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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.

Original poster

Travel with kittens

34 replies

Trekkerbabe · 29/09/2021 22:41

About to bring home two 11 week old kittens. Litter trained.
My mum can possibly look after them while we are away at Oct half term but welcome views on whether we could take them with us.
3.5 hour journey from Kent to Devon
Staying in a cottage that allows pets.
We will be out during the day hiking and beaching etc.
I've seen previous posters recommend crates and Feliway.
Thoughts welcome on whether we could take them with us and if so what kit I need.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Wolfiefan · 29/09/2021 22:43

I wouldn’t. Cats don’t often like being in a car. They could escape while you are there. Or rip the place to shreds. Or pee everywhere.
Honestly I wouldn’t be having a holiday away from kittens I had only just brought home.

Shmithecat2 · 29/09/2021 22:43

Are you planning to keep them in the crates the entire time?

Lifeishitsometimes · 29/09/2021 22:47

3.5hrs from Kent to Devon?? It's a really long way unless you're only going to Devon border area! Anyway... I'm sure you could get a pet sitter/house sitter to come in whilst away and whilst potentially costly, probably cheaper than spending out on anti anxiety meds, crates, potential loss of deposit if cats scratch something to death. They won't be bothered who is looking after them.

Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 29/09/2021 22:47

I'm not planning anything. I'm politely asking for advice.

OP posts:
Shmithecat2 · 29/09/2021 22:53

@Trekkerbabe

I'm not planning anything. I'm politely asking for advice.
I asked, because that would be the only way to keep them safe. Kittens can sneak into all sorts of tiny nooks and crevices. But then crating them for the duration of the holiday wouldn't be the best idea either. They'd be best off at home with your mum or a pet sitter. They don't really need so much travel and upheaval especially as soon as you get them. As Wolfie said, it's not the greatest idea to holiday at the same time as bringing new pets home.
sepsisandAKI · 29/09/2021 22:59

I really wouldn’t recommend taking them. Ideally you should be at home with them for a good few weeks. I know when we got our kitten from the RSPCA they wanted to make sure we weren’t having a holiday for at least 2 months. Our kitten hid for 2 days when he came home. We eventually found him in the piano! Who knows where they could end up in a house you don’t know!

Elisheva · 29/09/2021 23:07

Will your mum be staying with them? They will be too young to be left alone.

Clymene · 29/09/2021 23:19

Put them in a cattery

OnceUponAThread · 29/09/2021 23:29

Given how close we are to October half term wouldn't the best and most responsible thing be to not pick them up till after your holiday.

  • you definitely can't take them with you. You'd have to keep them constantly crated which is very cruel as letting them out will be dangerous and they could run for it. Also - they won't even be used to you / your home yet, let alone the disruption of a holiday.
  • you could try a cattery, but IMO they're too little, and it will totally disrupt settling in at yours and set you back weeks.
  • a responsible and qualified cat sitter could work, but that early they will still be acclimatising, getting used to the space and litter trays etc. It's not really fair on either of you. What if they won't settle etc? If you do go for this approach you'll need to pay for a sitter who stays overnight, rather than one who comes once a day. They should be eating regularly when they're weeny and they don't have food control so you can't just leave one out overnight. Also you may find they try and eat risky things in your house without supervision.

A trusted family member who can stay overnight for the duration and can be trusted to close windows, scoop litter, keep a close eye is a slightly better option.

But really, the only responsible and fair thing to do is either cancel the holiday or leave them where they are settled and collect anyway.

OnceUponAThread · 29/09/2021 23:30

Also, you say they are litter trained, but that's only true where they are now. Once you move them there will be a period of adjustment and accidents may well happen.

Mumdiva99 · 30/09/2021 06:44

Young kittens will need tobbe at home. Once you get them you will realise that crating them is not an option - they zoom around the house and need to play and get out the energy. Moving them can unsettle them a lot. Ours have a 20 minute ride to the cattery and aren't impressed. Last time they meowed all the way. I wouldn't want that for 3.5 hours. Too much for them.

When we had a trip booked after bringing our home we decided that husband and daughter stayed home with the kittens and myself and the boys went on the trip. My daughter then had time and space to really bond with the cats. They had stability and we all had peace of mind.

icedcoffees · 30/09/2021 07:18

Please don't take your kittens on holiday - all it would take is for someone to leave a door or window open and they'll be off and you may never get them back.

Cats are very territorial in general and they would do best staying at home - if your mum can't stay then you may need to look at a cat sitter who you pay to stay at your house. Just doing visits isn't enough for two such young kittens.

Alternatively you can use a cattery but I suspect most will have been booked up for half term months ago.

Hopeisallineed · 30/09/2021 07:22

As others have said, don’t take them with you. You will need a reliable live-in house/pet sitter. If we go away we sometimes offer our house up to friends for a holiday and they feed the cats in return. There are also companies who run a similar scheme online.

Shmithecat2 · 30/09/2021 07:56

I very much doubt a decent cattery will take them, as at 11 weeks their initial vaccine schedule won't be complete.

icedcoffees · 30/09/2021 08:01

@Shmithecat2

I very much doubt a decent cattery will take them, as at 11 weeks their initial vaccine schedule won't be complete.
They're 11 weeks now but will be older by the time OP is due to go away.

I'm not sure if catteries have a minimum age?

2lsinllama · 30/09/2021 08:10

Agree with pp, unless you can have a trusted house sitter then o would see if I could delay getting them until after the holiday. I actually did this with our old girl when we got her 15 years ago. The breeder was happy to keep her for two weeks extra with her mum and we paid for her food.

Clymene · 30/09/2021 08:11

They do have lower age limits but they won't take any kitten that hasn't been fully vaccinated

Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 30/09/2021 13:30

Thanks all. My mum will house sit🙂

OP posts:
Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 08/11/2021 23:15

Well here they are and thought I'd let you all know we stayed at home for half term as I've had Covid for the last three weeks!!!

They are great additions to the family and hilarious to watch at play.

Travel with kittens
Travel with kittens
Travel with kittens
OP posts:
Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 08/11/2021 23:17

Well here they are and thought I'd let you all know we stayed at home for half term as I've had Covid for the last three weeks!!!

They are great additions to the family and hilarious to watch at play.

Travel with kittens
Travel with kittens
Travel with kittens
OP posts:
boredsolicitor · 08/11/2021 23:18

adorable!!

Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 08/11/2021 23:18

Well here they are and thought I'd let you all know we stayed at home for half term as I've had Covid for the last three weeks!!!

They are great additions to the family and hilarious to watch at play.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trekkerbabe · 08/11/2021 23:21

🙊🙀sorry about the duplicate messages

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 09/11/2021 18:59

Don't do it!

Yiayoula · 09/11/2021 19:05

Gorgeous kittens !

And hope you’re soon feeling better, OP.

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