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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.

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Original poster

Cattery or cat sitter visits?

19 replies

movehimintothesun · 11/05/2022 10:26

Just after experienced cat parent's thoughts - we have had our 2 crazy sibling rescues since Dec, and have only been away for a couple of weekends since then. We've had a local, very trusted cat sitter come in for those occasions to feed and do litter tray, which has worked out well.

But I'm now wondering what is best to do for a longer (eg fortnights) holiday? I immediately thought they would need to go to a Cattery, but now I'm doubting myself and wondering if they'd be better at home? Any pros and cons I should consider? (££ is not the major concern on this occasion)

OP posts:

Want2beme · 11/05/2022 10:47

When I used to go on long holidays, (don't tend to do that anymore), I always left my cats at home. I didn't have a professional cat sitter, my mum used to come to my house everyday, and spend the whole day with them. I preferred to leave them at home, in their territory. I know that many cats like the catteries they go to and knowing that they're safe in there whilst you're away, would be reassuring. Would yours be able to cope with being away from home and without you all at once?

Toddlerteaplease · 11/05/2022 10:48

I have a cat sitter for Short trips. But any more than 1-2 nights they go to the cattery.

Lellochip · 11/05/2022 10:51

The longest I've left mine home alone is a week with daily/twice daily visits, because on the whole I don't think cats like strange new places. A fortnight feels like a long time with only brief company though, I felt guilty enough about a week. And mine is a lazy lump who is unlikely to get into trouble, two crazy young uns might be more of a risk to leave unsupervised for a longer time! If money's not a big issue, could you get a house sitter?

BurbageBrook · 11/05/2022 10:52

Most cats HATE catteries. Poor little mites will think they've been put back in the rescue centre. I think a visiting cat sitter is by far preferable!

Original poster

movehimintothesun · 11/05/2022 10:57

Thanks for your replies. I haven't got family nearby who could come each day (that does sounds ideal!) and I don't feel I could lean on friends for that long iyswim. They are 1year old, so quite playful still, and the girl is very skittish - won't let us touch her yet, but will sit with us in the same room etc so seems happy enough 😊. Agree that a fortnight with only brief company just feels too long somehow. But I'm not sure how attached they really are to us specifically tbh 😁 - I'd say the more important thing is they are together, they are very attached to each other's company.

Might look into house sitters, although that would feel strange in a different way!

OP posts:

Original poster

movehimintothesun · 11/05/2022 11:00

Want2beme · 11/05/2022 10:47

You're right in that I think I would be more reassured personally knowing they were in a Cattery - (and I have some good local recommendations from trusted sources); I just doubted myself for the reasons you say, that they would no doubt prefer to be in their known space. Pros and cons I guess!

OP posts:

Coughee · 11/05/2022 11:02

It's a tough decision isn't it? I have 2 cats who are very different. One who was a rescue didn't mind the cattery when we used it - perhaps instead of being traumatising it felt familiar to her. The other absolutely hated it and was really unsettled and unhappy there and for a while after. We now have someone to come in and feed them if we go away. I would feel safer with the constant supervision available in a cattery but I just can't do it to the cat who hates them.

Parker231 · 11/05/2022 11:06

We have a cat sitter twice a day. The cat much prefers staying at home in the quiet sleeping in her usual places. She would get stressed with the noise of a cattery.

RandomQuest · 11/05/2022 11:09

For trips longer than a week we either get my cousin to house sit or if he’s busy then we’d get the cat sitter to do a longer visit so on top of the basic fresh food and litter they also have the option of 45 minutes a day of interaction with a human. There’s no way I’d do a cattery, most cats are very attached to their environment and would be absolutely miserable.

SirenSays · 11/05/2022 11:10

I'm a house and pet sitter so obviously that's my bias. But honestly I know several people whose animals have gotten sick in catteries and kennels very recently.

whirlyhead · 11/05/2022 11:11

I used to send my 4 to a cattery for longer trips, but then decided to give my cat sitter a go at coming in twice a day. The cats are much happier at home. I now have a cat sitter who brings in her children, and they play with the cats for an hour at a time which works out well. The cats are very happy with her as they know her. I wouldn't use a cattery again, but it does depend on your cats. My lot are just happier at home.

Lottie4 · 12/05/2022 15:04

I was very lucky my last two were able to be at home as I had a trusted neighbour who would feed and check on them a few times a day and sit with them if they weren't quite right to assess (her choice) or my Mum to stay.

I no longer have this option with my present two, so we made the decision to put them in a cattery - pure reason being is that someone will see them a few times a day (well I've been told they look in the cages on a regular basis anyway!) and that way I'd hope if they were right, someone would realise sooner. I didn't want the risk of them going missing or being hurt, cat sitter not seeing them (which could be the case if visiting and cats out) and been left for a long time. On returning from the cattery my present two don't seem in any way stressed - in fact I often go there and can see them chilling out in the sun.

If you go down the cattery route, have a look around a couple beforehand if you can - you can get a feel for which you think would be best for them and also how the staff seem.

dancemom · 12/05/2022 15:25

Definitely cat sitter but one who would spend some chunks of time. We pay my friends teenage daughter to come and house / cat sit when we go away, she gets a place to herself and some cash and a fully stocked kitchen and we know the cats are fed, looked after and have company.

DisgruntledSloth · 12/05/2022 15:31

I would definitely get a cat sitter to come in maybe twice a day. My cat has an automatic feeder and the cat sitter comes in once a day to give him wet food and change water/litter tray and play with him for half an hour. I live in London and it costs £18 a visit.

Mine is also a rescue and I am sure he will think he is being sent back to Cats Protection if he went to a cattery.

Blowyourowntrumpet · 16/05/2022 15:43

I'd definitely use a cattery. I know he's safe and secure in a cattery. It's be constantly worried if I left him at home.

user1471548941 · 16/05/2022 17:41

1-2 nights and I get a family member to pop in and feed, scoop and check! Any longer and he goes to the cattery- he has FIV so I need to know he’s somewhere that will keep a close eye on him and get him off to the vet if looking under the weather. He also can’t go outside so this way I know he is secure- he’s very content indoors with us there to play and entertain him but I’d worry that with just one visit a day from someone else he would decide that he wanted to go exploring!

He goes to the same cattery each time and they make comments to us about his character that shows that they definitely spend time with him and engage with him. He’s fine going there- hops out of his box and curls up asleep under the heatlamp! He’s super sociable so happy to watch all the other cats and comings and goings- I think he would be unhappier at home alone without us- he is very very very attached to my husband!

Justkeeppedaling · 16/05/2022 18:31

We couldn't bring ourselves to leave our cat in a cattery. We viewed several and they were all like a Colditz for cats.
Our cat roams free all day in the woods behind our house and would have hated being locked in a cage with a small run.

We've left her for 3 weeks (once) and two weeks (a few times) and the odd weekend here and there. We get the cold shoulder for a few days when we come home, but she's fine.

Evenstar · 16/05/2022 19:10

When I had multiple cats I always used a pet sitter who went in twice a day, more recently if the dogs had a house sitter then they looked after the cat too.

I only have one cat now, so if the dogs come away with us (which is more often now due to our dog sitter giving up and all others being fully booked) she goes to a cattery. She is really happy there and I wouldn’t want to leave her alone for so long.

I think all options can be OK if you check them out properly.

ImInStealthMode · 16/05/2022 19:21

Our ex-feral nervous boy has someone (he knows) pop round if it's over a weekend, but any longer and I prefer him to be in the cattery, where someone is around all day so he's not alone 22 / 23 hours a day.

He doesn't love it but he's getting better each time he goes (he now lets lovely cattery lady stroke him so long as she has dreamies about her person).

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