How can I help my rescue cope with a week in a cattery?

[Pipbin]

We really don't want to have to do it but the only people I trust to look after her are away so we have her booked in to a cattery.
She has been with us for 18 months and is immensely important to us.

I am so worried that she is going to feel abandoned.
What can I do to let her know she is loved? I'm thinking I could send her favourite blanket, what else?

Also, what about when she gets back. She is an outdoor cat but stays in at night. Is it better to keep her in for the 1st 24 hours back?

[Tiptops]

Can you have a pet sitter instead so she's at least in her own environment?

I've got several rescue cats and they cope much better when a pet sitter comes to visit them at home than at a cattery. They always used to come back from the cattery quite stressed and sometimes a bit hoarse from meowing so much, even thought the cattery was lovely.

[Tiptops]

Even though*

[sparkysparkysparky]

If a cat sitter isn't feasible, find a cattery you are happy with ( as happy as you can be) and do it. Cat will be safe. One we use has more than one floor in individual unit, plenty of cat tv as Jackson Galaxy calls it ( something interesting to watch out the window ).Use Feliway spray for the handover, favourite blanket (s), preferred food and some toys.
I totally understand your feelings btw.

[sparkysparkysparky]

In my experience, keep her in 24 hrs when she gets home. You know your cat best though. Lots of treats and play when the cat comes home. Expect snootiness and attitude but you might not get it. Give cat a chance to reassert itself territory wise indoors and then think about out. I've never had a cat come back poorly from a cattery. I'd prefer a pet sitter but it ain't an option for us.

[Pipbin]

I'd rather a cattery as I want to know she is safe all the time.
We went away a little while ago and didn't get a phone reception where we were. My friends who feeds her would text every meal time to let me she was OK. One day she sent her DH to do it and he didn't think to text. I couldn't get hold of her and worried myself literally sick waiting.

The place we have found is a ten minute drive with big two level units. Outside the units is a big garden full of bird feeders!

[Pipbin]

When she had to have an overnight stay at the vets she came back happy.

[cozietoesie]

The thing is that she gets to come home. That should reassure her and the overnight at the vets will have helped to start the process there. Seniorboy was vet phobic when he came to me but continued visits have reassured him that it's just 'business' to be got through. It's never going to be his favourite thing - and I'd be surprised if it was that for your girl - but she should manage.

I'm ambivalent about keeping her in for 24 hours when she gets back. On the one hand it might work well for her to stay close for a little but on the other hand, I'm a great believer in 'things back to absolute normal' on return. (Established routine seems to reassure cats.) You know her best on that one I think.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[AwkwardSquad]

Our rescue mog goes to the cattery. She hates it but we've no one to feed her when we're away. At first, she used to punish us for a few days when we brought her home but now she's fine after a couple of hours.

We use the same cattery every time (about twice a year) and we take her some bedding for the cattery that smells of us, to help her settle.