Elderly cats and holidays?

[Flowersblue]

What does everyone do if they have elderly cats and go on holidays? Are you reluctant to leave them?

My parents leave their cat who is 15 at a cattery where he is well looked after by a lovely couple.

A work colleague does not go away for that reason. When my parents had cats they had a neighbour look after her (and vice-versa).

Either a cattery or someone (insured and qualified) to come in to feed daily.

I long for a day when this becomes a problem again... I think our cat does too, lockdown children v peace and quiet at the cattery, I know which way he would vote

I didn't go on holiday for the last year of my old cats life . He was my buddy and I hated the thought of him dying on his own ( I used to have someone come and feed them ) . It's not much of a hardship until they are gone . Each to their own though .

Neighbour or family pop in once a day to feed, stroke and check on the two I have.

They're rescues so I want to keep them in their own territory where they feel secure.

They have a microchip cat flap and come and go as they like now, so I know they won't be getting mugged for food inside the house by stranger cats.

I've done this for years with them, once used a pet service for a long fortnight holiday as family came away too. That worked great. I spent my holiday being sent texts and photos of what they were up to. I think the pet service woman worried more about not seeing them on the odd occasion than I did.

They're cats. They do their own thing on totally their own terms.

I've fed a neighbours cats on their holidays and they're also an option for shorter trips.

Not that it's been an issue for a year or so for some reason .......

Either have a pet sitter come in twice a day (although the last one managed to let him out and rang us, knowing we were abroad, to tell us. Not sure what she expected us to do!) or have friends come to stay. We live in quite a popular area so people generally like having the place to themselves. Neighbours have also offered to pop in.

We have a pet sitter come twice a day (and they are chipped with a magnetic catflap). Good thing about a proper sitter is that you can rely on them to take your cat to a vet if necessary which a neighbour might not be able to do.

when mine got to that age, I've had someone to come and stay at the house

We kept the same cat sitter for 14 years, who would pop in twice a day.

For longer stays (fortnight+) we would combine her with family known to the cats who enjoyed staying over in our tourist town.

If it was just for a day or two we would sometimes ask our neighbour (again they weren't afraid of her).

Current Madcats are nearly two. For the first year one of us took it in turns to stay at home/just be out for a few hours. We had hoped they would be happy in a cattery (they have done 3 days), but they really didn't look as if they had been enjoying the lack of space. With lockdown the problem of what to do about them next time hasn't really arisen.

We have used a colleague and a professional pet sitter (£15 a day for twice a day visits). We now also have chickens so use the pet sitter as she will feed them too and it was getting bit much for the colleague especially in Winter when it was dark.

We also tried the cattery but the cats hated the small cages and were desperate to go out when they got back and it was only a £1 a day cheaper than the professional pet sitter.

When my cat was elderly I got a house sitter to stay and look after her. I paid the sitter £100 a week- but that was 10- 14 years ago.

I found a young woman who still lived at home who was glad for a couple of weeks to herself with her boyfriend, through word of mouth.

I have 8 year old cats now and still hate leaving them, it is the worst part of going on holiday as I worry so much. I'm looking for a house sitter for when we eventually go away again.

Some catteries are like spas, and the cats love them, but I would have thought that 'elderly' cats would prefer to stay in their own homes.
Have you looked at Cat in a Flat, or equivalent?

Our lad is permanently on a cocktail of pills for a long term health condition. We used to have a lovely veterinary nurse from our practice who would come and feed him and give him cuddles and pills - he's a big purry softie, dead easy to give pills to and we were happy that she would notice if he wasn't feeling well.

Unfortunately she moved away and I'm reluctant to put him in a cattery as he's old and ill (although it's managed, and he's very happy) so a friend who lives nearby comes in a couple of times a day and feeds him. She crushes up his pills into his food as she doesn't want the responsibility of getting them down his throat - I keep telling her it's less hassle than bothering to crush them though. We return the favour when they go away.

I wouldn't leave her alone for more than a night. When I was hospitalised I was absolutely terrified and got them to take the drips off of me and refused anymore as I needed to get back to her. She was terrified as well and died a few days later.

Longer term I'd get someone to come in or get a good cattery. They won't like it, but it's only short term.

I use a website called Trustedhousesitters. I was really hesitant and reluctant at first but all the sitters I’ve had have been amazing. Much cheaper than a cattery or hourly sitters.

Thanks everyone

We've had a friend pop in once a day when it was just boy cat but hes very self sufficient and doesn't like fuss. But he does miss us. Now weve got girl cat as well and when we do go away I'd like a cat sitter. I dont think either of them could cope with the stress of a cattery

I normally get someone to come round twice a day while I am on holiday but when my cat was in her final year we didn't go away - it stressed her out to be on her own and I worried about her.

We leave ours,I think he gets a bit lonely and will pop into the next door neighbour’s for a bit!