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

[Wideeyedcarrrot]

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?

[Eliza22]

Fond a good chattery. Visit them, read web site reviews. The cat will be fine and sounds like you neeeed this holiday!

[DuchessofBuffonia]

Check out some catteries. Find a friendly one with individual rooms for the cats overlooking outdoor space and a heat lamp.

My cat and my parents' cats are quite sensitive homebodies, but they ADORE the cattery. It's hard to prise them out from it.

It was hard the first time I left mine, but actually gave me far more peace of mind as she was totally safe and secure the whole time.

[Crocodopolis]

Get a cat / house-sitter. I am currently cat staff to two cats on a regular basis. They know me; I know them. I stay in the house and bark at burglars, collect the post, water plants etc.

All it costs the owners is a bottle of Rioja.

Bargain!

[madreloco]

Do you have children who come below the cat or is it just your husband that you are dismissing in favour of an accidentally acquired animal?

[Staywithme]

Holy feck, there are some nasty comments on here. Good for you OP, for caring about your cat and not treating it as a mere inconvenience. I would get a cat sitter and advise telling them to keep your cat in for that time. At least two visits a day, they change the litter tray and leave a bag of special treats for them to give kitty. A good cat sitter should come out and meet the cat first as there should be paperwork to fill in. If your worried about your cat being scared you good pay for the sitter to meet the cat for a couple of days before you go. Good luck and have a lovely holiday.

[mugglingalong]

Mine have mixture of wet and dry food and through choice drink from a bucket of rainwater. We have someone pop in every other day. One cat hides and completely ignores them as he does with all strangers, the other comes and says hello. The neighbours are busy but would contact us if there was a problem. Ours did live rough for a while before we had them. Ultimately they are animals who have evolved over the years to survive. You could either put them in a cattery, get someone in to visit or ask your mother to just pop in less often if you can leave dry food down. It might cost you a little more but your mother is currently paying for 40 miles mileage a day so your current arrangements do have a cost. Our more aloof cat is actually more friendly if we have been away - makes him appreciate us!

[Lipstickandlashes]

OP, my dh and I are exactly like you - we adore our house cats! We pay a local cat sitter to come in twice daily, she feeds them, plays with them, texts updates etc.

It's probably no more expensive than a cattery and they're not disrupted. I'm sure you'll find a similar service locally if you Google.

[Staywithme]

If you're comfortable giving us a rough idea of where you live, maybe someone on here can recommend their sitter.

[alwayshavepeckham]

I feel for you Op.
We used to have a neighbour come and feed our old boy until he ran away for 6 weeks, now we use a cattery so we know where he is.
I justify it by thinking that he has the most pampered time 50 weeks of the year so 2 weeks in a cattery isn't too bad.
Also, on holiday with your DH is more important than the cat feeling put out.

Please don't spoil your holidays thinking about it, just be pleased to see him when you get back.

[haggisaggis]

Cat sitter - ours comes in twice a day. She actually offers a dog walking / home boarding service but I couldn't find a cat sitter locally so started phoning some dog walk people instead and found her. She's great. The first time we went away we decided that the cats should be kept in the whole time and done of them objected to this so peed on our bed. She stripped the bed and had the bedding all washed and put back on the bed for us coming home.

[Floggingmolly]

What's the issue with the cat being "housebound" at your parents, when it stays indoors all the time at your house?
And how do you know the cat hates it when you're not there? Cats are fickle buggers; generally happy with whoever feeds them...

[YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually]

I'm with you OP! I can't sleep unless my cat is in at night, I have been known to go downstairs at 3am (difficult for me) and rattle the dreamies if she is not in

Why don't you pick a cattery you like, and give her a trial night or weekend there? Extra expense I know but you will feel happier if she's already stayed and enjoyed it.

It's a little like leaving the DC with someone for the first time - hard but worth it long term. I know I will be scoffed at but I love my cat a lot and worry about her more than I thought. She sleeps with a little toy and is a softie, she's not a hard streetwise feline!

[Nanny0gg]

There are some wonderful pampering catteries out there. Look around and find one you really like.

[somewheresomehow]

put her in a cattery. safe, warm, fed, watered and you can relax and have a good holiday
ours long gone now moaned all the way there and all the way back but they adjust and will love you just as much

[Sazzle41]

Getting a moggy I was totally floored by how much i worried about her when she was ill or i needed to be away etc. Get a pet sitter, they will come in , feed, spend a while and she can be in her little haven unworried.

I put our cat in a cattery and when she got back her sheer joy and relief was so apparent the guilt was enormous. She is a real people cat and loves fuss so no way am i going the cattery route again.

[madreloco]

Holy feck, there are some nasty comments on here. Good for you OP, for caring about your cat and not treating it as a mere inconvenience.

Yes, its fine to treat your husband as an inconvenience as long as you look after a fucking cat.

[Branleuse]

your cat will be fine being left. Seriously

[FenellaFellorick]

I understand, OP. I have taken in a cat and am as daft about mine as you are about yours.

I bought her a kitty sofa and made her a pair of cushions for it! look, I'm not even doing a blush face! ->



We won't leave her by herself either because she'd hate it. We are currently asking around to find the most recommended catteries. We are then going to book her a weekend away to see how she likes it. We will then book her the odd weekend away to let her get used to it and also so we can judge whether we are happy with the cattery before we begin to leave her there when we go away.

I don't care that you're all going to laugh at me

OP, is that an option for you? Introduce her gradually with a night or two away and let her get used to it and know that it's fine and that you come back for her?

[Madratlady]

I totally understand, we once drove home overnight from visiting family as our pet sitter couldn't get in.

I would still GI on the holiday though and either have a local pet sitter or even get a house sitter to stay there if you are really worried.

[Eliza22]

We picked our cat up today from the cattery. It's the second time she's been there. She was meowing loudly all the way home and I could see she'd been sick in her pen. The indoor house bit (with bed and cushion) was obviously where she'd just nested and slept for 3 days. The girl said they'd not seen much of her, she'd just hunkered down and switched off, as it were.

I was upset. She'd lost weight (yes, in 3 days). We used to go to a lovely cattery which she loved (and they loved her). It was a job getting her into the carrier to come home from there, some times! They closed last year and we've had to "make do" with this other one since. She only goes in for the occasional long weekend and one week in the summer but....time to look again, I think.

I know how you feel OP. But, you still need to get away!

[Ffeyone]

We pay a house sitter to come and stay and look after cat. She is a rescue and I think going back to the cattery would finish her off.....I would only leave her for a week as that all we can afford to pay the house sitte.....I'm soft.

[Eliza22]

Ffeyone, what's the cost for house sitting? It may be that's the way for me to go. I have one very listless cat this morning. She looks really sad

[Artandco]

Eliza - most house sitters around £100 -£150 a week here. They are generally students or those finishing school who love at home usually so don't mind staying elsewhere for 'pocket money'. Costs depend on how many animals and how often they need to be around

[Eliza22]

Thanks

[AnneElliott]

Get a pet sitter. We have one for our 4 cars. They come in twice a day and feed and cuddle them! They also bring in the post and the bins and other bits and pieces.

I agree about a chattery. Mine would never forgive me, but they're ok with a pet sitter.