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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

Kitten and going on holiday?

78 replies

Blossom4538 · 06/05/2017 22:47

Hi all,
Just after some advice/experiences pls.

We are getting a kitten in a few weeks but have a holiday abroad booked in July, for ten nights. Kitten will be almost 5 months. Not sure what to do, whether leave with family, cattery...I don't know!! Don't want to traumatise the cat and for her to become lonely.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 06/05/2017 22:49

If she isn't neutered and recovered by then she can't go to a cattery.

Secretsquirrelclub · 06/05/2017 22:55

You would be better with two kittens, they would always have company.
Don't think I would like to leave a young cat for so long, I felt terrible leaving my 3 year old rescue cat on his tod for 4 nights recently, even though my brother was visiting him each day and he had plenty of treats and food.

TheWayYouLookTonight · 06/05/2017 23:03

If she isn't neutered and recovered by then she can't go to a cattery

I think this depends on the cattery? The one I use only specifies no un-neutered males over 6 months old. I first left my cat in the cattery when he was about 10 months old (for 2 weeks) - he was well looked after and was a bit clingy for the first day after we collected him, but otherwise completely fine!

Pepsi13max · 07/05/2017 10:38

Could you get 2 kittens instead? You could then consider leaving them in your house if someone can visit daily to feed and spend timd with them. Might be better for them to be in a familiar environment.

Original poster

Blossom4538 · 07/05/2017 22:41

Just the one unfortunately!

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 07/05/2017 22:50

Her.
You can't send an unneutered female into a cattery!!!!

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 07/05/2017 22:51

Our breeder took CatBaby for a holiday when she was little and we couldn't get a house sitter.

GiraffeorOcelot · 07/05/2017 22:52

At a similar age we left two kittens at home with a pet nurse coming in twice a day to them. They were kept indoors as hadn't been out yet so we decided to keep them in while we were away despite having been neutered by then. They were not happy, really didn't like it and trashed the carpet. (Thankfully carpet we were waiting to replace anyway).

They go out now and we still leave them at home when we go away but they have access to outdoors. They don't mind so much but they are still not keen. We think they are happier this way (being visited once a day for half an hour) than they would be in a cattery in confined space though.

Original poster

Blossom4538 · 08/05/2017 08:35

I was considering asking breeder or she could go to Grandparents who are about a lot during the day.

OP posts:

EachandEveryone · 08/05/2017 08:53

Send her to the grandparents. My cattery takes them any age as long as they have had the first two vaccinations.

Kokusai · 08/05/2017 09:19

I would either send them to the grandparents, or get a live in pet sitter.

I've been away for a few weeks since getting the Kitten and my parents have been amazing at coming to stay(!) but I'm going to get a live in pet sitter for next time.

Kokusai · 08/05/2017 09:20

Oh yeah, or asking the breeder is a good idea.

Radishal · 08/05/2017 09:22

Our rescue was neutered by that age. If cattery is still an option, plenty of fave toys; Tshirt that smells of you.

SoulAccount · 08/05/2017 09:24

Get a live-in cat sitter (student relative or young adult offspring of friends?)
Or
Get a kitten after you get back?

PersianCatLady · 08/05/2017 09:26

Do not get the kitten until after you get back from holiday, please wait. Your new kitten needs to settle into its new family and home before it gets left at home or sent to a cattery.

KittiesInsane · 08/05/2017 09:33

If you get it before you go, then you need someone to come into your house (its new territory) several times a day to feed and play with it. I wouldn't send it elsewhere when it's only just arrived.

We actually did this a few years back, with the added complication of an older cat who needed a special vet diet and hadn't to eat the kitten food.

Luckily we have some very good neighbours who willingly tag-teamed so that the kitten was rarely alone for more than a couple of hours in the day - though when DH nipped home midweek for something we'd forgotten, she determinedly spent the night on his head, so presumably she'd been a little lonely.

Thekitten · 08/05/2017 09:48

You should wait until you're back to get the kitten really, poor thing won't know you for too long before leaving it alone for ten days.
However if you do go ahead, please get a live in cat sitter. Kitty is too young and unsettled to be left alone for long.

Original poster

Blossom4538 · 08/05/2017 10:31

She will have been with us for over two months before we go away. I know it's not ideal though. She is going to get a lot of love and attention in that time and will need people around her a lot during the day. I'm thinking Grandparents and at least she'll be familiar with them? Or breeder but may confuse, going back there.

OP posts:

Tigerblue · 08/05/2017 11:41

Personally I wouldn't put a young kitten through the trauma of a cattery - also they can look after them making sure they're feed, clean, generally ok, the odd bit of interaction, but I think she'll get more fuss and attention if she wants it elsewhere.

I don't suppose grandparents could come to yours as a one off, that way she'd be kept in what she's got to know as her home. If not, I'd definitely be considering her going to theirs or possibly the breeder

Radishal · 08/05/2017 11:44

TBH, I would wait till after the holiday and get a rescue kitten. Adopt don't shop. But if your heart is set on this one then grandparents might be a better option.

Original poster

Blossom4538 · 08/05/2017 11:53

We need to stick to the kitten we are getting and as our Daughter has additional needs, it is advised that we don't go down the rescue/adoption route apparently.

OP posts:

Radishal · 08/05/2017 11:57

Sounds like the option you've chosen is the best. If the cattery is small and run by mad cat people who will indulge your new overlord. And there are climbing poles etc. And you can bring lots of toys and preferred food.
There are plenty of great catteries around but they book up quickly.

PersianCatLady · 08/05/2017 15:40

We need to stick to the kitten we are getting
Perhaps you should postpone the holiday then??

Floweringjasmine · 08/05/2017 15:45

We need to stick to the kitten we are getting and as our Daughter has additional needs, it is advised that we don't go down the rescue/adoption route apparently

Eh?!

Who 'advised' you that?

What a load of nonsense. I have a child with really quite complex needs and a rescue cat, plus a rescue dog.

Wolfiefan · 08/05/2017 15:46

Additional needs and a kitten? They are biting and scratching little monsters to start with.
You can't put an unneutered female in a cattery.
It may unsettle it to send it to live with grandparents and cats don't always travel well. One of mine vomits and wees and poos EVERY time she's in the car. Even for a couple of minutes.
If anyone comes in to look at them they will have to be really very careful the kitten didn't dash out the front and get run over or run away.

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