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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Home care or cattery for older cat?

16 replies

marmaladegranny · 21/03/2015 19:17

I have a dilemma! My old boy is 14 years old, living on borrowed time, is unvaccinated due to his illness and is getting a little senile. In the past he has always gone to a cattery when I went on holiday or a neighbour's daughter did home care when I was away only for a couple of nights.
Over the past year we have moved area, initially in with my DD but now in our own house and he has coped very well with the moves but does cry piteously when he sees me go out with the dog and keeps it up until I am back. If he stays with DD she has to sleep in the bed I use there or he roams their house all night crying. Later this year I am going away with DD and need to arrange cat care. My dilemma is do I try to find a cattery that will take him (my previous one did as he is unvaccinated on veterinary advice but that has closed down) or arrange for a local cat sitter to visit him twice a day? An alternative would be to ask a friend to have him to stay but that means a 90 mile journey each way - and he hates the car!
MN cat lovers - what do you think do you think is the best thing for my cat?

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 21/03/2015 19:21

I'd ask the friend, if he crys when you walk a dog can you imagine how he'd be after the holiday?.

I don't think a cattery will take an unvaccinated cat.

AWholeLottaNosy · 21/03/2015 19:24

I'd get a friend in too. Your cat sounds like he needs security and comfort at this stage in his life. You are obviously a very conscientious cat owner and care about your cat to be thinking about this.

AWholeLottaNosy · 21/03/2015 19:26

Are there local cat sitters that will come in to look after your cat?

thecatneuterer · 21/03/2015 19:29

Cat sitter definitely. He'd be more stressed with a long journey and unfamiliar environment than he will be by just being alone in his own home for most of the time.

Bluestocking · 21/03/2015 19:31

Do you have a friend who might be willing to stay over, so he's not alone in the house? I know it sounds like a big ask but there are lots of cat-crazy people around who might be willing to give your dear old cat some company and affection while you're away.

Sparklingbrook · 21/03/2015 19:32

It can't be a cattery. They won't take one that is unvaccinated, well none that I know of. i wouldn't be happy to put my cat in one that didn't stipulate vaccinations.

I think a cat sitter if you can find one, so he can stay in his own environment.

Thetruthshallmakeyefret · 21/03/2015 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 21/03/2015 19:52

I am not sure about that Thetruth, SparklingCat is fine at the cattery.

cozietoesie · 21/03/2015 20:08

I rather suspect SparklingCat would be fine on the dark side of the moon, Sparkling. (She'd likely spend the time plotting world domination.)

I'd go for your own home in some way, marmalade. Apart from the fact that I no longer think you'll be able to find easily (if at all) a cattery that would nowadays take an unvaccinated cat, I reckon he's probably too old to take it well. I think your own house is safer.

Sparklingbrook · 21/03/2015 20:10

True cozie. She is not easily phased.

My SIL did say once that cats would rather change their owners than their territory so it's kinder to ask the people who buy your house to have the cat as well.

TamzinGrey · 21/03/2015 20:31

Definitely not the cattery. As an elderly cat he needs to feel safe and unthreatened, and that's more likely in his own house. Older cats rely more and more on their sense of smell as their eyesight begins to fail, and his scent, and yours will be all over your house which will be comforting for him when you're away. The cat sitter is the answer.

BagelwithButter · 21/03/2015 22:09

I rather suspect SparklingCat would be fine on the dark side of the moon, Sparkling. (She'd likely spend the time plotting world domination.)

HA HA

RubbishMantra · 22/03/2015 07:47

Do you have a friend who could stay at yours while you;re away?

That's what I do with my cats.

TamzinGrey · 22/03/2015 10:07

Same here. My sisters kindly stay here when we go away and Tamzincat has a whale of a time bossing them around.

Original poster

marmaladegranny · 24/03/2015 08:59

Thank you all for your advice and comments! Sadly they is no-one I can ask to stay while I am away but I have now had discussions with and booked a local cat sitter to visit Dcat twice a day - suspect that he will have a good 'staycation'!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/03/2015 10:23

I think that that should work - and a decent cat sitter could also do things like clear away post, open and close curtains (if required), water plants and just generally keep an eye on the house for anything untoward - so an extra string to your bow.

Have a good time away.

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