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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cats and vacation

14 replies

DutchCowgirl · 27/08/2024 07:13

I have 2 cats. One is a sleepyhead and prefers to stay indoor. The other likes to be outdoors , she never goes far, but there’s a patch of bushes behind our garden and she can hunt for mice there the whole day.

Last year when we went on holiday we had a catsitter twice a day. In the morning she let my outdoorcat out and at the end of the day back in again… but… one day the cat didn’t turn up and she was gone for a week!
So this year we went on holiday and we kept them both inside. A catsitter came round daily for food and play. However, my outdoorcat was really really stressed. She hated being locked in. We’ve been home for 2 weeks now and she still gives me death-stares.

I don’t know what to do… we’re planning to go away for Christmas and i can’t decide what would be the best for my cats!
Having a cat flap seems not ideal because my outdoorcat could go straying just as well, my indoorcat could go out.. what would you advise?

OP posts:
FloofPaws · 27/08/2024 07:34

We have the same issue. In fact the outdoor boy cat was kept in but he planned and executed his escape and didn't come home til we came home and was still then a bit 'feral-ish' for a few days .. he's back to himself now a few weeks later ... can you perhaps have the cat flap open

sunsetsandboardwalks · 27/08/2024 09:09

What about a microchip cat flap that's only set to allow the outdoor cat to go out?

For me, it would depend what you mean by stressed - if she was just pissed off then I'd keep her in, especially over winter when it gets dark so early and can get really cold for them outdoors.

If she was actually becoming unwell and showing behavioural issues then I would use a cat flap.

scorchia · 27/08/2024 09:18

How about a housesitter instead of someone dropping in?

Ecstaticmotion · 27/08/2024 09:23

Agree with @scorchia - use Rover to find someone to live in.

farfromideal · 27/08/2024 10:03

Use a live in cat sitter. That's what I do (I'm a sitter not a cat owner)

Original poster
DutchCowgirl · 27/08/2024 20:42

I had a live in catsitter once, but I found it difficult to trust someone with all my stuff. And the endless texting about how the washing machine works and the tv and the heating. It worked for the cats, but otherwise it wasn’t very relaxing. Also they are hard to find, especially around Christmas.

Good point that it is dark and colder then, maybe less difficult to keep her in.

OP posts:
HateMyRubbishBoss · 27/08/2024 20:46

We had to put ours to a cattery as I really can’t risk him wandering outside for weeks
He’d also be stressed with anyone in the house apart from us
cattery for us was perfect reassurance ..

Kw1234hhggf · 27/08/2024 20:53

Get a cat flap, if you indoors cat likes being indoors then he/she will stay indoors. Especially in winter! We have one and outdoorsy cat is in and out all day, lazy cat pops out to toilet and get a bit of fresh air a couple of times.

Edit to add we recently went go away a lot with two visits a day and both were waiting happily for food at every visit!

Ecstaticmotion · 27/08/2024 21:59

Write a manual for everything once, and you can just use that for every cat sit.

user1471548941 · 27/08/2024 22:04

Mine go to a cattery that is basically a family that have a row of "chalets" in their back garden.

Not all catteries are what people think. They are true cat people and over the years have clearly got to know our boys and spend plenty of time with them. After their first visit we knew they were a good fit because the guy had worked out a trick one of mine will do.

One of mine is part Bengal and VERY lively but seems to manage the smaller space well as long as he gets plenty of attention. And I enjoy my holiday FAR more knowing they are absolutely secure and under frequent supervision- no texting back and forth and being stressed about who's come in for dinner from thousands of miles away.

pearvines · 27/08/2024 22:07

I have a hybrid cat who loves being out in the day, but likes to sleep indoors at night, and does NOT like the elements. I'm worried about the pressure of getting her in at night as she sometimes doesn't come back straight away (although doesn't go far), and wouldn't want her out all night, so we've opted for a cattery for our 3 night break. I am dreading it. I know she's going to hate it but it's the only way I can guarantee her safety. I didn't feel this guilt putting my kids in nursery 🙈😂

SoupDragon · 28/08/2024 10:58

I send mine to a cattery when I go away on holiday. No, it isn't ideal being in a pen but I know that they are safe and looked after. They are only pissed off for a day or so when we get back.

ilovesooty · 29/08/2024 12:31

My two go to the cattery. I've been using the same one for years.

mitogoshi · 29/08/2024 12:33

This is why we used a cattery, meant there was no choice

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