Do you think pet owners who travel are cruel?

[BePoliteOpalQuail]

I mean for a couple of nights here and there, every few months. Not talking about getting a pet then leaving it weeks on end, and obviously the pet would be left with a trusted sitter or in a cattery/kennels.

It depends. I used a dog sitter or family to care for my dog when I went away but it wasn’t a regular occurrence and only ever for two weeks maximum.

However some friends of mine got a puppy during lockdown and now probably go on holiday between 10-12 times a year, always for a minimum of a week and their dog goes into kennels. I think the longest time they’ve spent at home with him is three weeks. The poor dog seems to spend half his life in kennels which I personally don’t agree with.

As someone who regularly feeds her neighbours cats, no, there are plenty of pets who literally could not GAF.

I like my neighbour's cats a lot. But they do not give a shit who's feeding them 🤣

Who made you feel irresponsible? Of course it isn't irresponsible to leave your pet.

We have always had .dogs and at one point a cat, dogs always went to kennels our cat was house sat, there was never any harm come to the animals, don't listen to people.

Its not a problem, the animals will be fine.
I rarely leave my 15 year old cat because she is a velcro cat and has had a lot of medical treatment including two weeks in a vet hospital. She gets upset if I'm not there but the young cat is fine.

No. Of course not. Main thing is to make sure they are being well cared for while you’re away. We go and visit family every 4-6 weeks for a weekend and our neighbour pops in the feed the (very spoiled and pampered) rabbits and check on them daily. She gets offended if we book them into the boarders! She’s asked to keep a key to our garden gate as she’s home a lot/ works close by and we aren’t with work and commutes etc and she likes to know if anything happens even if we aren’t away (heatwave/unexpected weather and we get held up) she can get into the garden to check on them and says we just have to text her. She likes to make sure she knows which rabbit is which, their names, and asks us to leave treats out for them as she likes to give them attention and a bit of a fuss. It’s lovely. And they much prefer being at home - they don’t care who feeds and gives them treats as long as they get them! We live 3 hours away from any family so if we didn’t have weekends away we wouldn’t see them. However if we go away for longer periods, like a week or so on holiday, we do offer to book them into a rabbit boarders (we’ve found a highly recommended one) as we feel guilty putting that on our neighbour as there’s a lot more involved in caring for them for a week than a weekend.

Pet owners that mistreat/abuse their pets are cruel...

Those that go on holiday/away for work and place them in the care of responsible family/pet sitters are responsible pet owners.

That is fine and totally normal. However some owners take the mick. I know a couple with a very elderly (15yo) dog, who has dementia, is stone deaf and obviously has more needs now and they palm him off several times a month. He barks the place down as he is confused, doesn’t settle and just wants to be at home. But their holidays and trips come first.

I guess it depends how frequently you travel.

Once a month, for a few days, or more? Yeah I'd be a bit uncomfortable with that and I have refused to sell puppies to people who 'travel for work frequently.' If you're out of the country for a week every month, then a dog isn't for you.

I often pet sit and I’ve never once had a distressed dog. Everyone worries they will be miserable and miss their owners but there’s usually not so much as a second glance.

Fickle creatures 😀

Is it not just that lots of people have pets and would prefer to use a reputable sitter rather than put them in kennels? Or do you mean it's the same clients leaving them to go away every month? It shouldn't be an issue the leave a well socialised and adjusted dog/cat with a sitter to go on holiday once or twice a year.

I knew a family who had a cat, they went away for months at a time, several times a year, and had a family member who lived nearby, feed the cat once or twice a day.
imo their lifestyle was not that compatible with having a cat.
But I think most people with pets would leave them for eg a few days or a week (with suitable care)

I think even if someone is going away frequently it’s fine – this means the dog will have an even stronger bond with the pet sitter and having them there will be a stress-free occurrence for them. Just like if you go away and leave your dog with your partner at home for a few days. For them it’s another person who loves them.

Of course not

this is why kennels and pet sitters exist

No. But I do disagree with dumping dogs in kennels where they have never been to before and are locked up on their own for most of the day.

We do tend to take our dogs away with us when possible (if UK or drivable Europe) but we have one big / long haul holiday a year where they go to one of two dog sitters who we know very well and who they have been to plenty of times. They both live in big house in rural areas (one on a farm and one on the edge of woodland) so the dogs get plenty of exercise and are allowed to live in the house as they would do at home. They love going to either one and we get daily photos and videos of their adventures 😊

They'd hate me then. I have a cat and will leave her for two days, one night, with NO cat sitter! Just leave enough food down and give her lots of cuddles when I get home. She just carries on with her life as normal.

If I had a dog I obviously wouldn't do this and would get someone in, but it's not cruel to have a life away from having a dog. In reality though, if I had a dog, most of my time away would be somewhere that I would just take the dog with me.

We leave only overnight with no-one coming in - two night we'd get a pet sitter - same firm and usually same person and we get pics when they can be seen

Last year week hoilday they got eldest for a week.

It's less stressful for our cats than a cattery.

What are we supposed to do - never go on holiday - never get kids settled at uni - never go to family funerals which involve travel. The cats were fine.

Every month for a few days - well we haven't had to do this but life thrown curved balls at us and it may again at that point do you turn down jobs/what ever causes travel which could even be things like eldery parents visits - what if you can't are you supposed to get rid of the pets - even if you've had them years by then - how would that be less stresful.

My advice - fine a polite way of telling who ever tried to make you feel guilty to wind their necks in.

No. Up to 3 nights - automatic feeder. Up to 2 weeks - cattery. Longer than 2 weeks - pet sitter. Works for us and the cat.

Of course not. I’ve left my cats for 1 night without anyone checking on them, any longer obviously we would get a cat sitter to check on them and feed them.
I’m a cat sitter and I love it, I wish I had more bookings lol. It’s lovely when cats are nervous but then come around, I send regular updates and photos to the owners 😊

Absolutely not, but I would say that pet owners need to find a care solution that their pets are comfortable with. I have heard a few horror stories about kennels near us and I have seen what a few look like so we either get a home sitter or send our pampered pooch to a sitters home. Costs a bit more, but it’s worth it for my peace of mind.

Absolutely fine if it’s not too often & the pet’s well looked after. My neighbour & I take turn to look after each other’s cats & send photos & videos.

I went away for xmas once leaving my elderly cat now sadly RIP of old age at a wonderful cattery. Her sad little face as I drove away was tragic. I didn't enjoy xmas at all. I was only away for two days.
At least now I have two cats who can keep each other company.

I ditched a friend - well acquaintance - for the same behaviour. We were getting a puppy and i had done all the homework about training,, vets, holiday cover and she piped up 'oh i would never go anywhere i could not take my dog...' dripping with judgement 'it's not even a holiday without the dog...

FFS

It waa one judgy comment too much so i said 'You do you' and left it right there.

Our dog goes to a home border, he absolutely loves it there, gets to play with her dogs and goes on amazing walks. Its like his own little holiday.

We have cats and they are always left at home whenever we are away, be that for 3 days or 3 weeks. We use timers for weekends away, or have a local friend (who we reciprocate with) or neighbour to come round and feed them.

I suppose if it meant the upheaval of my pet being in a different environment I might feel differently.