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Original poster

Help - what do you do with kittens when you go away?

13 replies

Mercedes · 15/10/2006 22:55

Our kitttens are now 20 weeks and we're about to go away to Scotlnd on Friday for 5 days. I've got friends who can come in and feed them but do we have to keep them inside the house for this time cos we don't have a cat flap.
Will this be okay?
They've not had all their injections so I can't put them out all the time,

OP posts:

twocatsonthebed · 15/10/2006 23:13

yes that's exactly what I'd do - they're definitely too young to be out unsupervised - especially if they haven't had their injections. They'll be fine.

PinkTulips · 15/10/2006 23:19

could you afford to book them into a cattery/kennels/whatever your supposed to call it for cats?

my parents always do this when they have to go away for a long period and its great reassurance to know that the cats are safe and well.

most catterys have outdoor runs and some one will make sure to spend a certain amount of time each day with the cats.

saves you worrying about them escaping from the house when your friends come in.

Kittypickle · 15/10/2006 23:20

They will be fine in the house, your friend will just need to add cat litter cleaning to her list of things to do.

willow2 · 15/10/2006 23:36

Ditto Kittypickle. Am bit confused though, would you have considered leaving them outside for five days if they had had all their injections? Are they farm cats or something? To do that to your average moggy would (IMO) be verging on abuse.

PinkTulips · 16/10/2006 00:02

willow, my cat has to be left out when we go away. he's a stray that lived in the area and slowly got tempted in and made a house cat. the one time i tried to put him in cat carrier he went so insane he broke the door and hurt his foot so can't take him anywhere and don't know anyone at all who could look after him.

he doesn't seem to mind at all and quite often turns up even fatter than when we left!

hardly abuse!

wannaBe1974 · 16/10/2006 06:38

how come they haven't hadd all their inoculations yet? aren't they supposed to have had them all by now?

Personally I would put them in a cattery, but as their not fully vaxinated you may not have a choice as a cattery is unlikely to take them if they're not fully faxinated. I would leave them with two litter trays though, unless your friend is happy to clean that out as well?

Original poster

Mercedes · 16/10/2006 10:38

The kittens had the first set of injections when we got them at 16 weeks. We knew we had to go and get the next set but I phoned the vet last week to arrange it and they said as it had been more than 3 weeks we'd have to start all over again. No experience of cats so didn't know there was a time limit.
I thought it would be not as cruel to leave them outside as inside.

OP posts:

RTKangaMummy · 16/10/2006 10:56

Our cats {sisters} always go to cattery when we go away and imho I would get your kittens used to going to the cattery asap

BUT they can only go there with full jabs, you have to show the jab certificate

But I just wanted to say that our 2 cats are in and out when we are in London BUT when we go to our house in sussex they are both indoors cats and NEVER go outside. They are very happy in both situations and spend the journey cuddling, washing each other, and massaging each other's shoulders

But they have been doing this routine since we got them as kittens - so get them used to whatever routine your family has asap.

Original poster

Mercedes · 16/10/2006 12:15

Can you get a cat flap put in a double glazed window?
We weren't going to put one in as someone is in the house more or less every day apart from Thursday. But going away has made us realise we may need one.

OP posts:

willow2 · 16/10/2006 12:31

PinkTulips - you said it yourself, you cat was a stray, so he doesn't fit the average moggy (moggie?) type that I was referring to. He is an exception. Take a cat that goes outside every now and then but is used to living in (especially at night/when it's raining) and chuck them outside for two weeks, in mid-October, and that would be verging on abuse. Not intentional, but abuse nonetheless. I'm not going to argue the toss about it, I've spent months with the RSPCA and know what I'm talking about. To go away for any length of time without arranging for anyone to come and feed your cat would also be viewed rather dimly. Your cat obviously has a second home. If I did that to either of mine - both standard crossbreeds - I wouldn't hold out much hope of finding them alive and well on my return. Being an "ex-stray" it's more than likely that your cat either has a second home or is a dab-hand at foraging for scraps.

To get back to the OP's point though, Mercedes' kittens haven't had all their injections so they shouldn't be going out at all yet.

HowwwlidaymumsSalemPilgrimage · 16/10/2006 12:32

Our cats are house cats and stay in most of the time. My parents always look after them when we are away. They are fine! Mum pops in every day sorts the litter and food and pets them a bit.

They are definately happier staying in tehir own home than going to a cattery.

Its worked well for 3 years and we started when they were still kittens.

willow2 · 16/10/2006 12:42

Ignore line where I said your cat obviously has second home. Pressed post when I meant to press preview. Not being psychic, cannot be certain of this fact., but presume he's sorted out food source somewhere or other!

PinkTulips · 16/10/2006 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

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