Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4

AIBU?

To not want to go on holiday because of the cat?

91 replies

Wideeyedcarrrot · 04/05/2015 08:11

We accidentally acquired a cat when the neighbours moved out and left her behind. She immediately moved in with us and we've had her got about five years. In that time we have been on holiday but only for a week at absolute most. Usually only for four nights.
In these instances my mom has come over twice a day (20 mile round trip) and fed her, let her in or out etc. Shes basically a house cat, she doesn't go outside very much (by choice). If we put her out for any reason she just sits by the door waiting to come back in.

She has a cat flap into the veranda but it gets very hot in there during the summer (would be ok at night) and also she gets bullied by other cats who also then use the cat flap and eat the food. Our cat is tiny, still looks like a kitten. She won't wear a collar so can't get a microchip cat flap.
She isn't allowed in the main house if we aren't here as she does things like scratch all the leather sofa and chew things. Plus we like to put the burglar alarm on. Generally she sleeps in the conservatory (ruined all the wicket furniture) but that will be too hot to leave her in during the day in the summer.

This year dh wants to go abroad for two weeks. I wanted one week (because of the cat) so we've settled on ten nights.
I feel sick at the thought of leaving her. It's too much for my mom to come over every day twice a day for ten nights. She would come over once a day and I think the neighbours would do the other visit to let the cat in or our but on the odd occasion when the neighbours have helped before the cat has always left home and not come back until we have.

The other option is a cattery but I just cannot bear the thought of leaving her in one. I think she might find it very stressful. She's very much mine, she follows me around the house and miaows a little greeting to me. I hate the thought she will think I've abandoned her like her last owners.

This is why I didn't want pets! I know I will be dreading the holiday and just want to go home the entire time. Dh will go mad if I say I can't go because of the cat and cat aside id love a holiday abroad.

What do people do with their cats when they go on holiday?

OP posts:

Report

CallMeNancy · 04/05/2015 08:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GGabcd · 04/05/2015 08:13

It's a cat. Not a baby. Shove it into a cattery and go on holiday.

Wideeyedcarrrot · 04/05/2015 08:13

The neighbours will come but basically the cat hates it if I'm not here. She doesn't like the neighbours. She will tolerate my mom and dad.

OP posts:

GGabcd · 04/05/2015 08:15

You are letting your life be dictated by a cat. Do you not see how ridiculous that is?

TwiceAsNiceAsIceAndaSlice · 04/05/2015 08:16

She will be fine in a cattery.

Pick a nice one with a view from each pen and make sure the owner is covered in cat fur to indicate she gives the residents plenty of fuss.

OTheHugeManatee · 04/05/2015 08:16

Pay a cat sitter. They come twice daily to feed/do litter tray. It's about the same or not much more than a cattery and they will often water plants/put bins out/do other stuff for you. We like having someone keeping an eye on the property while we're away, not to mention not having the hell of trying to catch and transport two highly suspicious little cats and dealing with the post-cattery cat sulks.

TENDTOprocrastinate · 04/05/2015 08:18

Yabu. It's a cat ffs. If your parents are willing to go all that way would they not be willing to bring her to their place for the 10 days and the cat could use a litter tray/stay in house. (Surely that would be easier for them)

Wideeyedcarrrot · 04/05/2015 08:18

I know, I know, I love her though!

OP posts:

Wideeyedcarrrot · 04/05/2015 08:20

My parents are house proud and won't want her scratching their furniture and leaving fur everywhere. They won't be able to let her out as she wouldn't know where she was so she would be housebound. I did suggest it but knew they'd say no.

OP posts:

MrsNippyCat · 04/05/2015 08:20

I totally understand OP, I am the same.

My parents take care of them (various animals here) with a similar journey to yours, also twice daily. I feel this may get too much as they're getting on a bit now but not sure of an alternative. Our cats are all rescues so no way are they going to a cattery and there isn't anything similar for our other animals.

Sorry, that wasn't helpful to you OP - I just wanted to let you know I get it!

Methe · 04/05/2015 08:21

Its a cat for goodness sake.

Artandco · 04/05/2015 08:22

Pay a local teen to stay in house and feed/ look after cat.

hiddenhome · 04/05/2015 08:26

We had pet sitters when we went on holiday. They visited twice a day and played with and fussed the cats. It was fine.

Cats are more robust than you think and your kitty will easily cope for a week.

OTheHugeManatee · 04/05/2015 08:26

Oh and I'm a complete idiot about our cats and even I can see it's daft to let one dictate your holiday. Just find a nice cat sitter.

diddl · 04/05/2015 08:27

I get you, OP.

We had a holiday recently.

Our cat is getting on & I was terrified she'd be gone when we got back.

She went to a cattery.

Dropping her off was awful as we put her on the floor in her carrier & other cats came to have a look & she was hissing!

However she came out & found herself a place to sit.

When we collected she was outside in the sun.

Husband went to get her & she jumped out of his arms & stretched out in the sun again!

when we got home she had a look all around the house, demanded some food & then went out to sleep in the sun!

I don't think she came to any harm!

BadgersArse · 04/05/2015 08:27

Op. It's s CAT

Charlotte3333 · 04/05/2015 08:28

Get a cat flap that only opens for the microchip on your cat. DH refused to get one, said it was a waste of money til he came home several times to find various strange cats strewn about the house, with our cats sitting nonchalantly by, watching them, and our dog cowering at the top of the stairs.

So I bought the microchip one, best £60 we ever spent. No random cat friends, dog is less upset, DH no longer shouts "who the frigging hell has taken a crap in my paper tray" (neighbours cat used to come in, shit in the office and leave) and life is better.

As for the cat not liking people, our 4 cats don't like anyone. I see it in their eyes; they'd kill us all if only they could jiggle the child locks on the knife drawer. It's standard for cats to live lives despising and judging you, with the occasional purr and fuss so you'll always hope/believe that underneath the fur and evil lies a heart and warmth. All a ploy. Leave the cat and take a bloody holiday.

PtolemysNeedle · 04/05/2015 08:29

See if you can find someoem that does a 'home from home' pet sitting type service. You can't allow your lives to be dictated by a cat.

Redhead11 · 04/05/2015 08:29

I hate to put my boys into a cattery, but have no choice next year when we go to Florida for 2 weeks. They will be fine (although catching them will be interesting!) and i will feel as guilty as hell for doing it. Your cat will be delighted to see you when you come back, although she doubtless will give you a few days of the cold shoulder at first.

Charlotte3333 · 04/05/2015 08:30

As an aside, a microchip doesn't go on their collar, it goes under their skin at the back of their neck. So you definitely can get a microchip one. It should be law that all pets be microchipped, makes life so much easier when folk bring lost and found pets to the vet.

WombatStewForTea · 04/05/2015 08:38

Cats are fickle buggers. They like whoever feeds them. I think you've got an overinflated view of how much your cat likes you
Growing up I had a really grumpy cat who tolerated the family but didn't like anyone else. When we went away my best friend would come over to feed them and this cat would be all over her like she was the best thing since sliced bread!
If you can get a pet sitter or if not put her in a cattery she'll be fine.

BeaufortBelle · 04/05/2015 08:39

Cattery, she'll be fine. Microchip cat flat that reads the chip inserted under her skin. Does she have scratching posts?

Mine are usually OK with a visit once a day from a neighbour and a timed feeder for their morning food.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Damnautocorrect · 04/05/2015 08:41

I'm the same, you can't explain to them what's going on.
Of course they'll miss you.
Your cat sounds like my old one, I'd go with pop in cat sitter or last resort cattery.
I HATED going away because of the cat!

ilovesooty · 04/05/2015 08:42

Mine is a rescue cat and very much attached to me but he goes into a cattery and doesn't seem to come to any harm. I've used the same family run one for years.

VenusStarr · 04/05/2015 08:42

I can understand your feelings but if you get a plan in place that you're happy with, that will help your anxiety about leaving her.

She will be fine to be checked on once a day, even once every couple of days. Just make sure she has access to fresh water, dry food and somewhere cool to chill out. Perhaps think about making the loving room out of bounds if she scratches the furniture. And go and enjoy your holiday :)

Flip

1 2 3 4

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.