anon, your cat (yes it is yours

) sounds so much like the reincarnation of our out door cat that passed away a couple years ago. DH was not a cat fan but that little one made DH love him. It made me smile reading your post and reliving memories.

We had repeat guests that would email us asking if the cat was still around. And as you say, he was a topic in a post or 2. Sure you may 'scare' off a guest or two who can not be around animals but as many say, no matter how much you try your place will draw from a certain set of individuals. They may as well be cat lovers.

.

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Good point! Now if he would only scare off the deer. Three of them this evening - after the fallen apples. The trio doesn't seem to have discovered the roses - yet.
His Furriness does catch voles, and thinks grasshoppers are the best cat toys ever.
.

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But be aware that cats love to bring their living-toys inside to bat them around and play with them. Over the years ours would proudly bring the "cellar" mouse up to our bedroom to display proof of his talent.

Always liked cats and had them as pets earlier in life, but health and allergies prevent having indoor pets or accepting them as guests, but recently we seem to have a morning visitor that enjoys our back porch, safety from neighborhood dogs or maybe the nearness to the bird feeders.
She belongs to a family down the way, they thought she was lost and took her home at least once, but many mornings she returns for a friendly word and the hope that I'll share some leftovers with her.

Silverspoon said:

Anon Inn said:

Copperhead said:

Anon, your cat (yes it is yours

) sounds so much like the reincarnation of our out door cat that passed away a couple years ago. DH was not a cat fan but that little one made DH love him. It made me smile reading your post and reliving memories.

We had repeat guests that would email us asking if the cat was still around. And as you say, he was a topic in a post or 2. Sure you may 'scare' off a guest or two who can not be around animals but as many say, no matter how much you try your place will draw from a certain set of individuals. They may as well be cat lovers.

.

Click to expand...

Good point! Now if he would only scare off the deer. Three of them this evening - after the fallen apples. The trio doesn't seem to have discovered the roses - yet.
His Furriness does catch voles, and thinks grasshoppers are the best cat toys ever.
.

Click to expand...

But be aware that cats love to bring their living-toys inside to bat them around and play with them. Over the years ours would proudly bring the "cellar" mouse up to our bedroom to display proof of his talent.

.

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Oh my. Another reason for in-house ban. Hopefully he won't bring any 'presents' to apartment guests.

Our guests try to make friends with the cats. I expected more people to shy away, but my experience is that people love animals and are happy to see them.
I could see our older cat becoming a mascot type. Like the old library cats that sit in the book store and watch the people go by. She is so calm and she loves the inn. (As of now, we don't let her in, but she sneaks in when she can.)

Silverspoon said:

Anon Inn said:

Copperhead said:

Anon, your cat (yes it is yours

) sounds so much like the reincarnation of our out door cat that passed away a couple years ago. DH was not a cat fan but that little one made DH love him. It made me smile reading your post and reliving memories.

We had repeat guests that would email us asking if the cat was still around. And as you say, he was a topic in a post or 2. Sure you may 'scare' off a guest or two who can not be around animals but as many say, no matter how much you try your place will draw from a certain set of individuals. They may as well be cat lovers.

.

Click to expand...

Good point! Now if he would only scare off the deer. Three of them this evening - after the fallen apples. The trio doesn't seem to have discovered the roses - yet.
His Furriness does catch voles, and thinks grasshoppers are the best cat toys ever.
.

Click to expand...

But be aware that cats love to bring their living-toys inside to bat them around and play with them. Over the years ours would proudly bring the "cellar" mouse up to our bedroom to display proof of his talent.

.

Click to expand...

After years of asking, we gave in to youngest son's request for Garfield (that he named Sidney). Someone at work gave me an orange kitten. AFTER he was old enough to de-claw and de-ball, we discovered he was more feral than domestic when he got out and did not come back in (caught him and in he came because we were worried about survival). The next to last time he got out, he came back on his own with a "toy" that I heard cheeping in son's room. It was a MAMA bird! Stopped worrying about him after that. He left again and never came back in. We looked for him for months.

Our two stay behind a see-through gate in our half of the house. Our little man is very vocal and calls out his hello when he hears a new voice. At that point, 99% want to see him, pet him, cuddle him or take him up to their room! I just say that I have some guests with allergies. That, plus my bedding is all white and white bedding with a black cat do not mix.
You'd be surprised how many guests won't go until until I bring my Cole out so that they can say goodbye to him. I'd never consider to let him roam the guests' area but I've never gotten a negative vibe from anyone.

[h4]
"I thought the presence of an animal would be a put-off to most, it certainly is to me, but it seems NOT to many."[/h4]
Really? How odd.
[h4]
"I appreciate when the presence of an animal is made clear on a website. If the animal is only in owner's quarters, no problem for me. So far I haven't said anything on the site about the cat on the property. For those with severe allergies, it might be a problem? I think I'm pretty clear that animals are allowed in the vacation rental adjoining the B&B.[/h4]
[h4]
I'm just so surprised at His Furriness's popularity!"[/h4]
The animal - this is painful to read. I am glad you are seeing the love that -the animal- can bring to so many, more love than most persons could ever fester up on a good day.

We have 2 hypo-allergenic Shih Tzus, who until this year were allowed to greet the guests, but the 6 year-old got too over-enthusiastic with his kisses. (The nearly deaf and blind loveable 16 year-old turned his Assistant Innkeeper duties over to the youngster years ago and rarely moves from his comfy spot in the office.) Also, we gave up training the guests to NOT let Mr. P into their rooms... he became confused as to who and what was pet-friendly, so he has spent this season keeping Mr. K company in the office much to many of our prior guests' dismay, and those who'd read about them in prior posts and reviews.

And today, both cats played Escape Artist and flipped open the gate because DH forgot to latch it. ( My little Cole listens for the latch to lock and if he doesn't hear the locking sound, knows he can open it!)
All my guests were either lounging in our common room or eating in the dining room and wanted the cats to stay in the guest area! I apologized for the show and explained they weren't supposed to be there. So they were all satisfied to scratch just scratch their little chins and pet their heads. My two are so sociable it's hard to not let them roam but I would be able to keep up with all the cleaning involved.

Halfmoonbay said:

[h4]
"I thought the presence of an animal would be a put-off to most, it certainly is to me, but it seems NOT to many."[/h4]
Really? How odd.
[h4]
"I appreciate when the presence of an animal is made clear on a website. If the animal is only in owner's quarters, no problem for me. So far I haven't said anything on the site about the cat on the property. For those with severe allergies, it might be a problem? I think I'm pretty clear that animals are allowed in the vacation rental adjoining the B&B.[/h4]
[h4]
I'm just so surprised at His Furriness's popularity!"[/h4]
The animal - this is painful to read. I am glad you are seeing the love that -the animal- can bring to so many, more love than most persons could ever fester up on a good day..

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Half Moon: there are many who object to animals living in human spaces. When I was very young I once knew someone who was a dog owner and to put it mildly, not good in the housekeeping department. To this day I get the shivers thinking about the dog hair.....everywhere....I mean everywhere. No doubt this is where my aversion comes from.
My use of the term 'animal' is meant to include the amazing variety of pets human share their homes with.
Make no mistake, His Furriness is rich in companionship, strokes, laps and comestibles. I apologize to you if my words indicated otherwise.

2cat_lady said:

And today, both cats played Escape Artist and flipped open the gate because DH forgot to latch it. ( My little Cole listens for the latch to lock and if he doesn't hear the locking sound, knows he can open it!)
All my guests were either lounging in our common room or eating in the dining room and wanted the cats to stay in the guest area! I apologized for the show and explained they weren't supposed to be there. So they were all satisfied to scratch just scratch their little chins and pet their heads. My two are so sociable it's hard to not let them roam but I would be able to keep up with all the cleaning involved..

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

And today, both cats played Escape Artist and flipped open the gate because DH forgot to latch it. ( My little Cole listens for the latch to lock and if he doesn't hear the locking sound, knows he can open it!)
All my guests were either lounging in our common room or eating in the dining room and wanted the cats to stay in the guest area! I apologized for the show and explained they weren't supposed to be there. So they were all satisfied to scratch just scratch their little chins and pet their heads. My two are so sociable it's hard to not let them roam but I would be able to keep up with all the cleaning involved.

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Happy to hear you keep them separate. I cannot tell you how many places we have stayed with little to no mention of 'wildlife' that is allowed to roam freely. One place had birds in the dining room. IN THE DINING ROOM. Flying free. Pooping freely. Another had dogs that jumped on the sofa to bark (in my ear) out the window. Another place had a dog begging for scraps at the table.
Every one of those innkeepers expressed it this way - my pets, my home, deal with it. We did. We never went back even tho one of the places was near where my daughter lived for several years. Another one is one of the only places open in the winter. Sorry. I'm going to pay $100 more/night next month to stay somewhere with no pets roaming free.
Asking to visit with the inn pets is fine. Being expected to have breakfast with them or share the couch with them is so many kinds of wrong.