Long Holiday - Cattery? Settling?

[LeChatChat]

When we went on a long holiday (ie more than 14 nights - we have family in the Far East) our late D-cat used to go to a cattery - we had a cat sitter for other trips, but one time while we were on a long trip, late D-cat decided we'd abandoned her and went missing / tried to move in with people half a mile away, which was really stressful.

We're now planning a long trip again, and have a pair of 2 year old cats who will need care. They've never been to a cattery before - might be a mad/silly question but do they need a 'settling trip' there for eg a weekend, or should we just go for it with our big trip (21 days)?

I just dump mine at the cattery and leave them.

Chilled out cat doesn't mind, nervous cat heads straight under a blanket. But nervous cat is even worse left at home.

I would not make it worse for me or them by doing a tester break.

They always forgive us by dinner time when they get home.

Definitely cattery & no settling in before.

My elderly cat has form for going missing when we left him at home with people looking after him. Its just added worry

Thank you both - that's good. They'll probably be a bit confused but at least they have each other...