Boarding cattery vs. house/pet sitter

[zafferana]

I'd love to know about your experience with using a pet sitter vs. putting your cat in a cattery. We are due to go away for 2-3 weeks in August and I'm having a bit of wobble about putting my cat in a cattery for such a long time. She is very independent and loves to be out in the garden and having put her a cattery for just three days over half term I could see how depressed she was when I went to pick her up. She was in a tiny cage with a window and I just can't imagine her being stuck in there for 2-3 weeks. We will also need someone to care for our garden while we're away or everything will be dead/a wilderness when we come back. Anyone with any experience of house/pet sitters?

My pet sitter charges £50 a night to look after the house as well. Its not cheap. For two visits a day its £20 and she is fantastic spends loads of time playing with them. Shes down South which is probably why its dearer. Have you got any younger relatives that could do it? I wouldnt use a cattery after finding a good sitter.

If she was in what you describe then it was the wrong cattery. For 2 to 3 weeks I would go for a cattery or house sitter. I think over that period you need someone who will see more of your pet than a couple of days and able to deal with ongoing vet issues if your cat needs.

For that period of time I'd be willing to consider paying for a double occupancy pen at a cattery to ensure plenty of space. And one that looks out onto a garden with plenty of wildlife to watch.

Sorry, couple of visits a day.

I used to work in a cattery and despite the best of care, most cats find it stressful being away from home and in close proximity to lots of other cats. I always use a pet sitter for my own cats now. Much better to keep them in their usual routine in the familiarity of home.

I think the cats protection league recommend cat sitters for up to two weeks. We have a good cat sitter and what we do is get the cat sitter to come morning an evening leaving the cat out in the day and as we don't have a cat flap I know the cat will get to see the cat sitter Those times as she'll be letting the cat in or out . We technically have a two week holiday this year but I'm really relieved it's probably not happening as I was still worried about the cat getting lonely - I know my cat would hate a cautery though
Ideally I was hoping one of my friends might stay over for a couple of nights had we been going away so can you think of anyone who might like a few days in your house ?

We are down south @EachandEveryone. Cattery around here is around £20 a day and the only one I've found is all indoor cages. Some have windows, some don't, I pay extra for one with a window, but I'd much prefer one with outside space if I could find it.

Sadly, I don't have any relatives who live nearby, either young or old! I will ask on my neighbourhood group though to see if there is someone local, as ideally someone would come first thing, at teatime and at bedtime to make sure she is in, safe and fed.

@Silhillian I think you're right. I hadn't actually seen my cat in the cattery, because last year we weren't allowed past reception, due to Covid. Seeing her there yesterday and how listless she was when I went to get her really broke my heart, but I'm glad I saw it, because it has made me rethink using a cattery for our proposed longer trip.

@Thirtyrock39 if we're allowed to we're planning to be away for 21 nights - I really don't think anyone I know would want to come and stay in our house that long!

My cats go to a lovely cattery. With ducks and chickens to watch. They have a great time, and I'm much more relaxed knowing they are safe. I have a sitter if I'm o my away overnight.

Ive used these before uk.catinaflat.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_eFBhDZARIsALHjIKfwpUOf5SsKm_-USr8wwg9X4fSPhuH-aPDF5IEHKkuue_TFcfW6YIEaAjL-EALw_wcB if you are north London Hertfordshire I can give you mines details.

I use Cat in a Flat for weekends away, and am looking into Trusted Housesitters for my summer holiday - annual charge of about £100 to sign up then free housesitting. Of course I am a bit anxious about having a random stay in my house, but there are various vetting procedures so hopefully it will be OK.

Thanks @EachandEveryone and @JoanOgden for the recommendation of Cat in a Flat. I am in Herts and there seem to be quite a few sitters available in my town, which is good as I'd like them to pop in at least twice (pref. three times) a day, so it will need to be someone local.

I use a cat sitter, she’s lovely and she runs a cat sanctuary so she’s both competent and my money goes to her rescued and antisocial cats too.

It’s £10 per visit, so £20 a day and she usually does feed, litter and 30 minutes of play. She also sends me photos which is a really lovely relief when I’m away.

I used pawshake to find her, and went off the reviews but usually if you ask on local Facebook sites you’ll be able to work out who is trusted.

I'm a cat sitter and I charge £8 per visit (30 minutes), or £15 for two visits per day. Each visit includes feeding, fresh water, litter cleaning/changing and some play if the cats are interested, though many only care about me when I'm feeding them

When I go away myself, I have someone come to my home. I have three cats so they all keep each other company and one is very nervous and would NOT do well in a cattery environment.

Where are you @cupsofcoffee? Two visits a day is around £25 where I live and that seems an awful lot for popping round to a local address, feeding and playing with a cat for an hour a day.

Is that on the website we linked? My own sitter is £18 to do just that she’s Potters Bar way.

@zafferana

Where are you *@cupsofcoffee*? Two visits a day is around £25 where I live and that seems an awful lot for popping round to a local address, feeding and playing with a cat for an hour a day.

I'm in Cumbria!

I have a cat-sitting job starting tonight - two cats who just need feeding and litter trays cleaning. I'm going in today and tomorrow (the owners are only away for one night) - I charged them £15 as I have a dog-walking job practically next door to them but the lady insisted on paying me £20, bless her

The cost makes sense when you think two visits a day could easily take up to 60-90 mins each (getting there, checking everything ok, refill food and water, do litter tray, 30 mins play, go home again). Even if the person only lives 10-15 mins away, that's up to an hour every day just going backwards and forwards. It limits what else you can do that day.

I've cat sat a few times - several times for a friend in London where I housesat too for several weeks. But that was effectively getting rent-free accommodation in London for a few weeks, and I was there morning and evening to check on the cat. So mutually beneficial and very enjoyable.
I've also helped out a friend by cat sitting over a couple of weekends and this did turn out to be really annoying - only 10 mins away but having to go twice a day limited what else we could do. Especially if the cat had gone outside and you couldn't find it again to put back inside when leaving!

The cost makes sense when you think two visits a day could easily take up to 60-90 mins each (getting there, checking everything ok, refill food and water, do litter tray, 30 mins play, go home again). Even if the person only lives 10-15 mins away, that's up to an hour every day just going backwards and forwards. It limits what else you can do that day.

My cat visits don't take anywhere near that much time lol.

I don't do cat visits unless they're max. 8 miles from me, otherwise they're not worth it in terms of time/money. I spend about 20 minutes at the home - feeding and litter trays take 5 minutes max, then we do some fuss - none of the cats I've sat have ever wanted any playtime - then a few minutes at the end washing bowls and locking up.

I also only do them first thing in the morning or last thing at night, or they fit in the gaps between my dog walks. I won't do them in the middle of the day as they're too disruptive and not worth the hassle.

Does anyone know any cat sitters in the Nottingham area?

We are due to go away in August and our cat will be 5 months old. I can’t imagine leaving him in a cattery but I’m equally worried he will get lonely at home. I don’t know what to do.

Glad you posted this OP.

I wouldn't leave a 5 month old unsupervised for most of the day. I think it's a good age to introduce him to a cattery or get someone to stay over.

@helpfulperson

I wouldn't leave a 5 month old unsupervised for most of the day. I think it's a good age to introduce him to a cattery or get someone to stay over.

Our cats have been left unsupervised all day since we got them at 10-12 weeks old.

I'd never stay off work to sit with a cat

Argh - I'm really torn! DH doesn't want to leave the cat with free range around the house while we're away, because he wants to put the alarm on - fair enough. But that means she'd have to be contained in the utility room. We could put a cat flap in the utility room door, but lady from a nice cattery nearby (that doesn't have space) said she thought the cat should really be kept inside while we're away of 'she could get into trouble', which is also a good point. I can't find any catteries nearby though that I like the look of - they all just seem to be tiny cages or indoor rooms

Are you sure the cat would set off the alarm?

Leaving her in one room all the time isn't fair on her at all.

I wouldn't leave a 5 month old unsupervised for most of the day.

He’s unsupervised three days a week while I work and copes quite nicely. Plays, sleeps and looks out the window.