We are due to have cavity wall filling done on our house in the next few weeks. We have been told it will take about half a day for them to do, but it is very noisy, loud work which involves lots of drilling etc.

My cat (who is an indoor cat) isn't keen on loud noises at the best of times (he still runs into the other room when we get the hoover out, although he is finally learning to tolerate the washing machine when its on a fast spin ) and I'm worried that he's going to get stressed out by all the noise and activity going on, when normally it is a fairly quiet house.

My OH suggested taking the cat to his parents whilst the work is going on, but I think putting him into his carrier, then putting him in the car and taking him to a strange place where he won't have his dirtbox or his food or anything familiar around him (plus he will go into killing mode when he spots their budgies ) will only stress him out even more, especially as he associates going in his carrier and the car with going to the vets.

I know he's not going to like the noise as they've already done a test on our house and he hid under the table like he normally does when something goes on that he doesn't like.

Has anbody else had this problem? I would be interested to know what the best thing is to do as I don't want him unnecessarily traumatised, but at the moment I just think the best thing is for him to stay at home where at least he will have familiar surroundings, even if there is a lot of noise going on, rather than go through the trauma of putting him in the car etc and taking him to a strange place, just because it's quiet there.

Thanks

if your cat is an indoor cat there shouldn't be a problem taking it to your parents house it might take him a few days to settle but as long as he has familure things around him like the cushion/blanket he sleeps on he'll be fine. One of my cats Murphy, hates any kind of noise he's fine with the telly or loud music but turn the hoover ot hair dryer on and he scarpers.

In our old flat we had a kitchen refurb and Amber was locked in living room (with her litter tray and food etc) each day the workmen were in.

In our current flat we had a kitchen refurb, all the electrics rewired and a complete new boiler, heating system (plus new radiators in every room). As we didn't have a room the builders wouldn't need access to Amber stayed at my Mum's for 10 days

Personally if she is a house cat I would confine her in one safe room with everything she needs to make her feel safe and perhaps a radio on with soothing music. If it is just a few hours she shouldn't suffer too much anxiety in that time. Or if you have someone who could have her for the time they are there even better.

As the work will only take half a day it is not worth the disruption of taking your cat away from home to avoid it, it would probably be more stressful as you say. Try putting her in a room furthest from the noise with her food water and litter tray, and make sure she has somewhere to hide so she feels safe (under a bed, behind a sofa etc). She'll be fine.

(My youngest cat is scared of the hoover too, but weirdly not at all bothered about builders drilling into walls!)

Thanks for all your suggestions...I think as the work is only for a few hours he will just have to "grin and bear it" even if he is hiding away under the table all the time!

I will definitely keep him shut in one room with all his "stuff" just to be on the safe side and I will also be there with him whilst the work is going on to keep an eye on him.

I will just have to make it up to him when everything is done by making a big fuss of him and giving him some treats (just a usual day then! )

I live in one bed flat ground floor . Terrace house and upstairs neighbours......(fab couple by the way).....we had major works a couple of years ago on our place.....ie upstairs new ceilings.......gutting etc....me downstairs......complete guttng of flat......now my neighbours have cats........so di I!.....Actually it was a nightmare.....cos they had to live with cat trays, food bowls etc....but I also looked after them during the day....ie; making sure that the workmen *didnt leave doors open etc for the cats to escape*......I must say it was awful.........my cats were shut in one room at one time......*tray.food* then one of my cats was very ill and had to be PTS.........Worse time of my life.......

Have you got a room in your house that doesn't have any external walls? The noise and vibrations in there should be less. Alternatively when they are drilling the front take him nearer the back and when they are at the back take him nearer the front.

And give him something nice to eat.

OP, try not to be anxious yourself as your cat will pick up on it and think there is good reason to be scared. If you're calm and unconcerned he may take comfort from that.

TBH the cat will probably do a good job of hiding away himself, and fall asleep in a corner somewhere you won't find him.

We had a whole load of work done 18 months ago - central heating system put in which involved knocked down old fireplaces, ripping up floorboards, etc etc and I wondered how the dog, who is quite shy and nervy - would react but she slept through the lot! You never know, in other words. My elderly cat just took herself off outside or also slept through it.

My Cat legs it upstairs and hides in my room when work men are round. He knows when they are coming and i have no idea how.

My cat likes to get involved. When I am doing DIY, she is up the ladder before me. I was having the house re-wired by an electrician friend and she spent a happy day under the floorboards investigating. When it came to the last floorboard to be put down, I wanted to make sure I knew where she was (I had kept her inside). After ages spent searching, I finally discovered her squashed behind the freezer in the understairs cupboard. No idea what had spooked her and she had never been behind there as far as I know, but she obviously felt safer.