Neurotic terrified cat going to cattery

[HesterShaw]

We're going away next week and for the first time in years need to put her in a cattery. A relative usually looks after her, but it's not possible this time. When she was very little she used to cope ok with it, but we had one bad experience when we left her in a place for four days and she didn't eat anything and didn't emerge from the little nest of hay she'd made at the back of the run :(. It was awful. When we left her she set up this awful yowling. So basically in the intervening years we haven't left her anywhere. Getting a neighbour in isn't really an option, as she loves company (only our company of course) and her in the house on her own for four days would simply make us worry.

I'm just worried about leaving her. She's a stroppy little fucker baby substitute madam and hates all other cats and doesn't really like people either. It's the thought of her cowering in a cage for four days. Waaaaaah :(

Can anyone reassure me?

From a ridiculously over invested, over emotional, over worried owner

[HesterShaw]

I've asked the local vets and they're not allowed to recommend anywhere, they say.

[HesterShaw]

And I am going to look at a couple, of course.

I just want to know she won't hate me for evermore!

[Grinningcat]

This sounds like my cat. Are you absolutely sure you can't just leave her at home? We do that with our cat as although she misses our company, she is happier in her own home than she would be somewhere else. I do worry, but anything else just wouldn't work for her. She is also an anti-social little sod and just hides or runs away when anyone visits. For a 4 day period I would leave plenty of food, lots of water bowls, and a litter tray (she normally does her business outside, but I worry the cat flap might somehow stop working!?). I do ask the neighbours or the IL to pop in every few days to refill water bowls and try and set eyes on her so I can be briefly reassured.

[ClaudiaNaughton]

I read somewhere that you could get a device like cctv which you can then check on your phone to see that madam is still walking around. I haven't been away since cat arrived 2 years ago. Keep thinking I should get her used to a cattery.....

[HesterShaw]

Ha! If we left four day's worth of food lying around, even strategically placed in different locations round the house, she would find it all and gobble down the lot in one sitting. We would be greeted with piles of sick on our return, and a cat who hadn't eaten for 3 1/2 days.

I might if it was a shorter time, like two days, but not for four. Thanks anyway :)

At least I know she won't come to any actual harm in the cattery.

Sigh. Bloody pets.

[Lunastarfish]

What about a professional cat sitter? My cat HATES the cattery and I find cat sitter is actually a bit cheaper

[Lunastarfish]

Cat sitters usually visit once/twice a day for around 20 mins a time so my cat gets a bit of company.

[RoganJosh]

We used to pay a lady to come in for an hour each day. Most dog walkers offer it as a service I think?

[HesterShaw]

Oh really? That's a good thought.

[firstposts]

I second a cat sitter, twice a day. About £6 a day where I live.

[OneDayWhenIGrowUp]

My madam has stress-related gut issues and every time she's gone to the cattery, she's ended up on medication for up to a month following! The cattery is excellent too, it's just not home for her. So now, she stays at home by herself and friends/neighbours come in morning and evening to check her food & litter tray. One friend she knows and she will sit with for a bit, and at least gets a bit of grooming, most other people she will hide from, so they know her hiding places to check on her. If I didn't have friends/neighbours then I'd pay a home visit company rather than send her to the cattery. Of course she's not happy without my company, but better in her own home than somewhere else. I also put the feliway plug in and an anti-anxiety supplement mixed in her food to help too.

[HesterShaw]

Am scouring google to find one and can't yet. Any other suggestions as to how to find one? We're in quite a remote location, that's the only thing.

[firstposts]

Local Facebook groups? That's how I found mine. Or a local teenager who loves animals? Or a vet may have a link somewhere?

[Madcatgirl]

I run a Cattery, have you tried feliway spray? A couple of my guests use it to help them settle .

[catsofa]

With mine (not as neurotic as your sounds!) it helps a lot if I don't make a big deal of leaving her. I hate it and I miss her, but when I leave I have to just walk out saying "see ya later!" like I normally would and not wake her up for a big goodbye cuddle and fuss, otherwise according to my neighbour who comes to feed her she gets the idea that something is wrong and is all stressed and worried until I get back. The times I've just casually walked out she's been chilled out asleep for up to a week.

Cat sitters are brilliant and totally stress-free, the one I occasionally use will take my bins out and bring them in, water plants, feed my goldfish at no extra charge, draw curtains, all sorts of things if I want. £7 per visit for mine, I just get her to pop in once a day to cuddle and feed the moggy.

Surely someone locally would be up for this and glad of the cash, could you ask nearest neighbours?

[CattyCatCat]

I've used a cat sitter in the past and he came in twice a day to feed and stroke them. An excellent service and the cats were absolutely fine on our return.

[Imsosorryalan]

My mil leaves her grumpy old cat at home. The last time she tried to get him in a crate, he ripped her nose to shreds and had to have stitches!

She closes all the doors she doesn't want him going in and gets a neighbour to put food out for him and change the litter tray

He is a house cat anyway though..

[HesterShaw]

Madcatgirl, thanks for the suggestion. I will try that.

We have found a place and booked her in. They seem very kind and I'm going to send her with one of the duvets from home! I'm sure she'll be able to burrow in and hibernate crossly until we come and get her.

She's absolutely fine at getting in the cat box but I bet she won't be after this. Your poor MIL's nose Imsosorryalan

Re asking the neighbours, we haven't long moved so I don't feel I can ask anyone just yet. However there's a very nice seeming 13 year old girl a couple of houses down who I might court so she can have the privilege in the future :o.

Thanks for your contributions, everyone.