We're all set.

Thanks for all your comments and emails re my last quandary! It's been helpful; it isn't just the advice itself it's also the knowledge that people care enough to pass it on =)

We've come to compromise. A wee bit of one, at least.

If mum is coming to stay with us next week then we need to move the cats for next week anyway. So we're taking them with us and if they just can't take it at my place we'll return them with mum in a week's time. Mum says she'll be ok without them so long as they are ok and settle.

As she pointed out, if she's selling her place and moving up to be near us (something that's been in progress for a while now- a buyer has been found for her house, but now that buyer has to find a buyer for his before things can move....) this means that the cats will have to move to a new territory at some stage anyway.

I've bought two new carriers for them, slightly larger than the old one but still small enough to be cosy and "safe". They are also designed to be used with a seatbelt in a car, so we'll all be going in the car together rather than booking a pet taxi.

The new space-age carrier.... a pink one for Fluffy, orange for Scooter =)
So far they are unimpressed.

The carriers arrived dismantled and it took a wee while to put them together. Both cats sat in front of me looking utterly bemused, then refused the newly built prisons and duly set up home in the packaging.

Hmmmm.... good job I bought the "Large" size.....

I can't believe that I've been away from home for nearly 3 weeks now. I wonder how it will feel to be home. Warmer, certainly, as the central heating guys were in fixing the system when all this happened. I want to get back and see what it all looks -and feels- like!

Mum is looking forward to next week. She said, "It will be like a holiday for me."

Geesh I hope Luvbug has done some cleaning.