Going on Holiday - cats

Apricot

I've just booked a weeks holiday for the end of April and this will be the first time I have left my two cats and Im panicking!
I have two choices, my upstairs neighbour has said he can pop in twice a day to feed them & clean the litter or my nan has said they can go to her house (no other indoor pets) and she will be able to play with them and look after them.
I don't want to cause them any more trauma than is necessary so I don't really know what to do. If I leave them at home they are only going to have company for 10 mins per day (neighbour not very interested in playing with them etc) but will they be more distressed if I take them to my nan's (who they know) as it is unfamiliar territory?

Im pretty much at a loss what to do, my ideal situation would be have someone move in here for a week but don't think that's going to happen. What would you all think is the best solution? Or do you have any other ideas as to what we could do?

Thanks xx

McKneff

Could you nan stay at your house for the week youre away.

Could be a nice holiday for her too.

Failing that I would go for the neighbour feeding them.

We have just brought our cat back from a cattery after 2 days away.
She was pathetic, sad and had only eaten 1 pouch of food in the 2 days.

Within 5 minutes of having a wander over her familiar rooms at home and putting her scent everywhere again, she was eating voraciously, and rolling around the carpet.
It may have been that she was on her own and so 2 cat friends wll be okay but personally i will never put her in a cattery again.

geri1965_2

I think they will be more relaxed in familiar surroundings, and they won't mind being on their own for most of the time.

rita-rabbit

I would take them to your Nan's. I take mine to my Mum's when I go away & they are v happy - note: I do also take Feliway to be plugged in all the time I am away.

BitterAndTwisted

Being territorial animals cats are much more attached to places than people so I believe it would be much less stressful for your pusscats to stay in their own home and be looked after by the neighbour. If your cats haven't stayed at your Nan's before I suspect they'll spend the entire week hiding somewhere so they won't get played with at all either. I honestly think it would be kinder to let them say at home

BubblyMumbles

I've had people stay at ours when we're away and taken them to my parents and the in laws and they've been fine everywhere.

If you decide to go to your Nan's then make sure you spend a bit of time with them there before you leave, leave stuff with your scent on it and all their usual feeding bowls, toys, etc.,

Have a nice holiday!

SnowyOwl_2

IMO I'd say the best option is that you leave the kitties in your place and the neighbours come in and feed them daily. They might get a bit bored, but it's the least disruptive option. You could ask your neighbour to swap their toys around so they have a ball one day and a jingly mouse the next etc.

If you left them with your nan and one of them happened to get out (God forbid!) it'd be a big nightmare trying to get him/her back again.

My cats always go to a cattery as there's nobody around I'm happy to entrust with my home and kitties. The cattery is very good, dispenses medicines etc as requested. However the last time they went there they all came home with fleas. I was not happy as you can imagine.

Fire_Fox

I don't mean the following in a rude way, but the answer might help us come up with other solutions. What were your plans for holidays when you got the cats and what were your plans when you booked the holiday? My general thought is it depends on the cats temperaments, my Noah would be really stressed by being moved but even more stressed by being left. Some cats are very confident and would take well to the move, some not very affectionate so take well to being left alone.

Could maybe your neighbour pop in daily to feed the cats and a mate pop in daily (at another time) to play with them? Or a couple of friends/ relatives pop in a couple of times a week each? Can you afford a pet sitter?

nuttywoman

I feed my neighbours 4 cats when she goes away, i make a chart and we call it The Cat Watch Chart lol , we don`t call it Cat really but mse won`t let me put the word in !! lol
Her cats are always fine.

never_enough

If they were mine I would leave them at home, especially as you have two. I do this with mine, even with little human interaction she's less stressed than going to the cattery. Our cattery is excellent, but my cat is totally freaked out by being in a car, so it's a big stress just getting her there. Few cats are keen on change, even moving furniture in a room can freak them out!
When I go away I plug in feliway in a couple of places near where she'll sleep just to help. A friend comes in to feed her/do the litter thing but like your neighbour doesn't stay long. I always leave a radio on...silly probably, but I like to think it's reassuring.
I would be concerned about taking them to your Grandmother's place, as someone else said, what if they got out in a new area, would they come back to her? It's quite a responsibility. Also, I'd be concerned that my stupid cat would get under their feet, especially when she's waiting to be fed, but then my Grandparents are very elderly. Your Gran may be a sprightly 60 year old!

paddypaws101

I would also leave the 2 cats at home rather than move them.
Hopefully your nan can pop in a couple of times to play with the cats, but honestly they will be happier in their own territory and will probably sleep a bit more ( if that is possible!! )
You may want to research local cat sitting services for this or future trips, or I have used www.housecarers.com for many holidays away with great success.