Rofl. This one has only existed for several years and given our low population density I'm amazed that they do exist. My previous location had about 4 but also had a population 6x in a quarter of the land mass.

@FrayedBear It sounds like you have chosen the best for your cat. I wish you a fast healing from your surgery and an easy return to mobility. Thank you for your reply.

@H2OLove Given the clutter I live with your latter desire will be helpful.

Thank you from both of us.

I've had one women offer but it is better all round for her to go into a cattery for a few days...that's if she is still alive when it happens - I don't know what the waiting period is yet.

@FrayedBear Yes I used a professional sitter when I was gone for a week once - years ago - but for a lengthy time I'd want a guarantee of someone being there and looking in.

@RavenCT The stress level is a two way street. I try to minimize hers by providing her with a worn sweatshirt to sleep on and hopefully I will be able to phone each day and hear how she is.

@FrayedBear Make sure you also wear that shirt - she'll appreciate the scent. I bet you know that.

@RavenCT Done it since the first time I kenneled her 15 years ago. I did similar with my daughter who I telephoned from the age of eighteen months to accustom her to the fact that she was not deserted and that we would be back together each Friday.

@FrayedBear Aw! Nice to hear.

No I have not been told of these delights. My leg is now only held together by the one ligament running down the inside. Both cruciates have gone leaving bone on bone and the outside is crushed and missing the ligament. I can however still stand balancing on the leg alone for more than a minute.

Here's one of the gadgets I was talking about.

They also discuss the gadget that keeps it iced at the end of the video.

@vita thanks very much for that. No one has mentioned this before. I will enquire if they are available here in Australia. Makes good sense.

The only one locally.

@FrayedBear awww, sorry. Hope your surgery goes as planned and that you and Puss are reunited happily.

@poetdi56 thanks. As mentioned above I hope to minimize our stress levels. Another two months of limited movement after fifteen years of it will test my patience I'm sure but I'm sort of looking forward to being able to lengthily walk again. I saw a chap yesterday who started walking about 18 months ago and if he had not waved I would not have recognised his slim new figure.