Cat sitter or cattery?

[littlewoollypervert]

I may talk myself into one option or the other by the end of this post, helps to write it down!

6 mth old kittens, being spayed this week, am off on hols for 6 nights two weeks after that.

Catsitter
Cats will be in their own house, beds, toys etc
No need to check them into the cattery (i.e. no need to leave early/start late to get them to the place)
Can ask my friend to do it (for full cat sitter rate!) - she's only up the road and has a cat of her own (and I think could do with the money)
Someone will be in and out of my house at least once a day
I work f/t so they are already used to being alone a lot (I have timed feeding dishes, all their toys are left out to play with, and they have the run of the kitchen, sitting room, hall, stairs and my bedroom - spoilt kitties!)

Cattery
Potentially more human contact than a cat sitter - they will see someone a few times a day
Dedicated facility designed for cats
Professional business so comeback if anything goes wrong
Can only drop/pick up at 10am or 6pm (might be difficult)
Much smaller area to play in, looks a bit clinical in the pictures on their websites (all are wire cages with tiled floors for ease of cleaning)

Are there any advantages/disadvantages I've missed out to either?

I'm leaning towards cat sitter if my friend is free

I would always go for the sitter, we used to have a live-in sitter when we went on hols, they moved in, took care of kitty and the house while we were away, sometimes it cost more than our own holiday! but had peace of mind. I would always prefer sitter or friend popping in rather than cattery, they don't seem to like change and being around other cats can stress them out plus they'll punish you in their own special way!

If you have someone you can absolutely trust with your kitties, cat sitter is always the better option as it's less stressful for them. I'm guessing that as they haven't been neutered yet they don't go out, so if you are planning that eventually they will be outdoor I'd leave it until after the holiday.

I have a cat sitter for my two, and said I’d never put them in a Cattery. But due to health issues with both of them earlier this year I put them in a cattery for a week. They were absolutely fine.

And I didn’t worry about them. They sent photos and videos of them.

Hmmm I think cat sitter wins! (That's if my friend is around)

I used a cattery for my cat when we moved and the lady was brilliant, my cat had daily cuddles and I had daily updates too, I was worried he might escape from a cat sitter, a cattery maybe more expensive but well worth it!

Yup sitter every time. I've tried three cats in different catteries over the years and two of the three have seemed traumatised by the experience.