Going on Holiday - cats

Apricot

Thanks for all of the responses. Originally, my sister was going to stay in my flat for the week but she has now booked a holiday for the same time so won't be able too. I did think about a pet sitter but not sure how comfortable I wouldbe leaving a total stranger in my home.

I think I am going to leave them in the flat and ask neighbour to pop in and feed them and my friend has also said that she will pop in once a day to play with them. I don't think moving them would have stressed coco too much, he loves having a nose around new places when he goes for walks on the lead but I really don't think Missy would like it and plus as was said if they got out I would probably never find them.

pebblespop

i always leave my three cats with my next door neighbour feeding them every day. i have a cat flap so they come and go as they please.

they usually miss us when we are away so i feel bad but i think it's the best option.

i would get a cat sitter if my neighbour couldn't do it.

mozzyc

paddypaws101 wrote: »

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.

Hi!

How much does this service usually cost? We off to South Africa in November for 3.5 weeks, and have arranged my usual cat sitter to come and stay at ours to look after cats, but if for any reason she can't make it, i'd like to try get someone else in. I don't do catteries myself! Thanks!

paddypaws101

Hey mozzyc, hopefully you will have clicked on the link and had a look at the site!
There is no charge to house owners...but you need to have a good look at what is on offer from the site and make a judgement yourself, after all you are handing your house keys over to a complete stranger.
I have used this site at several times and had some really lovely house sitters, also never had a problem at all.
I usually post an 'Offered' listing a few months in advance and see who applies. If someone seems to suit then you get in touch and learn more about them. House swops and house sitting is much more common in Australia and USA than here in UK.

mozzyc

Cheers paddypaws, have done a quick sneaky look inbetween work haha. Have posted an ad for November and will see what happens. It will save me the £200 i've offered my usual cat sitter, so defo worth having a look! Thank-you!

kat74

Hi princessleah - do you have a cat flap (or are they indoor cats?).
I have 2 cats and leave then overnight quite often, obviously with plenty of water and food. They can come and go as normal and they are very happy cats.
If I go away for longer, I use a pet-sitter, who charges £8-10 per visit, and when I get back there's a log of which cat has eaten what, how they behaved etc. She plays with them and grooms them for a few minutes and is fully insured etc. I much prefer this to catteries, and I believe it causes my kitties much lesss stress than upping and moving them.

The only thing I don't like is that she drives a logo'd van, which I think advertises the fact I'm on holiday.

Edit - just realised I've not actually answered your question there! Out of the 2 options you have, I'd have the neighbour going round. I think it'll be less stressful than moving them.

Apricot

Hi Kat - they are indoor cats as I live in a 1st floor flat near a v busy dual carriageway - which is why I thought it seemed worse to leave them on their own.

I had a good look at that housesitter website and there are a few people in my area available but still not sure how comfortable I would be with that.

It's worse than having children!:rotfl:

picklepick

If you post where you live, perhaps someone can recommend a cat sitter that they
themselves have used and had a happy cat to come home to!

We take our cats to my parents when we go away but they've been going there since they were little and they treat it just like an extension to their territory. Its their second home.
If i were you, id go for the leaving them at home option for the same reasons that others have posted.

mozzyc

True! We do it every now and then when we can to make a little extra money. I get paid to look after kitties!! What a blessing. But just from looking on gumtree etc i've found a very reliable young lady to watch my 3 when i'm away. But as you said, you've just got to be comfortable with it and be able to trust them.

Fire_Fox

princessleah_ wrote: »

Thanks for all of the responses. Originally, my sister was going to stay in my flat for the week but she has now booked a holiday for the same time so won't be able too. I did think about a pet sitter but not sure how comfortable I wouldbe leaving a total stranger in my home.

I think I am going to leave them in the flat and ask neighbour to pop in and feed them and my friend has also said that she will pop in once a day to play with them. I don't think moving them would have stressed coco too much, he loves having a nose around new places when he goes for walks on the lead but I really don't think Missy would like it and plus as was said if they got out I would probably never find them.

With two people popping in, familiar things around them and each other for company I am sure they will be fine. I know what you mean about indoor cats being worse than children in terms of going away! I hardly ever go away overnight, but had to twice in January and it was snowy so couldn't rely on friends to pop in. I was stressed the whole time the first overnight!!