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Original poster

Taking cats on holiday with me - am I mad?!

51 replies

silverley · 26/11/2021 20:16

Posting here to check whether this idea is actually reasonable, or whether I've completely lost the plot.

I'm living in Ireland but am hoping to go visit family in the UK around Christmas (2 weeks-1 month). I'll be taking my dog with me, but also have two cats. Looking at catterys today and my heart just sank...most of the ones in my area are essentially weld mesh cages in barns. I can't bear to think of them somewhere like that for a month.

Leaving them at my house and having a pet sitter come in isn't feasible, due to remote location and state of house (renovating at the moment). Would it be mad to take them with me to the UK for the month??? I'll drive and ferry over, then stay with family. They'd have to stay indoors for a month, but at least would be somewhere nice with people they know.

I'm just worried about the stress of travelling and a new place...what does everyone think??

OP posts:
DaisyNGO · 26/11/2021 20:18

If your family are happy with it, it's the best option.

ItsSnowJokes · 26/11/2021 20:20

Would your family like the cats in their house for a month? ? A lot of people won't want that many animals in their house for a month.

You will also need to take litter trays etc.......

Personally I don't know what to do for the best, the ideal would be a cat sitter coming to you in my opinion.

InTheLabyrinth · 26/11/2021 20:21

I guess it depends on the cat. Totally bonkers for either of my two. They'd have hated the journey, hated a new house, and hated new people. One of them hates the cattery, but is slowly tolerating it again after covid put a stop to travel, and it's only 5 mins of "touture" in the car.

Toddlerteaplease · 26/11/2021 20:22

Definitely not a good idea. Look around and find a cattery you like.

Floralnomad · 26/11/2021 20:23

I wouldn’t , the journey will be stressful and then they have to settle in a new house and id be constantly on alert about them escaping if they are used to being allowed out . I would ensure the trip was only 2 weeks and put them in the nicest chattery you can find .

Floralnomad · 26/11/2021 20:23

Cattery obviously !

Gncq · 26/11/2021 20:24

No you can't take cats with you for a month to a place they are unfamiliar with. They'll poo/wee everywhere or run off unless you keep them chained up.

You can get an automatic cat feeder and pay someone to refill it which is cheaper than a full cat sitter. At least the cats get to stay at home. It's a bit "abuse-y" to take them abroad!

Silverdorkinghen · 26/11/2021 20:25

I really don’t think it would be a good idea at all. Cats would find that very stressful. They are very different from dogs in this respect. Leaving them at home with someone popping in - doesn’t have to be every day to check they’re ok, refresh food and water would be better assuming they have cat flap. Do you have a neighbour or friend who would help you out or a professional who’ll charge mileage?

DoAsYouWouldBeMumBy · 26/11/2021 20:25

We have taken a cat to stay at family in that way before, and it was fine, the cat had a great time. Some people get a sedative from the vet for the travel, I think.

Feather12 · 26/11/2021 20:27

My previous cat used to love going to “granny’s”. But we did it from when he was a kitten, so her house was just an extension of his kingdom. The two idiots who I now live with wouldn’t tolerate it. I think the ferry sounds too stressful for them really. Local teenager?

Needspace21 · 26/11/2021 20:27

I travel with my cat when I go home. Just keep her in 24hrs so she doesn't get lost

SantasCat · 26/11/2021 20:27

Wouldn't you also need a pet passport taking them from Ireland to the UK? I think you need this EU to UK and vice version. I believe this takes a bit of time, assuming they are up to date with vaccinations and microchipping. Don't know what other stuff you need to do?

Iamanicepersonreally · 26/11/2021 20:29

It's a bad idea. Find a good cattery

DaisyNGO · 26/11/2021 20:30

Surprised by these replies
We've done it

Not that long a jouney but 5 hours drive maybe.

HunkyPunk · 26/11/2021 20:32

I would ensure the trip was only 2 weeks and put them in the nicest chattery you can find.

Chattery = French cattery! Sounds much nicer. My boy would love a chattery! A cattery not so much…

KitBot · 26/11/2021 20:34

Whatever you decide your pets will need rabies vaccines and a pet passport. They are permitted to travel 21 days after the rabies vaccine. You may want to decide quickly or they won't be travelling anywhere.

thecatneuterer · 26/11/2021 21:37

@Needspace21

I travel with my cat when I go home. Just keep her in 24hrs so she doesn't get lost
That is terrible, terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE advice! Cats should be kept in any new place for at least three weeks, sometimes longer if it's nervous cat. This is what most rescues recommend. Yes, there may be some cats that don't disappear forever if you only keep them in for 24 hours, but there aren't many!

Working in a rescue I can't tell you how many times we hear about cats that have been lost as they have been sent to stay with family while the owners have been on holiday. They have then got out in their new place, never to be seen again. And a lot of times when we pick up stray cats and manage to reunite them with their owners via microchip, and they are miles from home, then that is the reason given.

OP, the journey will be stressful. They would need to be confined to one room in the new place for at least a week and ideally for the duration. And all doors and windows would need to remain carefully shut. If you think you could keep them in one room for that time then you could consider it, but I think a cattery would be a better option.

icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 22:36

Do not do this - it's an awful idea.

Cats are territorial animals as a rule and do not like being disrupted and moved from their home. If you don't want to use a sitter then you need to put them in a cattery for their own safety.

Why would you want to put your cats through all the stress of travel and being cooped up in their carriers for hours on end just so you can have a holiday?

Your cats would also need an animal
health certificate and a rabies jab each before being allowed to travel anyway.

www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland

RaisinRainbow · 26/11/2021 22:36

I can follow your thinking about taking your kitts. It could be stressful for them to undertake the journey, and it might be stressful and distracting fo you at your accommodation as they will require extra attention and might be very frightened.
There will be the escape risk and they will be in a totally new area - it could wreck your holiday if that happens,
As there are two of them, assume a bonded pair - I'd use the cattery option. Can probs have them in the same cabin for comfort and companionship, and they will be professionally cared for.
Maybe able to drive a little further to find something cosier. Staff will prob update you, maybe even with piccies. Set up a webcam?

Original poster
silverley · 26/11/2021 22:38

Thanks all for the replies, it seems I have lost my mind!

I really wish a cattery was a straightforward option. The nearest one to me is an hour's drive away, and doesn't have any outside space for the cats, which I don't love the idea of, especially for a longer period of time. The nicest one I can find in the area is a two hour drive away in one direction, and Dublin Port only about a three hour drive in the other direction. So I sort of felt that by the time I got them to this unfamiliar but nice enough place, they'd have done a fair bit of travelling anyway, if you see what I mean?

Ideally yes, having a neighbour or friend come here to feed them and let them in and out would be a good solution. I don't really have any friends here (part of the reason I'm so desperate to get home for a visit and considering mad plans) and my neighbours mostly think I'm mad for doing things like letting the cats in the house or taking them to the vet (lots of farms with semi-feral barn cats). So I don't feel like anyone would be too keen to take care of them, and worry they might not get much care in that situation either.

I think to say it's abuse to take them on a ferry is a bit much, but I know it would be stressful for them and wouldn't even be considering it if I didn't feel my options were quite limited.

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 22:40

If they're not vaccinated against rabies you won't be able to take them anywhere outside of the UK anyway.

Are the vaccinated?

PollyPeePants · 26/11/2021 22:40

We regularly take our cat to our holiday home (well a few times a year). She doesn't like the journey too much but once she gets there she is not too bad. Sometimes she will go out in the garden in the holiday place, sometimes she won't.
It's not ideal but better than leaving her at home alone.
But it's not for all cats I'm sure.

Original poster
silverley · 26/11/2021 22:43

Also, I've looked into pet passport regulations and it wouldn't be an issue to sort all that out.

What would be the longest everyone would be happy to leave their cats in a cattery for? They're such lovely friendly cats, siblings, and I just hate the thought of them sat in a little cage together with hardly any interaction with anyone. I realise I have taken on the responsibility of looking after them, but I am also just desperate to see my family, some of whom I haven't seen in over a year.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 26/11/2021 22:45

My mum used to take her cat to france with her on holiday. It was to their holiday home so it was for quite long periods. The cat hated it the first time for about a week and then was fine once it got used to travelling and then on subsequent visits was just fine straight away.
If its for an extended period and its likely to happen repeatedly then its probably fine

icedcoffees · 26/11/2021 22:45

@silverley

Also, I've looked into pet passport regulations and it wouldn't be an issue to sort all that out.

What would be the longest everyone would be happy to leave their cats in a cattery for? They're such lovely friendly cats, siblings, and I just hate the thought of them sat in a little cage together with hardly any interaction with anyone. I realise I have taken on the responsibility of looking after them, but I am also just desperate to see my family, some of whom I haven't seen in over a year.

I don't know any cattery that's like that. Why do you think they won't get any interaction or attention? Confused