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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

Cat sitter or cattery?

20 replies

Furrytoebean · 10/04/2019 10:45

We have three cats and usually use a cat sitter when we go away as we don't like to disturb their routine but I worry that they aren't being monitored to see how much each one eats,
What does everyone else prefer?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 10/04/2019 10:48

We've only used a cat sitter. Mine are only 2 though so only used them a few times.

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/04/2019 10:59

My cat prefers to be at home. You can get pet bowls that are activated by their microchip so you can segregate their food and the sitter can then be aware if who is eating what. Bowls aren't cheap but could be a good investment compared to the cost of cattery?

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/04/2019 11:01

Friends and or neighbours usually sit for our cat though as we do for theirs so it only costs the odd bottle of wine/box of chocs.

wowfudge · 10/04/2019 11:24

Cat sitter when we're away for more than a couple of nights. I've always found that if you ask them to do anything specific, like feed cats separately - we used to have two, one of which was a total gannet and would eat their own food then the other cat's given the chance - they will do.

ExpletiveDelighted · 10/04/2019 11:26

We do a mixture of both plus friends, depending on availability. Cat sitter/friends has the advantage of being cheaper and someone is keeping an eye on the house too, but we have had scares where one of the cats has buggered off for a day or two and worried the cat sitter. At least you always know where they are with a cattery.

Toddlerteaplease · 10/04/2019 12:28

I found a brilliant cattery and prefer my girls to be there. But I do have cat sitters as well. I swore my two wouldn't go into a cattery because of their background. But they had to dud to health issues. And they are fine. One of the staff absolutely adores Magic. And magic gives me daggers when I go to collect her. (She has a heated fortress to sleep in)

MaFleur · 10/04/2019 12:33

We use a cat sitter because they really prefer their own space to curl up in. Although they are a bit when we come home, I am convinced they are better off. DDog goes to kennels though. We have found somewhere that is perfect for him and he always comes home happy.

Magpiefeather · 10/04/2019 12:37

We did cattery at first but our cat was so miserable there, didn’t go out in the little run, refused to wee or poo for the first four days or so, poor little love just hated it. She hates the car too so even the journey there was traumatic for her. So we switched to cat sitters and she is so so much happier. I think she enjoys her little breaks from us with peace and quiet in the house!!!!

HuggedTheRedwoods · 10/04/2019 12:39

Cattery now as I have no family or trusted friends nearby that can come in but I'd say it also depends on your cats temperaments. Our younger cat is very timid of strangers so although she doesn't like the cattery she would be truly horrified if a stranger came into the house if she was home alone. We also did a few trial 'day care' days at the cattery to build up a bit of familarity and lessen the stress of the first proper stay. Its not ideal but at least I know eating and wellbeing is being monitored, plus they are safely contained. Also, our house was burgled years ago (before we had softycat) but was glad our old cat was in the cattery, would have hated for him to have been in the house when the scumbags broke in, he was very laidback and wouldn't have had the sense to go and hide.

AlexaAmbidextra · 10/04/2019 22:58

Cat sitter - every time.

Wolfiefan · 10/04/2019 23:03

Depends on the cats and the layout of your home. Our two would bugger off at the first chance and not come back for a stranger. Due to the layout of the house we can’t prevent this. So cattery it is. They act like best buddies whilst in there then continue hating each other for the rest of the year.

barberousbarbara · 11/04/2019 18:18

I use a cattery. My cat is terrified of strangers and hides even if she knows it's me coming through the door. She makes a huge deal of going to the cattery but I've spoken to the staff and they assure me she fine once we've left. She loves fuss and attention and I know she gets a few minutes a day in the cattery, whereas she wouldn't get it at home as she'd be hiding.

BayandBlonde · 11/04/2019 18:25

I will only use a cat sitter for mine for the same reasons.

I'm going away in a few weeks for 10 days, same usual person will be feeding them (they are house cats) but one suffers from cystitis so I'm going to invest in a couple of pet cams so I can keep my eye on them while I'm away.

She does a very distinctive 'dance' when she is feeling unwell which fortunately can be controlled with tablets if I spot it quick enough

Toddlerteaplease · 13/04/2019 08:15

My girls are going to the cattery on Tuesday and I can't wait. Of course I'll miss them, but I desperately need sleep without being prodded all night by cheddar. Shutting her out doesn't work!

PregnantSea · 13/04/2019 12:29

I always use a cat sitter because our girl hates travelling and would hate to be away from home. It's the least amount of stress for her if someone comes in to see to her.

GarthFunkel · 13/04/2019 13:11

Cattery which costs a fortune but we have one scaredy cat and one wanderer. I wouldn't want to worry the sitter if one cat buggered off and the other got stuck behind the sofa. Also they'd scratch the sofa to bits.

MaudesMum · 14/04/2019 09:19

I pay a catsitter, as it means my two get to stay in their regular home and keep to their usual routines. My oldest cat has been to a cattery twice, to keep her safe when I moved house, and hated it both times. The last time she refused to eat for several days and bit the person who tried to stroke her. Now she's older (14) I wouldn't put her through it again. The only thing I tend to do is block off the catflap so that the catsitter gets to see the cats and - if they are freaked by a stranger - they can't run away.

AnnaMagnani · 14/04/2019 09:30

Prefer cattery - I have a very bonded cat who is miserable when I am not there.

She is miserable in cattery - sits under a blanket the whole time, but she also doesn't understand being at home in an empty house. Which means we come home to lovely surprises like cat shit in my bit of the bed.

Have had this with other sets of cats before - they may like being at home but they find it weird as the routine is not the same as when you are there so it is still stressful for them. So it's off to cattery where generally they console themselves by eating 24/7 and come home fatter.

Sparklingbrook · 14/04/2019 09:30

Always the cattery. She has a routine that very much involves us and that can't be replicated by a stranger coming in and just feeding.
Also she likes going there, and loves the lady that runs it.

Some years ago the neighbours used a cat sitter and the cat just left home two days in. It came back about a week after they returned from holiday.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 14/04/2019 09:36

I'd never put Harry in a cattery, I couldn't bear the thought of him in a pen. We're going away for 3 weeks next month and we've got a cat sitter coming in twice a day. It's costing the price of another holiday but it's worth it. He'll be in his own home and be able to come and go as he pleases.

I still hate leaving him though!

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