Hi there, I am probably doing this because I need somebody to shake me and tell me to stop bloody worrying, but i do worry and i always will.

We have two cats, Peanut and Treacle, who are now 18 months old. We got them 1 year ago from the Cats Protection League, they are sisters. Now we are going away for a week at the end of the month and we are putting them in a cattery. It is a very nice cattery as we used to put our previous cats in there and they were fine. However, these two won't have been in one before and I am worried they will think they are back at the CPL place and about to get new owners etc. They will be together and we will take a few of their belongings and bedding but I do worry.

Before anybody says it, pet sitting or a family friend/neighbour isnt an option sadly.

My CPL girl will be having her first taste of Cat Prison later this month too. I've visited the place - its much like the run she had at CPL so I'm sure it may bring back memories but she'll have her usual bed, selection of toys and scratching post. I suspect she'll be more upset at not being able to go into the garden for a week than at any notion that I've decided to swap her for a new model.
If your previous cats were happy there I'm sure these will be - they are quite resilient creatures really.

Try not to worry OP. I had your concerns when my three first went to the cattery. When they have been once and go home again they will realize that this is how it goes. Then the next time will be easier, then the next time easier still, etc.

You will feel more confident about leaving them next time aswell.

At least you know they will be there on your return safe.

I know exactly how you feel. I've got to drop my two off at the Cattery for a 12 day holiday in 10 days time. It's only me and them normally, and I am worried sick about it. Family member coming to stay wasn't an option though.

I know there will be tears when I leave them, clinging on to the fact that they have a Facebook page and so I will be able to see pics of them while I am away.

Aww op. they will be fine. Perhaps an overnight stay before you leave them for longer? That'll reassure you and them.

The important thing is they are safe, they won't be as happy as at home but they are tough little mites and will be pleased to see you when you get back.

They will be fine, but maybe try the silly thing I do. Mine doesn't have a bed (well she does, but my King Size bed won't fit in the cattery pen ) So I send her in her big carrier (material not plastic) and she uses that as a shelter/bed. Inside, there is a fleecy blanket. About 3 - 4 days before she goes in the cattery, I wash her blanket and then sleep on it for a night or two and then put it on top of the bed so she then sleeps on it. It then has a mixture of our scents. I like to think it reminds her of me while she is away. To be honest, when I get her home, the first thing she does is a garden inspection, lots of shouting at me and then eventually lots of cuddles.

Apparently she loves the staff at the cattery. I don't think she really misses me at all

Thank you all so much. We do have a blanket that has home scent on that we are taking plus a few toys and i think i will call a couple of times in the week.

Good idea coz it will re-assure you. I do that when they are in the cattery for more than a few days.

I used to hate putting our cats in the cattery...although they seemed fine I wasn't!

Now I have a lovely cat sitter who comes to my home twice a day. She feeds and plays with the cats and spends time with them. She sends me text updates each time she visits including video taken on her mobile phone and sent to mine. It helps me relax better during my holiday knowing they are well and looked after and in the comfort of their own home.

I remember years ago putting our dog Ben in the kennels for the first time. Apparantly, the staff had to give him a heated bed for he sat there and shivered and seemed thoroughly unhappy. He never barked or made a sound the whole fortnight. When I went to pick him up he started barking before he saw me...he could hear my voice and was letting me know he was there! When the staff member opened the door he came bounding over to me and nearly knocked me over he was that excited. The cuddles must have lasted for a whole 20 minutes - we were so happy to see each other. I never put him in kennels again.

I believe cats do much better in the cattery than dogs do in kennels.

I think the thing im worried about that they both wont forgive me for is that normally during the day and evening (they're locked in at night) they can come and go and wander about the neighbourhood as they please, and cos they're both only just 1, they have lots of energy, and run about like loons in my garden together. In the Cattery they'll be shut in a much smaller space.

I know I need to stop fretting, but they're my babies and can't help it. Currently typing this at 4am, pinned to the bed cos one of them is led on my arm and the other one is led on my feet

Hope they forgive me. Does anyone know if I should keep them in for the day when I get them back, or can they just go outside like they normally would?

Two of my cats are rescue cats who spent quite a lot of time in a rescue cattery before I adopted them when they were nearly one. Last year, when they were two, I put them and my then 7 year old male in a cattery for 9-10 days. I was also worried that they would think I had abandoned them, particularly as they were returning to the same cattery from which they were rescued (just a different section). My male had been in catteries once or twice a year so I wasn't too worried about him, albeit he had always been with my late Tabitha who was a seasoned cattery cat.

When I collected them, the 2 females were absolutely fine. Both had been very relaxed and had eaten normally, interacting well with cattery staff. My male was cowering behind his carrier until he realised that I was there and he came out to greet me. The cattery owner said he had been very withdrawn and depressed whereas the females seemed to remember their previous time there which they had evidently enjoyed. Bernard loves his food but he didn't even eat much while he was there. i had never previously had such a report about him so I've been put off using catteries since then (I've been away twice in the past few months but the longest was 5 days).

I'm going to America in September for 2 weeks so I will have to use the cattery again. I think that's just too long to leave them 'on their own' and I have the added problem that the smallest cat is currently bringing in small live creatures into the house on a daily basis - I don't want to come back to a wrecked house. However, it's not the rescue cats that I'm worried about this time, I think they will probably be fine - it's my now 8 year old Bernard who is very attached to me and to his home since my late Tabitha died.

I'm also a bit horrified at the cost of boarding 3 cats for 2 weeks - but I'd rather pay for the peace of mind it affords me while I will be away.

In answer to dollymarie's question above, my cats are more interested in exploring their territory when they return from the cattery than showing how much they have missed me. My late Tabitha would go in and out of the garden, sniffing every inch and then sniffing all around the house, mioewing frantically, and only come onto my lap for cuddles after a few hours of doing this. So I would always let cats get back to normal as soon as possible.

All mine have gone in and been fine, albeit a bit clingy at first then narked and sulky for a few days when they got home. Don't worry

My cat is from the CP and she's approaching the age of 4. She's been in a cattery 3 or 4 times, and she seems fine. Its a struggle getting her in, as she hates car journeys and gets aggressive when taking her out of her travel box. When we take her home, she is extra clingy and snuggly...which is surprising as she isn't normally.

My cat never eats at the cattery.

Darren, which cattery are you using?
we used to use Lowna for out cat and dog , the dog now goes to my parents but the cat still has to go to a cattery. We thought Lowna was looking scruffy last time we went and she was in a different pen when we collected her.
we went to visit a cattery on Long Lane Beverley a couple of weeks ago....WOW what a place. The owner was fabulous and the pens pristine. I think they have a webcam too. It only takes cats so no dogs barking in the background to stress the cats ( who had four poster wrought iron beds by the way). They didn't have the dates we need and recommend a cattery in North Cave, which we were very happy with, again cats only, lovely setting and pens and a lovely owner. It was suggested that we put the cat in for a couple of nights just so she settles quicker when she goes for the two weeks later in the year. We plan to do this in the next month, if you have the chance do it.