What to do with cats at Christmas

[Mumsworkneverdone]

Hello,
please be gentle , I am in shock and devastated that my 11 year old Siamese Merlin has been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. We thought wheezing was asthma (so did the vet) and they gave us an asthma pump in March but it was really his enlarged heart pressing on his wind pipe, to add I would say I’m a devoted owner and sleep with the cats (there are two) every night (husband in another bedroom).
so what to do about Christmas. For context our house is too small to host the wider family and MIL (a widow) doesn’t want to visit us on her own as she would miss out seeing others.
We planned to visit my MIL in the Midlands with my kids (7 and 9) and they are very excited. I cannot at present find a cat sitter that can visit at Christmas at such short notice to give tablets he needs once a day and my poorly cat is very high strung and would completely freak out being in a cattery (not good for his heart either). For context I cannot give Merlin
my husbands proposal:
we take the cats with us the two hour journey to the Midlands to see his family and lock the cats in a bedroom essentially from Xmas eve to leaving Boxing Day morning. Technically the cats could roam a bit but there is a very busy road outside MIL’s house and a real chance of them dying if they escaped and got hit by a car. I don’t trust other family members will be careful enough not letting the cats out by mistake.
my proposal:
Travel up on Christmas Eve after I give the tablets , then travel home Christmas Day about 4pm so I can give the cat his tablets Xmas day eve (I realise they would be late but would look to give tablets at 1pm the day before. I would also be happy to stay home to make sure cats are ok but kids would be sad without me there and husband thinks I’m dreadful to even consider.
Obviously if I manage to find a professional who can help I will arrange this but my local ones are fully booked.
any advice would be very much appreciated.
please see photos for cat tax.

*for context I cannot give Merlin tablets in his food as he will eat the food and leave the tablets so have to give them by mouth.

Personally I think your option is the only reasonable option. Your husbands idea is just silly and dangerous as if cats got out the risk isn't just from cars. Being somewhere they aren't familiar with they'd get lost meaning no medication for potentially several days, assuming you ever find them. I can imagine travelling for 2 hours to a new location and then travelling 2 hours home after 2 days would be particularly stressful too. Gorgeous cats by the way.

Agree your proposal is the only feasible one. Your husband's would be very stressful for the cats and isn't really practical.

Can DH not drive MIL to your house for Christmas Day and back again, so she sees you and then the rest of the family afterwards?

I have catsat for neighbours over Christmas and have given liquid medication on food. I would never give a cat tablets. I have Siamese myself and they are very strong and yowly! Can you ask the vet if the drug can be given in another form or what is the harm if skipped for a couple of days?

Traffic on motorways is very quiet on Christmas day itself. I would travel up on Christmas day after breakfast (and giving the tablet).

Then return on Boxing day.

Or ask around your friends/neighbours if anyone has a teenager that would like to earn some money by coming in once a day for cat duties.

I'm guessing the cats would be happier at home.

GirlCat has HCM & gets stressed enough on the 5 minute drive to the vets. No way would I take her on a longer drive to a strange house full of people.
Have you asked if any of the nurses at your practice do occassional catsitting? Some of my colleagues did for pets who needed meds.
I also found a couple of good catsitters on Cat In A Flat who managed GirlCats meds.

I would definitely not take the cats with you. Not only is it potentially dangerous for them, but you will never be able to relax in case they get out.
I agree with the PP who said travel up after breakfast on Christmas Day. Do you really need to be there for Christmas Eve? I think that's better than driving home on Christmas Day at 4pm, as that will spoil the actual day for you, having to rush off.

Also, have you tried pill pocket treats for hiding meds? We have used the soft cat stick treats too with similar effect, with small pills pushed inside the treat.

I also think that getting someone else to give the cat the tablet would have a high chance of failure, unless the cat is unusually compliant or the person is a vet.

But how would you know which cat ate it though? I have two cats and struggle to monitor them when I put medication in food.

I meant to make administering it easier, so a friend /neighbour could give the meds rather than a professional catsitter who does medication (not all do)

It would be extremely cruel to transport the cats. What is he thinking??

Your MIL will have to come to you this year. End of story.

Yes, on reflection I take back my previous comment about getting a local teenager to do it.

I think the easiest option is to drive up on Christmas day morning and return on Boxing day so at least everyone can relax once they arrive and enjoy the rest of Christmas day itself.

Your proposal is best and I'm giving your DH the side eye that he isn't being more supportive towards you. Doesn't he realise how sad and stressful this is for you?

Or can you just do a home Christmas this year and your DH take the SC to MIL on boxing day? You're in a no win situation OP, I feel for you (and poor Merlin)

Does the medication have to be taken every single day?

You say you can delay the dose (lunchtime on 24th to late on 25th), could you just not give one dose so cat sitter can visit without administering one tablet?

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all these replies, they are extremely helpful! Glad to hear most people agree with me. Medication is daily. I shall talk to the vet about dose spacing and if liquid meds are an option. Thank you! Xx

Hiw difficult would it be for someone else to give him the tablet? You might find a local cat person willing to pop in, ask on local vets/ rescue places pages as you are more likely to get someone who's confident giving meds.

Our cat will take a tablet ground up in butter or lick-e-lix. If that would work you could consider a microchip active feeder to ensure the right cat gets the meds at the right time.

I wouldn't transport a cat for hours in car full of kids unless there was no other option. If you cant get a cat sitter could he stay overnight at the vets perhaps? Might be a bit quieter than a cattery and you'd know he would be given his meds and kept an eye on.

He's gorgeous btw 😍

Have you spoken to neighbours and friends? Otherwise maybe your vet can prescribe something longer lasting?

Otherwise, how about two vehicles so your DH and children can go up and stay for longer but you can go ahead with your option with accommodates Merlin’s medication?

I hope all goes well. Merlin is gorgeous. 😻

I think your idea is the best one OP.

TBH, I would just say I’m staying at home. I know my kids would have wanted to at that age as well if our animals health was at risk.