VJ: Solve my problems, please

[MHandMB 0]

Just a thought, but maybe you could drive the moving truck to NJ or something, and avoid having to drive to the City in the truck. You can spend the night in a cat-friendly hotel outside of town, and the next day, one of you can take the train into the city and get the keys, go by the apt. and figure out the location and the parking situation. Then maybe you can hire someone from Craigslist or something to help you move everything into the apt once you've figured out the logistics.

Please be careful of moving companies. I read an article a couple of years ago about moving companies giving quotes for the move, taking the contents of someone's entire house and holding them for ransom until the owners paid their exorbitant fees which were thousands of dollars more than the price they were quoted. The movers justified the price change by claiming "unforseen circumstances" like the apartment was on a hilly street which made it difficult to park, or had a lot of stairs. Apparently, there is some loophole in the law that makes it difficult to go after these companies if they've traveled through more than one state with the belongings. If you do use a mover, be sure to use one that's very reputable.

Good luck!

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Please be careful of moving companies. I read an article a couple of years ago about moving companies giving quotes for the move, taking the contents of someone's entire house and holding them for ransom until the owners paid their exorbitant fees which were thousands of dollars more than the price they were quoted. The movers justified the price change by claiming "unforseen circumstances" like the apartment was on a hilly street which made it difficult to park, or had a lot of stairs. Apparently, there is some loophole in the law that makes it difficult to go after these companies if they've traveled through more than one state with the belongings. If you do use a mover, be sure to use one that's very reputable.

Good luck!

I second this -- although I used a reputable mover (in the Chicago-Boston move) and they were total idiots. I moved to an apartment in the North End which, if you know Boston, was built before the automobile so they couldn't get a semi truck up my street and they had to offload my stuff to a smaller van. Now, I would have thought that one of the largest moving companies in the US would have accounted for that when they gave me the quote but they did not. They held my stuff for ransom until I promised to pay an additional $350 for this service - I offered to come collect it from the depot myself (which would have cost only about $50 in Uhaul fees) but they wouldn't allow it and told me they would hold onto my stuff until I coughed up the extra money. When they finally arrived, they demanded the money in cash (I had a check). At this point they had offloaded all my stuff so I told them they weren't getting cash and sent them on their way empty-handed. Completely shady.

In other words, don't use Mayflower. I have used North American before and was very satisfied with them.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

We flew with our 2 cats – wasn’t too painful (from CA – there wasn’t really any other option). Only cost $200 all in. Most air-carriers have information about that on their websites – usually they have to go in the hold, unless they’re kitten size and the container will fit under your seat. To fly you have to get them checked out with the vet – and provide documentation that their immunizations (specifically rabies) are up to date.

As for the other stuff we were lucky in that our house move was completely free and paid for by my wife’s company.

[Alex+R 0]

If you have air con in the moving truck/car an August move should be fine, IMO. I do know that you can get travel kitty litter pans that are for one nights' use, that would solve your hotel room and the kitty poop/peeing needs.

I'd also suggest that as your cats are relatively young, getting them just one, slightly larger cat carrier. They could go in it together, keep each other company, amused etc etc Obviously, that is considering they have a good relationship...

Oh that's a nice idea, so they could be drugged out together,hehehe. So, where do you get these travel litter pans? Is it a particular brand?

http://www.petco.com/Shop/petco_Product_Na...llers0-_-770272

Found these online, they look pretty good!

Oo they do! Thanks for that, I guess I didn't expect them to be so readily available! They're on Amazon and I called my local Petco and they've got them in stock. I'll be bringing some of those to my grandma's house on Friday, where we're leaving the cats for the 10 days we're in California. Double score.

I think driving myself and maybe parking the van out of Manhattan and taking the train to the housing office might be the best idea. This sounds totally like a PITA though!

[no name 1]

I think driving myself and maybe parking the van out of Manhattan and taking the train to the housing office might be the best idea. This sounds totally like a PITA though!

Driving in Manhattan is a PITA, let alone with a truck & cats in the HOTTEST month of the year!

[Alex+R 0]

I think driving myself and maybe parking the van out of Manhattan and taking the train to the housing office might be the best idea. This sounds totally like a PITA though!

Driving in Manhattan is a PITA, let alone with a truck & cats in the HOTTEST month of the year!

I know, I'm really worried about it. And Rey will probably get all flustered in this situation too and it will just end badly. I really would like to have our stuff driven for us to make this as painless as possible, but it is kinda expensive for something you can't trust.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Where abouts in NYC?

[no name 1]

I think driving myself and maybe parking the van out of Manhattan and taking the train to the housing office might be the best idea. This sounds totally like a PITA though!

Driving in Manhattan is a PITA, let alone with a truck & cats in the HOTTEST month of the year!

I know, I'm really worried about it. And Rey will probably get all flustered in this situation too and it will just end badly. I really would like to have our stuff driven for us to make this as painless as possible, but it is kinda expensive for something you can't trust.

I'm in moving H*LL now, with me being in LA & our stuff in Cincy.

Seriously tho, I never left my air-conditioned NYC apt in August except to go to work.

[Alex+R 0]

Where abouts in NYC?

uptown Manhattan, and my guess is that parking is not ample for moving vans

Devilette, people keep telling me NY in August is hell, but I don't have a choice in the matter. Bummer.

[no name 1]

Devilette, people keep telling me NY in August is hell, but I don't have a choice in the matter. Bummer.

Oh man it is.

Uptown is prolly actually BETTER for moving vans than downtown. Esp if you are UWS.

[Alex+R 0]

Devilette, people keep telling me NY in August is hell, but I don't have a choice in the matter. Bummer.

Oh man it is.

Uptown is prolly actually BETTER for moving vans than downtown. Esp if you are UWS.

Ooh, look, some good news!

[Ladylethal 12]

Alex, I drove cross country in Brasil with 3 cats. We bought a mild cat sedative and gave them, and we managed to find hotels that would let us take them in to sleep, it was a 3 day, 2 night trip and although it was stressful at times, we made it. Btw, my family was in two cars so it was actually 3 cats in one car with two people, and 3 dogs in the other car with two other people.