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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.

Original poster

Cattery or Cat Visitor

44 replies

Sylvie78 · 18/03/2025 11:22

Hello!

we have 2 cats who have been with us for about a month now and rule the house :-) we are away for a week in August, and I’m not sure whether they would be better in a cattery or with a service where someone visits them at home each day. Does anyone have any advice or experiences they can offer please?

thanks!

OP posts:
GOODCAT · 18/03/2025 11:24

Our late cat was very stressed going into a cattery and didn't settle at all. After that we got a cat visitor. It also meant someone was going in and out of the house so that was being kept an eye on too

mangobe · 18/03/2025 11:25

I think it depends on the cats really, mine are absolutely fine with a cattery so we have always just done that. But if they had been stressed, we would definitely have gotten a visitor. I suppose in August, availability might factor in too as I know our cattery fills up quite quickly 😄

biscuitsandbooks · 18/03/2025 11:29

I’m a cat sitter myself and would personally never put my cats in a cattery.

Pigeonqueen · 18/03/2025 11:49

There are benefits to both. Cattery means you know they’re not going to have an accident outside or get lost / wander off. Visitor means cats still get to enjoy the comfort and security of their own home. Personally we choose a cattery as I know they’re safe and we won’t have a sudden phone call where they’ve hurt themselves / got into a fight / not come back etc but I think it really depends on your cats.

AnnaMagnani · 18/03/2025 12:01

One of mine doesn't mind either way.

The other hates both but probably hates cattery less. I think she finds being at home without us very stressful.

However there aren't as many catteries now so can be hard to find.

Mumof1andacat · 18/03/2025 12:08

Personality dependent I think. Our usual cattery closed down just after covid. It was lovely and our cat was very settled there. We tried another and it wasn't good. However we've since found another and we're happy and the cat has settled well. If you want to book something cattery or sitter I would do it ASAP. School holidays book up very quickly

stormsandsunshine · 18/03/2025 12:11

Our childhood cats hated catteries and were really unhappy.

One of my current cats is very anxious about change and new spaces so I think she wouldn’t cope in a cattery. Planning on booking a cat visitor for when we go away.

Surelythistime · 18/03/2025 12:19

We’ve used a pop in person recently after having used a cattery for the past few years. We found the pop ins much more convenient. The cattery we used to use was great but you could only drop off and pick up at certain times so if this didn’t suit with when you wanted to leave for your holiday you had to pay an extra day to take them the day before - this may not be the case for all of course.

Also catching them to put them in their boxes was always pretty tricky once they knew we were after them.

I like someone being in the house while we are away as well in case anything goes wrong.

It’s also half the price!

Happyears · 18/03/2025 12:22

Cat sitter who spends at least 15 minutes doing stroking as well as the practical stuff. Most cats loathe catteries. I had one cat once who loved one particular cattery so much that we used to leave her there even while he had building jobs going on in the house because she was so happy there. But she was the exception. If anyone wonders which cattery, it was Oakley Hotel for Cats in Bromley.

stayathomer · 18/03/2025 12:26

Our cat has run away every single time we’ve had minders but when we put her in a cattery they rang day three to say they were worried about her. Personally I never want to go away again(!) but I think she’s just too used to me (she’s like a little dog that follows me about). I’d say try both for a day and see how she seems after

Cappuccino5 · 18/03/2025 12:29

Cat visitor 100%. I used a cattery once and never again.

helpfulperson · 18/03/2025 12:40

I always used a cattery and my cats wete fine but got a rescue in 2020 who was distraught in the cattery. I think he thought he had been abandoned again.

So since then I've used a catsitter who comes for half an hour in the morning and half an hour at night. I pay a bit more for a company as I know if anything happens to the scheduled sitter someone else will come, the have staffing to take cats to the vet if necessary and all their staff have pet first aid certificates.

Lifestooshort71 · 18/03/2025 12:46

My daughter always uses a good local cattery - her cat is ok with it, quite safe and cared for, but sulks a bit on return. My son uses a cat sitter but their cats are shut in for the duration and bicker like mad. Horses for courses. (Couldn't think of a cats for...?)

finallydecorating · 18/03/2025 12:47

Cat visitor 100%.

Many cats hate catteries.

Caspianberg · 18/03/2025 12:52

We use trusted housesitters where someone stays in your home the whole time. It’s ideal as they then get all the basics of food and care, but also just generally someone around more and attention even if they are out in the day

Toddlerteaplease · 18/03/2025 13:54

I prefer my cats to go to the cattery. I know she’s happy there. And I am more relaxed. I do have a cat sitter who is very good. But Penelope just hides from her. So Im
far more relaxed with the cattery. Although I have to book a year in advance as it fills up.

Allergictoironing · 18/03/2025 18:56

Considering they've only been with you a month, I would have somebody in rather than a cattery. They've just had massive upheaval in their lives, first the rescue then their new home, they don't need another shock to the system.

They wouldn't have been able to go out at the rescue, and presumably you've only jusu started letting them out (if you have at all) at home, so someone coming in and them staying as indoor only for the duration seems best to me.

Breadcat24 · 18/03/2025 19:01

our cat likes our house more than us, she would be traumatized if we took her to a cattery.
Having said that some posters on here like @Toddlerteaplease seem to have catteries like a cat hotel

ArmyBarbie · 18/03/2025 19:04

Cat visitor. They're much happier in their own home, plus it gives us a bit of peace of mind knowing someone is in and out of tho house, can bring post in, would know if there was a problem.

We do keep the cats in while we're away. They're itching to get out by the time we get back but they seem fine whilst we're gone.

IKnowASecret · 18/03/2025 19:04

Cat sitters. Most cats get very stressed in catteries especially if they've been used to going outside.

Puppylucky · 18/03/2025 19:05

We have cat sitters who stay in the house so they are available for Elton's whims 24l/7. Like a PP I think if we sent him to a cattery he would think he'd been dumped again. It works out very well usually - the sitters are lovely and shower Elton with attention and our house is looked after. The only downside is having to clean the house when I am trying to get ready for the trip!

Misspacorabanne · 18/03/2025 19:08

@stayathomer your cat sounds like mine! We only got her in January and she follows me around. She doesn’t get on with next doors cat and when we have been out for the day (longest we’ve left her) she has been physically sick, we think it’s stress related! So does the vet.
We go away later in the year and already I’m dreading leaving her, I had booked a cat sitter but I just wonder how she will be with the neighbours cat, plus she’s not good with strangers. So I’ve booked a cattery, I know she won’t like it, but I know she’s safe from other cats, she’s such an anxious little thing. I wouldn’t be surprised to get a call!

Misspacorabanne · 18/03/2025 19:13

@stayathomer did your cat settle back down quickly once you’d collected from the cattery? Did you collect early?

Favouritefruits · 18/03/2025 19:19

My two hate both so now we holiday with them 😐 we book a cat friendly cottage. The would be away from home in a cattery anyway but this way they seem to preferred as they have us around and the whole of the accommodation not just a tiny room.

Favouritefruits · 18/03/2025 19:20

Just reread that back and it doesn’t make sense, hopefully you get the jist of it 😂

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