Which option is less mean for a kitten?

[Clearlynotmyname]

We have a 3 month old kitten who has been with us for around a month. We are going to be away for 4 nights (please don't flame me, I feel awful about leaving him but would also feel awful for DCs if we cancel this break) and I have a couple of options for catsitting. Which of these do you think is kinder and less disruptive for him?

A: visit his "birth home" to stay with his mum and 2 littermates - there won't be people staying there overnight but there would be more visitors in and out than at ours
B: stay at home, with a visit and cuddle from a catsittertwice a day

I guess what I'm asking is which is more important for a kitten - home territory or company? Also will his birth home still be familiar and comforting, or the opposite by now?

A cat sitter would be better. After being away from his litter mates and mother for so long, he will now smell different and they may not accept him.

B. 100%. He’ll be perfectly happy.

His mother and littermates won’t recognise him as a littermate after a month away. He’ll be an invader in their territory. Catsitter will be infinitely less stressful for him.

Can you ask a friend to catsit/housesit instead? Presumably a cat sitter would come in for 1hr a day tops and the rest of the time is too long for such a young kitten imo.

Definitely a cat sitter. He will sleep most of the time anyway. Maybe put the telly or radio on for him.

Option B definitely!

My cat sitter offered twice daily visits for my older cats. If that’s an option then I’d go for B. As others have said, this is his home now and his siblings won’t be like long-lost friends, they’ll be random other cats.

I don’t think you can leave a 3 month old kitten on their own with a twice daily cat sitter. It’s recommended that they ideally don’t even leave mum until 13 weeks. They’re the equivalent of a very young child, they would be lonely and could get into trouble very easily. A cat sitter staying would be ideal. Otherwise I’d go for a nice cattery. He’d been fine going to another house, I’m not sure about with the other cats though, if the person you got him from is an experienced breeder should be ok.

Can you find a teenager or someone who'd be prepared to sleep/live at your house for a few days?

You need someone to be at your house with him for the majority of the time at that age. He's too young to be left alone for long periods and sending him away could be extremely stressful for him.

A friend or family member to stay at your house with the kitten, or a excellent cattery. My cat stayed at a family run cattery where their child (8 to 10yo) spent a lot of time with the cats as well. I wasn't even allowed to adopt a kitten that young working full time, let alone leaving them with only twice daily visits.

And it's really not about 'less mean' as both of those options are unsuitable for a kitten who's only just old enough to leave its mother.

Normally on these threads I always say get the cat sitter, your cat won’t care you’re gone and will just sleep throughout the day etc. But 3 months is so, so little I really think you need someone there a bit more. Echoing PPs, do you know anyone who could stay at yours for the nights you are away?

My grumpy old antisocial cat would be fine with twice daily visits for that length of time but I wouldn't risk it with a kitten, they're too mischievous and agile.

Is there a cattery near you?

If only between those options, then B - and really agree with PP on twice daily visits.

Cattery would be preferable though, he’ll get much more attention.

B

Thanks all for your answers. I was heavily leaning towards B too but a friend was trying to convince me that it is cruel and A would be far better.

He’d been fine going to another house, I’m not sure about with the other cats though, if the person you got him from is an experienced breeder should be ok
It's not an experienced breeder - just a normal house.

I'll see if I can find anyone to do longer sitting. I was offering £5 a visit, what would be a non insulting offer say for a half day cat/house sitting?

B is better than A but not ideal - mine would have clawed / chewed / generally destroyed everything in sight at that age without someone to stop her.

I think the cat sitter for longer periods of time or someone overnight is essential. With a kitten there could be lots of disasters where he knocks things over / hurts himself - certainly our (older) kitten keeps knocking things over.

Is a cattery really not viable ? It would be safer for your kitten and perhaps more reassuring for you.

If you do want to get a cat sitter, I know prices vary, but £5 a visit seems quite low to me. I'd expect more like £10 - £12 for a kitten (because there is potentially more effort / clearing up / interaction needed than with an older cat).

Half a day really isn’t enough for a tiny kitten. If someone isn’t able to stay then cattery is by far the best option for you I think. I presume he’s had all his vaccinations?

Ours was £10–15 per visit. Not cheap.

How long were you expecting the visits to be for a fiver? Presumably not long! Sorry but I agree with your friend that 2 x pop in visits is cruel. It would be absolutely fine for an adult cat but not a kitten

A teenager would do it cheaply, if you throw in Netflix, wifi, snacks, a full freezer etc.
Would have to be someone reliable though who won't hold a rave at your house!

Ours was £10 for one visit a day, £15 for two. Cattery was £10 a day.
A kitten that young needs someone to stay at your house, and preferably not someone going out to work full time.

Thanks all. I had discounted cattery as I thought that would be worse for him than staying at home but seems like the consensus is otherwise! I will see if I can find space at one. He's had all his vaccinations yes.

In these circumstances, definitely a cattery.

When the cat is older, just get someone to come in once or twice a day.