Res Ipsa Loquitur

I think I'd get the new one before moving. Like you said, she'd have the new territory to split right off-the-bat.

Actually, she'll handle it better if you get the new kitty at the same time as the move to the new house. If they're both on the same footing territory-wise, she'll definitely be easier to deal with.

But then it sounds like she's going to be a grouch no matter what, so maybe it doesn't matter.

I would wait. That way you can see how the move affects your current cat AND the dogs. If the move is really stressful for one or more of them, you can hold off on adding more stress (a new cat) until things have calmed down a bit. That's not an option if you have already brought a new cat in.

Thanks guys! You were exactly the 3 people I had in mind for advice when I was writing this.

Bogie, that's a great point, I hadn't even thought about the dogs. They've never lived anywhere else since we got them. Plus the new house has an upstairs & a basement, and they've never even seen a house with stairs. I think they'll adapt more quickly than the cat though. They're pretty happy anywhere as long as we're there, and they handle being boarded ok when we're out of town.

You may be right, it might be better to wait. But I can't keep from thinking that she would adjust to the new kitty better if we did that first. Then when we moved & it came with us, she might get the hint that it was part of the family too.

You know what she's like about that, Bob. Hell it's taken her 4 yrs. to accept that our grandson belongs here. lol She even let him pet her a little the other day without hissing at him....which was a major step for her believe me.

I just want to make it as easy for her as possible. Don't want to lose the grouchy old thing in the move. I've gotten too attached to her.

Should be fun watching the dogs with stairs. Missy had never seen more than one stair when we got her and she was befuddled as to what to do with a whole flight of them. We made her practice by throwing her toys down them - didn't take her long to become a pro.

I know, I may have to have the video cam on hand for the first time they see it. They handle the porch steps ok, but there's only 4 or 5 of them. An entire flight may be a different story. The toys are a good idea, I'll have to try that if they balk. Though Mike says if I go up them, Sollie will too eventually because he doesn't get too far from my ankles...ever.

But I think Sassy at least will like it once she gets used to it. The upstairs windows are low enough that she can easily see most of the neighborhood, which she'll love. I'll just have to make sure they're Akita-proof, or she'll have Sollie & the cat out on the roof partying.

;-)