What does everyone do with their cats when they go off on holiday? My brother is coming round to feed my cat Missy when we go away for a long weekend next month, but when we go away for a couple of weeks in late summer, I'll have to think of another plan unless I can persuade my bro to house/cat-sit for me. I know it's a while off but I am worrying about it already! Missy is a nervous kitty and was quite traumatised by living stray when we took her in, and she doesn't like other cats, so I worry that putting her into a cattery would really upset her (plus my mum had a cat that died in a cattery while we were on hols, which has totally put me off them). My plan B is to leave her with a friend/relative. What do YOU do?
Cat hols
We used to use a cattery locally where the lady allowed the cats into her home rather than in cages outside. My soppy pusses hated coming home and wouldn't speak to us for a week after they came home ! 
Originally Posted by molliepops:
“We used to use a cattery locally where the lady allowed the cats into her home rather than in cages outside. My soppy pusses hated coming home and wouldn't speak to us for a week after they came home !”
“We used to use a cattery locally where the lady allowed the cats into her home rather than in cages outside. My soppy pusses hated coming home and wouldn't speak to us for a week after they came home !
”
I wish I knew a place like that for my two Maine Coons. I put mine in an ordinary cattery. They are fine but it isn't much space for big cats.
If my parents are not available we use a person in Edinburgh that comes round to your house, feeds them, changes the litter, plays with them etc. She does it for dogs, cats etc and can also stay over. I personally prefer this to a cattery. Our Ragdoll and Maine Coone would not handle it very well I think. This costs £7 a day.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.
I used to have a neighbour come in and feed them, but she started cleaning my house too so I had to put a stop to that 
I have a nervous cat who I know would hate a cattery so now they go to their grandma's for a holiday
I have a nervous cat who I know would hate a cattery so now they go to their grandma's for a holiday
I have always used a cattery for my cats. I have never felt comfortable with having a neighbour in to feed them, as I felt that they would be lonely. They are very clever animals and know times etc and the sound of your car etc. However, my cattery which I had used for about 8 years wouldn't take my late Percy whilst he was undergoing Chemo treatment, I was really upset at the time, but in the end I found, via a friend who used this lady, a housesitter. It was an excellent idea and one which I will do again. She lived in, so the cats had normal company every day as they would with me at home, and also my budgies could remain in their own home too. when I was away I loved the fact that I could phone home and get a progress update on my wonderful cats. I still had Percy then, who was only a month away from being put to sleep (although I didn't know this at the time 
) so he had a normal couple of weeks instead of upheaval of a cattery. I would definitely do this again.
) so he had a normal couple of weeks instead of upheaval of a cattery. I would definitely do this again.
If anybody knows of a reputable cat-sitting company in London, please could they post a link?
I've got a tidying neighbour too, wemster, which rules that out. Last time I gave her keys to our house while we were away (before we got the cat), she moved my car for no reason. I nearly had a heart attack when I got back from holiday and it was gone! Also, she somehow managed to kill all my plants that she was supposed to be watering, so I really wouldn't let her loose on my Missy!
I've got a tidying neighbour too, wemster, which rules that out. Last time I gave her keys to our house while we were away (before we got the cat), she moved my car for no reason. I nearly had a heart attack when I got back from holiday and it was gone! Also, she somehow managed to kill all my plants that she was supposed to be watering, so I really wouldn't let her loose on my Missy!
Originally Posted by Dave1979:
“If my parents are not available we use a person in Edinburgh that comes round to your house, feeds them, changes the litter, plays with them etc. She does it for dogs, cats etc and can also stay over. I personally prefer this to a cattery. Our Ragdoll and Maine Coone would not handle it very well I think. This costs £7 a day.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.”
“If my parents are not available we use a person in Edinburgh that comes round to your house, feeds them, changes the litter, plays with them etc. She does it for dogs, cats etc and can also stay over. I personally prefer this to a cattery. Our Ragdoll and Maine Coone would not handle it very well I think. This costs £7 a day.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.”
We normally get ask our neighbours to pop in and feed them. As long as they're not away themselves, they've always been happy to do so.
But that place/service is handy to know about in case they're not around (we're in Edinburgh). Cheers!
Originally Posted by Dave1979:
“If my parents are not available we use a person in Edinburgh that comes round to your house, feeds them, changes the litter, plays with them etc. She does it for dogs, cats etc and can also stay over. I personally prefer this to a cattery. Our Ragdoll and Maine Coone would not handle it very well I think. This costs £7 a day.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.”
“If my parents are not available we use a person in Edinburgh that comes round to your house, feeds them, changes the litter, plays with them etc. She does it for dogs, cats etc and can also stay over. I personally prefer this to a cattery. Our Ragdoll and Maine Coone would not handle it very well I think. This costs £7 a day.
http://www.pentlandpetsitting.co.uk/
There may be something similar near you.”
I wouldn't trust anyone ot come in and definitely not to stay over. You can never be sure how trustworthy a person is or even if they would go through your stuff. If something went missing you might not even notice for months.
My ex MIL used to openly admit she went through her neighbours stuff when they were away and she fed their cat. I know not everyone is like that but I'm not taking the chance!
The breeder that our cat came from, kindly takes him back during the holidays. He has a brilliant time being king pin, gets fussed over and beats up all the other cats !
I have had my cat 12 yrs now in that time i have been on holiday three times and did not enjoy myself .I hate leaving her.However what i would say is that cats are better in their own enviroment as it is less stressful for them they like routine.
You would have to get a reliable person to house/cat sit and introduce them to eachother a couple of times at least before you go .This is sad i know before you all say it but i would never leave my cat again i just can't stand being away from her i get extremely anxious about it.
You would have to get a reliable person to house/cat sit and introduce them to eachother a couple of times at least before you go .This is sad i know before you all say it but i would never leave my cat again i just can't stand being away from her i get extremely anxious about it.
Our 4 cats go into a local cattery the woman who runs it is lovely and adores cats they are very well looked after i prefer this to someone coming in to feed them as at least you know they are being looked after 24/7 and not the 10 mins twice a day if someone comes in to feed them.
If I go away for a weekend I leave my cat at home and get my dad to go in and feed him. It's the best solution if I'm going away from a few days. If I'm going away for any longer he goes and lives with my mum for a little holiday himself.
We've not been away since we got the little one and although we've no plans yet I assume we'll have a holiday at some point - preferably two weeks away!!
Really not sure what to do with my little one??? My BF's Mum has two cats and would happily take her I am sure but she hasn't been around other cats (BF's Mum's cats are gigantic monsters - not sure they'd appreciate my boisterous, playful little thing?)
My Mum would also be a possibility but she has my nephew most days - not sure my little one could be trusted with a little baby?
I would really not like her to go to a cattery though?
My brother lives close by and would pop in everyday I suppose - although its a bit cheeky to expect him to do it everyday for two weeks??? Or else kitty could go and stay with him and his GF - they love her so I may never get her back
Really not sure what to do with my little one??? My BF's Mum has two cats and would happily take her I am sure but she hasn't been around other cats (BF's Mum's cats are gigantic monsters - not sure they'd appreciate my boisterous, playful little thing?)
My Mum would also be a possibility but she has my nephew most days - not sure my little one could be trusted with a little baby?
I would really not like her to go to a cattery though?
My brother lives close by and would pop in everyday I suppose - although its a bit cheeky to expect him to do it everyday for two weeks??? Or else kitty could go and stay with him and his GF - they love her so I may never get her back
we only holiday in this country so if we go on holiday our 2 cats come with us we only stay in pet friendly accomodation i put my pigs and hamsters in a small animal boarding facility but the cats i would not trust anyone to look after they like their cuddles and are very loving for cats
I've been away for a couple of long weekends since I got my cats, and have tried both a cattery and having a pet sitter come to the house. To be honest, they have seemed perfectly happy with either situation. I suppose it helps that they have each other.
I'm going away for a week soon, and need to decide which to go for and am a bit torn. The cattery seems such a confined space for a whole week, but at least they will have frequent company. At home they will have the run of the house, and be able to get space away from each other... but they will only have company for half an hour to an hour per day. Though we both work full time, so they are used to being on their own.
It's so hard...
I'm going away for a week soon, and need to decide which to go for and am a bit torn. The cattery seems such a confined space for a whole week, but at least they will have frequent company. At home they will have the run of the house, and be able to get space away from each other... but they will only have company for half an hour to an hour per day. Though we both work full time, so they are used to being on their own.
It's so hard...
We use a superb cattery in Northamptonshire and now have total peace of mind. I'm incredibly fussy and protective about my cats so to have found this one was a dream come true.
Finding a cattery can be a nightmare. We took ours to one for many years and were happy for a long time, but then I think the woman began to grow tired of it and we looked around for another. I went to see nine before I found the one we chose. Sometimes I didn't like the owners; sometimes I didn't like the look of the pens. Cattery owners expect you to go and look at the set up before you make a booking so never feel embarrassed just going and having a nose round.
Check to see if there is heating in the pens and whether the owners are adept at looking after cats with health problems. One cattery I visited didn't seem keen to administer medication at all so he was straight off the list. My current cattery owner took my boy to the vet while we were away and went far beyond the call of duty with him. Go armed with a long list of questions.
A personal recommendation is always good so ask around friends or colleagues with cats to see what they do.
The Feline Advisory Bureau has a list of "approved" catteries on their website so check that out. Mine is FAB approved and deserves every recommendation.
With five cats, four of which are old and only one of which goes out of doors I can never ask a neighbour to look after my pets as the whole thing is too complicated (litter trays, medication, etc) so a good cattery, while not cheap, makes our lives a lot easier.
Finding a cattery can be a nightmare. We took ours to one for many years and were happy for a long time, but then I think the woman began to grow tired of it and we looked around for another. I went to see nine before I found the one we chose. Sometimes I didn't like the owners; sometimes I didn't like the look of the pens. Cattery owners expect you to go and look at the set up before you make a booking so never feel embarrassed just going and having a nose round.
Check to see if there is heating in the pens and whether the owners are adept at looking after cats with health problems. One cattery I visited didn't seem keen to administer medication at all so he was straight off the list. My current cattery owner took my boy to the vet while we were away and went far beyond the call of duty with him. Go armed with a long list of questions.
A personal recommendation is always good so ask around friends or colleagues with cats to see what they do.
The Feline Advisory Bureau has a list of "approved" catteries on their website so check that out. Mine is FAB approved and deserves every recommendation.
With five cats, four of which are old and only one of which goes out of doors I can never ask a neighbour to look after my pets as the whole thing is too complicated (litter trays, medication, etc) so a good cattery, while not cheap, makes our lives a lot easier.
