Question for those with cats?

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• 10-Aug-2009 20:43

  Question for those with cats?

  Frankie Stein Joined on 06-Jan-2004 United Kingdom Posts 618

  Contact Hi All If you have cats what do you do when you go on holiday?  Do you leave them in the house and have someone come and feed them, do they go to someone else's house or do you use a cattery? We have two indoor cats, who whenever we went away would stay with Mr Stein's sister (go to her house for the time that we are away).  It would appear that last time they were there they were a little naughty - climbing net curtains, walking in litter tray mess and then walking it all over her beds, carpet, etc, and god knows what else. She has said that she doesnt want to have them at hers again, which is fair enough, but i am a bit concerned about what to do with them now when we go away for a week in September. She has said that she is happy to come round to ours every day to feed them etc, but i am a bit concerned about leaving them on their own for that length of time?  Are cats ok to leave on their own?  Thanks in advance for your thoughts xxx

• 10-Aug-2009 20:46

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Consuela Banana Hammock Joined on 19-Oct-2004 United Kingdom Posts 14,218	Contact We always left our cat on her own and had a friend pop in to feed her with absolutely no problems - and you've got two cats so they can keep each other company.  Personally I would accept your SIL's offer.

• 10-Aug-2009 20:47

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  LittlePeanut Joined on 17-Jun-2006 United Kingdom Posts 7,377	Contact We have a neighbour pop in twice a day. She's a complete cat fan so will stay to give Truff cuddles. Truff is always fine, although inevitably sulks when we return...

• 10-Aug-2009 20:57

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  WelshTotty Joined on 26-Sep-2002 Cwm Ogwr Posts 31,859

  Contact We have 3 housecats, when we go away they all go into the cattery, its costs us £15 a night for the three of them. I would love to have a freind or some family or even a neighbour that would come into the house and feed them and sort out their litter trays, Id happily pay someone but cant find anyone to do it. Accept your SILs offer, its great and the kitties dont mind being at home, in fact theyd probably prefer it! Erm, it's me, Double U Tee.

• 10-Aug-2009 21:08

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Lumpy Golightly Joined on 14-Sep-2002 Golightly Towers Posts 38,162	Contact Ours stay at home, my Dad comes in a couple of times a day to feed them.

• 10-Aug-2009 21:34

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Frankie Stein Joined on 06-Jan-2004 United Kingdom Posts 618	Contact Thanks all - that makes me feel much better. I feel guilty leaving them to go to work, so i am bound to feel bad leaving them for a week!!  Overprotective.... me??

• 10-Aug-2009 22:08

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  alison76 Joined on 17-Mar-2005 United Kingdom Posts 9,095	Contact Good question & well timed - we're just looking in to it for our newly acquired feline friend. My brother can do the odd feed but Shrek likes company too much so will need a cattery.

• 10-Aug-2009 22:15

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Oompa-Loompa Joined on 30-Jan-2006 United Kingdom Posts 2,028

  Contact Mine aren't housecats but they are spoilt and like human contact! When we go away we are normally lucky enough to have a friend who comes and stays at ours so that the cats still get their cuddles in the evening! on the odd occasion when that hasn't been possible another friend has popped in twice a day to feed them - and they are no worse for that! I wouldn't put them in a cattery unless I really had no option. For me, I prefer them to stay in their own environment, so I would take your SIl up on her offer. I think we worry more about them, more than they care that we're not about! I'm not sure they even notice most of the time!

• 10-Aug-2009 23:14

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  CBear Joined on 05-Feb-2009 Manchester Posts 492

  Contact We always use a cattery. There are people who would come round and feed him, but he's such a friendly boy and he loves company, he'd get lonely. The cattry we use is amazing it's run by someone who is basically a crazy cat lady, she can only have a few cats in at a time and she gives them all special attention. When we had two of them (Oti's brother Marvin went missing a few months ago) she knew their personalities perfectly which showed us she spent a lot of time with them, and she always has their favourite toys waiting for them when we go. I'm such an overprotective mother!

• 10-Aug-2009 23:25

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  mariets Joined on 22-Feb-2006 United Kingdom Posts 6,093

  Contact My cat hates the cattery so we left him at home the last time we went away and my sister came round every day.  We came back to a chilled, relaxed cat, rather than the neurotic "I hate everyone" moggie that we pick up from the cattery.  I had a word with the neighbours both sides before we left and they assured me that they would call the vet immediately if they saw him in any distress, but he was fine . Take your SIL up on her offer and they'll hardly miss you...

• 11-Aug-2009 0:23

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Whirlwind666 Joined on 18-Mar-2005 United Kingdom Posts 1,071

  Contact My two would never forgive me for taking them out of their house! When I'm away, my next door neighbour checks on them periodically (they aren't keen on him) but my boy-cat likes to roam, in fact we just saw him about a village and half away, and my girl-cat is nervous of pretty much everything, a cattery would drive her even more insane! They have an auto feeder, plenty of food and water, I think they are better where they are tbh.

• 11-Aug-2009 0:40

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Lili Donkey Joined on 17-Mar-2004 United Kingdom Posts 8,821

  Contact If we're away for less than 3 nights he stays at home and someone pops in - anything more than 3 nights and he goes to the cat hotel I hate packing him off so we don't often go away for more than a long weekend, that said, the first time we took him to a cattery was for our honeymoon and I spent more hours researching the cattery than I did our holiday We're now lucky enough to have found 2 wonderful places, both are about 90 minutes / 2 hours away from home but we've found a carrier he is really comfortable travelling in with loads of room so he arrives pretty calm and we take along various beds, blankets, toys, treats, brushes etc. to the point I think the cattery owners think we are crazy - the first year we even packed the bedroom pillows, cushions from the sofa, a bean cube and took 3 weeks worth of food & litter. He seems to love being at both places - we often get text updates from 'him' and I call a few times whilst we're away and the behaviours they report back are things I know he wouldn't do if he wasn't happy. If you're anywhere near Reading or Cambridge I can really recommend both of the following - big thing for me is that he goes to a fully indoor cattery as he is an indoor cat, I hate the thought of him being exposed to rain and wind when he finds it so alien... http://www.westlodgecattery.co.uk and http://www.palacecattery.co.uk/

• 11-Aug-2009 1:25

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Ronypoo Joined on 09-Jul-2007 Northamptonshire Posts 957	Contact For a weekend- i have my cat friendly neighbour of a friend feed them. We can't use a cattery as one of my rescue cats is FIV Positive If we are away for a week or more my BIL or MIL housesits :)

• 11-Aug-2009 11:36

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  Madwife Nightingale Joined on 17-Nov-2003 United Kingdom Posts 18,888

  Contact For a holiday mine go into a cattery. If it's just a weekend then my friend comes over and feeds them for me. They have a cat flap so can come and go as they please. They seem to prefer being at home but I wouldn't be happy leaving them alone for that long, I think they need some attention Mum to Amy 22/02/06 Phoebe 11/01/08 Want to follow my Midwifery journey? Read my blog http://fromstudenttomidwife.blogspot.com/

• 11-Aug-2009 11:45

  Re: Question for those with cats?

  yetanothermess Joined on 10-Aug-2009 Posts 44	Contact Overnight we leave him with an automatic feeder.  Longer we use a cattery.  I don't really have anyone who could pop in though, I think if I did he would probably be happier at home