Hi,

I'm heading away for three months soon and am really worried about my cat.

Previous longest holiday was a little under a month and cost nearly £200 at the cattery.

I don't really want to spend £600 for a three-month stay and am not really sure how she'll cope being in a cage for such a long time

Nobody nearby that I would trust/has offered to look after her. Just wondering if anybody else had any suggestions?

Cheers

Simon

I would if i lived nearer i am always cat sitting for friends because i love cats. Couldnt you let her go to someones house where you pay them to look after them in there own homes. I would get in quick though as they might be booked up quick due to holiday season.

When you say cage, you actually mean chalet - I hope? - A good cattery will have a spacious head-height pens to house the cats.

If you don't have anyone you trust to look after her, the other alternatives are a vet nurse who could come in twice a day to feed her (but personally I wouldn't want to leave my cat in those circumstances for that length of time) or a fulltime professional housesitter - but they will be more expensive.

I wouldn't leave my cat for a month, never mind three. Pet ownership comes with a lot of responsibility and swanning off for months at a time is not on. Can't you rehome him/her?

You're joking right?! Some of us have a life

So does the cat!

So you get a pet that you off load for three months because YOU have a life!! What about the poor cat ?

Oh dear. Off 'soon' and you have nothing sorted. Sorting out accommodation / care for your cat should be part of booking your holiday, not an afterthought which is what it seems to be in this case.

Your choices IMHO are limited. I wouldn't want to put the burden of caring for any of my cats on someone else for 3 months, except the cattery or *possibly* a really trustworthy pet sitter.

However you might managed to negotiate a discount for 3 months - it's worth a go. And in my experience pet sitters don't cost much less than a cattery, if anything.

The longest i looked after someones cat for is just over 4 wks. I was lucky i went at least 4 times a day as they are our neighbours. I wouldnt leave a cat for three months in your own home at all it is far too long.

Just to clarify - 'soon' means the end of September

She never has a problem in the cattery - she goes 2 or 3 times a year - just never for anywhere near this long.

... and the cattery is very nice, spacious and I know she's well looked after.

It's mainly the cost - £600 is a lot of money But I guess it's the best choice.

Thanks anyway.

Glad you are getting something sorted out.

Hope you sort something out! I am stressed about two weeks next june!!

Would your mum and dad take the cat ? Failing that do you have a friend who will move into your house and look after it ?

3 months is a hell of a long time to go away and leave an animal, but hey ho it's just my opinion.

Perhaps you would be better suited to having a goldfish ?
Portable you see, and no trouble regarding feelings of abandonment.

What a very odd and unhelpful contribution. It's not up to you to judge what other people do, the OP was asking for advice. If you haven't got any, there's no disgrace in not offering it.

I have very good neighbours who if necessary look after my cats otherwise my son would come to stay they have even given my cats pills and looked after a cat that i was looking after at the time.(my mum was rushed to hospital). I dont realy go away now because of my cats i just dont like leaving them plus i do have lots(my choice). I would rather go away for the day and come back. I do hope you enjoy your holiday can i come with you as i will need a break after the kids summer holiday please

Just out of interest - when you say "chalet" what do you mean? Are the cat's shut in 24/7?

Yep. .

I would expect a cattery to look something like the pics here.

Yep - that's pretty much what my cattery looks like.

Just thought of it this way, If you are bringing a animal in from abroad it has too go into quaritine for 6 months and they are ok with that. I am sure you cat is going to be ok

would like to see someone who keeps goldfish in ideal tank size for the adult fish describe it as a portable set-up even for a fancy goldfish you need a 3ft tank!

if i were the OP and i was happy to disappear for 3 months at a time, i wouldnt own a pet, i would rehome to someone who can put in the hours any pet deserves. seems cruel to put it into another 'home' for 3 months, to then uproot it again and move it back home. it must be very unsettling for the poor animal.

Of course - there are usually dozens of cats staying there and they must not mingle for health reasons. There are often biggger 'family chalets' so several cats in one household can share. But that is the whole attraction, they are safe, they won't get run over or have fights with other cats, they will be fed, watered and completely comfortable - but they are confined to a smallish space - it's like a large shed. That is why mine only ever go in for a week at a time. If I was a keen 'long holiday' person I wouldn't have pets - a cattery is not really ideal for longterm stays.

Have you thought about a house/cat sitter?
www.housecarers.com
I used to frequently travel for 4-6 week holidays and always use this site. I have never had a problem and have met some lovely people through it. ( with return invitations to Canada and Australia )
Basically you post your details and people from all over the world get in touch. You can then take your pick and get any references etc you require.

Hope you get something sorted OP.

Our Buster is very independant, if we go away all we need is a neighbour to feed and check on him, otherwise he comes and goes as he pleases.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday.