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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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:

Quitelikely · 04/05/2015 08:43

Have you thought about using a cat sitter?

A dedicated animal lover who will stay in your home and look after her whilst you aren't there or maybe take her to their home?

Check out your local Gumtree they usually advertise on there and the rates arent too bad.

I wouldn't want her going in a cattery either.

londonrach · 04/05/2015 08:44

Its a cat. Fine if you dont want a holiday and using the cat as an excuse. Either get a cat sitter, person who can come in or put cat in cattery. If worried re leaving the cat the cat sitting might be the best idea. Ask at your vet. Sometimes the vet nurses will cat sit. Enjoy your holiday x

londonrach · 04/05/2015 08:44

Cross with quite..

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 04/05/2015 08:44

My mum treats her animals like her children. All well and good until they begin to adversely affect the lives of the HUMANS who live in the house.

Go on holiday and enjoy it - the cat will be fine with a pet sitter or in a cattery.

mrsdavidbowie · 04/05/2015 08:46

I once went away for a weekend and realised I'd forgotten to organise anything for the cat
She's such an independent thing..never see her much as she lives mainly outside under the Hebe bush.

MistressMia · 04/05/2015 08:46

Look on www.trustedhousesitters.com for someone who'll live in for free & house / pet sit. The sitters have been rated by other users and you can get references etc.

You mentioned veranda ? ...are you abroad ?

exLtEveDallasNoBollocks · 04/05/2015 08:49

You aren't being daft, I'd feel the same. It's why we are resisting DDs pleading to get a cat. With the dog(s) we have 3 sets of friends and relations all of whom can (and do) take them when we go away, the Mutt knows and loves them and is absolutely fine about being with them - you just can't do that with a cat.

LadyDeirdreWaggon · 04/05/2015 08:49

As others have said why not get a pet sitting service to visit? They can come as often as you like and will feed, change litter etc. I get mine to text me once they've been for the first visit so I know all is well.

juneau · 04/05/2015 08:50

Put her in a cattery - it will be much safer for her (given that she's bullied by the neighourhood cats), it will save your DM a long drive every day, she'll actually be cared for, AND she'll have company from the staff several times a day. Then go away on holiday and enjoy yourself, safe in the knowledge that she's being cared for and not sitting outside the door crying for you for 10 days straight. I don't understand why people its better to leave a cat home alone, rather than putting them in a cattery. If you choose your cattery wisely it is a MUCH better option.

Hippymama1 · 04/05/2015 08:52

We have a similar situation in our house OP!

Speak to your vet and see if they have a cat sitting service that they recommend... Less stress than choosing one on the Internet with the security implications and the sitters are usually veterinary nurses from the practice for added peace of mind.

It's not cheap but when we go away they come twice a day to feed, play with and make a fuss of our incredibly spoilt feline... It's worth every penny to enjoy the holiday though.

saintlyjimjams · 04/05/2015 08:52

Get a cat sitter. I used to be one. I was always being told various cats didn't like anyone but their owners but after feeding them once or twice they became pretty keen on me. I can only think of one that remained scared of me, but he used to hide from his owner as well (ex stray).

Mrsjayy · 04/05/2015 08:52

Put in acattery or get a neighbour to feed herin you are putting human emotion on to a cat she is this or that she is a cat honestly get somebody local to feed her pet sitting companies do it the cat might hiss at them but least she will be fed and litter traychanged so fed and clean thats all a cat really cares about, when we had acat she wouldnt come near us after holidays but she would come round after a few days.

saintlyjimjams · 04/05/2015 08:57

As for cattery versus cat sitter - depends on the cat - but most cats prefer a familiar environment & aren't hugely fussed by masses of human company. For the vast majority of cats a visiting cat sitter once or twice a day is a better option. My cats would hate a cattery (they freak out after a quick trip to the vets).

I did once suggest to a client that she put the cat into a cattery rather than have me come & visit, but that cat was unstable diabetic & had started to not eat very well & I felt she needed proper monitoring. For a typical moggie being in familiar environments without the noise/smell of other cats nearby is less stressful.

saintlyjimjams · 04/05/2015 09:01

And yes - I always texted after first & last visit & asked owners to text me to say they had arrived home (didn't want a hungry cat in case of delays). Some owners wanted a text once a day (which was fine) - most didn't, but that was the sort of thing we'd discuss when we met.

I was very aware that leaving a cat was a big & worrying thing for some of my clients - you can be as needy as you like with a cat sitter - they'll have seen it all before.

AlternativeTentacles · 04/05/2015 09:02

She doesnt care about you, she just has you very very well trained.

tabulahrasa · 04/05/2015 09:10

She would be fine in a cattery, really she would. But also you get pet sitters that will stay in your house, or who will visit twice a day and you get home boarders who will take them to stay at their house.

I can understand being worried...but one of those options will work for her.

Also, as already said, microchip cat flaps work on the microchip inserted by the vet, not a collar.

Mrsjayy · 04/05/2015 09:13

My cat was an outside cat she really did do best at home with people feeding her

Mrsjayy · 04/05/2015 09:17

My cat lived till she was 19 can you rea?ly see yourself not going away for the next 10 years thats not very fair on your husband is it ?

Steadycampaign · 04/05/2015 09:23

Agree with the suggestion about visiting your local vet's surgery and see if there is anyone they recommend?

In the past (when they were smaller) my rabbits went to stay with a veterinary student for 4 days when we were away.

Now we have someone who comes in and visits twice daily.

Can totally understand how you feel though op. We've recently adopted a dog and I am in the process of adapting all of our forthcoming travel plans to either take him with us or have him looked after, but as we've only had him since Easter, I am not prepared to leave him for very long; so it's going to take a lot of rearranging.

Cheesypop · 04/05/2015 09:23

Definitely a cat sitter! We've had two (we've lived in two different areas) and they are both amazing. They both came to the house to meet the cat(s) and take a detailed history and they will follow your exact instructions. Ours have also both sent us texts each day to say they've been and it's all fine and sent us the occasional photo. Our scaredycat wouldn't come out for the first few days but once she got used to the sitter she was happy to come out and be played with and petted. Ours came twice a day, morning and evening. It worked out about the same cost as a cattery.

The other benefit is they pick up mail, water plants, open and close doors and generally check the house each day. Also they both had back up plans in case of an emergency where they couldn't attend.

Seriously worth every penny and so much less stressful for the cat (and us!) than a cattery. Also far more reliable than a friend or neighbour, that's a big ask of someone for a favour. I'd much rather know a professional was doing it!

sparkysparkysparky · 04/05/2015 09:25

Pick a lovely, well regarded and probably pricey cattery. Mine were offered a "family chalet with views " for heaven's sake. Even a cat lover likeme winces at this. Send it with its usual food and a familiar smelling blanket. It will be fine.

gamingmum · 04/05/2015 09:32

If you go the cattery route choose carefully, our cat came back very underweight and unhappy. You don't need a collar to get a catalog microchip as there are ones which can work with the chip in their necks and are a case of just putting cat through it once to sync them up. They are really good And then only open for your cat and keep the riff raff out.

Siarie · 04/05/2015 09:38

I put my two indoor cats in a nice cattery when I go on holiday. Good catteries you'll find cats enjoy. In fact when I pick my two up they look well adjusted and better groomed than when I left them.

They are very needy, attached cats (ragdolls). Could you possibly get a second cat so they are together in the cattery?

MythicalKings · 04/05/2015 09:49

YABVVU.

Your DH is a lot more important than a cat. Put it in a cattery.

uggmum · 04/05/2015 09:57

I had my last cat for 21 years. He went to a cattery twice year, every year.
In fact, when we picked him up he would refuse to come home and we had to drag him out.
Find a good cattery with a cat loving owner and go on holiday.

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