Holidays and cattery

[PeacheyPeach]

When you're away for a couple of weeks holiday. Do you send the cat to a cattery or have a friend/neighbor come in and feed them?

Cattery. I've been using the same one for years and my cats have all seemed happy there.

I have a pet care service come in once a day to give fresh food, leave fresh water and fresh dried food, pick out cat trays (we have clumping litter, so unless one has an upset stomach, they don’t need changing in that time). There are lots out there. Some are just one person doing this, dog walking etc. I personally would never use anyone who did not have back-up. I chose not to use one nice and quite knowledgeable person because they hadn’t considered what would happen if they were not available (e.g. taken ill & in hospital)!

I have Siamese cats. I initially used a cattery many years ago and my previously calm and happy cat came back nervous and highly strung. Cats, IMHO don’t cope well with a dramatic change in environment.

My SIL comes in twice a day and feeds them, sorts their litter trays and has a play if they're interested.

Two of mine are quite shy and nervous and I'd hate to remove them from their home for long periods like that.

They're absolutely fine at home and we've never had any accidents or damage.

I'm also a dog walker myself and regularly provide drop ins for cats while owners are away - whether that's for a night or a week the cats are always absolutely fine!

I took mine to a cattery once and would never do it again. It broke my heart to leave him stuck in a pen, like a prison. It was only for two nights but when he came home he was really quiet and didn't miaow at all for a couple of days which is very unlike him.

We're going away soon and I'm paying someone to come and spend time with him in our home a couple of times a day. At least then he'll have familiar surroundings and plenty of space to roam around.

Neighbour comes in. They have cats too so I do the same for them.

Dcat is pretty independent, loves to be out and about and also has other families around that she visits - I reckon she’s much happier at home than in a cattery. Wouldn’t be the case for all cats though.

Another option is a house sitter- look on housesittersuk or trustedsitters, there are people who will come stay in your house and look after your cat, for free. They get a change of scene and you get cat/housesitting. Requires a lot of trust of course but there are reviews and you can have video calls first.

Hmm I hadnt thought of a house sitter, might look into that, hate the idea of our kitty being in a cage for two weeks. Just didn't want to have the pressure of asking a neighbor to come in twice a day plus empty the litter tray and play with them on top of that.

Neighbours but if I didn’t have such lovely ones I would pay for someone to visit at home
Certainly not a cattery

I pay a cat sitter from Cat in a Flat. It's usually around £12-15 a day for two visits, they feed water and scoop litter trays (full change too if we are away for longer), they also give the rabbits and guinea pigs food and water.
I found a good sitter who we usually use, we still book through the website though as then they are covered by the companies insurance.

Cattery.

I left mine with a neighbour once and one cat had an eye problem and one disappeared. Never again. They may not like the cattery but I know they are safe and cared for.

A previous neighbour in out old house was a Cat Person and used to look after them though.

This is in no way typical but I would like to share.
We have 2 cats, a microchip cat flap and a conservatory where they can get into and out off through their flap. We have relatives who are also cat people and who volunteered to look after our two while we were away.
When we got home and opened the conservatory door there was an almighty smell of cat wee and a lake you could float a small boat it. In addition some of the wallpaper had been scratched from one wall.
Upon discussion with said relative s/he said they couldn't understand it, cos they were ok to begin with, no mess of any kind. Then about 12days in they started soiling - which they had cleared up but obviously didn't see the lake. When we investigated we found that the cat flap had been locked shut. It turns out that their youngest child had come up with them and was showing off to a friend about the cat flap, not realising what she was doing when s/he locked it. (I later found out they had rooted about in the house and found some Christmas presents I'd left in an upstairs room.
Needless to say - it's been a cattery from then on.

Cattery definitely. I wouldn't want anyone to have the responsibility should the cat need the vet or go missing. She wouldn't be good with strangers coming in and out. I know of so many people where the cat went missing because the routine was all messed up.

Obviously the cattery has a completely different routine but they are being looked after and they aren't going anywhere. Go and look around some, there are some great ones out there. If the pen looks like a prison then don't do it.Ours will send you an update every day along with a picture if you want one. I had to prise Sparklingcat from the cattery lady's arms the last visit.

Neighbours and I feed each other’s cats. Works very well - cats are in their usual kingdoms.

Our dog walker also does pet visits so she comes in to feed, change litter, play with our cat when we go away. She's wonderful, all insured, etc.

We have a paid catsitter who comes once a day - £10 a visit. I think that’s the best of both worlds as not relying on friends to manage problems but cats can stay at home. We also might ask a friend to drop in on them in addition so they don’t get lonely (indoor cats, very sociable).

For up to three nights I have a great lady who comes in twice a day and feeds them and locks/unlocks the catflap and plays with them. Longer than that I prefer a cattery.

I had a cat sitter that came twice a day. I knew her personally anyway so could trust her with the house/cats. She even hoovered to get rid of cat fur in our living room!

For our previous cats in the past, we've had neighbours and friends come round to feed them for the week.

Our current cat however we've put into a cattery. She is very sociable with us and I think she'd be lonely in the house by herself. Even if someone came in once or twice a day to feed her, she'd be calling out and wandering around looking for people - I worry this would upset her more than being in a cattery, where she is at least looked after and safe.

I have a "once a day" cat sitter - she sends me photos and videos to keep me updated 😻

One of my cats is terribly territorial and became stressed being so close to so many strange cats at the cattery. Another one of my cats isn't a fan of the territorial one and didn't like being stuck in a small cattery space with him

I use Trustedhousitters.com. If you’re away a long time it’s much more affordable than a private sitting service and my cat hates the cattery. She doesn’t like being left alone for a long time either. I’ve been really lucky, I had some amazing people sit and quite a few repeat sitters. My cat always seems upset when I get back

@Coffee4Queen

I use Trustedhousitters.com. If you’re away a long time it’s much more affordable than a private sitting service and my cat hates the cattery. She doesn’t like being left alone for a long time either. I’ve been really lucky, I had some amazing people sit and quite a few repeat sitters. My cat always seems upset when I get back

We use Trusted Housesitters too. Our DCat would freak out in a cattery ( he hates other cats and is not good at change management). He was also pretty pissed off at a sitter who just came twice a day- he's used to lots of human attention. Our housesitters are usually experienced with animals and they can also pick up post, water the garden etc. So no money changes hands but both sides get something out of it.

Rule My cat is the same with attention. She is always around us and will only disappear when she has her main sleep. Also my flat is always sparkling when I get back! The sitters always leave it spotless and much more clean than when I left.

Some cats love the cattery, ours does. He’s social and playful and likes the company
Ours does daily food/mood diary and puts him on FB sometimes too

Cattery. Ours was bonded to us and I didn’t want him being left alone in the house.

We tried leaving him with mil once but it didn’t work out.

Cattery. My two go to a fantastic one. They love it. And I relax properly knowing they are having a ball.

Mine have a view of ducks, chickens and horses. They are not happy to be taken home. As home is boring apparently.