I've had so many cats over the years I've lost count. All have been indoor/outdoor but live "in" in the winter. We have found leather furniture to be best for upkeep with animals in general be they cats, dogs, birds or children... Never really had an issue with furniture clawing. Years ago I found my oldest cat had developed a 'love' for an old wooden box, 24X18X18(antique ammunition box I kept magazines in) This became the scratching post. If this wasn't handy sometimes she would use the decorative logs in the fireplace. So I've kept it handy. If the cats scratch they go there. Original kitties passed away, current two have not developed the scratch thing yet. Cats scratch to mark their territory. Scent in their paws. I've hissed at cats all my life, everyone in my family does. Keeps em honest...

We're getting ready to leave for a late dinner out but wanted to add to what tinan said about NOT letting your cats loose in the car..........EVER! Definitely contain them in travel cages/carriers, with halters on. If you need to get into their cage/cages while you're on the road, make sure all your doors and windows are rolled up. Us with cats all know how fast they can be. As my husband is always saying, better safe than sorry. As far as your one dog, look into Thunder Shirts. They can be a little bit pricey but oh-so well worth the price. Pet Smart carries them. We have a friend who used one for his large dog and it was like night and day when he was moving from CA to Texas. His wife had their cats in their SUV (he was in their truck), all in large wire cages (with locks on the doors) and altho they stayed in pet friendly hotels, they never let the cats out in the rooms. They were large enough that they could put small litter boxes in the cages (when they stopped) and food and water bowls. If I remember correctly, they opened from the top and not an end or side. When we moved from Northern California to Arizona (with 2 cats and a very large German Shepherd) a little over a year and a half ago, we used one on one of our cats. He absolutely detests being both in his carrier and in a car and altho for the first hour of travel he vocally let us know/hear his displeasure. But other than being vocal, he was calm and safe. Our other cat slept most of the 12 hour trip. We also had their favorite toys in the carriers with them. And don't overfeed or over water them if you're traveling with them. Barfing dogs and cats aren't pleasant when you're traveling. And try to make sure that the area where they're going to be is cool. Another thought, and I don't know if this is possible in your case, is do you have any friends or family who would make the long drive with you in a separate vehicle? Maybe they could take either the dogs or cats? Is your new home already going to be set up when you arrive with the critters? If so, don't open the cat carriers until you're in the house with the doors shut. We had already been here and met the movers so our house was ready for the fur faces, as far as their needs were concerned. We already had a cat box set up when we let them out and food and water came immediately after. Our brat cat immediately went to his safe place, which is under our bed. I sure do wish you well with traveling with your critters. I'm sure there will be times that you'll think that it's a PITA but you all will survive. Just think of the stories you can tell your friends and family of the time you traveled across country with them. I'm also very glad to have read that you're taking them all with you. It just makes me sick to my stomach when I read ads in the paper or on Craig's List that say something like "Dog/cat free....am moving and can't/won't take them with me/us". Please let us know what you decide and how it turns out. Jenna

Definitely leave kitty at home. if at all possible. If not, start visiting kennels where you can leave her for the time you are gone. You said your kitty doesn't like car rides... I have known cats that do travel well, but they have always been ones that are fond of being in the car. If yours is not, she will be miserable on the car ride down, and probably downright terrified of a plane trip. (That's assuming you would be allowed to have her as a carry-on-- she would probably need to travel in an approved container in the cargo hold. Think about other passengers with allergies, a potentially terrified and yowling cat smelling up the plane with litter odors... I can almost promise that your kitty would not be allowed as a carry-on.) Staying at home would be the best option, but if you can't find a pet sitter or reliable neighbor to check on her regularly, then at least at a kennel, she will have a stable environment for the time that you're gone. The down side of a kennel, though, is risk of infection... We kenneled our two cats a few years ago, at a place that came with multiple references, was very clean, required all vaccination certificates, etc. When we brought our cats home, one was fine, but the other came down with a raging respiratory infection a few days later. (She's fine now, but it required a vet trip and some antibiotics to clear up.) If she goes down with you, there's WAY too much of a risk that she will freak out and escape, as a previous poster mentioned. Please please PLEASE leave kitty at home!!!

Salti, I think it's great that you had an experience with an agency that you felt did not get their responsibilities confused. I can also see why it might be more reasonable for the process to take as long as it did with the breed and situation you chose to adopt under, but not everyone is having a similar experience. Granted fosters have lives and scheduling can be an issue, but part of the responsibility of fostering is making the animals you're fostering available. This was actually said to me a few years back when I thanked a foster for her quick response while we were looking to adopt. As with the OP, if a potential family goes through the process of filling out paperwork, a home inspection and a LONG wait period because they want to bring a dog into their home, I'm more inclined to believe that they are probably a positive placement for a dog and the problem is the agency. Granted, placement is not black and white; finding the right forever home does have a lot of grey areas to consider like the animals history, breed compatibility, family dynamics and yes, environmental situations too but it should be a joint effort to figure that out, not the fosters alone. The OP says they only got to see one dog and never got a chance to see if other dogs would be a better fit for them. If you do the research and read some of the articles on this subject, you'll see there is a negative trend in the adoption world. Too many dogs go unadopted and left in less desirable situations because the "agency" trying to adopt them out is over zealous in their placement requirements. Look at how many people posting here have said they were rejected for one reason or another and subsequently had to find a dog elsewhere. All the dogs that they eventually paired up with are absolutely loved and have thrived in good homes. If a family really wants a dog they will get one in spite of the challenges poised by an agency. The family ends up with a dog but what about the dogs that are left behind? Also whether a rejection is for a good reason or not, it just seems like there are a lot of agencies who don't seem to have much regard or concern for the adopting family. If a family, especially one with kids shows an interest in an animal but doesn't qualify for whatever reason, the agency should at least reach out and communicate their concerns. What if the concern is a minor misunderstanding or there is a simple fix that can make things right? The dog could still have a chance at a good home. Follow up regardless of the decision is just common decency and the families deserve that. Lastly, I wouldn't just assume that a pet adoption agency was right just because placing dogs is what they do. As far as I know there are no requirements when it comes to credentials or certifications for the fosters. Obviously, some are pretty confused about what really matters and what doesn't matter at all.