Not to go on holiday because of cats ...

[wintersherenow]

Basically that.
We are due (me and partner ) to go away on Wednesday.
We have 3 cats and the woman who was meant to pop in and check on them every day has said she's double booked.
So we have nobody to check on them.
None of our friends like cats so have refused.

If we don't go we loose £3,000 as tui won't refund.
It's for a week and a really nice hotel I'm so sad I was really looking forward to it.
Aibu not to go on This holiday?
We have a few other sitters to ask tomorrow but if not I'm not going.
Partner is fuming with me

Could you ask a neighbour to pop in and feed them? You could also look at sending them to a cattery

Ask on local facebook for recommendations for a pet sitter as you’ve been let down. Bet you find someone.

What's his alternative, that you leave them to starve?

I'm sure you'll find someone at short notice. Probably not a sitter but somebody to come in twice a day and feed them. But I would have serious questions about my partner.

Cattery?
Check if your vets have any nurses that do it
Google cat sitters
Google local cat rescue - they often have volunteers who cat sit

There will be options. A cattery must be nearby, or worth a drive to not lose £3k.

Did you sign any contract with the previous woman?

Is said partner trying to find someone too? Otherwise he has nothing to complain about.

Perfect job for a local teen neighbour for some cash. I would think.

That's pretty shit that your friends won't even go in every other day to put food and water down. I bet you'll be able to find a cat sitter if you're happy to pay though, given it's not peak time.

I have 3 cats. I'd go away for a long weekend without someone checking on them and just leave loads of biscuits and keep the toilet seats up given they prefer water from there anyway.

I wouldn't go for a week

You can't leave your cats alone for a week, but missing your hols would be awful so look for another solution. You could advertise for cat care on local Facebook pages, ask every neighbour you even vaguely know, offer a week's free accommodation to friends or relatives who live some distance away but would like to spend some time in your area. I do hope you find someone. If it was close to me I would offer but the chances are low - but DM me if you want to ask.

Our female cat would be distraught in a cattery.
She's a very nervous girl
I'm hoping I can find someone to pop in every other day.
If I get someone to pop in Friday ,Sunday and Tuesday will that be okay?
We have automatic pet feeders and 3 litter trays and also 3 bowls of water (1 is a water fountain )

I'm going to post £100 for someone to pop in three times to top up food etc
Do you think that's reasonable?

Definitely ask neighbours with teens. I feed my bpneighbour's cat regularly. She pays me in wine

Try the catinaflat website? That would connect you to a lot of sitters at short notice

How many visits over the holiday?

3 times a day? 2 would be fine.

What about asking several people to pop in once? Even you're friends who don't like cats would do that, surely? They're not much good as friends if not...

Check local Facebook groups, there's loads of pet sitters round here. Your friends sound a bit crap, not wanting the commitment of daily feeding is fine but just saying they don't like cats - all they have to do is put food down!

I'd do once a day at a push but would be very uncomfortable with every other day.

Whereabouts are you? Maybe we can recommend feeders.

That’s very reasonable but you should be able to find someone for less than that. When I went away I had someone come in 2x a day, every day, for a week. I couldn’t have left them only every other day but only you know your cats and what they need.

post on local Facebook groups, ask your vet…there will be someone who can help.

I'm wondering where you are. My 18 year old daughter would be happy to do it if you're in Edinburgh!

Have you tried cat sitting companies? A local teenager who will do it for a few quid a day? Don’t just let a random do it. Also, get better friends, who are these people who don’t like cats and why are you friends with them.

No, I don't think that's alright. Daily visits from a professional cat sitter. I usually pay £25 per day for my two girls.

Just looking at the app and locally people are asking around £10-15 for one visit a day, so £100 to pop in three times seems generous if anything

A couple of dog walkers we have used do cat visits too. Honestly post on your local facebook now and you’ll get lots suggestions.

Where are you? If you’re in south London I’d be happy to help if I can! 🐈

My mum and dad come in every other day when we go away camping. They have several litter trays, a gravity feeder for dry food and 3 litre bottle gravity water feeders. They are absolutely fine. My parents usually stay for a couple of hours to let them have a cuddle.
There are websites for pet sitters, I’m sure someone must be free for booking, it’s not peak holiday season.
I also would not put my cats in a cattery, far too stressful for them.

I'm in the north east .
I've just messaged quite a few people with availability on a app called rover
Is this safe ?
Does anyone know any other good apps?
They have reviews on there
And seem reasonable £13 per visit