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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

Cat sitter versus cattery for 3-4 weeks?

28 replies

trrk · 03/12/2022 12:13

We plan to make a family visit to New Zealand and considering the distance and us not having seen family since pre-Covid we want to go for as long as possible. We’d need to be away at least 3 weeks but 4 would be better from the family perspective, but not for the cat.

Would you go with a cattery or cat sitter for this length of time? He’s quite a nervous cat but he’s OK at the cattery once he adjusts but hates the car trip (the only good one we have found so far is a 40 drive each way). Generally I feel he’s happier at home with the cat sitter coming twice a day (spends almost an hour each time) but we have only used the cat sitter for 5-6 days before. Has anyone used a cat sitter for longer times and the cat still been happy? I read they can feel abandoned after a week or so.

OP posts:

Original poster

trrk · 03/12/2022 12:14

BTW he is an indoor cat.

OP posts:

Lemonademoney · 03/12/2022 12:15

We’ve had a parent come and feed/play with our cat twice a day when we were away for 3 weeks. She hates the Cattery so we decided this was probably kinder but I did feel quite guilty about the length of time.

TwoBlueFish · 03/12/2022 12:15

We’ve always used a cat sitter but usually we’re not away for more than 7-10 days. Maybe look at a house sitter instead? My dad has used house sitters a few times (rural France) and has had good experiences.

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 03/12/2022 12:16

Ours go to the cattery for 3 weeks happily enough but they are a bonded pair so go in one enclosure. My girl over groomed a bit when she was there for a fortnight though.

BatshitandBonkers · 03/12/2022 12:17

My cat would be distraught in a cattery for that length of time. I think a sitter would be kinder.

Clymene · 03/12/2022 12:18

Cats are territorial so I'd only ever use a cattery as a last resort. In order of preference for your cat, I'd go house sitter, cat sitter, cattery.

JoanOgden · 03/12/2022 12:37

Yes, I'd get a housesitter - useful to look after the house as well! I've had great experiences with Trusted Housesitters, if you don't have any family or friends who'd like to stay.

cecinestpasunepipe · 03/12/2022 12:38

I have a brilliant cat sitter who I first found on Cat in a Flat, but is now a friend. If you use an agency,you should be covered for insurance should anything go wrong. If you can afford it, arrange for two visits a day and check that they will spend time on play and cuddles as well as feeding and litter tray duties. My sitter sends me loads of pictures and videos of my three which gives me peace of mind, but also makes me feel a bit homesick as well!

Floralnomad · 03/12/2022 12:55

I’d try and get a friend to live in your house , do you know anyone who has young adults living at home that could house sit sensibly , or I’d get an actual professional house sitter . Indoor cats need lots of attention and there is no way my sons Siamese could be left for a week with a couple of visits a day let alone 4 weeks .

FoxandFeathers · 03/12/2022 13:02

It’s a tricky one. Would you worry about him getting outside if you left him at home? Could your cat easily shoot out of the door for example if someone wasn’t used to him?
I used a cattery once near an animal / outdoorsy college. My cat had students in his pen for hours playing with him for their work experience and he was thoroughly spoilt, the calmest I’d seen him after a holiday. I think I’d go for the cattery. Maybe call them and ask if there is anything they do differently for longer term cats? It might put your mind at ease.

thelobsterquadrille · 03/12/2022 14:08

I'd never send my cats to a cattery tbh. A cat sitter so they can stay in their own space and territory is much better, unless they have medical conditions that need regular monitoring.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2022 15:03

Cattery. I have indoor cats and wouldn't leave them for longer than two nights with the cat sitter. They love their cattery.

Parker231 · 03/12/2022 15:06

Catsitter every time - she much prefers being in a familiar place and hated the noise at the cattery the one time we used it.

SkylightSkylight · 03/12/2022 15:06

Best option is to ask a fried/friends 'living at home adult child' to stay.

Original poster

trrk · 05/12/2022 10:17

Thanks all for advice, plenty to think about.

Unfortunately no suitable friends that could stay and family are all in New Zealand. I hadn’t considered a house sitter but I would worry about how long my cat will take to adjust to someone new and also us being a long way away if something goes wrong. It took quite awhile before he was happy with the cat sitter that we have used although so far only for 5 days at a time.

OP posts:

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/12/2022 10:19

Pet sitter, someone who’ll live in while you’re away.

Upfartooearly · 05/12/2022 10:39

I have never used a cautery as I know a few people who have had bad experiences with their pets health I do know that’s the not the norm but it worried me. Over the years, I’ve had friends take my cat into their house, used the cat sitter’s boarding service (which is now now not offered), had the cat sitter stay overnight every other night, and have been using Trustedhousesitters for the past few years.

Floralnomad · 05/12/2022 10:41

trrk · 05/12/2022 10:17

Thanks all for advice, plenty to think about.

I think I would go for a really nice cattery then . Our Siamese would be ok with a house sitter living in as they love everyone that comes through the door , it sounds like your cat is going to be nightly pissed off with any option so a cattery at least would be the safest option .

helpfulperson · 05/12/2022 10:50

I think in your circumstances a cattery would be best. Mine would be happy with a sitter because the are outdoor cats and don't really care who feeds them so long as someone does.

gogohmm · 05/12/2022 10:51

Cattery for longer periods, twice daily visits isn't enough we found

Cherry35 · 05/12/2022 11:00

Could you leave your cat at the cat sitter's house? This way he would have company most of the day.

Too long to be either home alone with a sitter coming to feed him and too long for cattery.

Once I left my cat for 4 weeks at cat sitter's house. She had her own cat, had a playdate before the trip. She didn't like the cat but tolerated each other during this time. When we were back, she was upset for 2 days before going back to her normal self.

thelobsterquadrille · 05/12/2022 12:08

Cherry35 · 05/12/2022 11:00

Could you leave your cat at the cat sitter's house? This way he would have company most of the day.

Too long to be either home alone with a sitter coming to feed him and too long for cattery.

The sitter would need a license from the council to do this. You can't board a dog or a cat in your home for money without one - it's illegal.

msbevvy · 05/12/2022 12:12

I have worked in a couple of catteries, albeit many years ago. I would definitely go with the cat-sitter option.

eyebright22 · 06/12/2022 07:24

I've got the same problem coming up, for my very shy cat. A cattery is a definite no-no, as she is a rescue and would freak out. She is also a lap cat though that needs lots of affection.

I've got a system now of 5 days or less, get a cat sitter to come in twice a day. Any more than that, it's a house-sitter. I decided on that because I've had a house sitter before for a two week break, and it took 4 days for my cat to come out of hiding and be relatively comfortable around her, so it seems kinder to just have a twice a day visit for shorter breaks.

Alicay · 06/12/2022 07:33

Catsitter! Ours hates the cattery & we were away for 4 weeks. It was all fine.
She was even quite nice to me when we came back! (Cat, not the sitter).

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