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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

Going on holiday - pet sitter or cattery?

19 replies

SteaknSalad · 05/05/2023 18:38

We are planning to go on holiday for a week in July, when our kitten will be 7 months old.

He is very cuddly, playful and friendly, and I’m quite worried about him feeling lonely without us around. He really loves lots of human attention!

Would it be best to put him in a cattery for the week, or to get a pet sitter to visit twice daily? Which option do you think would be less stressful or lonely for him?

My thinking is that in a cattery he might get more frequent human attention throughout the day, but he would have the stress of not being in his home environment. Whereas with a pet sitter he would have his home comforts but would only see a human twice a day for 30 minutes. Not sure which is best!

OP posts:

MeetMyCat · 05/05/2023 19:17

If we’re away for more than 2 nights, our girl goes into cattery. I like to know that she’s “kept an eye on” all the time, and there’s no way on earth she could get run over or disappear or have a mishap.

Clymene · 05/05/2023 19:19

I'd go for a pet sitter. Cats find being in a cattery quite stressful and although I have used one, it's a last resort. I'm not sure that cats in catteries get a lot more attention to be honest - the one I used to take my cat to had about 40 cats in the room so not a lot of opportunity to spend time with each one individually!

helpfulperson · 05/05/2023 19:22

I would go for a cattery and see how it goes. He may love it. If not next time you can try a cat sitter. 7 months is young to be left alone. I adopted a father and son , 2 years and 7 months. They went to a cattery until the wee one was a year and they went in and out via the catflap.

Original poster

SteaknSalad · 05/05/2023 19:37

@helpfulperson tbh that is another concern of mine, that at 7 months it still feels like he might be too young to be apart from us for a week - I’m now thinking that perhaps we should try a 3 day weekend trip instead to see how he does with the separation. I think 3 days with a good pet sitter to come and play with/cuddle him twice a day would hopefully be ok.

OP posts:

Purplecatshopaholic · 05/05/2023 19:45

I personally think that’s too young for you to leave him either way. When he’s older it would be fine and I always use a cat sitter so all mine are at home, not stressed. Also means there’s people in your house twice a day while you are out - mine will put the bins out, draw curtains etc, as well as look after my cats. It’s great peace of mind. I would constantly worry about them being shut in a small cage alone if they were in the chattery, so even less interaction than with a cat sitter.

rainraingoawaay · 05/05/2023 19:49

When we go away we have a cat sitter / family member come over, we've got a nervous cat who we know wouldn't cope with the stress of a cattery + I think it's nice for them to be in their own territory and familiar space.

I've got indoor cameras so can check on them when we're away, they've got a cat flap and have 2 hours a day of human attention. They just nap for most of the other time! 2 weeks is the longest we've gone, they were really excited when we got home, but we get the same excitement levels when we've been gone for one night or four! I'm not sure how much they can tell the passage of time, but no ill effects over here.

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 05/05/2023 19:50

SteaknSalad · 05/05/2023 19:37

kitten need attention i dont think two visits per day is enough.
for short trips i book a sitter but for a week or more i prefer to put my cat in the cattery where she gets loads of attention!

RandomMess · 05/05/2023 19:54

Have you any friends or family that could holiday at your house for the week?

Mañanarama · 05/05/2023 19:59

We looked round more catteries than we did schools for the kids. Found a really lovely one and I’m happy that our cat is totally safe and well looked after when he’s there, my mind is totally at rest.

Plottingspringescape · 05/05/2023 21:08

Do you have a friend or family member that could stay at yours while you are away? That is what I did when we left our kitten for a week? He was quite happy with that.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 05/05/2023 22:24

It depends on the cat, really.

We left ours at home when she was about six months old with my SIL coming into see her twice a day. She also brought our nieces round to play with her so she got lots of attention.

She was absolutely fine.

Brazilagogo · 05/05/2023 22:34

I’d not leave a 7 month old for a week with cat sitters coming in twice a day so a cattery might be better.

We use Trustedhousesitters to look after ours at home now (because staying in their own home is much less stressful for them) but appreciate that having a stranger living in your house is not for everyone.

JagerbombsUnite · 05/05/2023 22:37

A cattery is the best if your cat can cope. No chance for any mischief and not need for strangers in your house!
Put him in for a few days now - see how he likes it.

CoronationQuiche · 05/05/2023 22:44

I’m not a fan of Catteries. Hugely stressful for most cats. They’re not like dogs. They are considered optional social and very much territory based. Someone staying over would be the best option if that is possible. Will you kitten be going out and about? If yes, I would definitely chose a cat sitter over chattery. Even if you’ve not allowing them out yet, I would still choose a cat sitter. Kitten might get lonely but it won’t be stressed out and I can’t believe cats in a Cattery get more than a couple of half an hour’s worth of attention a day.

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/05/2023 22:46

Pet sitter. Ours hate catteries. Do a couple of sessions before you go away, so they can get to know each other a little.

Toddlerteaplease · 06/05/2023 00:12

I also put mine in a. Cattery if I'm away for more than one night. My pair go to a really good one and have a great time. Abs I know they are safe.

stayathomer · 06/05/2023 00:20

We have had our cats at home the two times we were away, both times by cat lovers and both times it was a nightmare! I don’t know if your kitten is an indoor kitten but if not I would definitely send to a cattery where they’ll be kept in the whole time. Our cats went walk about both times, with at one stage the minder, who they knew well by the way, ringing to say she wasn’t sure if another cat was eating their food. She was only meant to call in a number of times but basically started camping out and yes, it turned out our cats only popped home once while we were away for a week. The day we came back they came bounding back all out of sorts. The other time they stayed about but wouldn’t go into the house. While your cat probably won’t love the cattery, it’s a safe place for her

miccoops · 10/05/2023 12:51

I’ve used both and prefer a pet sitter. I think it’s much nicer for them. I do lock the catflap though as it was recommended by the rspca when we adopted our rescue. They said when you go away cats can wander further to look
for you and go out of their usual territory so more risk of road traffic accidents, getting lost etc. I always come home to two happy cats. The pet sitter sends daily updates with photos and is insured to take them to the vet if there was ever an issue. 7 months is pretty young so it might be better to try a shorter trip away first..

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 10/05/2023 14:18

I really don't like catteries, I think it's a really unnatural environment for them.

Mine stay in their own home with a sitter coming in twice a day.

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