Reno
The In Kraut
I've decided to move back to Germany after 34 years in London. I've been considering leaving the UK for a couple of years. One of the main reasons why I've put it off is because I truly love my cat Alfie and I'd find it very hard to part from him. But now I've made up my mind to move to Berlin. My flat is going up for sale this week and because of the type of property it is and and because of the location, it's expected to sell pretty fast despite the post-Brexit jitters. I've always thought of taking him with me, but the more I think of it, the more I wonder whether it would be best for him to find a new home here in the UK. The three main reasons are:1. After I've sold my flat I'll be transient or in temporary accommodation for weeks or months till I've found a permanent home in Berlin. Even if I decide to take my cat, I'll have to find a foster home for Alfie while I'm in-between homes.
2. Alfie is an outdoors cat and has been all his life and I'm unlikely to find a flat with outdoor access in Berlin, where everybody lives in apartment blocks. I've been trying to get him used to staying indoors but so far he hasn't been very cooperative, meouwing his head off and trying to wrench the locked cat flap off its hinges.
3. I work in animation and unlike in London, there isn't that much animation work in Berlin. I would probably have to travel for work every so often, living in different cities for weeks at a time. I don't actually know anybody in Berlin who could look after him.
Advise me what to do, it really would break my heart to give him up.
He's a gorgeous and absolutely wonderful cat both in looks and personality. He's five years old, affectionate and purry. He's never peed or pooped anywhere he shouldn't, always uses his scratch post rather than furniture and he isn't one of these cats who suddenly turn on you and scratch and bite, he truly is the most gentle of cats. He's snipped, chipped and up to date with his vaccinations. The only thing is that it takes him a while to warm to new people and situations and that it would probably take him a while to settle into a new home. When I've had him stay with friends while on holiday, he hid for most of the time.
I've started enquiring among friends, but of course the ones who love cats and can have one, already have one and it isn't a great idea to force cats to live together when they've had a home to themselves all their lives. My best friend has said that if everything fails, she'd take him. She has a cat but lives in a house large enough that they could stay out of each other's way.
If I were to give him away I'd be looking for a home where he could go out without a busy road nearby and where he'd be the only cat. I'm not quite there yet, but once the flat sells, things have to move fast and I will have to make a decision.
Just writing this is making me weepy.
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We needed to bring our bikes and mattress over with us as well as some other things and it was a cheaper option than shipping stuff and then having to both fly over in addition. I was a bit worried about taking her on a long drive like that but after two lots of valium and she was ok.
) Reno. 
