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?

It feels so awful leaving them at a cattering the first time! I thought mine would be traumatised. Nope - bloody loved it.

B and C

C =get him a friend asap to bond with and he will not be alone

It feels so awful leaving them at a cattering the first time! I thought mine would be traumatised. Nope - bloody loved it.

Aww thank you RandomCatGenerator that made me feel much better!

Meanwhile, DKitten is sat next to me merrily shredding a chair, just to make the point that he should not be left alone

Definitely B! My cats have always been much happier staying at home. Does your kitten have a heated bed? I've always had one and they absolutely love it and sleep in it about 22 hours a day

Definitely not A. Any breeder who let him go at 8 weeks is irresponsible, so I wouldn't be sending him back there any time soon.

I definitely recommend a cattery, my kitten got loads of fuss and attention there and it’s peace of mind for you that you know they’re safe, they get themselves into so much mischief at that age I remember picking it up out of the toilet bowl once as it fell in!

I've just worked it out and actually he came to us at 11 weeks, so he's now nearly 4 months. Not that it makes a huge difference I guess. But the breeder wasn't as irresponsible as I made out!

Neither option is suitable for such a young kitten. They need more company than two short visits a day (and £5 is nowhere near enough!)

I'm a cat sitter and offer two visits a day for £15 but I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that for a kitten under six months, really - that would be three visits a day minimum and I'd charge around £20.

Overnight stays would cost you £35 per night which would include a midday visit.

My minimum charge for a job is £8 for 30 minutes. Any less than that and it's not worth it.

Pay a housesitter? There are companies who do this cheaply, and the sitters do petcare.

Just to clarify, the £5 was for a teenager (who lives about a minute away), not a professional sitter.

But anyway after all the advice I am going to try and find a cattery, there are some that look nice near us.

Cattery.

I'd not enjoy my break away worrying about dkitten alone in the house.
Option A is a no way.

Cat sitter. Taking him "home" would he confusing.

However, I have a very needy cat. She would be so miserable only being visited a couple of times a day. Is there someone who could visit more or look after them at their home while you are away? I had my sisters cats at mine recently. One of them likes a lot of human contact and she'd have hated me just nipping in twice a day.

I also would never use a cattery. I used one once and it took my cat ages to get over it. I'd rather a twice a day pop in than a cattery.

I suspect most catteries will be fully booked for the summer.

Our local one booked out back in April and has no space until the end of September now.

Just to clarify, the £5 was for a teenager (who lives about a minute away), not a professional sitter.

Please don't trust your pets' life to a teenager down the road. All it takes is for them to leave a door or window open and you have a missing and possibly pregnant or injured/dead cat.

I've read a fair few horror stories where people have done similar and the teenager hasn't cleaned up accidents, has left the litter trays filthy or hasn't locked up after themselves. They also don't have the knowledge or experience to spot signs of illness and won't know to get your cat to the vet if necessary.

Our cattery was lovely.

B or a cattery!

I know you asked people not to flame you but why on earth did you get a kitten knowing you had a holiday booked, or booked a holiday knowing you’d just got a very young kitten? So irresponsible.

I would use a cattery. Go and visit them before you book. There are some I wouldn't use but there are some amazing ones too.

Aw why didnt you get his littermate?

My 4 month old kitten is going to a lovely cattery that we have used for previous DCats. It’s much too young to leave them at home with just visits in my opinion.

@carrietwick same happened here with my then 11 week old, I literally was just standing up to pull up my clothes and plop. Kitten in the toilet bowl.

A: visit his "birth home" to stay with his mum and 2 littermates - there won't be people staying there overnight

I didn't understand this - if he came from "a normal house" not an experienced breeder, why wouldn't there be someone staying there overnight ?

Regardless though, as others have said, a cattery is the best option