Unwell cat and holiday plans - unsure what to do. Please be kind.

[ComingUpTrumps]

I’ve booked a holiday with my parents for a couple of weeks’ time, which we’re all really looking forward to, as we haven’t been on holiday together for a while. The holiday is for just under a week.

My parents have an elderly cat, who we all adore and who is amazing, but she’s starting to show signs of her age - she’s 19. So far, she has been the picture of health (as far as we know). She goes for annual check-ups and vaccinations at the vet, and at her most recent one (March), they said she was doing really well for her age and she got a clean bill of health.

A couple of weeks ago, their cat was off her food, then she got tempted into eating again. Over the last couple of days, she went off her food again. She is already treated like a queen, but my parents are going above and beyond to tempt her (as they should be ❤️). My parents booked her into a cattery for during our holiday, before she started going off her food. We know they’ll be kind to her, but won’t fuss over her like we do, because understandably they won’t have time.

I’m basically wondering if we should cancel our holiday, in case our cat doesn’t make it through the next few weeks? Sorry - can’t find a better way to put this! I’m also going to go and see her as soon as our holiday is over, to spend time with her. I love her so much and I know she’s elderly, so the moment was always going to come when we’d have to say bye, but I just find it really hard to accept. We all love her so so much. Is it selfish to go on holiday when she is off her food?

I wasn't meaning to judge anyone @DutchCowgirl - we all have different circumstances.

I'm personally very lucky to have all my family living nearby and we rarely travel anyway, so it's not a massive hardship to stay nearby if one of the animals is sick or elderly.

If my parents lived at the other end of the country I'd probably do things differently.

I wouldn’t consider going on holiday if my 19year old cat was in this situation. She’s old, ill & needs the people she loves round her. A pet sitter popping in to feed her or even stay all day, every day is not the same as her trusted owners/family.

There’s no way I would go or enjoy a holiday if I knew my cat would be ill without me. 19 years she’s given you, please be with her & go on holiday again.

Meant kindly!

We gave up trying to take holidays of more than one night when our cat got really old. It was bloody annoying but I couldn't bear the thought of not being there for her when she most needed us.

In my life, I have lost two previous pets when I was away on holiday and the guilt and "what-ifs" are so big.

See what the vet says, then make a judgement call after that.

I am a bit confused as to why a stranger in a familiar environment is more upsetting for the cat than a totally new environment filled with total strangers...

See what the vet says, but if you can't get a sitter to stay in your home (definitely less stressful than a strange environment!!), which is unlikely at this late notice, then I'd consider PTS based on the vet outcome, I really wouldn't send a cat this old and frail, who is upset by strangers, to somewhere totally alien to them.

Or of course, one of you or all of you don't go.

This. My boy is 14 so a bit younger, was recently off his food to the degree that he lost some weight. Turned out to need a tooth out that must have been causing him some pain. It was taken out last week and he was wolfing his dinner down the same night. Best wishes for it being something easy to solve OP.

Don’t cancel anything yet, she may well rally. Our cat is 22 and has been on and off food and off colour quite a few times over the last at least 7 years. Never anything the vet could find, so probably something transient like arthritic pain or a sore gum. Obviously you get worried every time and think this might be the last time and at some point it will. We do still travel - elderly parents abroad, important they see the grandkids regularly etc - but keep praying that nothing happens whilst we are away. For us it is twice a day pet sitters as he’s not used to catteries and hates change. I think even if the worst happened whilst we were away, I’d know he was in his usual surroundings and wouldn’t have been alone / without help any longer than on a normal weekday when we were both at work. Still a big relief when we come back and he’s greeting us with his old cat grumpy ‘where have you guys been?’ miaow.

I wouldn't leave a cat when ill, but for an elderly cat, I'd leave it at home with a cat sitter. It cares more about its territory than me, And we've always had more than one cat, usually siblings, so not completely alone.

And I have family within an hour who would step in if necessary.

As with another PP, I've had years of staying on hand for an elderly parent.

Does the cats vet do boarding? My mum had a really old dog and I remember him staying there when she went away. It did cost a fortune but was more individualistic than a cattery.

Thanks again for your posts and thoughts, everyone.

We’ve now heard back from the vet - they said she’s got an overactive thyroid. My parents will get some medication for her today.

Not as bad as I’d feared, but I still just want to make sure she’s okay and not in pain. All we want is for her to have a good quality of life.

That's excellent idea!!

And that's good news about the blood results!

Good news re the blood tests OP. Sending hugs. My last few cats have died at 23, 22, 20, 17 and 16. I would say go on holiday but am on the side of those who say get a cat sitter or a neighbour. When I do this (we're a very cat friendly road) I stay and play (with the younger cats) or just stay and chill and chat with the older ones. Only ever had one who didn't respond to this. Good luck and sending hugs 🫂

Good news as thats very treatable.

I still would not put this cat into an unknown cattery though - thyroid issues tend to cause confusion and anxiety, putting a cat with thyroid issues into a new environment full of strangers is going to be really stressful.

Better that she stay at home with one stranger to contend with, than a totally alien environment with multiple strangers.