A family member who lives 200 miles away and who owned a cat called "Owen"
recently died. Owen is a middle-aged neutered male .
Owen has not settled in a new home a short distance away - a household that
already has two cats and a dog. There is no problem with socialising with
the incumbent cats or dog, one of the cats was a playmate of "Owen". Owen
was very close to its owner and now, one month on, returns to his former
home whenever there is activity at the house. He returns and scratches at
the door trying to be let in - it is quite distressing. Owen has partially
"settled" with an elderly lady next door, but who is too frail to look after
him. I suspect he goes there because it is the nearest place to his former
home where he can get food.

I too have a cat (an elderly neutered female called "numbernine" ) who
appeared in my garden two years ago, apparently lost and homeless. She
seemed friendly and receptive (although initially suspicious) to a new home.
She has settled in well, and sleeps most of the time. She does not seem to
socialise with other cats. I now need to undertake some major structural
renovation on my house which will probably last 3 months (during which time
I need to find somewhere else to live.) I work from home most of the time,
so "numbernine" is used to my continuous presence.

One possible solution to this dual problem would be for me to move to my
late relative's house while my house is being renovated - and to try to look
after both cats and introduce them to each other. I would then return with
both cats to my home.

I am seeking advice on the likelihood of my plan being successful, or
alternatively how best to deal with the circumstances each cat is faced
with.