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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

Want to get kittens but have holidays booked...

11 replies

IronLion · 17/08/2019 07:41

We’d really like to get a couple of kittens but wondering what we do about upcoming holidays in about 6 weeks time. Kittens currently 3 months old.

I’ve not owned a car as an adult but remember as a kid we just asked a neighbor or friend to pop in and feed our cats twice a day.

But I’m guessing the kittens would still be too young for that. Is a cattery suitable?

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 17/08/2019 07:46

Well they’d be ok in a cattery. Certainly too young for neighbours popping round.

viccat · 17/08/2019 08:42

You could put them in a cattery I suppose but it's not the best idea so soon after you get them. Are you set on specific kittens or is there any reason why you can't just wait until after your holiday?

sweetkitty · 17/08/2019 08:48

The last two years we have waited until after our holidays to get kitten(s) then we had the rest of the school holidays to settle them in.

I think if it has to be these kittens a chattery is probably your best bet.

CassianAndor · 17/08/2019 08:49

Can you get anyone to housesit for you, who knows about kittens?

Otherwise I’d put it off until after your holiday.

BillywilliamV · 17/08/2019 08:51

We sent our kitten back to stay with her Mum and Dad for 10 days, is this an option?

MmeBufo · 17/08/2019 08:52

Wait until after the holiday. Are they from a breeder? If so they might be willing to arrange to keep them for you until you get back (if they're already payed for and you offer a bording fee too).

thecatneuterer · 18/08/2019 17:27

At four months old and if there are two of them I don't see why you shouldn't ask a neighbour to feed twice a day. They would just need to be careful not to let them out or leave windows open.

Rescues have a terrible time at this time of year as no one is adopting for precisely this reason - they all want to wait until after their holidays. Our rescue has literally dozens, if not hundreds, of the cutest kittens ever and no one is adopting right now.

So if you can possible adopt a couple now you would be doing the rescue and the cat world a big favour.

And I really hope you're not buying privately or going to a breeder when there are so many in rescue and the last thing we need is for people to be encouraged to let their cats reproduce. And I know I sound preachy - but I think it's impossible to be involved in cat rescue and not to be preachy :)

KittiesInsane · 02/09/2019 17:14

We did this one summer, but it was in the middle of the summer holiday so there was practically a relay of eager teenagers and neighbours coming in to kitten-sit. I think you need to look at asking someone to house-sit for the week. Will it be half-term? Can you bribe a sixth-former to come and study at your house?

Raphael34 · 02/09/2019 17:29

I’d definitely rule out a cattery. They are hugely stressful for cats. Age should always be kept in their own homes if possible. How long are you on holiday for?

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2019 08:15

@Raphael34 my cats adore their cattery. They have chickens, ducks and horses to watch. Snorg will always jump straight into jet carrier when she wants to go home. At the cattery she has to be retrieved from her 'castle' as she won't come out. The staff genuinely love her too.

Spinderellacutituponetime · 04/09/2019 08:28

We got a friend to come and feed them/sit with them and kitten proofed a large room upstairs.

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